[Date Prev][Date Next]   [Thread Prev][Thread Next]   [Date Index][Thread Index][Author Index]

Re: OT: Recommendations for Microphone and Archtop or Acoustic Guitar

I've used the Neumann KM184s (XY pattern) and they work great - not perfect but very well.  I would also try AKG 451s.  Don't know how the new ones work but should be fine.  On the last Hayley record I fell back in love with my very old AKG 414.  Noisy as a small creek but REALLY beautiful sound.  Sometimes used that with a KM184 and sometimes Neumann TLM 103.  Don't know how the new 414s are.  But tonewise it was really great.  

Original Neumann KM 84s are now too expensive and could be kaboshed if bought from Ebay.  

I've heard good things about the SA stuff.   They may be made in China??? If so, you might have to pick through them for the best sound.

Of course the BEST path is to go to your local equip shop and buy (or borrow) all of them and then return the ones that don't work for you.  Try the Earthworks mic's too.  I've heard some good stuff done with them and they aren't too expensive. 

A record I did with Wavy Gravy won a NAIRD Award way back when!

Rule #1? Have fun!

R

On Mar 13, 2010, at 2:29 PM, looppool@cruzio.com wrote:

The microphones that we won the NAIRD Instrumental Album of the YEar award in
1998 for Martin Simpson's album  "Cool and Unusual"
were an ATM 4050  and a Neumann K184

The ATM 4033 ($400) is the identical microphone as the ATM 4050 just
without multiple polar
patterns (no big deal at all,  just point it where you want to record)

additionally,  the 4033 is the exact same microphone as the pricier ATM 4060
which has an A12 tube in it.

Instead of paying $1350 for an ATM 4060,  you can
buy an ATM 4033 for $400 (or cheaper if purchased used)
and use a tube mic preamp

Additionally,  Andy Butler just hipped me to the fact that the Swedish
Company
SA makes a fantastic and very inexpensive mic that is the equivalent of
the much
pricier Neumann.

A pair of matched condensers SA1s  just set a client of mine back $400,
although
you can buy one individually for $270.

This is a world class combination and is part of my Champagne Living
on a Beer Budget thread that I was just about to start.

Chris, Bill and I once did a double blind study of the
ATM 4033,  a borrowed Neumann U87 ($3,400) and a used Rhodet NT2 ($200)

We were looking at vocal quality at the time but here's what we discovered
by micing different ranges of voice and different gender of singer and I
then later
tested them on percussion.

The 4033 had the best detail of the three mics,  in fact,  it might
even be a little surreal in the detail but this is really easy to fix with
simple equalization.

the U87 sounded excellent too.  It should.  It costs $3,400.

The Rhode NT2 had a fascinating characteristic:   It was by far the lesser
quality of microphone and really lacked detail, however,  when you put
headphones on and listened to a recording with it of someone singing,  it
sounded like they were singing straight into your ear.
It was sooooo naturalistic, despite being the obviously inferior mic.

It was so warm sounding that I've frequently double miced vocals with the
4033 and the NT2.

In retrospect,  I can't more highly recommend the ATM 4033.
It would be my single desert island recording mic...........fantastic
sounding
at a price I can afford.



I'm looking for a decent recording/performance mic in the range of $400,
for my archtop guitar.  I''ve found that I totally love the soun