One decent mic - buying advice please

dontsimon · 18th November 2011

I just have a small home based studio. Over the past few years I've bought a bunch of low-mid priced mics, all of which have found some use. Rode NT1a / NT2a. SE 2200, Avant CK1s, Shure / Senn dynamics etc, plus a Shure SM7b.

I'm now considering selling some (keeping the SM7b though) adding a couple of hundred quid and buying a mic that could be considered the next stage up.

I mostly record acoustic guitar / singer song writer stuff, so I'd be looking for a condensor mic which is good alround vocal mic (m+f) but would also shine on acc guitar. LDC I guess, but if a SDC would work well for vox I'd consider one.

Does anyone have any advice on a great all rounder - I guess in the £450 - £700 ($700 - $1100) price range? Of course I'm not stuck on the budget, if there's a new kid on the block for £299 which is great I'd consider that too. I don't just want to spend extra money for the sake of it.

Thanks

Fezzle · 18th November 2011

If you can get an AKG414 theyre great all rounders, theyll do vovals well no problem, ac guitar, Overheads etc.... if you can stretch 900, go for a Bock 195 they are basically a U87 but better/proper quality and bigger low end!

halcyo · 18th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fezzle

If you can get an AKG414 theyre great all rounders, theyll do vovals well no problem, ac guitar, Overheads etc.... if you can stretch 900, go for a Bock 195 they are basically a U87 but better/proper quality and bigger low end!

I concur very much with the Bock 195/Soundelux U195 (same mic). Owned one for a couple of years and it is totally posh for the price. In this price range, the bock 195 will give you the most "wow that sounds way more expensive than the mics I have" reaction.

j2dafo · 18th November 2011

Def. the C414 varieties are standard all-rounders. The Bock is a nice mic, but I certainly wouldn't put it in the U87 vein. more U47 fet.

you MIGHT be able to find a gefell UM70 in your price range too.

also, doing a search is quick, easy, and free!

Karloff70 · 18th November 2011

A Gefell M930 could be the ticket. Quality 'anything' mic with VERY low noise and a healthy load of 'properness' in the sound for relatively little cash.

mcgruff · 19th November 2011

How about a pair of ADK A6? Don't be put off by the price. They've got a good transient response, and are flat and accurate. Great for a natural, unhyped sound on acoustic guitar and generally very versatile.

clip 1 - acoustic
clip 2 - acoustic & flute
clip 3 - acoustic (from dreamguitars.com)

18th November 2011	#1
dontsimon Gear Head Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 32 Thread Starter 1 Review written	One decent mic - buying advice please I just have a small home based studio. Over the past few years I've bought a bunch of low-mid priced mics, all of which have found some use. Rode NT1a / NT2a. SE 2200, Avant CK1s, Shure / Senn dynamics etc, plus a Shure SM7b. I'm now considering selling some (keeping the SM7b though) adding a couple of hundred quid and buying a mic that could be considered the next stage up. I mostly record acoustic guitar / singer song writer stuff, so I'd be looking for a condensor mic which is good alround vocal mic (m+f) but would also shine on acc guitar. LDC I guess, but if a SDC would work well for vox I'd consider one. Does anyone have any advice on a great all rounder - I guess in the £450 - £700 ($700 - $1100) price range? Of course I'm not stuck on the budget, if there's a new kid on the block for £299 which is great I'd consider that too. I don't just want to spend extra money for the sake of it. Thanks

18th November 2011	#5
Karloff70 Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2006 Location: london Posts: 6,756	A Gefell M930 could be the ticket. Quality 'anything' mic with VERY low noise and a healthy load of 'properness' in the sound for relatively little cash. __________________ what is a small difference? genetically there's only a small difference between a human and a banana. - golden beers

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18th November 2011	#2
Fezzle Gear addict Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 409 1 Review written	If you can get an AKG414 theyre great all rounders, theyll do vovals well no problem, ac guitar, Overheads etc.... if you can stretch 900, go for a Bock 195 they are basically a U87 but better/proper quality and bigger low end!

18th November 2011	#4
j2dafo Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 913	Def. the C414 varieties are standard all-rounders. The Bock is a nice mic, but I certainly wouldn't put it in the U87 vein. more U47 fet. you MIGHT be able to find a gefell UM70 in your price range too. also, doing a search is quick, easy, and free!

19th November 2011	#6
mcgruff Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,051	How about a pair of ADK A6? Don't be put off by the price. They've got a good transient response, and are flat and accurate. Great for a natural, unhyped sound on acoustic guitar and generally very versatile. clip 1 - acoustic clip 2 - acoustic & flute clip 3 - acoustic (from dreamguitars.com)