Condenser Mics and Mic pre-amps.

[~NukleoN]

Hello there...

I am interested in getting feedback (heh) from people as to what condenser mics and mic pre-amps they're fond of. I'm looking for maximum quality but without ridiculous expensive.

In any event, I'd love to hear some opinions.

Thanks!

[~KissTheStar]

Well my condensor mic is the Oktava MK-319 and it is terrific and affordable. It was recommended to me in particular for male vocals and can say it is superb. You can pick it up for $199 at guitar center.

Here is their link to it at Musicians Friend:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=020901112458068005151231653942/search/g=home/detail/base_id/51993

~Craig

[~nwdve]

I have experimented with many condensors over the years. The Rode NT-2's are quite nice. Lately the mic that has surpised me the most are the new Studio Projects mics. The C1 is simply incredible!! You should be able to pick one up for $225. I never thought I would like a mic this cheap. Now I own one!

[~ZuN]

Hey Dan,
I own the C1 and i think its a Far superior MIC to anything in its price range, I mean this mic can easily sound like a Neuman U87, I would get a good preamp tho to take advantage of this mic, Im not sure what your budget is but a Grace Model 101 is a great preamp to go with this Mic.

[~nwdve]

Grace mic preamps are awesome!!! The Summit Audio Model 2BA-221 is also great when combined with a C-1. Hell, the C-1 even sounds great on one of those little A.R.T. Tube pres!!!

[~ZuN]

Hahaha I have to agree with you This Mic does sound great even when using the A.R.T. Tube preamp.

[~arronc]

Eight to infinity use AKG 3000 mics. Theyre not as sensitive as the rodes, which is better for us as we dont have that dead a sounding acoustic space to record vocals.

[~NullDevice]

I love my Rode. I'm using the mic pre's built into my 828 (they're pretty flat and uninteresting pres) but the mic just by itself does a great job.

It does color the sound slightly, but in a way that's quite pleasing for vocals and many solo instruments. nI wouldn't use it on drums or to mic a cab, but it's awesome for vocals and (in my case) violin.

[~pop]

It all depends on the voice. There isn't one mic that will work with all the voices. You also have to combine with different pre to add different flavor. Mic and micpre are all about capturing your voice. It will not change your voice. Don't forget, headphones play big part in recording too. You have to hear all the frequencies when you sing.

[~cosmicity]

Since 1999, I've been using a Rode NT-1 (available for $199 almost anywhere) and a little ART Tube Pre-Amp (very cheap). Though I know there are better Mics and pre-amps out there, in this price range I found these to be at the top of the heap. Back in '99, anyway, I found the price jump between these two items and the next pair of items with a noticable improvement in sound to be massive. (Ex: $199 to $1200 or so for the next seriously noticable microphone improvement.)

I'm gonna check out the C1 now, though. For $225, if it's really better than my NT-1, I'm all over it.

(For the record, I recorded all of my vocals for the early Cosmicity EP "Forgive Me My Syns" with an SM-58 (standard non-condenser live mic) going through a low-end mackie mixer (no tube pre-amp), and I've gotten compliments on how nice the vocals sound on that album. I'm all about a good Mic, but it's like someone said earlier in this thread... it's about capturing a good performance first. It's about the Microphone second.)

mark nicholas
info@cosmicity.com
http://www.cosmicity.com

[~pop]

Originally posted by nwdve
Grace mic preamps are awesome!!! The Summit Audio Model 2BA-221 is also great when combined with a C-1. Hell, the C-1 even sounds great on one of those little A.R.T. Tube pres!!!

Do you think Grace Design 101 is worth $600?

[~ZuN]

Absolutely, it has great sound and is very well made, plus hardly anyone pays full retail price ;)

[~nwdve]

The Grace Design pre-amps are very pure sounding to me. Maybe not quite as pure as a Martech, but who the hell can afford that stuff anyway (besides George Lucas that is)?

[~pop]

Originally posted by ZuN
Absolutely, it has great sound and is very well made, plus hardly anyone pays full retail price ;)

Where did you get yours?
I noticed price ranges from $550 to $600 around net.

[~NukleoN]

Awesome info here..thanks a lot...keep it coming since I am interested in hearing about your additional mic and preamp recommendations. I have heard so many good things about the Studio Projects C1 that I seriously have to consider this...

I'll definitely look into the Grace Designs pre-amp as well. ;) Right now the only pre-amp I have is built into my Mackie.

[~nwdve]

By the way, a friend of mine in Houston owns a store and carries the Studio Projects C1 mics. He is also always coming up with some very neat used high-end electronics. Right now he has a Klark Teknik (gee did I spell that right? methinks me brain cells they are a going!!) eq that I am salivating over!!!! His email is: mgrhou@att.net

[~ZuN]

Well I don't own the Grace pre since I don't sing, my buddy has it and i beleive he paid $530. The trick to getting equipment for cheap is to build a realtionship with your vendor, what he looses in your sale he can make up with someone else's sale ;)

[~andrew [iris]]

we're recording with an Audio/Technica AT4033, surprisingly good results for the price... we have a few tracks where we have alternate versions done on a U87, and it's surprising how similar they sound once the tracks have been compressed/eq-ed properly

it's all about the performance, though, you can do wonders with an SM-58 if you have the attitude and the post-production chops

also, for extra insanity: run your vocal tracks through a good multiband compressor (like Waves LinMB) before they even reach the mix, to get that extra super-meaty taste

- andrew

[~pop]

At4033 is a great mic. I record few guitar amps with them. They sound crystal clear.

[~David Vesel]

It seems a lot of people like the Studio Projects C1. The B1 is another $125 less expensive, and I've seen similarly glowing reviews of that. Anyone used a B1? Street price of about $80, even less than a Shure. I've been torn between getting a B1 or an SM-57. Either is an improvement over the CAD 22 and the Zeron I own at the moment.

I don't own a mic preamp at all....I need one now seeing as I traded in my Mackie 1202 for a Samson PL1602 rackmount, and the preamps in it are pretty weak. I've read good things about a Joe Meek preamp that comes in between $100 and $150 used. What can you tell me on those?

[~NukleoN]

Anyone have a recommended online retailer for the C-1 and Grace Design 101 Preamp? I checked www.zzounds.com and they don't carry either.

[~kenporter]

Our mic of choice for Garrett's vocals is a Neumann TLM-103 going through a Focusrite Penta or TL Audio Fatman depending on what sound we're after. When I record acoustic guitar, I love to use the AKG C3000 mic. We used to use mattresses and sleeping bags around Garrett to ged rid of the ambience while recording. Now, I built a vocal booth in my closet :-)

Oh yeah, my dream mic-pre/compressor would be the Avalon 737, or the Millenia STT1 but they are a bit expensive.

Take care,
Ken

[~pop]

Originally posted by kenporter
Our mic of choice for Garrett's vocals is a Neumann TLM-103 going through a Focusrite Penta or TL Audio Fatman depending on what sound we're after. When I record acoustic guitar, I love to use the AKG C3000 mic. We used to use mattresses and sleeping bags around Garrett to ged rid of the ambience while recording. Now, I built a vocal booth in my closet :-)



How much did it costs you to build a vocal booth for your home?

[~kenporter]

Some Plywood from Home Depot, a few nails and some Auralex, and spray adhesive from GC. All in all I would guess $150. It's very "dead" sounding, meaning no ambience. It works great!

Take care,
Ken

[~spankmix]

AKG 414. Not only do I do dance music with a wide range of vocals, but I also work in the advertising industry. And I've found that most pro studios have every mike known to man. But I keep hearing that a 414 is preferred over $10,000 mikes. Hummm. You can pick one up for about $500 used on ebay. It also has a twin pickup for figure-8 (two person) recording. Anyway, good luck on your hunt.

[~ZuN]

Originally posted by NukleoN
Anyone have a recommended online retailer for the C-1 and Grace Design 101 Preamp? I checked www.zzounds.com and they don't carry either.

Sorry Dan I purchased my mic at a local retailer you can try out these places

http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/spdealerpage.html

[~NukleoN]

Hey Rafael...thanks man. ;) I'll check around online for the C-1 and Grace Design pre. It's hard to believe a good pre makes that much difference, but I hear that everywhere.

I'll be picking up an SM-58S tomorrow that I ordered a couple weeks ago...should be pretty cool for a dynamic mic.

Speaking of vocal booths..I just got a portable booth from www.whisperroom.com. Pretty quality piece of work, highly recommended. Nice to be able to throw down vox at 4am hah...couldn't have dreamed of doing that before.

[~ZuN]

wow that's a nice vocal booth, if you don't mind me asking, how much did that run you?

[~David Vesel]

Originally posted by NukleoN
Speaking of vocal booths..I just got a portable booth from www.whisperroom.com. Pretty quality piece of work, highly recommended. Nice to be able to throw down vox at 4am hah...couldn't have dreamed of doing that before.

Dan,

Whoa. Pretty cool. Pricey, though. I think I'll continue to sing under a blanket. ;)

[~NukleoN]

Hey there,

The Whisper Room I got is around $2800 or so with the casters and shipping..not cheap. I got tired of having to sing around the schedules of others.

I'm also a bit of a night owl, so it's nice to be able to lay down vocals when the mood strikes, even at 3am. ;)

[~pop]

I haven't tried out yet, but look into FMR RNP and Studio Projects VTB-1. Grace 101 sounds very real and pure. If you are trying to capture purity of voice, Grace might be way to go. Remember C1 is only good for vocal, guitar amps, and bass amps. It sucks for micing piano, cello, or anything that require 100% purity. I think Rode NT1000 sounds better for pure sounds, which is advanced version of NT2.

[~NukleoN]

Thanks Pop...helpful commentary. It seems like the Grace Design 101 is getting rave reviews so far. As for the C-1, I would only be using it for vox.

I should really get one of those CD's where you can listen to a bunch of mic pres or mics in sequence. :)