Stereo Field Microphones advice for around $500

[automaticstatic]

Hello Ya'll,
I was wondering if anyone has some good advice for a good one point stereo microphone, I would really like to spend somewhere around $500 if possible.
I have been looking at the Audio Technica AT825 (discontinued) and the Rode NT4. I was also looking at some stereo shotgun mics.
I have purchased a Zoom H4n and want to record random sounds outdoors and build an odd library.
Does anyone have any suggestions???

[thenewyear]

The AT825 was great. Sorry to hear it's gone.

[Ozpeter]

The NT4 always sounds hard/harsh to me for music.

But I've not got a positive suggestion...

[Corran]

After using the NT-4 for several years I got rid of it, but if you must have single point, I would probably use that. It wasn't bad really, just not very inspiring.

One of those Audio-Technica ones was in the Classifieds the other day though, I don't know if it sold.

[Fran Guidry]

Originally Posted by automaticstatic

Hello Ya'll,
I was wondering if anyone has some good advice for a good one point stereo microphone, I would really like to spend somewhere around $500 if possible.
I have been looking at the Audio Technica AT825 (discontinued) and the Rode NT4. I was also looking at some stereo shotgun mics.
I have purchased a Zoom H4n and want to record random sounds outdoors and build an odd library.
Does anyone have any suggestions???

Not happy with the built-in mics? or looking for 4 channel recording?

You could buy an H2 for less than the mics you're talking about and it does 4 channel with its built-in mics.

Fran

[jrbr85]

Audio-Technica | BP4025 X/Y Stereo Field Recording | BP4025

Originally Posted by automaticstatic

Hello Ya'll,
I was wondering if anyone has some good advice for a good one point stereo microphone, I would really like to spend somewhere around $500 if possible.
I have been looking at the Audio Technica AT825 (discontinued) and the Rode NT4. I was also looking at some stereo shotgun mics.
I have purchased a Zoom H4n and want to record random sounds outdoors and build an odd library.
Does anyone have any suggestions???

[Piedpiper]

used Crown SASSP. Way better than the NT4 or the AT.

[k.online]

Have you heard of the Cascade X-15? I love mine. Not as nice as my Royer SF-12 but very, very good for the money. Don't know if it fits your needs or not.

[Corran]

He mentioned sounds outdoors, that'd be a big no-no with a ribbon!

[Teddy Ray]

Studio Projects LSD2...many folks love this microphone.

[Ozpeter]

An LSD-2 outdoors might also be a bit of a lump.

Sony ECM-957Pro?? I've not found a user review though.

[panatrope]

The Sony is a rather old design and noisy by comparison with more recent mics. Having used the AT825 since 2001, it performs extremely well but is also a bit high in the noise department.

The BP4025 and AT8022 are direct derivatives of this mic and its consumer cousin the AT822 but much improved. The 8022 is like the AT822 and will work on both battery and phantom power so can work with units such as the H2. The noise is about 5dB better than the AT825, the only disadvantage is that maximum signal is reduced by about 8dB when on battery.

The BP4025 will work only on phantom, is as quiet as my best studio condensor, and will handle higher signal levels. I have only given the 4025 an informal listen at a trade show, but am hoping to use it on a real gig in a good environment in the near future alongside my AKG stereo - and an NT4 - to see how good its imaging is. If it as good as the AT825, I'd buy it. But it should be better ....

Good stereo mics are becoming increasingly rare .... The NT4 is a reasonable knockabout mic but I expect the BP4025 would be worth the extra money.

[NorseHorse]

+1 on the used Crown SASS. Extremely flat frequency response. And it was made for film, so it's outdoors friendly.

[avebr]

Hello!

I must say something here about the Shure VP-88.

It's a one-point MS/XY mic, with it's own matrix. It can work with both phanton or battery.

Based on my experience, it can be a *very* nice first stereo microphone, for both sound/sampling and music!

It is a real surprise when you connect it to a nice preamp, like Benchmark.

I know, it's more like us$700-800... May be a bit old, low sensitivity (2.5mV/Pa), unknown, too 'ENG'... but it's great.

Very useful.

PS: For your recorder you may need some specific cables...


best to all,
ave.

[jnorman]

i was also going to suggest the shure vp88 - you should be able to find s good used one in your price range. they sometimes show up in the yard sale forum over at taperssection.com.

the crown SASS is a very large unit to be toting around for your use, but it is good.

i think you should also consider a pair of omni mics for this purpose for ambient type sounds - no proximity effect of omnis will serve you better for this than directional mics. you could consider head (hat) mounted, or hand held unit (stereo bar or jecklin disk or dummy head with handle or some such). the little DPA 4061s would be good for this. or you could use regular omnis like the AT4022s - not single point, but there are ways to craft a portable hand held solution.

[Ozpeter]

The Sony is a rather old design and noisy by comparison with more recent mics.

"Newly developed capsule provides improved sensitivity" says Sony when it was released about 18 months ago. So it's not necessarily fair to compare it with Sony's earlier MS mic designs. Some real world field reports would be interesting but the only discussion I've seen elsewhere tailed off just when someone reported that they'd ordered one.

[Syncamorea]

Originally Posted by avebr

Hello!

I must say something here about the Shure VP-88.

It's a one-point MS/XY mic, with it's own matrix. It can work with both phanton or battery.

Based on my experience, it can be a *very* nice first stereo microphone, for both sound/sampling and music!

Have you ever tried it as a drum overhead? I've used the NT-4 with some success but it's very position sensitive and flaky in some rooms.

[avebr]

Originally Posted by MC3DPCS

Have you ever tried it as a drum overhead? I've used the NT-4 with some success but it's very position sensitive and flaky in some rooms.

I've used the VP-88 in almost everything/every situation!

It's very nice as a drum overhead but it surely depends on the quality of the room - as any overhead!? Any stereo mic will be sensitive to position but is easier to set and position while you are searching for 'that sound' than a pair...

You can use it as overhead, stereo pair substitute/spot, inside keyboards (piano, harpsichord), ambience (near),...

I remember using it as a stereo spot to three double-basses - where the middle-one could need some fader-riding later - thanks to MS.

all the best,
ave.

[jmarkham]

I know this is going to be sacrilege .. but .. the Zoom H4N condenser
mics at a 120 degree pattern sound surprisingly good..

IMHO, in your application, positioning is more important than the mics.

jeff