unhyped general purpose sdc cardioid pair

[audiothings]

i am in india, and unless i'm lucky, i don't get to audition gear.

i'm looking at sub $500, preferably sub $350, must have enough low end to record pipe organ.

yes i know, if i can extend my budget a bit, many options would open up.

i have checked out available info/reviews on SE, M-audio, avant electronics, rode, peluso, shure...

currently looking at studio projects c4 (top of my list), oktava 012 (reputation!), busman (lots of extras), at 3031 (tried it and it worked well)...

i'm not looking to make anything "cut through the mix", i just want a clear, natural sound...

thanks,

[sonicdefault]

Shure KSM 137s sound like what you're after in a small SDC pair. They may be a little over 500, but worth the slight extra cost.


-SD

[sonicdefault]

I've tried the Avant CK1s too. They're around 300 pr. They sound very good and are quiet. The extra capsules are a bonus. When comparing the cardioids to the KSMs, I would prefer the Shures on many instruments. However for an organ, the CK1s may sound great.


-SD

[Matti]

I think those Busman mics are modded from the same generic mic as the avants,
-never heard them though, but they have a good reputation in some circles

Matti

[TheArchitect]

Kel HM-1's

[Pexx]

Oops... was suggesting an LDC type of mic.

[Matti]

Those KEL´s have 0,5" capsules

Matti

[TheArchitect]

Originally Posted by MATTI

Those KEL´s have 0,5" capsules

Matti

Yes they do. I consider .5" and under SDC

[warhead]

n/a

War

[NorseHorse]

Any hard-core location recordist with experience with organ will probably scold you for not using omnis to record organ.

Generally speaking, cardioids tend to sacrifice the super low-end that organs can exploit.

[desotoslo]

is there really such a thing as an affordable, FLAT, SDC?

just my thought. maybe i'm wrong. that'd be nice!

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by audiothings

i am in india, and unless i'm lucky, i don't get to audition gear.

i'm looking at sub $500, preferably sub $350, must have enough low end to record pipe organ.

yes i know, if i can extend my budget a bit, many options would open up.

i have checked out available info/reviews on SE, M-audio, avant electronics, rode, peluso, shure...

currently looking at studio projects c4 (top of my list), oktava 012 (reputation!), busman (lots of extras), at 3031 (tried it and it worked well)...

i'm not looking to make anything "cut through the mix", i just want a clear, natural sound...

thanks,

beyer mc930

[digibird]

AT 4041

Audio Technica 4041

Buy here: Northern Sound & Light (NSL) - Call Us 866-796-6232

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by desotoslo

is there really such a thing as an affordable, FLAT, SDC?

i did enough research on freq. charts and GS banter to figure out that if you really want flat, u gotta open up that wallet wider.

i bought a vintage schoeps and it is nice and flat. was debating forever about the mc930s, but that upper-freq boost turned me off... that and the fact that they "only" extended to 40hz. (i'm a double bassist... need that low E to be true like glue).

just my thought. maybe i'm wrong. that'd be nice!

LINE AUDIO DESIGN


/Peter

[kgreener]

Originally Posted by Audiop

LINE AUDIO DESIGN


/Peter

I'm interested in the Line Audio Design CM3's and have emailed them repeatedly but have yet to receive a response. Do you have any insight on how I can get in touch with them?

Thanks in advance!

[Corran]

Let me re-emphasize the fact that you MUST use omni mics to get that low-end information from an SDC.

If I were you in a pinch, I wouldn't mind using the MXL 603 pair with omni caps - new for about $250, but cheaper used. Oktava would be a move up probably but I don't have any experience with the omni caps they have. However neither of these are "flat." For that I would bust out my Earthworks omnis but then we are way over your budget. Gotta sacrifice somewhere.

The MXL's would probably be a little bright and the Oktava's a little dark. For organ I'd want dark probably, but that's just me.

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by kgreener

I'm interested in the Line Audio Design CM3's and have emailed them repeatedly but have yet to receive a response. Do you have any insight on how I can get in touch with them?

Thanks in advance!

I'll see what I can do. I think he is overloaded with work. The shops in Sweden sell out the mics in no time when they get a shipment.

Where do you live? Possibly I can help you get a pair if you want. I could link you to some shop in Sweden that carry them.


/Peter

[kgreener]

Originally Posted by Audiop

I'll see what I can do. I think he is overloaded with work. The shops in Sweden sell out the mics in no time when they get a shipment.

Where do you live? Possibly I can help you get a pair if you want. I could link you to some shop in Sweden that carry them.


/Peter

PM sent!

[tINY]

Originally Posted by Corran

Let me re-emphasize the fact that you MUST use omni mics to get that low-end information from an SDC.

I was going to post the same thing....

The only low-budget, directional mics I can think of with a good, extended low-end are the CAD M177/M179. These are neutral, but they are not SDC. So, they will have some frequency-dependant polar response.




-tINY

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by digibird

AT 4041

Audio Technica 4041

Buy here: Northern Sound & Light (NSL) - Call Us 866-796-6232

in my tests the 4041 had a unnatural exaggerated high end.
Not terrible but not great bad just not real at all.
shure 137's were not terrible but not great btter than the 4041

josephson and beyer sdc's I thought were the best bang for the buck
and sounded the best for low end sdc


AT mics I just don't get. You hear folks praise them but to me they are just ok
Is it because they once had low expectations? not sure but I
think they are overrated these days. The only AT mics
I would ever use are the ATM25 on toms and that would be one of my last choices

[tINY]

It's nice to be a snob, I guess. But AT has some very useful mics at very attractive prices - and I've never had one fail on me.

That said, I don't think they have any directional SDCs suitable for pipe organ recordings - I don't even think that DPA does.....



-tINY

[_Morph_]

The MK012 doesn't have that a tight cardioid pattern and the sound is terrific. I've recorded acoustic (nylon and steel strung) guitars, double bass, percussion and even vocals with this mic and the results are flawless. I have other other SDCs but the MK012 holds its own.

[Matti]

If i remember right mk 012 was made for film studios like Mosfilm and Lenfilm
at the time ( 60´ies ) by a good designer based on some other designs.
Decent job under the circumtances

Matti

[desotoslo]

Originally Posted by Audiop

LINE AUDIO DESIGN


/Peter

Thanks for remind me, Peter. I did notice the CM3s awhile back when I was searching...

man, they are cheap, and the freq. response looks great.

i'd love to pick up a pair... maybe if some more dough comes my way, i will... assuming i can get thru to them(?)

[jvkeboxHERO]

my opinions based on FroneEndAudios mic side by sides......

the AT3031 and ATM450 are tied for second place.

the Avant CK1 in OMNI mode takes 1st place by a lot. maybe not a lot, but a hands down first place. However, I think the cardiod mode sounded kinda dead, and the hypercardiod moder only a little better than the cardiod.

The other mics on the list. eh.

edit: i looked the Avant ck1 up online and cant find it. does anyone know where I can get one? a link of some sort would help.

[Matti]

AVANT ELECTRONICS HOME PAGE

Matti

[jvkeboxHERO]

Originally Posted by MATTI

AVANT ELECTRONICS HOME PAGE

thanks matti.

btw any thoughts on the Avant CK 6 has a LDC for Vocals, Guitar Cabs, and Drum Overheads?

right now I am seriously considering 1 (more than likely two) of these:
Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Mic
Audio Technica AT2020 LDC
MXL 3000 LDC
MXL V63M Studio LDC

and still considering, but less seriously,
Sterling Audio ST55
MXL 4000
Audio-Technica AT4040

so cxompared to those, hows that CK6?
I know those are all pretty inexpensive mics, but i just record for fun, so Im not looking for anything expensive (rather spend my money on guitar shit) but still sounds good. by good i mean Slightly Better than Average or sounds better than what you would expect from the price.