Mic Questions

[scwarren1015]

I am about to make my first real mic purchase. I am still trying to decide whether I need to spend my 1k on a quality LDC or should I get a matched pair of SDC's that I could use on acoustics, oh's, ect.

I am running a small studio so I need to spend my 1k wisely. I also am wondering whether I should split the 1k and get a pre amp/channel strip and lower priced LDC. I just can't decide what I need to do.

Right now I am tracking drums with
sm 57 on the top & bottom of the snare
sure 52 on the kick
MXL 990's on the overheads
borrowing Samson mics on the Toms

Acoustic guitar - MXL 990 on the neck and 991 on the body

Vocals, MXL 990 (ugh)

Bass - direct through a Grove Tubes DI (solid state DI)

Electric guitar - sm57 close and 990 in the room

I need help knowing what i need to get my drum, vocal, and acoustic guitars going in to my 002 Rack.

thanks.

[tINY]

I don't know what you mean by a "real mic".

For a kilobuck, you could get a pair of Studio Projects C4's, an e609 silver, a used RE20, and a Kel HM-4.

That would give you some options......



-tINY

[aussie_techie]

you could get a K2 and a pair of C4 for about 1K and cover both bases
CAD M series mics sound great and good bank for the buck aswell
do you have a main singer you are working with or is it different all the time?

[nathanvacha]

Kel mics and shinybox (or other brand, I assume) ribbon mics sound great, and you're looking at $100-150 apiece for those, so there are a gajillion options for you really.
Mic suggestions from me:

Kel hm-1 - $100 (Good for drum over-'s as i understand it)
Shinybox - $150(whichever ones sound good to you, cheapest ones are fine - drum over-'s and guitar = )
AT 4040 - $300 (or other 40 series mics, but this is the most affordable and sounds great - male vocals )
Sennheiser e609 - $110ish I think

Preamp Suggestions:

Joemeek threeQ - $200 (been reading about and hearing this in another thread and it seems interresting. Sound clips on guitars & vocals def. nice)
StudioProjects VTB-1 - $100ish (definitely better than 002 pre's, and cheap)
Groove Tubes Brick - $400 (a bit more expensive, but definetely sounds really good)
FMR RNP - $500ish (even more expensive, but two channels of quality pre-)

All prices listed are approx. for New equipment, and you can sure find deals on used equipment, either these things or others.

Also, check out kel's website -- they're selling off the gear they used for testing, and i assume it's in almost new condition

[scwarren1015]

thanks for the input. I have looked at the Kel's and they seem pretty cool. I think I really need some pre's because the 002 I don't think is cutting it on vocals.

I have heard a lot of great things about the RNP's, should I look in to getting a pair of those for stereo miking?

I also have had some friends say they have used the SE Z5600 at school and said it outperformed an 87? I think it is doubtful, but what do you know about the SE mics?

I am really needing a versatile mic since I am doing singer/songwriter demos. I know I am asking alot, but anything that could come close to sounding CLEAR on mostly folk and country demos would really help.

[aussie_techie]

put your money into mics before pres. the 002 pres can be a bit clean for vocals but they are usable. save up for something great pres. if you find the 002 pres to clean why would buy another clean pre anyway

[scwarren1015]

thanks for the advice, what mics would you start out with, matched pair SDC's or a nice large diaphragm for vocals

[rush]

I am in about the same situation that you are in so here's my $.02
You need a good pre. I say get one and see how that does with your other
mics (it may be usable for now). Then I'd start thinking about a nice mic
AT4060 if you can wait .. maybe somthing else if you can't.

[scwarren1015]

thanks Rush, what pre's are you looking at? What kind of music are you recording?

[rush]

I'm looking at the brick (or if I'm feeling really saucy I may try building a neve clone) but this may be useful:
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/studi...ng-guide.php#2

[rush]

In case you are feeling saucy too ...
http://www.fivefish.net/diy/

[scwarren1015]

Yeah, the DIY route seems really tempting. I have been looking at Seventh Circle Audio as an alternative. But the Brick and RNP are affordable and don't have to do as much work. I just can't get a straight opinion on the Seventh Circle stuff.

[nathanvacha]

Well the RNP is stereo, so you wouldn't need to buy two of them if you decided to go that route.

[rush]

Originally Posted by scwarren1015

Yeah, the DIY route seems really tempting. I have been looking at Seventh Circle Audio as an alternative. But the Brick and RNP are affordable and don't have to do as much work. I just can't get a straight opinion on the Seventh Circle stuff.

If you do decide to go with the Seventh Circle option please post about it .. that looks like it could be a great option.

[Matti]

I`m concidering Seventh C. too, with 3 "clean" pre`s for Decca three and
3"Apis" and 2 "Neves" , that should cover my needs.
Matti

[scwarren1015]

I would like to know how the API clones of seventh Circle sound, I would probably have 4 of those, and then 2 1073 modules also, but i am still debating what to get.