Budget Oh choices....At2020 or anything better?

[jangoux]

Hi,

I am needing to buy some *nice* mics for drum overheads, as currently, i am recording with SM57s, which are doing a poor job. I was considering the Oktavas MC012s, but my budget is very limited and i am not sure i will be able to spend this kind of money (about $400) on a pair. So, i was considering the AT2020s. I've read a few threads about it, and opinions seem to vary. They seem at least good and versatile mics for the money. So, do you think it would work ok for drums overheads (better than the sm57?) ? Would it be a good choice until i buy the Oktavas (or other more expensive mic) or are there any better choices on it's price range? Better than those ECM8000 ? I record mainly pop/rock and heavy rock.

My current mic locker is :

3 sm57s
2 sm58
1 AT4047 (used for room mic)
1 MD422
1 CAD E200
1 AKG D112

Will buy soon an Audix i5.

So, what are your opinions?

[Sounds Great]

I just sold an AT AE5100 for about $200. You might find a pair of these, they sound very similar to your AT4047 if you like the sound of that. I once tried the Oktava's and thought they were horrible. y.m.m.v.

[jcharles00]

personally, i would save up for the oktavas. i've been using a pair of large diaphragm condensers as primary overheads for a while, and it's just not as favorable to me as small diaphragm mics. there's too much midrange muck that i have to EQ out later.

i can't speak for the mc012s but the mk012's were excellent on a session i did some years ago. i've just been too cheap to buy myself a pair.

[krs]

AT4041 (pair new $399) are extremely usuable mics. Amazing value.

[jangoux]

An AT4041 sounds nice. Aside from overheads, what are other uses for it ?

I would really prefer mics that can be used for other things, and with a good bunch of low end (for capturing toms and floor toms on the overheads). If the mic can be used for voice, that's a plus, because i only have the 4047 for using vocals (i hate the sm57 for it).

Btw, my budget is around $400 , maybe $450 (but lower would be better, if possible)

Thanks,
Ivan

[Mark]

How about ANOTHER AT4047!?

Only $398 BIN

[jangoux]

Originally Posted by Mark

How about ANOTHER AT4047!?

Only $398 BIN

Then I woud not have a room mic...i already had thought on this...

How about studio projects C4?

[Sounds Great]

Anyone know anything about an Electrovoice RE200?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Electro-Voice-EV...QQcmdZViewItem

[Dot]

jangoux, we've tested nearly every budget mic on the market on OH's at TLS, [ as well as 50 SDC's in all price ranges ] and in that price range - around $200/pr - the Studio Projects B1's always win. They're also killer on toms [ way better than 57's ], so if you later upgrade your OH mics, you can drop the B1's down on tom duties.

If you've got $400 for a pair of OH mics, I'd highly recommend the Red5Audio RV8's.

Both the B1 and Rv8 are excellent workhorse mics, and can be used on drum OH's, toms, amps, acoustic gtr, vocals...and anything else you want to throw at them.

If you could find a used pair of AT4040's that would be another good way to go.

More info at http://studioforums.com/groupee/foru...984#9806046984

[Dot]

Originally Posted by Labs

- If you are only recording your own band Im guessing youll want to get a pair and setup that locks down that sound in your particular room with your kit rather than something versatile.

What'd you have in mind, Labs?

I don't think it matters anyway. Most mics that tend to work well on OH's also happen to be versatile mics in the studio on other applications. In fact I can't think of a pair of mics that only sound good on OH's and nothing else. And it's also been my experience that the better the mic sounds on OH's the more versatile it's going to be in the studio on other applications.

[warhead]

A pair of CAD M179 would net you great drum OH sounds, and would work on 90% of anything you'd point them at. In that price range I'd check some out at least.

War

[jangoux]

Originally Posted by Labs

- Are you mainly recording your own band (Meaning, your own or your drummers drums) ?

- What kind of room do you have?(large/small?, live/dead?)

-What kinda music/style are you recording?

- If you are only recording your own band Im guessing youll want to get a pair and setup that locks down that sound in your particular room with your kit rather than something versatile.

Gustav

Currently, i am recording on a small to mid-sized room (i dont know the exact size, but its like 10x20x9),m which is kinda live, but not a very pleasant ´liveness´. I will probably move to another room soom, with better acoustics, so i need something that will work on as many room as possible.

I will be recording mainly rock music. Sometimes i record my own band, but lately, 80% of my recordings are other´s bands. I always record with my drum kit, made of Bapeva, a brazilian wood that´s known for being a brazilian kind of maple. The kit has quite large drums (10x9, 12x10, 13x11, 16x16 and 24x18).

I really want something that sounds good with overheads but that will be usable on other stuff, like voice, acoustic guitars and distorted guitars, IF POSSIBLE.

So, isnt the SP B1 TOO budget ? I mean, it´s $99, so it should be really aimed for entry level. Or am I wrong ? Wouldnt a C4, or this Cad mic a better choice ? How about those AT mics, like the 4040 or 4041 ?

[jangoux]

[Mark]

Do you really need a room mic?

[username]

yeah.. I wouldn't worry about the room mic realy.. much much better too have two good overheads imho