best bargain OH mics, sub $400/pair

[Solunaris]

if you're willing to spend 100 more i'd go with the avenson sto-2's. If not, the nady ribbons are kinda cool.

[bangbang]

nady ribbons are very cool. but i don't trust their QC, and i always liked the idea of shinybox, and then you upgrade transfromers....

[warhead]

I really really like and immediately bought a pair of Audio Technica ATM450 when we first received a pair. They are well under budget. I choose them over more expensive mics on a regular basis.

War

[Pasta4lnch]

Originally Posted by arrogantbastard

if you're willing to spend 100 more i'd go with the avenson sto-2's..

not to hijack but how do the avenson's sound on other sources like acooustics and such? i'm interested in getting them!

[pootkao]

Don't know if you'll do much better than the Kel HM-1

index

I love 'em. I've always been very very skeptical about a lot of budget mics, but these pass the test -- particular for how well they work on drum overheads.

[bigbone]

the KEL HM-1 are great for OH'S, and they are in your price range.

[warhead]

Originally Posted by Pasta4lnch

not to hijack but how do the avenson's sound on other sources like acooustics and such? i'm interested in getting them!

Excellent. The Avenson's are very natural sounding actually, I've used them on amps and vocals too.

War

[Grumblefoot]

Cascade Fatheads.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Pasta4lnch

not to hijack but how do the avenson's sound on other sources like acooustics and such? i'm interested in getting them!

The Avensons excel with acoustic sources. They do not impart the glassy sheen that you get with other SDC. You have to drive them in close...really close...like within a few inches... to get that "nearfield" sound. However, the sound is very natural and pleasant. You can put a STO-2 between the tenth fret and body of a guitar, about three inches off the neck, and get a great sound with little low-end mud.

The thing with the Avensons, and microphones of their type, is that they are really great for capturing the small transients that larger diaphragm mics will smear.
Accordingly, i prefer my faster, non transformer balanced, preamps with the Avensons, as it lets those small transients through.

[ogamik]

!!!SE Electronic SE3-A!!!

[sodiumcycle]

Originally Posted by Starang

samsons got a good review. excuse me while i prepare a grain of salt. tell me what you like!

A lot of people on the tapeop forum like the mk 012. They can be had from the soundroom for $440 or on ebay for cheaper.

I think they sound really good as overheads but I haven't tried many of the alternatives in the same price range (cad m179, pelusos, etc.)

[GordZilla]

Can't go wrong with a pair of Kel HM-1s thumbsupthumbsup... and with the extra money you would have left over you can buy some nice Mogami cables and mic stand or two

[pootkao]

Originally Posted by bigbone

the KEL HM-1 are great for OH'S, and they are in your price range.

I also just used it on a quickie acoustic recording a few hours ago, and it performed better than any other cheap mic I've used to do these things. (I'm at home, not at the studio right now.)

[musical5]

Please don't flame me for this, but I use these and really like them......

http://www.naiant.com/microphonedesign.html

I own much more expensive mics but not in pairs, so I took a chance and bought these for $40. I spend more money on a bar tab sometimes I figured if they sucked I'd give them away, but they don't. I only use them for OH's. Supposedly the guy followed the same Tapeop project that the Avenson mics came from.


JJ