Middle of the line Location mic

[colinhart]

I am trying to decide between an NT3 and a C1000s. I have an NT4, which I am quite happy with, but I have heard that the C100s is a significantly better mic than the NT3. Has anyone had experience wih the two? Anyone have any other suggestions? I will be using it for ENG/EFP stuff, and I need a great sounding inexpensive mic that can be beat up without caring weather or not it gets fried.

Thanks

[bishopthomas]

I don't have any experience with the NT3, but the C1000 is horrid.

[John Willett]

Of the two, the NT3 - although I have never used it, I have only ever seen bad things written on forums about the C1000 (except for a few specific purposes for which it works well).

[mohthom]

I've used both. I sold the C1000s. Then I bought Oktavas (MC012s). I'm back to looking at Rodes (NT55s)!

The C1000s are good because of one thing only - the battery power. I didn't feel that they were as rugged as the NT3, but that may just be me.

MohThoM

[matyas]

I've used C1000s and would not recommend them for this usage. While I've never used the NT3, the NT4 and NT5 also failed to impress me (bright and harsh, in my opinion). In that pricerange, I'd recommend Oktava. My 012s have served me well. You may also be able to find something from AKG, AT, or Shure in your pricerange if you look hard enough.

[talbe1019]

No experience with the Rode, but (at least for me) the only thing the C1000s is good for is to mic a guitar cabinet.

[colinhart]

Thanks for all of the replys.

Just to clear a few things up, I'm not using this for anything musical. Just EFP stuff - field recording and the such.

Thanks again!

Anyone else?

[matyas]

In that case, maybe an A-T single-point stereo mic?

[colinhart]

Originally Posted by matyas

In that case, maybe an A-T single-point stereo mic?

No, I already have the NT4. Looking for something mono, but with good bass response, and fairly accurate. I may just have to spring for a 4011 or something.

[LX3]

The NT3 is solidly built, sounds fine, and can be battery powered for those non-phantom moments. But it's chunky and heavy. I assume you want it for interviews and such?

Handling noise seems quite high which could be a problem. I think you also need the foam windshield on fairly permanently.

Have you considered a dynamic like a Beyer M201 or something? Even a 58. How much are "real" ENG mics?

I haven't had the pleasure () of using the AKG but it seems pretty universally disliked. I have used the NT3 for flute in a jazz situation and it sounded fine... so I'm assuming it's better-sounding than the C1000.

You can buy my NT3 if you really want! I bought it as a kind of utility mic (i.e. capacitor where I don't care if it gets thumped a bit) but never used it more than a couple of times. And it never got thumped :-)

[mohthom]

Beyer M58 is about £105, so it's the same price . . .

MohThoM

[Jim vanBergen]

Most ENG/EFP kits I've used are two channels of RF, a shotgun mic like Senn 416, and one or two dynamic handhelds, like the venerable E/V 635A, Shure VP64 or a good ol' Sm58.

Sounds like you want a great field mic to capture ambiances? If that's the case, I'd suggest both omni and cardioid, as the environmental sounds I've found can have a radically different soundfield, and the options can make a huge difference. Sometimes I have used the shotgun & blimp, sometimes I really needed an omni- like for gathering a field with crickets & cicadas, wind in the grass kinda thing on movie set.

But this kind of work and the mid-line mics being discussed: the rycote suspension & windscreen that is also pretty standard --and I'm only assuming you'd want-- would be twice the cost of the mic. So I'm not sure exactly the applications you have in mind. Are you looking for indoor capture on stands, in single point mono?

Are you looking for a mic that can do double duty, for multiple applications? The 4011 is great, neutral, accurate, and expensive. The Senn 8040 is still not cheap, but wonderful sounding (I finally heard one, and want a dozen! If only...) The C1000 gets a lot of bashing but is a fine tool for what it is- an electret-condenser, not incredibly sensitive, not quiet. The Rodes I have found, are decent on the budget but never have quite the clarity I want (do not sound as good as high end mics, sadly).

So, can you expound a touch more on what you intend to capture? Environment/ambient/nature, crowd noise, music, spoken word? I think the suggestions would be more forthcoming, and maybe more helpful.

Cheers!

JvB

[XLR2XLR]

I would not purchase a Rode NT3 for interviewing, they pop like hell on speech and
are quite thin and bright sounding.

M201 also poppy, but sound better balanced on speech IMO, I have had a LOT of experience with both as I work in radio.

[colinhart]

No, I won't be doing any interviews or anything speech related. Just field recording for sound design. Logs falling, engine noises, ambiences, and the such. I currently own 27 mics, I'm just looking for a good, somewhat directional (I already own a half decent Shotgun, but will be getting a 416 or 4017 soon) mic that is similar to the 4011 or NT3 form factor.

Thanks for all the responses!

[LX3]

When you say 4011, are you meaning the DPA 4011?

The DPA 4011 and the Rode NT3 bear no comparison with each other. Is there some other "4011" that you're referring to?

I would have thought that if you wanted to capture ambience and effects, you'd mostly want to do it in stereo... A good handheld mid-side mic where you can record the mid and side signals separately (i.e. not matrixed) might be a good option. Such things used to exist, don't know if they still do - haven't looked for a while.

If you really need a mono spot effect, just use the mid signal on its own.

[HeavyG]

...let me say first that I seem like one of the few who like this microphone. I have not heard any concrete reasons why people hate it so much...but it's name has about as much cache as Barry Bonds does around baseball right now among what seems like the majority of my fellow Slutz. Thats cool...you guys are the pros...I am just a musician trying to learn how to be a better audio engineer and create good music in my project studio. That said...I have found the C1000s to be good for drum overheads and acoustic guitar (I own a pair...this is not just me regurgitating gossip). I haven't tried it on anything else...but my recommendation would be to buy a used pair and see if they fit your needs. Your risk is minimal...

[loujudson]

I LLLOOOVVVEEE my five NT3s - one fo the few mics that I went out and bought a pair the day after I first heard one. Puts the C-100S in the trash bin for sound quality, and is great on amm acoustic instruments for bluegrass and haprs, guitars, everything except piano.

I now have five in my live rig, and use them a lot. I could go on and on, but for the price tyou cannot get a true condensewr with 3/4" diaphragm that sounds anywhere near as good!

I'll stop here, but they are my secret go-to mic choice for many many things. I HATE C1ks, they sound like cardboard to me.

Lou