Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category?

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lawajava
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2015/03/21 13:57:53 (permalink)

Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category?

I may try to obtain one more microphone to see if I can get an even more optimal sound.
 
I'd like to see what folks recommend.  I have a vocal booth, so I'm not worried about ambient sound bleed.
 
Whatever you have that seems to really get it right I'd like to hear about it.

Two internal 2TB SSDs laptop stuffed with Larry's deals and awesome tools. Studio One is the cat's meow as a DAW now that I've migrated off of Sonar. Using BandLab Cakewalk just to grab old files when migrating songs.
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    ampfixer
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/21 23:06:10 (permalink)
    AKG C214. It's amazing and produces great results in my LTT (less than talented) hands. My brother sings and plays acoustic and once he tried mine he bought 2 for himself. Prices can vary greatly so shop around.

    Regards, John 
     I want to make it clear that I am an Eedjit. I have no direct, or indirect, knowledge of business, the music industry, forum threads or the meaning of life. I know about amps.
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    #2
    jonboper
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/23 13:18:42 (permalink)
    For a little less you might like the Audio Technica 4040.  I've used mine for almost every recording I've ever done.  You can probably a-b them at a store like Guitar Center...

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    AT
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/23 13:57:50 (permalink)
    If it is vocals, then see about checking out mics first.  Within a price range, there isn't a world of difference in quality, but one mic will be a better choice for electric guitar, another for this voice, another for her voice.  If you can't test and no one at any local studio has opinions, and the dealer won't let you return, you are kinda stuck w/ your first choice.  It probably won't be bad, but maybe not optimum.
     
    I got lucky and got a good Oktava 319 back when GC was blowing them out for $100.  Then had it modded by Joly after I dropped it low those many years later.  So I would recommend one of those, or one of his (the new Hulk is $400 with his 47 capsule).  My 319 is a midrange mic - not a lot of highs.  Nice bottom.  Opposite of the Chinese sound (he has a nice article about Chinese 67 capsules).    Works well with my main singer, a female (see any of the songs in the soundcloud site).  Sounded good on many things, tho I use a -$100 MXL ribbon for electric guitar now.  And that combo sounds great,  if you have a good preamp.  Something else in mind if you are looking for a smoother electric guitar sound either instead or with a 57.
     
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    bitflipper
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/23 16:22:49 (permalink)
    I've not used the 214, but my understanding is it's essentially a cardiod-only version of the 414, which is an indisputably great microphone for both vocals and acoustical instruments. Similarly, the Shure KSM-32 is functionally a cardiod-only version of the highly-regarded KSM-44, also popular for acoustical instruments. And I've got a 44 here you can try.


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    AT
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/24 10:50:44 (permalink)

    https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
    http://www.bnoir-film.com/  
     
    there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
    24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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    SvenArne
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/24 12:59:29 (permalink)
    bitflipper
    I've not used the 214, but my understanding is it's essentially a cardiod-only version of the 414


    The capsule has the same edge termination and drilling pattern, but the electonics are different (back-electret vs. p48 polarized capsule). I have used 414s but haven't pay attention to what version they've been (B-ULS, TL-ii, XLS etc.), but I would say the c214 has a more 'scooped' freq response. Larger-than-life sound on single sources, but tough to mix. I sold mine.





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    batsbrew
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/24 14:46:54 (permalink)

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    lawajava
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/24 19:27:33 (permalink)
    Thanks all. I've spent the last week or two zeroing in on my preferred choice.

    I already had an AKG C 4000b which is pretty powerful - (omni directional, cardioid, hyper cardioid, figure 8 capable). But I hadn't settled on it as the mic I loved for my tone. I also had an SM58 which actually has captured my tone really well.

    I've been looking for a mic I can really heavily rely on and sounds like it is a high quality studio mic. One that will suit my voice tone and capture acoustic guitar without making it sound dull or tinny.

    There's another thread I hadn't seen when I started this thread. One of the suggestions in there led me onto the path for narrowing it down.

    I have to say, just like getting advice on monitors there's a lot of suggestions and personal opinions.

    I ended up reading a whole lot and listening to a whole bunch of YouTube mic shoot offs, and samples of recordings from the top candidates - several mentioned above.

    I really like what I read and heard about one mic. It just got ahead of the rest of the horses in the horse race.

    I purchased the CAD Equitek E100s. It can be purchased for just over $300 if you look around enough.

    Of the many YouTube clips covering it, this one guy here recorded a song using it. The other YouTube clips show it off very well in terms of comparisons to other mics, or simply to hear it pure on vocals or guitars. So those helped in my evaluation. This one clip below uses it to track several parts on a simple piece and it's the ticket I've been looking for.

    I'm going to thank the person who suggested this mic in the other thread.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnq0JrOvfUo

    Two internal 2TB SSDs laptop stuffed with Larry's deals and awesome tools. Studio One is the cat's meow as a DAW now that I've migrated off of Sonar. Using BandLab Cakewalk just to grab old files when migrating songs.
    #9
    SvenArne
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/24 19:50:49 (permalink)
    Good choice, a desert island mic to be sure! Keep in mind, it can be somewhat more picky in terms of placement on acoustic guitar than most other condensers! If you decide you don't like it, send it to me I'd like a second one!





    #10
    Del
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/03/30 10:57:57 (permalink)
    the Golden Age Ribbon Mic R-1 is very good for Acoustic Guitars not so sure about VOX however.
     
    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=golden+age+project+r+2+mkii&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps
     
    That is if you are interested in Ribbon mics...

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    Vastman
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/04/17 23:51:24 (permalink)
    Lawajava!!!!  YOU GOT THE CAD!  Isn't it wonderful... I haven't touched another mic since hookin' her up... Knew you'd love it if you just tried it!  
     
     

    Dana
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    mettelus
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/04/18 06:05:32 (permalink)
    I have yet to get a good condenser, but subscribed to this thread as it went along. B&H runs the E100S for $329, I noticed, and the more impressive thing is 4.9/5 for 30 reviews. This one has definitely made the short-list in quick fashion (the non-intrusive shock mount and flat face are nice features too).

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    Vastman
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    Re: Microphone suggestions for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar in the $500 or less category? 2015/04/19 00:17:15 (permalink)
    Dude... it is AWESOME! We can still make kick-ass stuff if we try (yes, it's made in usa... no china ****)
     
     

    Dana
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    #14
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