Looking to buy warm, fat LDC

[petsematary]

I'm looking to extend my mic collection a bit and a LDC with some color would be nice.

What's your advice on a lower end (sub 500) LDC with a big, warm, fat sound? Not overly superPHAT or hyped with no high end, just a good mic with good, fat sound. It would also be nice if it could dish out a nice proximity effect when close micing vox and stuff.

Primary sources to record are vox, acoustic guitar and mandolin.

[Eric Dahlberg]

Originally Posted by petsematary

What's your advice on a lower end (sub 500) LDC with a big, warm, fat sound? Not overly superPHAT or hyped with no high end, just a good mic with good, fat sound. It would also be nice if it could dish out a nice proximity effect when close micing vox and stuff.

Primary sources to record are vox, acoustic guitar and mandolin.

Though not my personal mics of choice on these sources, the Blue Baby Bottle & Studio Projects TB1 fit what you're asking for perfectly.

[petsematary]

Thanks, I'll add those to the checkout-list. Actually, I was thinking a tube mic might be suitable and the TB1 seems to be tube equipped.

[Alexi]

maybe at 4047 or a beyer ribbon mic?

[petsematary]

You mean the handheld, front address Beyers?

[Alexi]

Originally Posted by petsematary

You mean the handheld, front address Beyers?

the ribbon handhelds...they are not ldc's but they sometimes work very well...

[petsematary]

Looking at an M260 here...that any good for warm, fat vox? Looks like a good value.

[davenutz]

perhaps try a MXL V6 which is solid state, or V69 mogami, which is tube.

[Jonboy79]

Second vote for the baby bottle, very loud, warm, upfront mic. Probably great for hip hop but not really for rock. And BTW don't assume that because there is a tube the mic will be warm.

[magellan]

Rode NTK.

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by magellan

Rode NTK.

or keep saving
low end mics like the TB1 arnt worth it if you already have enough mics to cover most bases
as said tube doesnt mean always mean warmth

[paulneedles]

try investigating the t-bone multi-pattern tube LDC- just over £200, it's the exact same mic that a lot of other companies are charging £350-£400 for, and I've heard good things - it's been on my shopping list for a while. The bonus with this is that you could probably sell it on eBay for more than you paid for it if you don't like it - for some reason this seems to be the way eBay is going these days! their RB500, which I do have, is very nice too

[DAWgEAR]

The baby bottle is certainly loud, upfront, colored, and unhyped, but it does not have a big low end, IME.

[Yetti]

Originally Posted by magellan

Rode NTK.

I have a Rode NTK(cardioid only) and the Rode K2 (variable pattern).
They are both great tube mics, and a great value.
I have auditioned them as vocal mics against mics like costing 2 or 3 times as much, and prefer them in most cases... great sound for vocals and acoustic guitar.
The NTK can be found for under $400 new, and the K2 for under $600 new.
Both come with a quality cord, power supply, and hardshell case.
Just my 2 cents

[Matti]

Petsematary, did you ever try the Golden Age Project TC 1?
Comments?
Matti

[ozraves]

The Baby Bottle can be fat in its own way as it's a hot mic and tends to sort of make things a little bigger than the source. I agree it's not the thing for extreme low end. You can see this on the frequency plot.

I'd go with the AT4047 myself. I sort of think of the AT 40 series mics as the Toyota and Lexus (depending on which model of mic) of the condenser mic world. You get some great value for money but you also get a well made mic.

[Kyle Ashley]

i'd say 4047 as well. i've always liked that mic, but I never bought one for myself.

[petsematary]

Originally Posted by MATTI

Petsematary, did you ever try the Golden Age Project TC 1?
Comments?
Matti

I have tried that one, yes. Perhaps I talked about it in another thread? It's a good ribbon mic. Now they've got two more versions out, one with a toooobe in it. Those I have not tried though.

[Matti]

I mean their tube LDC.
Regards Matti

[davenutz]

Originally Posted by DAWgEAR

The baby bottle is certainly loud, upfront, colored, and unhyped, but it does not have a big low end, IME.

very true...it doesnt have the high end that most modern mics have. (most mics period.) But it works very well on an "essy" singer.

[petsematary]

Originally Posted by MATTI

I mean their tube LDC.
Regards Matti

Oh, sorry. I don't think I've tried that one.

The Baby Bottle sounds interesting. I've not tried it but the "larger than life" quality y'all are talking about sounds very interesting. That's the quality I'm looking for. Big.

[slowdive]

you can absolutely not go wrong with the AT4047. GREAT mic. i got mine new for about $500. i also have a couple of NTKs, but based on what you described, i would say 4047 all the way.

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by petsematary

Oh, sorry. I don't think I've tried that one.

The Baby Bottle sounds interesting. I've not tried it but the "larger than life" quality y'all are talking about sounds very interesting. That's the quality I'm looking for. Big.

Well like I said, very big, very loud. Just to give you an example. I just bought a groove tubes gt57 and the volume difference is amazing. My baby bottle is probably 30-40% louder than the GT. I have a feeling if you pair the Baby Bottle with a really nice pre you'll get the sound you want.

[petsematary]

Whoops, that's a loud mic alright. Thanks for all the replies. I have some thinking and testing to do now. About the low end issues on the Baby Bottle though - can't one get more bass just by closing in on it...proximity, I mean? If one should want a bassier sound. Almost all LDC's work like that, don't they? I thought that was sort of a result of the nature of the mic.

[DAWgEAR]

Yes, it's a property of directional mics, but most of the Blue mics have a somewhat lessened proximity effect characteristic, at least compared to other LDCs I've used.

In addition to that tendency common to the five BLUE mics I have experience with, the baby bottle has a rolled off low end. It will get you loud, aggressive, presesnt, and not overly bright vocals if that is what you seek, but if you want to fatten a thin tenor who does not already have a lot of deep chest resonance -- put some weight on the singer, so to speak -- it's not the right choice IMO.

Then again, the mics I can think of that will do that exceed the stated budget, so, as a compromise solution, it might be satisfactory.

[warhead]

I gotta say the Audix SCX25a might make a wonderful fit for the sound you're looking for! Very full mic on vocals etc, with a low / low-mid fullness that's tough to beat in its price range.

If you really want "big" the BLUE Mouse is a great reach too, but out of your price range. The sE Gemini is also way up there in bigness (more vibe too).

War

[Giganova]

Originally Posted by Kyle Ashley

i'd say 4047 as well. i've always liked that mic, but I never bought one for myself.

I am not sure if that's a good recommendation. I had the AT4047 for a while, and while it sounded very smooth & silky, I wouldn't describe the sound as fat at all.

If you already have a few mics, why don't you get a nice tube pre/compressor that fattens up the sound? That could make a substantial difference, and it would affect the sound of all of your mics. When I wired up and used a vintage ADM pre module I couldn't believe how thin sounding Focusrite pres sound in comparison.

[MadGuitrst]

Marshall V69ME

[Tibbon]

I just got a AT4060 that i'm very much enjoying for around $600 on eBay