 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
64.12.116.131
I have a setup with three decent microphones.
Sure SM 58
AKG D 8000
and a Fender. Its out in the car don't know the model number.
a wireless Nady
Audio Technica Pro 1a (this is not a joke.)I have a couple of questions for anybody about their favorite recording mic and their favorite performing mic.
I have a Korg PA80. That is Professional Arranger 80. (I have a lot of keyboards, but this one is really handy for doing some one man gigs if i want to sound like a band.) It is a nice compact keyboard that gives you 4 variations of drums and a couple of fills. I plug my mic in with a transformer (adapter for putting XLR into quarter inch). This transformer is a bit bulky and blocks use of the second audio in. So I tried to switch to some microphone cables that convert XLR into 1/4 inch and with these ( good quality ones and cheapos) I get noise and reduced signal.
so the AKG transformer is the best.
These are standard 50 to 100 dollar microphones. I think they are sort of industry standard professional quality SM58 and SM57 for vocal performance. Aside from hype, what has anyone gotten from 400 dollar microphones. Or has anybody found a great 100 dollar mic like those Russian Ottavias which seem cheaper, but seem to have some reputation established as good recording mics.
I mean i left all the gain and volume settings the same and switched mics and cables and I got this cheap 13dollar toy Karaoke mic with an attatched cable (just quarter inch.. no XLR ..Audio Technica model Pro-1A) This mic rivals the good ones and i don't get the noise i get from the XLR to 1/4 inch cables.
One more thing. I have a NADY wireless. I was going to sell it on EBAY because i never got good 9 volt transistor batteries and thought it was a weak setup. Then when i notice the other wireless ones are several hundred bucks just to start, i decided to put charged up batteries in and it seems not too bad, but i have to really test it out more.to sum up. What Microphone would give me something really sensitive and clear for recording. I don't need giant reputation. Just big on quality and performance. If there's a cheap one that someone has kept secret.. let me know.
thanks
paulpaulmulcahy.com
my other link is all piano
Follow Ups:
paulmpianist, hi. First cables. If you have patience and soldering skills try making your own. Take your time. Use Neutrik or Canare connectors. For wire use Canare 4E6S Starquad microphone cable. You can use for line level too. This cable uses irradiated polyetheylene NOT polyvinyl chloride for dialectric which is a Big Step Up. Two conductors per pole. Take your time terminating and use a good solder: No Lead - something like 96.5% Tin and 3.5% Silver with activated rosin core. I have made up cables in this way for years with terrific results. Cables made up in this way will amaze.Now microphones. You cannot easily go from 1/4" unbalanced to XLR without getting into some serious issues: impedance, loading, unbalanced drive, etc. XLR has two conductors for audio each out of phase with the other so common mode noise disappears. Impedance is Low. This gets complicated. The reason it sounds better with the transformer is that the transformer allows each side to see what it wants in terms of impedance. There is no short cut. Even using active devices to create a pseudo-balanced output/input can't beat a good trans. You also get the advantage of RFI blocking.
I better not suggest microphones. It looks like you are wanting same for live performance. I am more familiar with studio application. Hope this helps.
There's been a good cd produced by Stereophile in which they compare a dozen or more microphones... You may want to get a copy... jsut type stereophile cd test in a search engine.
That's good to know. I always like to hear or hear about the results of microphone comparisons which people have done. As always, people should read the comments and listen to the audio with an objective understanding of their own playback system, the reviewer's playback system, and the original recording system and circumstances.I did my first microphone comparison back in '74 (Beyer Dynamic-something, Neumann U87, KM84, AKG 451, Schoeps-something, Sennheiser-something, recorded onto a G.Q.-modified Stellavox SP7 half-track at 15 ips). I'd have to look at the data sheets to get all the model numbers, comments, and related distortion specs (done separately).
BTW, I'll be releasing a new microphone comparison later this summer. All mics will be run through the same preamp using the same input impedance. ;)
{Paul): "to sum up. What Microphone would give me something really sensitive and clear for recording. I don't need giant reputation. Just big on quality and performance."(Inmate): For recording, there are many good mics. Depending on the environment (nightclub versus home or studio, for example), you may want either an omnidirectional or a directional mic. Depending on the placement of the mic and the instrument being recorded (and the sound you want), you may want either a dynamic or a condenser mic.
So, this is not a simple question. For me, excluding special circumstances (noisy environment or extremely loud instrument), my first choice is a good omnidirectional condenser. Very good ones can be had for several hundred dollars, and the best ones are about $700 - $3,000 dollars. AKG, Audio-Technica, Neumann, Schoeps, Sennheiser, and Shure are all good bets. (In alphabetical order.) The top mics that I own are Schoeps (currently about $1,500), and I've rarely needed anything more than them, unless someone's ego is an issue.
Regarding your reputation. Your microphone is key to producing the sound you want. But, it's your management, presence, and talent which determines your reputation.
Your $13 mic may sound as good as a 57 or 58, but put it into a PA system (which is what the 57 and 58 are designed for, not recording) and it will howl with feedback at very low levels. If you are at all serious about recording get a tube driven condensor mic, and spend as much as you can afford. Good equipment is an investment. Cheap jumk is money down the drain. BTW, $400 isn't an expensive mic. $4,000 is routine for recording studios.
Thanks for the input... that's what i was looking for. I realized 400 bucks is still kind of a cheap recording mic. I just wanted to sift through the responses and see what people experienced. Some stuff here is very technical and hard to understand. I know about the feedback and various patterns too. Thanks for the comment
Check out Marshall mic's . Fair on price decent sound.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
