Studio Projects T3 or Rodes K2?

[pint07]

This is going to be used for male tenor vocals, which are primarily POP-ish tenor vocals. which means I'll be going from octave down chill singing melodies, to the octave up for the exciting parts. anywhere in upper octave Ab-Ab above middle C, to the octave below that. probably with some falcetto as well. the high ends are going to be more pushed. the low ends very relaxed. The tone for the high parts is a bright high tone. this is my final comparison. I have a seller for each and I need to decide quickly on which to buy. Also, there is no public knowledge thread comparing these two mics, which is unfair, as they're very similar and used for the same application in the same price range. The only comparison I found was on the OLD T3. I'm considering the NEW T3.

Studio Projects T3 would be around $75 more expensive, keep that in mind. But I don't mind paying it if it will be a better vocal mic. Versatility is not a deciding issue here, I want a vocal mic.

So spill it. Anyone have experience? Post it. Anyone have experience with both? Please please post. I need your opinion.


P.S. Whichever one i choose will be used with a DMP3 running into my firestudio into logic pro 8 on my mac. Just for information.

[rty5150]

want a purely bad ass mic regardless of price?

granted it won't be a swiss army knife like either of the 2 you've listed, but the mojave audio ma-200 is an amazing mic. can be found used for around $700-800. it's FET brother is the ma-201. it's a little more punchy, but still sweet.
sure they are cardioid only, but for vocals are simply amazing.

keep in mind, you may want to get a better pre to capture more nuances once you move up into higher end mics.

rich

[pint07]

Originally Posted by rty5150

want a purely bad ass mic regardless of price?

granted it won't be a swiss army knife like either of the 2 you've listed, but the mojave audio ma-200 is an amazing mic. can be found used for around $700-800. it's FET brother is the ma-201. it's a little more punchy, but still sweet.
sure they are cardioid only, but for vocals are simply amazing.

keep in mind, you may want to get a better pre to capture more nuances once you move up into higher end mics.

rich

I don't have that kind of money. I'm paying $350-450 on this...

If I did that I wouldn't be able to do any noise absorption. Which I also need to do.

[rty5150]

your best bet would be an sm7b, but i don't know if the DMP has enough gain to run it.

rich

[MadGuitrst]

The T3 has more character, the K2 is smoother.

If, according to your description, the vocals are going to have a lot of high frequency content, I'd go with the Rode.

For the prices you mentioned, either would be a good pick up IMO.

[rty5150]

Originally Posted by MadGuitrst

The T3 has more character, the K2 is smoother.

If, according to your description, the vocals are going to have a lot of high frequency content, I'd go with the Rode.

For the prices you mentioned, either would be a good pick up IMO.

this is true...if you can get them that cheap, either one.

rich

[pint07]

Originally Posted by MadGuitrst

The T3 has more character, the K2 is smoother.

If, according to your description, the vocals are going to have a lot of high frequency content, I'd go with the Rode.

For the prices you mentioned, either would be a good pick up IMO.

Alright, then I think I'm going to end up going with the K2. As it's $75-100 cheaper anyway through my seller.

thanks for the input!

if anyone has some audio samples of either that'd be great.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by pint07

Alright, then I think I'm going to end up going with the K2. As it's $75-100 cheaper anyway through my seller.

thanks for the input!

if anyone has some audio samples of either that'd be great.

Hey, I'm getting mine possibly today or next wednesday from the mail, so I'll post samples as soon as I get it.

[root]

I'm very interested in your purchase results and what your opinion is of either the K2 or the T3 as I'm considering getting the K2 for and maybe even doing the tube mod at some point.

I don't have a multi pattern mic as of yet and think it would be a useful type of room mic for any recording.

Please post your "hands on" experience on the K2 and maybe even some of the samples like you said.

Thanks, for your time.
root aka Bob G

[Chris Lago]

If you have seen my posts, you can definitely conclude that the microphone sounds wonderful, but you need to complement it with a decent preamp as well. I tried it with both Art Digital MPA (w telefunken/mullard) and SSL Alpha Channel and the SSL made a big difference. I think the K2 matched with the SSL pre is a winner, but it doesn't sound too bad with the Digital MPA either.

[root]

chris,

Didn't see any other of your posts in any other threads but this one....(send me links or just tell me)

I have a Great River & a RNP + 2 RNC's and I try not to EQ anything cuz I suck at it... being the tadpole that I am w/ +50 years of ears.

I don't have a multi-pattern mic yet and I'm interested in the "tube" "multi-pattern" possibilities without breaking the bank.

I do have 2 SM81's, a MD421, MD441, Beyer 500 and 3 Unidyne III 57's.

Have you recorded anything using the Omni Directional and Figure 8 settings yet?

If so, please fill me in cause I'm anxious to hear the hands on comments.

root aka Bob

p.s. I trust Harry Gerst's opinion on things but I haven't found his opinion about the Rode K2 - only the Studio Projects T3

p.s.s. Would you ever consider the tube replacement mod?

[Chris Lago]

I swapped the tube right away actually. I'm using it with a Telefunken tube and it sounds great. I've tried it in figure 8 for an acoustic guitar, sounded wonderful, and Omni is great as well. I actually think that the K2 might be your best bet, especially combined with a Great River. The mic is made in Australia, not chinese. Check out my K2 post, I have the Omni and Figure 8 setting on there.

[biggator6]

I've had a K2 for a few years.. great all around mic. I haven't bothered to swap the tube yet. I typically run it into a Vintech X73i - that mic will cover a lot of ground and do it well.

[Newcleardaze]

I've had great success with the K2 on upper end male vocals. However, each voice can be different, so its hard to say. I've never used th eT3, so I cannot comment on it. I do believe the K2 is a fairly safe bet, as I've only had 2 voices in the past which it didn't sound at least pretty darn good on both of those being baritone voices - one of which is mine --- that being said, those 2 voices didn't sound bad on the mic either, the mic just didn't really do anything for the voices. That's my experience with the K2 at any rate.

[root]

I really want it to function as more of an extra added attraction instrumentally and not vocally since I'm writing more instrumentals. Using it for its omni, figure 8 and added Cardoid features is why I was considering the addition.

With the mics I already have (see a few posts back), am I being redundant so as to not warrant spending the bread on any multi-pattern, let alone this one? It is sort of advertised as a "vocal" mic --

As stated before, I'm an older tadpole so please help me decide or at least give me some food for thought.

In other words, is there a better muti-pattern mic for instrumental work in the under 750 ballpark or should I work w/ what I got and make do??

Bob G

ps I gotta admit I'm a sucker for the tube thing....

[RDMS]

The Rode K2 is a smooth mic indeed. Not always a good choice for pop (but not really what you want it for anyway).
Agree with the preamp issue on this one as it's got lot's of potential with the right gain structure.
On some voices I've found that it can sound a little harsh which sounds contradictory to it's relative smooth top end specs. Some singers seem to rub it the wrong way so to speak.

[minus-sounds.com]

Originally Posted by MadGuitrst

The T3 has more character, the K2 is smoother.

If, according to your description, the vocals are going to have a lot of high frequency content, I'd go with the Rode.

For the prices you mentioned, either would be a good pick up IMO.

I agree about the character of the T3. Harvey Gerst said that it sounds like an ELAM 251. I haven't used the ELAM, to back it up, but I trust Harvey's words.
I haven't used the K2.

[bitmob]

Depending on the style of music, you'll find the K2 is a very good purchase. Great bang for the buck.

[root]

Waitin' on a K2 delivery ---hopefully any day now???...my e-bay seller has hardly any communicato skills ....or thinks I'm a nut and clammed up cuz I asked too many questions after I bought it....just overly excited cuz I need to 'get a life' away from this GAS... Brian, if you're out there lurking, please tell me what gives??

[GordZilla]

What about an M-Audio Sputnik?

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by root

Waitin' on a K2 delivery ---hopefully any day now???...my e-bay seller has hardly any communicato skills ....or thinks I'm a nut and clammed up cuz I asked too many questions after I bought it....just overly excited cuz I need to 'get a life' away from this GAS... Brian, if you're out there lurking, please tell me what gives??

You definitely won't be disappointed! But I'm really surprized about the comment from Harvey, because I think the ELAM sounds kickass! I think I might go out and try one.

The Sputnik is very good as well, I pretty much bought what was available in the classifieds at the time. I just saw a MA 200 for 500 in the classifieds, oh my!

[Snatchman]

FWIW.. I have the T-3 and it's a good mic.. I also have the HDW Audio #203 Tube mic ( that I'm trying to sell.....)..that sounds similar as the T-3.. ( the reason I'm selling it..).. It actually is bigger sounding in the bottom, probably due to the NOS tube in it.. Not bad for the price as it cheaper than both mic mentioned.As mentioned, you can't go wrong with the T-3 tho'..Good luck...!