The 1030 is basically a 930 with a less cramped headbasket. And this makes more difference than some might expect.
To my ears the 1030 sounds big, open, real and relaxed, without any "metallicness" or nasality. Not saying the latter attributes are typical of the 930 BTW.
As always, graphs don't paint the whole picture or tell the whole story.


.

2 beyer m99’s
SM7B
Zoom zdm1
Avlex avs77
Samson cl5
Audix f55

AKG C12vr
Telefunken-Elektroakustiks CU-29 (Copperhead)
Slate Digital ML-1
(4) Slate Digital ML-2

Was really thinking about picking up the new United Studios FET47

I still love my Copperhead CU-29 also! Great for when I need a little more grit than a high end tube mic affords!

And yes, get Chad's UT FET 47! It is absolutely awesome. @ cdkelly

Neumann u87ai - vocals
Neumann KM184 (pair) - acoustic guitar
Neumann KMS105 - live vocals

My southamerican home-project studio:

1 - Sony C48
1 - TLM103
1 - KM84 (waiting for cleaning, repair or something)
2 - Shure SM58
2 - JTS PDM3
1 - Shure SM57
1 - JTS PDM57
2 - Samson C02
1 - Ancient french ribbon (waiting for repair, reconstruction or something - cant't remember the brand now)

There was, and I miss, an Akg d112 that I fear was stolen. Or maybe I loaned it, or I left it somewhere (I know, I have to be more careful)

Changes: It is not the priority, but just to say:
1 U87, to make a tube LDC, a couple of km184 and a couple of Coles 4038.
I just have to win the lottery.


PS: I see, and it is very useful to me, that some included comments about the mics.
Beyond the fact that each mic has a special ability, I suggest that each person mention which microphone/s they prefer or use the most.

In my case they are the Sony C48 and the TLM 103.

1-ADK Z67
1-ADK Z251
2- AEA R44
2- AEA R84
1- AKG D112
1- AKG C414-B TL II
2- AKG C414-B ULS
1- Audio Technica 3031
2- Beyerdynamic M160
1- Beyerdynamic M201 TG
2- Beyerdynamic M930 (set)
1- BLUE The Ball
2- BLUE Dragonfly
2- Cascade Fathead II (set)
2- Electro Voice RE20
1- Neumann TLM 103
1- Neumann U87 Gold
2- Neumann M149
1- Royer SF12
2- Sennheiser MD 421 N
2- Sennheiser MD 421 U
1- Sennheiser MD 441
1- Shure SM7B
7- Shure SM57
1- Shure SM58
1- Shure 520DX
2- Telefunken M60 (set)
1- Upton C12

That's most of it...

Yes! That's exactly when I use it for vocals.. when the song calls for more grittiness.. I can't have some these Chicago rappers sounding too pretty lol.

I've also heard it sounds pretty good kick.

And done... putting the UT FET 47 on the list on my next upgrade, which will be for drum recording.

Looking to add Beyerdynamic M201 and M88 (always loved this from my time in college on Guitar Cabs). Also the Telefunken's M80 and 81's... was thinking the 82 but maybe I don't need that if I'm going to snatch up the 47.

Nice. How do you like those? I just picked up a R88 and a couple of N22s.

I've had a pair of the 84's for several years and they are very versatile mics. Lots you can do with a pair and the null comes in handy in live recording situations.

The 44's are newer here, and what strikes me most about them is their sheer *reach*. They invariably wind up in Blumlein for drum room, and the low end they pick up is exactly what I've been looking for to complement the drum sound here. Very, very pleased!

Good to know. These are my first AEAs but I got hooked after watching the OneMic series on youtube.

My first post...

Mics (pairs) are for taping rock/jamband concerts

AT853Rx (cards, omnis)
Nakamichi CM300 (CP-1/2)
Samson C02
Audio Technica ATM41HE
Soon will be adding Nady RSM-5
Everything is used, purchased off eBay for cheap.

Dream (lottery) list
Beyer M160
DPA 4011/4006
AKG Ck63
Schoeps anything

AKG C451EB x1
Beyer Dynamic MC930 x2
Sennheiser MD421-II x1
Sennheiser MD421-U x2
Sennheiser E-904 x2
Audix i5 x1
Shure SM57 x3
Audio Technica ATM250 x1
Peluso 2247SE x1
Electro Voice DS35 x1
AKG Perception x1
Audio Technica AT4040 x1
Audio Technica AT4041 x1
Shure Beta52A x1
Warm Audio WA-14 x2
Rode NT1A x1
Philips EL-6021 x1
Shure SM7 x1

MD421's, SM7, DS35, C451EB are the most used ones.
Especially the old white 421-U's are really great on guitar and bass cabs, snare drums, toms. Almost aynthing.

421s are great microphones (I have 7 of them) but they are an absolute NIGHTMARE when it comes to off-axis leakage/spill/bleed. And they bleed sounds awful.

But positioning is the answer!

Indeed, I didnt pay much attention for that. Tom tracks are always stripped. Snare Drums as well.

Condensers:
1 x Audio-Technica AT4033
1 x Audio-Technica AT4050
1 x CAD Equitek E100
2 x iSK Pearl
1 x MXL 990
1 x Oktava MC-012 (cardioid, hyper-cardioid, and omni capsules)
1 x Oktava MK-319
1 x Warm Audio WA-87

Dynamics:
1 x Beyerdynamic M69N(C)
1 x Beyerdynamic M201TG
1 x Electro-Voice 635A/B
1 x Electro-Voice 664
1 x Electro-Voice RE10
1 x Electro-Voice RE11
1 x Electro-Voice RE16
1 x Electro-Voice RE18
1 x Heil Sound PR30
1 x Heil Sound PR40
1 x Sennheiser E906
1 x Sennheiser MD 421 II
1 x Sennheiser MD 441-U
1 x Shure SM57
1 x Shure SM58

Pondering for possible future acquisition:
1 x Beyerdynamic M88TG
1 x Beyerdynamic M160
1 x Beyerdynamic MC930
1 x Electro-Voice RE15
1 x Shure Green Bullet
1 x Warm Audio WA-84

AND... The time to use all of these mics. I will probably thin the herd a bit this year, but kept coming into good deals for awhile. My day job and general life has actually had me busier than before COVID, so I spent much time scrolling and purchasing used gear and not as much time using it as I would like.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Nothing like everyone else here, but I know I've got some of the staples since I see them in almost everyone's list:

• Shure SM58
• Shure SM58
• Shure SM57
• Stellar X2

Shure Sm57 (1)
Shure KSM27 (1)
Sennheiser E604 (4)
Sennheiser E614(2)
Sennheiser 421(2)
Shure 55SH Series II (1) First Mic I purchased a way long time ago.
EV RE20 (1)

Looking to add a SM7B or AKG C214 in the future.

Currently I just have a single SE2200A Mk2 and it does all I need of it.

I’ve previously owned AKG, Shure, Oktava & Rode mics among other brands.

But right now for the work I do I only need one mic and I can’t justify paying a fortune for another when the SE is so good.

2x EV RE20
AKG C414
2x Sennheiser MD421
2x Beyer M420
2x Beyer M201
2x Beyer M81
SE R1 Ribbon
SE X1R
2x Coles 4038
2x Cascade Fathead
Shure SM57
Heil PR20
2x Calrec CM656D
2x MXL 603
MXL V69
2x Rode NT1
Copperphone

Is the WA-87 noticeably better for anything in particular than your other condensers? Been thinking about picking one up.

To me the WA87 has a cool presence thing going on when I’ve used it for male vocals (just me). I haven’t had any issues with sibilance or anything, but I do like what I have recorded with it so far... I also like it on acoustic guitar when I am looking for the guitar to be in your face (singer songwriter).

I don’t necessarily think it is as much of an “all arounder” as the AT4050, but if you want something up front, it puts it there.

I have version 1, which seems to not have the greatest reputation here. I guess even Warm wasn’t that into it as they upgraded it.

version 2 they noticeably changed the head basket and I have no idea if they changed anything else. Haven’t messed with one, so no idea how they compare.

Purchased mine because it was on huge sale and I was curious. I like it, but use it when I’m looking for “upfront”.

At this point I’d highly consider a Warbler, though.

I thought this was in the low-end forum, but seeing some of these posts from last month... I'd LOVE to have some of these "low-end" collections filled with fantastic ribbons and Neumanns.

What the hell, I'll play.

LDC/MDC:

Neumann u87ai
Audio-Technica AT4033
3U Audio Warbler

Dynamic:

Beyerdynamic M88
Shure SM57
Shure SM58
Sennheiser e604

SDC:

iSK Pearl
iSK Little Gem

Wireless: AMT Roam elite 1

...Really just got those iSKs on a whim since they were so cheap. I may have damaged the Pearl's capsule somehow, it's very dull-sounding now! The Little Gem with the omni capsule on is my main mic for online teaching, which has been my bread and butter during Covid.

Wish list for the next however many years:

AEA R84
Gefell M930ts (mostly because I wanna shoot it out with my u87...)
Some kind of really solid SDC (Soyuz 013, KM184, Schoeps, Beyer MC930?)
Some kind of cool tube mic (Gefell M990? Or maybe an Advanced Audio of some sort on the cheap... or a u67 if I accidentally write a hit)

AKG 214 x2
Gefell UMT 70s
Royer 121
Audix D6
Sennheiser M241 II
Sennheiser e904 x2
Shure Sm 57
Shure Sm 58
Audio Technica 3528 sdc (needs replacing with a better sdc or 2).

Wishlist:
Neumann u87 (x2? - why not while we're dreaming...)
AKG D112
EV RE-20
Shure Sm7b
A pair of SDC like Sm81 or better.

I mostly record drums & guitars, sometimes vocals. Anything surprising on my lists?

We didn't have a mic, we went down to Mickys apartment on the 14th june, 2019, we recorded it as a side project to the lofi studio. We called it A Day At The Park as a side thing to our band. We had a few drinks and we knocked on our neighbors door. -Do you have a mic, we are recording into the apogee tonight, yada yada yada... We got the answer: -Eh yes, our girlfriend have one, and we got it. We recorded with it, it was a Shure SV100 on the vocals, from Swedish Claes Ohlson. We put it into a compressor pedal from EH, and into the small mixer. This is how it sounded, but otherwise, I never record vocals with mics today. But, I recorded with a Shure beta58 back in the old days, it is the best mic out there... I think!! It is called Casino Nights, we went home from the Casino in Stockholm, we felt for the people who had lost something that night! Here it is, a small link: https://soundcloud.com/user-742768349/casinonights

I feel obliged to at least post part of the contents of my mic drawer... (or closet)

The main part consists of LDC microphones of sE Electronics and the Thomann house brand.

Let's start with the sE-part...

• sE 2000 (the non-switch version from the 2013 vocal pack) was my first sE... I liked it and used it for about 6 years as my main voice over microphone.
• I checked out a few X1's (an original, 2 X1D's, an X1S. This really is a very good microphone in its segment.
• The X1-R sound pretty good on my electric guitar recordings.
• I also have a few bigger brothers: sE 2200a (2), sE 2200 II (multipattern). I think the 2200 is a great good sounding microphone for many purposes.
• I like the sE Z3300a very much... it has something extra for voice over, but also for singing (not me). It's just not a practical mike to put on a microphone stand, because of its size and weight.
• The tube version (same body) sE 5600a II is also great. It adds some extra vibe, but is not as useful for voice over (for my voice).
• I have a sE Gemini II that sounds good on everything, but is still a bit large... and heavy...
• The sE Titan sees some use for recording sound effects (for my videos). If time is limited the X1-D's are used (usually as a pair). There something about those titanium based diaphragms that makes them more honest...
• and a couple of sE SDCs: sE 1a and sE 3
• the sE V7 handheld dynamic microphone is one of the latest additions, and I used it as a "cheap" non condenser overhead in an echoey room in a video.

Another large part of the closet contains t.bone microphones from Thomann (Germany)

• a few (3 I believe) SC-450 microphones, which I think might be the same as the ORIGINAL (2001-2003) SE 2000 microphones. These get some use in several recordings, usually not as the primary microphone.
• two SC-1100's (which are in fact Feilo Z3300, the same as the original version from SE). I like these a lot, and for less than 120 euros you can't go wrong with these.
• one SCT-800, which haven't used on anything yet (shame on me)
• one SCT-2000, again the original Feilo Z5600.
• One SC-400 which is OK, but doesn't compete with the SC-450 at all (IMHO), it a spare for me.
• two RB-100 ribbons, which sound surprisingly good, at least 10000 x better than the MXL R144 that is somewhere in the closet as well, tucked away very deep.
• and a few dynamics: MB 85 Beta, CD 56 Beta, BD 300

The rest is just a bunch of random microphones:
a few SM-58's, SM-57's, AKG dynamics (D770, D880, D130), a few MXLs, Behringer B1, B2, B2 Pro and B5 microphones, Shure PG56s, ...

The Behringer B-1 and B-2's got some voice overy history too for me. I used one in "my" studio at the radio station where I used to work; I used a Neumann BCM-104 there too and multiple SM-7B's. For me the SM-7B is OK, but the BCM-104 was great. I think I used the Neumann U87Ai only a few times.

I'm not a specialized audio technician, but somehow during the years, I seem to have put together quite a collection... especially as my primary use right now is making videos and audio recordings of myself. I used to record a lot of other things too. Some bands, choir, audio plays, ...

If somebody made me choose just one LDC in my collection, I'd certainly pick the sE Z3300a. I think it's a shame it got discontinued. If I have to stay under a certain budget, I'd go for the SC-1100 (which is in essence the predecessor of the Z3300a).
For SDC's I'm balancing (in my limited collection) between the Behringer B-5 and sE 1a.
Handheld (dynamic) microphone: Either the AKG D880 or the sE V7
Ribbon: for now definitely the X1-R, but I'd love to check the sE Voodoo VR2.

Do I want one of the "classic" greats or very high quality clones/remakes? of course, do I need them: no, not for my purposes.

Your AKG D770, is a major sleeper vocal mic...
Chris

I've had my Z3300A FET for many years and consider it a great all-rounder. Used it on a Steinway Concert Grand Piano at church and it sounded spectacular and much better than anything used prior to that. Great on my voice, incredible on acoustic guitar and Congas. Only wish I had 2.