small side address stereo mic ?

[plus6vu]

I've been needing a sdc, stereo, side address mic for a while to use on vocals (for those folks that swing their head while they sing), vocal duets as well as tight spots or places where I need to stay as low profile as possible. I haven't found what I really want. I'm trying to stay as much below $1000 US as I can.

I'm looking into a pair of ATM450's to strap together, but I haven't heard much about them in these applications and I would also like to have it all in one body if that's possible. Even a LDC like AT4050ST might work, but that one is MS.

What are you folks using?

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by plus6vu

Even a LDC like AT4050ST might work, but that one is MS.

There's the Studio Projects LSD2 which is a LDC that can do XY.
Heard good things about that one although it's not small in size.

[Teddy Ray]

AKG c34

[plus6vu]

The LSD 2 might work. I'm going to be borrowing a friends 426 just to see if something that big will be okay. It will for some things, but not for others, I think.

The C34 isn't made anymore and I haven't found a listing for a used one. I'm not a huge fan of the 451 anyway, but it might still be a possibility if I find one.

Thanks guys!
S

[JEGG]

You (OP) are the first one I've seen who has mentioned strapping to ATM450's together. That seems like a good idea to me. It's one of the few "down market" ways of doing rotatable coincident SD cardioids. (You can't really duplicate precisely that effect with MS, omni+8 is dual cardioid equivalent, cardioid+8 goes to hypercardioid; neither are really the same.) That very nice little stereo rotatable coinicident cardioid Schoeps might be perfect, but it's a little above what you'd like to spend..........

The 4050ST is reviewed by Hugh Robjohns in this month's SOS Mag.

I use MS, with a variety of mid mic's and the MKH30 (and 414 B/ULS in less august circumstances).

For vocals, though, you might prefer LD mic's.

Edit: In rereading your post, I understand why you'd like rotatable cardioids, but various MS combos would seem to work just as well though a little differently.

OT: Just looked at the Studio Projects website. Those plastic shock mounts (for pencil mic's) are exactly like the Schoeps, except the advert photos show the elastic not installed properly-or not the same way as Schoeps. You might be able to put your ATM450's in those.

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by JEGG

The 4050ST is reviewed by Hugh Robjohns in this month's SOS Mag.

So was the review pretty favorable?

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by plus6vu

The C34 isn't made anymore and I haven't found a listing for a used one.

I think those things run about 3 grand used!

[ghellquist]

Schoeps has the mic you want, but not at the price. Two to choose from:

CMXY -- X/Y Stereo Microphone CMXY*4V - Overview - SCHOEPS.de
MSTC -- ORTF Stereo Microphone MSTC*64*U - Overview - SCHOEPS.de

(I have a MSTC and can really recommend it, but could not afford to buy another ).

// Gunnar

[plus6vu]

Like I said, I'm trying to keep the cost below $1000 US. I have sopretty nice gear, but my customer base isn't going to pay for a $3000 spot mic. Besides, I could use more than one. I'd love to buy several of the Schoeps stereo mics on tubes, but that's just not in the budget.

In the past, I've used Earthworks podium mics with some success, but they're a little awkward and they're not cheap either.

I'd like to hear from someone that's used the AT450's in this kind of application, at least a live vocal application, to get an idea of what to expect. At that price, I'm sure I'd find uses for them, but I don't like having to spend money on things that I can "probably" use somewhere. All of my stuff is live and I don't have a lot of opportunity to experiment.

Thanks for the suggestions. thumbsup
Scott

[Omicron_9]

Greetings.

I have a Peluso P-Stereo which I quite like. Not sure about retail price; over $1k but not by much, I don't think.

Peluso Microphone Lab

Regards,
-0.9

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by Brackish

So was the review pretty favorable?

The review found the mic to be so-so. (my conclusion)

The mic was described as somewhat lean sounding at distances that were not "close." Also, the mic delivered a somewhat strident presentation of some sources. The mic has three modes: MS "raw", and two "widths" of stereo. The narrower width was described as somewhat noisy.

The review is available on line, or you could find the zine in a store.

[Mats H]

Originally Posted by Brackish

I think those things run about 3 grand used!

I found it for SEK 4500, which is about $600. Deals do turn up

... and yeah, the MSTC64 is awesome.

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by JEGG

The mic was described as somewhat lean sounding at distances that were not "close." Also, the mic delivered a somewhat strident presentation of some sources.

That's not good! I've got plenty of those kind of mics already.

I wish there was a lower-priced SDC M-S mic. That Shure (?VP-88)
seems to have a lot of self noise. I've heard one orchestra
recording made with that Shure that sounded good. BUT, I've
also heard a side-by-side comparison of the Shure up against
the Rode NT4 on a low-level sound source where the Sound
Devices preamp was cranked up and there was no comparison:
the Shure was hiss city while the Rode held up well.

[erosconpollo]

MXL V67Q Stereo Condenser Microphone

Small diaphragm, side address, xy stereo. And pretty inexpensive.

[hbphotoav]

If cost (and mono compatibility) is a concern, the RODE NT4 is a decent option. It's permanent X/Y, cardioid pair, quiet, rolls off just a bit at 200 and down; rises just a bit at 4-10K; has a decently high SPL rating (143); can be battery powered; is built like a truck; and is $550 at retail. It isn't sexy or Northern European. It sounds pretty dang good in a lot of situations where SDCs are needed in XY.

You could do a lot worse. You could spend a lot more money.

My $.02US.

HB

[pbansen]

Originally Posted by plus6vu

I've been needing a sdc, stereo, side address mic for a while to use on vocals (for those folks that swing their head while they sing), vocal duets as well as tight spots or places where I need to stay as low profile as possible. I haven't found what I really want. I'm trying to stay as much below $1000 US as I can.

A couple of possibilities from Busman Audio:

Ribbon - BA-SR stereo ribbon
LDC - BSCS-L large diaphragm stereo

I have not used either, but I have a pair of his SDC's and they are quite good.

Pete Bansen
Truckee, California

[NorseHorse]

Cool new development on the Oktava front:

Oktava - MK-012 Swivel Mount - Black/Silver - New Item! - eBay (item 220550393170 end time Dec-29-10 07:50:50 PST)

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Cool new development on the Oktava front:

Oktava - MK-012 Swivel Mount - Black/Silver - New Item! - eBay (item 220550393170 end time Dec-29-10 07:50:50 PST)

Except they want as much for the adapters as the mic's originally cost!

[JEGG]

The OP could always use 2X NT6 is s/he is still reading.

[pkautzsch]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Cool new development on the Oktava front:

Oktava - MK-012 Swivel Mount - Black/Silver - New Item! - eBay (item 220550393170 end time Dec-29-10 07:50:50 PST)

Well...I recently tried one and it took only 3 or 4 180° swivels to cut the wire inside in halves. The adaptors should have a little more space for that wire to pass through.
However I soldered a 4ft cable in an aluminium tube between the two parts and now have a capsule extension tube. Needs better shielding but otherwise works well.