AT4050, AT4040, AT4033 ???

[bjm007]

Ok guys.... I've done a lot of searching, but I still have this quick question...

For male vocals, how would you compare the 4040 and the 4033? A friend of mine needs a male vocal mic under $400 and he likes AT stuff...

I bought an AT4050 myself which I ended up liking, (my main mics are older Neuman and AKG's) and I don't have experience with the lower end of the Audio Technica line (4040/4033) which is more in my friend's price range.

For example, the retail price points don't seem to track the model numbers - the 4033 is more expensive than the 4040 which seems odd to me?

What's the biggest difference between the two?

Which one do you guys like better for male vocals and why?

[electricsound]

I speak from limited experience but I have found the 4033 to be slightly grainier and darker than the 4040, and prefer the 4033 for female vocals and the 4040 for male vocals.

[Gilliland]

Originally Posted by bjm007

For example, the retail price points don't seem to track the model numbers - the 4033 is more expensive than the 4040?

I've never heard the 4040, so I won't try to give you a comparison. And I'm not a a big fan of the 4033. The 4050, on the other hand, is an excellent and very useful mic.

But the main reason for my post is to point out that you should not attempt to think of this as a series of microphones. Each of these mics has its own characteristics, and they are not particularly similar. The 4050 is a fairly large diaphragm, "true" condenser. The 4033 is a medium diaphragm electret. The 4040 is like the 4050 in that it is an externally polarized LD, but it is cardioid only. I think it's a safe bet that the 4050 is the best of the lot (not to mention the most versatile), but they are distinct entities and you shouldn't look at any one of them as the "next step" up.

[jcool]

I have only had experience with the at4040, so I can't really comment. . .
but the 4040 is not an electret; it is externally polarized while the 4033 is not.
I HAVE used the 4040 on nearly everything and been quite pleased.

[stagefright13]

I have 2 4033's and a 4050. And for male rock vocals. (My own) I prefer neither. And the difference between the 2 mics are noticable with proper monitoring equipment. And on different sources. Depends on the style of vocal. A full bodied deep voiced singer would prefer the 4050 I would think for it's better frequency response. And on any clean high dynamic vocal type.
The 4033 sounds better sometimes. But similar. Not sure if the price difference may warrant the extra price. But it does on other applications. Actually I use the 4054 alot cause it is a 4050 cardiod capsule handheld with rolloff. Puts the singer at home. And usually results in better performance from the comfy standpoint.

[Bluzzi]

Originally Posted by stagefright13

I have 2 4033's and a 4050. And for male rock vocals. (My own) I prefer neither. And the difference between the 2 mics are noticable with proper monitoring equipment. And on different sources. Depends on the style of vocal. A full bodied deep voiced singer would prefer the 4050 I would think for it's better frequency response. And on any clean high dynamic vocal type.
The 4033 sounds better sometimes. But similar. Not sure if the price difference may warrant the extra price. But it does on other applications. Actually I use the 4054 alot cause it is a 4050 cardiod capsule handheld with rolloff. Puts the singer at home. And usually results in better performance from the comfy standpoint.

Did you mean the AE5400 instead of the 4054?
(great idea using a handheld for some singers. Have you had any problems with handling noise?

jim

[bobx]

the 4047 is a great mic. try one out if you can.

[Pohaku]

The 4054 was the prior version of the AE5400. Actually came as 2 models -- one with rolloff (the 4054) and one without (the 4055). The AE5400 has a switch. Same capsule though -- that of the 4050. If you can find a 4054 or 4055, they are relative bargains. Often go for @$150 on e-bay. I've got 3 of the 4054s.

[Gilliland]

Originally Posted by Pohaku

The 4054 was the prior version of the AE5400. Actually came as 2 models -- one with rolloff (the 4054) and one without (the 4055). The AE5400 has a switch. Same capsule though -- that of the 4050.

True. And yet I prefer the 4054 to the AE5400. I'm not sure whether it's different electronics, or just the difference in the physical parameters of the housing, but the two mics have a somewhat different sound. The 5400 is a good mic, though.

Thanks to jcool for catching my error. I'm not sure how I misread that, but I've now edited my post to make it correct.

[PoorGlory]

I don't like the 4050 on vocals at all.... it is however a great acoustic instrument mic.

[T.RayBullard]

the lower timbre voices do well with the Clean sound of the 4050..

for a higher voice, the 4047

[glitch]

I find the 4040 to be a very neutral sounding microphone. I like it and it's a good all-rounder.

The 4050 I find to be just a bit boxy, but it also sounds excellent on many sources and is even more useful than the 4040 thanks to the multiple patterns.

The 4033 is a little brighter than the 4040, IMO. I must disagree with the above post.

However, the mic I regret NOT buying is the 4047. It's just a great, colored mic that's well suited to vocals and acoustic guitar.

[SoundUniverse]

My main mic's for my vocals are an ELUX 251 and an e47 program dependent, but I also have an AT 4050 which I use (a pair) for drum overheads, acoustic guitar and back ground vocals. I also have a AT 4047 which gets used for front of kick, electric guitars and lead vox for most my demo's (I just have it set up and it's easy-no power supply blah blah).

My point is going to be, even though I have much higher priced tools for the job, that AT 4047 is just brilliant. It definately holds it's own with the big boys and has found it's way onto the vocal track, because the performance was great and not bothered to redo with it's more expensive brotheren.

What is the 4047 about $500? The Elux 251 is 8 times more expensive!

[GearHunter]

Ditto on the 4047. It's the smoothest, most musical one.

[jarbar]

Wow, so many AT 40xx mics!
Most of these posts have to do with recording vocals, but I'm curious as to which of these mics (one or several) shine as drum OHs/ one mic drum micing? Acoustic instruments? etc.

[GearHunter]

I have a pair of 4051s that I loooove on overheads. Great on acoustic guitar, too!

[Musiclab]

If anyone's interested I think I'm going to sell my pair of 4050's

[pmdundee]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

If anyone's interested I think I'm going to sell my pair of 4050's

Price? :)

[vixapphire]

i like my 4033's bright crisp sound quality, although some might consider it a bit brittle-sounding. in any event, it does well with chris squire-type vocals (for all you dinosaurs out there), and is very well suited for recording acoustic guitars, in my opinion. i think of it as the quintessential poor man's 414.

v

[Baderup99]

Originally Posted by jcool

but the 4040 is not an electret; it is externally polarized while the 4033 is not.
.

Bringing up an old thread here.

What does that quote mean, that the 4033 is externally polarized and the 4040 is not? How will that make the two sound different?

[Pohaku]

Originally Posted by Baderup99

Bringing up an old thread here.

What does that quote mean, that the 4033 is externally polarized and the 4040 is not? How will that make the two sound different?

Umm. I believe that assertion is that the 4040 is externally polarized (and hence not an electret mic) while the 4033 is NOT externally polarized and is an electret mic. The 4033 has a fixed-charge back plate and is a permanently polarized condenser. The 4040 has an externally polarized (DC bias) true condenser design. I'm certainly not an expert on this, but these just represent two approaches to designing a condenser mic. Historically, I understand that electrets were often a cheaper approach to manufacturing a condenser (and there was an issue with their longevity), but I understand that to be no longer the case.


In any event, they do sound different, but IMHO, the difference isn't due to being externally polarized or not.

Edit:

Oooooooh - I just noticed - this is my lucky number posting!!!

[Ben B]

The 4033 doesn't suck on snare bottom.

-Ben B

[gevermil]

4033 can be cool on certain things . the 4050 is ... ok i guess . nothing spectacular .
in my humble opinion