Help me choose a condenser mic

[R,5,R,5...]

This any good?

[url="http://www.akg.com/site/products/powerslave,id,941,pid,941,nodeid,2,_language,EN.html"] AKG Perception 200[/url]

Or do you have any recommendations around the same price, little lower, little higher, you know...

[stingrayfan]

I've got an award-winning [url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/4713/a/r/e/google"]SE Electronics 2200A[/url] which I might consider letting go. I bought it earlier this year with ambitions of doing lots of home recording, then got a good band going and don't have the time! It's only been used a few times and sounds crisp and clear. Comes with hard case and really good quality shockmount. Read more [url="http://www.seelectronics.com/sE2200a.html"]here[/url] and if you like the look of it, make me an offer. It's as new, having rarely been out of the box.

[BOD2]

I've heard some good things about [url="http://www.rodemic.com/"]Rode[/url] if your budget is tight.

Some prices here [url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/?keyword=rode&page=shop%2Fsearch_results&manufacturer_id=0"]Dolphin Music[/url]

[R,5,R,5...]

Thanks for the comments chaps

Stingrayfan -- I'm interested, but I'll wait for more suggestions.

Anyone else?

[slaphappygarry]

I have used the perception and its a good mic. Rode nt2 and nt2a are about the same field too and are good. No experience with se i am afriad.

If it was me, i would stretch to rode or get the perception 400 which has more features.

G

[SkiingLizard]

the important thing is to try them for the application that you want it for...

so if you want to record a particular vocalist get them to audition a few mics and decide which one is best for them

the rode ones have had great reports though for (at least) the last few years

[99ster]

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='79679' date='Oct 26 2007, 09:46 AM']I've got an award-winning [url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/4713/a/r/e/google"]SE Electronics 2200A[/url] which I might consider letting go. I bought it earlier this year with ambitions of doing lots of home recording, then got a good band going and don't have the time! It's only been used a few times and sounds crisp and clear. Comes with hard case and really good quality shockmount. Read more [url="http://www.seelectronics.com/sE2200a.html"]here[/url] and if you like the look of it, make me an offer. It's as new, having rarely been out of the box.[/quote]


These are ridiculously good for the money (I paid more for just a shock mount for my Neumann!). I've got fantastic results from one of these...
Highly recommended.

[R,5,R,5...]

Garry -- thanks; I'll look at those as well;

ZPQ and SkiingLizard -- That's the thing; I'm not going to use it on vocals a lot, but I have a bunch of different acoustic instruments (strings and percussion) that I'd like to record, as well as micing cabs, so I guess I want something versatile and not too closely tied to one kind of application. I also don't think I need anything more than a cardioid.

99ster -- thanks!

[slaphappygarry]

Stop the press:

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ev_blue_cardinal_limited_edition.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/ev_blue_cardinal_...ted_edition.htm[/url]

£250 this time last year. I have one and its a brilliant wee mic.

G

[ZPQ]

That looks really interesting - how do you find the mounting? I'd have preferred a shock mount but at that price I'm tempted to get a couple - I've been toying with getting something so I can leave the C414's in the studio and this might be the bargain I've been waiting for.


Cheers
John

[jakenewmanbass]

If you can get hold of one GT67 by Groove Tubes have always done a good job for me
Jake

[slaphappygarry]

They sound really good for the price. I a/b'd these with a Neumann U87 on a cello a few months ago (before i bought one myself) and the performance was exceptional. Off course the £2000 valve mic picked up the top end and warmth better but the EV was certainly not a 30th the mic (which is it in price)...

I use it for acoustic guitars, room mics, strings and other general 'wild card' mic stuff.

G

[dr.funk]

Have you had any experience with using it on drums and vocals Gary? Reviews on the internet seem to suggest it is quite 'dull' and 'muddy' for a condenser, what are your thoughts on that? I'm temtped by the looks of it alone!

[slaphappygarry]

I donno, its pretty good but i wouldn't call it dull. I recorded hi-hats with it the other day and, although there was lots of spill, it def wasn't what i would call 'dull'

G

[Mikey D]

I only have experience of two of the t.bone (thomann own brand mics)

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_em700_stereoset.htm"]A Pair of condensers for less than £35![/url] and a [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_bd300.htm"]Bass Drum mic (also for brass/sax) for less than £40[/url] and I am actually stunned at the quality of them.

I bought them so me and my fellow jazz house mates could record a few rough demos, but the quality is so good, we're gonna try and it do it properly and record things ourselves instead of forking out for a studio.

But with such a price point you have to be careful as quality control is not the best, so there is a chance you may get a duff sounding one.

[nedsbeds]

[quote name='Mikey D' post='83085' date='Nov 3 2007, 10:40 AM']I only have experience of two of the t.bone (thomann own brand mics)

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_em700_stereoset.htm"]A Pair of condensers for less than £35![/url][/quote]

Just hang the hell on a minute!!

35 quid, with shock mount, stereo mount and pop shield?!

Almost worth it just for the accessories

[slaphappygarry]

jeez....

One pair of those ordered.

G

[Mikey D]

I know!! I couldn't believe it either. They aren't bad either...the pianist in my house is thinking of getting some so he can record piano gigs properly as well.

Only used them as drum overheads so far as an experiment to see what kind they are like, but they have a nice clarity, don't sound too harsh and they were only £35!!!

Looking forward to the next few weeks so we can get some serious recording done.

[slaphappygarry]

Are they hissy?!

G

[dr.funk]

Mikey, I don't suppose you have any recordings with them as overheads do you?

[Mikey D]

My signal chain is tbone condensers>spirit 328>m-audio lightbridge>pc and back again to spirit then out through a pair of monitors and they don't seem to hiss at all.

Nothing I can put up yet as it was done on my mates pc, but I should be able to put some up on myspace or something soon (prob a couple of weeks though as I won't have access to the gear again until then).

[dr.funk]

That would be great, I look forward to hearing it