Help me 'round-out' my mid-level Mic locker for versatility

[James Lehmann]

It's taken me several years to acquire this modest lot but I now have the following carefully chosen mics in my locker:

- Brauner Phantom AE
- Microtech Gefell M930
- Microtech Gefell M300 (matched pair)
- Avenson STO-2 (matched pair)
- Shure SM7B
- Shure SM57
- Beyer M160

I'm planning to get out more later this year with my Metric Halo/Mac laptop rig and try to record small electro-acoustic jazz ensembles, small world music groups, folk, grand pianos, maybe some chamber classical and vocal group stuff. I don't expect to be doing rock bands, large orchestral stuff or TV broadcasts etc. This will not be my daily bread, so I'm not investing heavily to recoup my money or make a profit - I just love recording good musicians and good music. I do also track stuff in the studio so obviously I've half an eye on the usability of a mic in a studio situation, but almost all of these mics I'm sure will work well in all locations.

I think I'm reasonably well set (and I'm also good for cables, bags, DI's etc), so if it were you what mic would you be looking to supplement this lot for a maximum of €1,000? (I prefer to purchase my mics new so FleaBay prices aren't of interest.)

I feel I need another matched pair of something but I don't think I can stretch to another really good pair right now, unfortunately.

Obviously I lack a Fig 8 mic if I want to try M/S, so for maximum versatility I was thinking a classic:

- AKG C414B-XLS

would always be useful in some capacity.

Then again, either or both the following might be useful if the SM7B is usually going to be tied up on bass duties:

- Sennheiser MD421 or 441
- Electrovoice RE-20

or I could just skip straight to high-end and break the bank for a:

- Schoeps CMC6 with MK4 or MK2 (but which capsule?)

These are my thoughts to date but I'd welcome your suggestions. I realise these discussions can be a bit vague and hypothetical because even I don't exactly know what I'll be recording one or five years down the line, but it's the sort of thing we might chatter about over a drink in the pub, and if you're anything like me you love helping other folks spend their money on gear, hence my post!

Thanks for your time,

James

[Teddy Ray]

Id say you need a pair of "upper tier" omnis

Gefell mk221 with josephson c617 bodies
DPA 4006
schoeps cmc62 (or cmc62h or 62s)

Originally Posted by James Lehmann

It's taken me several years to acquire this modest lot but I now have the following mics in my locker:

- Brauner Phantom AE
- Microtech Gefell M930
- Microtech Gefell M300 (matched pair)
- Avensen STO-2 (matched pair)
- Shure SM7B
- Shure SM57
- Beyer M160

I'm planning to get out more later this year with my Metric Halo/Mac laptop rig and try to record small electro-acoustic jazz ensembles, grand pianos, maybe some classical and vocal group stuff.

I think I'm reasonably well set, but if it were you what would you be looking to supplement this lot for a maximum of €1,000? (I prefer to purchase my mics new so FleaBay prices aren't of interest.)

I feel I need another matched pair of something but I don't think I can stretch to another really good pair right now, unfortunately.

Obviously I lack a Fig 8 mic if I want to try M/S, so for maximum versatility I was thinking a classic:

- AKG C414B-XLS

would always be useful in some capacity.

Then again, either or both the following might be useful if the SM7B is usually going to be tied up on bass duties:

- Sennheiser MD421 or 441
- Electrovoice RE-20

or I could just skip straight to high-end and break the bank for a:

- Schoeps CMC6 with MK4 or MK2 (but which capsule?)

Thanks for suggestions - I realise these discussions can be a bit vague and hypothetical because even I don't exactly know what I'll be recording one of five years down the line, but it's the sort of thing we might chatter about over a drink in the pub, hence my post!

Thanks for your time,

James

[James Lehmann]

OK guys,

I'm going to order something in the next few days.

I think the basic decision is between another M160 or an M130 - I can't afford both. Might have to just flip a coin!

Here's my small mic road-case so far - room for a few more slots for nice mics over time I hope!

What would you put in there?

[bishopthomas]

Go for the second M160 to use them as drum overheads.