Help me plan my new mic locker...I've had ideas then been blown away by others

[pwn]

For instance, I was planning on grabbing a pair of KM184's or MAYBE just 84's, but I discovered the Michael Joly modified MK-012's and will probably get those instead. Here is where I'm at right now...

2 x Shure SM57 (snare..guitar..whatever)
1 x Shure Beta 57 (maybe snare? not sure)
3 x Sennheiser MD421 (toms, guitar)
1 x Shure Beta 52 (kick...bass?)
1 x Audix D6 (kick...bass?)

And I plan on picking up:

Michael Joly MK-012's matched pair for overheads, acoustic strings (800?)
AKG 451 matched pair for a different SDC sound and have one for hats (500ish)
AKG C414 XL2 matched pair for room's / vocal duties. Possibly overheads depending. Is it better to find two c414 ULS's that aren't matched instead? (1500ish)
Royer R-121 for guitar duties and possible some interesting kick drum fun (900 ish)
Maybe a sennheiser 441 as well to play around with for snare duties.

I'd rather not blow all my money on a couple crazy mics...ie u87's are out of my budget for sure . This is a big step up for me, since before this I used audix d2's and d3's on toms, sterling audio mics for rooms and overheads, and presonus pre's. I've since moved onto an HD setup with an aurora-16 and two chandler germaniums, an adl-600 and an 8 channel phoenix audio DRS pre.

Anybody thing I should ditch the D6, the Beta 52 or both for a akg d112? I was hoping the royer could make for some cool kick drum sound...

Help me out guys

Thanks!
Morgan

[John Willett]

Firstly, the D112 is an AKG and not a Sennheiser.

Yes, the MD441 is a good mic. to have In the kit (as well as an MD421 - I have both).

If I was buying new, I think I would go for a KK184 + KM-A rather than the KM184, for the flexibility and future-proof.

But I think I would go for a pair of MKH8040 over the 184.



Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[pwn]

Woops, wasn't paying attention. I know its an AKG :P

[Puffer Fish]

my fave kick mic is the beta 52. It also sounds really great on toms.

My new favorite mic-period-is the Kel Audio HM2D... I am in honeymoon mode with it, for sure. It is wonderful, I am sooooo in love! I really do like that mic. Check it out: Welcome to KEL Audio -- Mic it down to the roots! It is all the goodness of a good dynamic without the crap that goes with it. It fits a niche that other stuff does not. Kel has some other interesting mics as well that will be on my list after I get a pair of omni caps for my SDCs.

I would be afraid to use a ribbon mic on a kick drum for fear of damaging the ribbon. Well, I guess you could use a pop filter. I think there are probably better microphones for the kick drum... like the beta 52! thumbsup

How cold you possibly go wrong with a pair of 414 mics? If they are in your budget, you should just go for it.

[pwn]

Originally Posted by Puffer Fish

my fave kick mic is the beta 52. It also sounds really great on toms.

My new favorite mic-period-is the Kel Audio HM2D... I am in honeymoon mode with it, for sure. It is wonderful, I am sooooo in love! I really do like that mic. Check it out: Welcome to KEL Audio -- Mic it down to the roots! It is all the goodness of a good dynamic without the crap that goes with it. It fits a niche that other stuff does not. Kel has some other interesting mics as well that will be on my list after I get a pair of omni caps for my SDCs.

I would be afraid to use a ribbon mic on a kick drum for fear of damaging the ribbon. Well, I guess you could use a pop filter. I think there are probably better microphones for the kick drum... like the beta 52! thumbsup

How cold you possibly go wrong with a pair of 414 mics? If they are in your budget, you should just go for it.

The R-121 in particular can handle pretty high SPL levels, though I don't think a pop filter would help

I'm not too worried about my dynamic collection...for the most part.

[lynyrd]

This one is coming in from way over in left field but I'm gonna throw it in there anyways. No matter what you decide to buy for your mic locker, find the extra cash to buy a pair of Sahiaman's Little Blondies. These are an amazing little omni patterned SDC that sound fantastic, and they are cheap (its been a while since I bought mine but I think they were less than $100 each), but more importantly, they sound just great. I use mine as drum overheads and they sound really smooth and full, and capture the whole kit. Don't pass them by, they are great. Oh, and I'm not a guy that gets excited just because something costs less than the others. The Blondies are an outstanding performer, I bought mine on a whim, and wish I bought them years ago.

[msquared]

I really dig my Joly MC012 pair for overheads.

I've never liked the 112 on kick alone, but I can see how it'd be nice when paired with other stuff. My favorite kick mic lately is the EV RE20.

I used to hate SM57s for recording but then I got a used pair and removed the transformers from them. Run through good preamps, I love them for recording toms and snare now (depending on the track and the snare in question).

I'd be lost without at least one MD421.

Oh, and: Google

[pwn]

Actually I had already been looking at those, but to be honest I'd be afraid of losing them! lol.

I heard some samples, wasn't completely blown away but then again I was listening on regular headphones. I was planning on sending the guy a PM

[AntillesSound]

Personally, I wouldn't ditch the Beta52 or the d6 in a million years for a d112. As far as kick mics go, you're totally covered.

I really think you should look into a pair of Audix SCX25s. They kick ass as over heads, rooms, acoustic guitar, violin, guitar cabs, even toms. They're about $1200 a pair. Super natural, detailed, rich and brilliant without EVER being hyped or harsh, very unlike a 414 [though I do love the XLIIs]. They really are nice on vocals, they just need a little presence bump for more that typical vocal sheen. Good thing they take EQ like a champ!

On a budget list, I also really like KSM 44s.

[EqnoixStudios]

Originally Posted by pwn

Actually I had already been looking at those, but to be honest I'd be afraid of losing them! lol.

I heard some samples, wasn't completely blown away but then again I was listening on regular headphones. I was planning on sending the guy a PM

Working with them is way better then just hearing clips. They are magic by a guy that's super nice. Sold my earthworks after I started using the blondies. I used them for video also and it was some of the cleanest audio I had to mix for foley work.

I was never a fan of the oktava mk012, but someone told me the ones I had might have been crap. I've heard a lot of good things about Joly modded oktava's, never got my hands on them though. I will try them out in the future though. I've heard he is a pretty stand up guy himself.

And the 441 is great on snare, my favorite and I use it all the time.

Another great overhead selection are the 414 TL II's. They work lovely on pretty much everything too. Vocal's they are superb, but make sure they are TL IIs. Paired with an earthworks kickpad they sound freakin tight on the kick also.