Mic locker advice needed

[bradb]

Hello everyone,

I'm in need of a little direction in my next mic purchase.

Here's what I have:

Sennheiser MD-421
Shure SM-58
Shure SM-57
Shure SM-57
AKG D112
Audio Technica PRO37
AKG C414 XLII
AKG C414 XLII

Here are my pre's:
Hamptone 2ch. tube
Sytek (w/BB on 3&4)
Seventh Circle Audio 2ch. A12 (on the way)

Here's what I'm trying to do:

1) Record rock and roll, generally in a instrument by instrument/overdub situation... record drums, then guitars, then organ, etc etc.
2) Record singer/songwriter stuff, stereo acoustic guitar, small percussion.
3) Perhaps record in a live situation, drums, guitar, organ all at once.

Here's what I'm thinking:
1) Get the josephson C42s so I will have a matched pair of SDC, should be great for acoustic, an alternative for the c414s for overheads.
2) Get a royer ribbon mic, great for guitars and acoustic guitar (but I can only get one now... what about stereo acoustic? later I could get another)
3) I'd also like to get another switchable pattern LDC for room/vocals. AT4050? Studio Projects T3? what are better brands?

---what do you guys think?

My budget....>$1.3k mics are out of my budget.

Thanks a million!

Brad

[bradb]

<whimper>...please?

[dale116dot7]

I had a similar mic setup as you, and I went for some SDC's - but I picked AKG C451B's. They are super-bright. I use them for snare, or overheads, or acoustic guitar. I'd say you'd want something like that. I've not used the C42's, though. You'll probably find the sound opens up when you compare most other SDC's to a Pro37. The ribbon might be a good choice too.

[HudHudson]

I'd add a couple more 421s (for toms & guitar cabs), an SM7 for vocals, a Senn 602 for another flavor of kick drum/bass mic, a Royer for guitars (elec and acoustic) and the 4050 is a nice choice for a multi-pattern LDC.

[Paul David]

$1300 mics are out of your budget huh?

That's too bad because I was going to recommend a Brauner Phantom C. It is very clear and detailed and I get great acoustic guitar sounds with it... plus it KILLS on lead vocals.

[chadly]

Originally posted by bradb

Here's what I'm thinking:
1) Get the josephson C42s so I will have a matched pair of SDC, should be great for acoustic, an alternative for the c414s for overheads.

---what do you guys think?

My budget....>$1.3k mics are out of my budget.

Thanks a million!

Brad

Your #1 nails it on the head. One of my first purchases were a pair of Neumann KM-184's (having used them at work a great deal) I've never used the Josephson's to know though. I do like the SM-81 and the original 451's. (Haven't used the re-issue yet)

The pair of SDC will give you an option on just about everything. After the SDC pair, then augment with other mics (ribbon, SM-7, etc.) If you're planning on doing a lot of tracks live, some more SM57's or MD-421's are going to be pretty critical.

You might want something a little more kick oriented in your setup (just my taste) such as a Audix D6. There's about 5 million kick drum/bass taylored mics that retail for $200. Many are good, but depend on your taste. Do a search and read some of the other threads, 'cause this one's been hammered to death.

[bradb]

Thank you everyone. Much appreciated!

[dale116dot7]

Originally posted by chadly
...and the original 451's. (Haven't used the re-issue yet)

They are brighter by maybe 2 or 4 dB up in the 10-20kHz region. If you A-B them with the same preamp and no EQ, the original sounds nicer on acoustic guitar, mostly the transients. If you take the new one, and do a touch of high-cut EQ, it comes pretty close. It has to be one of the cleanest mics I've heard with that amount of brightness. A lot of bright mics (Chinese mics, especially) are dirty and spitty up there; this one is not at all that way.
One thing though, the new C451B is basically a transformerless C451EB + CK1S + 10 or 20 dB pad. You can't change capsules. The CK1S is a bright capsule, and works very well on a C60 or C61 body.
I only own the new C451B's, and compared them with the old C451EB's and a CK1S + C61 at a 'mic war'.

[Prince Alsihad]

I think you definitely need a Royer R121 in your collection. Slap that sucker in front of a cab and your ready to go.

[bradb]

I just sent off a check for the Josephson C42MPs. I'm going to get a AEA R84 next... in a few months... I should be done buying mics after all this.... maybe?



actually, I'd like to follow your advice and get another flavor of kick mic, now I have the D112 and 421... Besides the 421 what recommendations do you have for a versitile kick/guitarcab/tom mic?

[Prince Alsihad]

A true gearslut is never done buying mics.

[WDG]

Hey let us know what you think of the new SDCs.

[chadly]

Originally posted by bradb
I just sent off a check for the Josephson C42MPs. I'm going to get a AEA R84 next... in a few months... I should be done buying mics after all this.... maybe?



actually, I'd like to follow your advice and get another flavor of kick mic, now I have the D112 and 421... Besides the 421 what recommendations do you have for a versitile kick/guitarcab/tom mic?

Somehow I missed the fact that you had a D112 in your collection. My advice is to use what you've got when the Josephson's come, then concentrate on your weaker links.

If your drumset kick sounds good and you like the sound that you get with a 112, keep it. If you find that what you've got isn't cutting it, then go for something else. I'm partial to the D6, but there's many who feel strongly about other things. My pref for the D6 is based on the fact that I get a number of really crappy drumsets through the door at the studio I work at and usually don't have tons of time to get the kick sounding great, so I don't think it's the magic bullet for everyone. I've used the D112 quite a bit when I've got the time to get the kick tuned well and to really work at placement.

If you're still left wanting on the vocal side, get something along those lines, guitar, organ, etc. - samething. Use what you've got and fix it when it's not working. I've recently gotten a R84 and like it, but it hasn't been my go-to on everything like I thought it would. It's still nice to have though!

Bottom line: after your SDC's arrive, work with what you've got, then augment later. Spend time on placement and technique before reaching into the locker. It'll make you appreciate the differences between mic's more, and make future decisions more informed.