The microphone thread.

octatonic

I have a few.

Neumann KM84, KM184 (x2)
Neumann U47 fet, BCM104, U87ai
Mojave MA1000, MA200
AEA RC33AE
Sennheiser E906, E609, MD421 x3, MD441 x2
Josephson C42MP, E22s
Shure SM7B a few SM57's and 58's (plus betas), Beta 52, Beta 91
AKG D12, D112, C414 x2, 
EV RE20
Coles 4038 x2
Royer 121
Audix i5, D2, D4, D6, ADX51
Rode Classic, NT2, NT1a, NT3
Audio Technica 4050, 4040 (both x2)
Aston Spirit x2

I still need more.

roberty

I got an AKG C414 for tracking my own vocals after auditioning a few different mics at a studio.  It suited my voice better than a handful of others despite not being known as a vocal mic.  Well worth the investment

octatonic

roberty said:

I got an AKG C414 for tracking my own vocals after auditioning a few different mics at a studio.  It suited my voice better than a handful of others despite not being known as a vocal mic.  Well worth the investment

C414 is most certainly a vocal mic.
Which version do you have?

stuartryanmusic

Great thread, I’ve been through a few over the years though I only use mics for recording acoustic guitars - I’ve settled on a Royer 122 and a Gefell M300 which is a lovely combination. I also have a Telefunken M260 which is great but hardly gets used as I usually can’t be bothered waiting for the tube to warm up! Previously I’ve had a Brauner Phanthera, KM84 mp, Josephson C42 and a few others. Would like to add a few more - old KM84 and maybe DPA or Schoeps

zepp76

octatonic said:

I have a few.

Neumann KM84, KM184 (x2)
Neumann U47 fet, BCM104, U87ai
Mojave MA1000, MA200
AEA RC33AE
Sennheiser E906, E609, MD421 x3, MD441 x2
Josephson C42MP, E22s
Shure SM7B a few SM57's and 58's (plus betas), Beta 52, Beta 91
AKG D12, D112, C414 x2, 
EV RE20
Coles 4038 x2
Royer 121
Audix i5, D2, D4, D6, ADX51
Rode Classic, NT2, NT1a, NT3
Audio Technica 4050, 4040 (both x2)
Aston Spirit x2

I still need more.

Wow, that's some collection! Are there certain Mic's you prefer over others and what do you find you use the most?

octatonic

zepp76 said:

octatonic said:

I have a few.

Neumann KM84, KM184 (x2)
Neumann U47 fet, BCM104, U87ai
Mojave MA1000, MA200
AEA RC33AE
Sennheiser E906, E609, MD421 x3, MD441 x2
Josephson C42MP, E22s
Shure SM7B a few SM57's and 58's (plus betas), Beta 52, Beta 91
AKG D12, D112, C414 x2, 
EV RE20
Coles 4038 x2
Royer 121
Audix i5, D2, D4, D6, ADX51
Rode Classic, NT2, NT1a, NT3
Audio Technica 4050, 4040 (both x2)
Aston Spirit x2

I still need more.

Wow, that's some collection! Are there certain Mic's you prefer over others and what do you find you use the most?

I've been collecting microphones since the late 80's, so they do tend to build up- I only buy 2-3 a year and I've sold a lot over the time I've been recording too.

It depends on what I am doing, but really it comes down to pairing with the right preamps (which I have a similarly ridiculous number of) and then compression and EQ choices to disk.

I love the KM84's on drum OH's, same with the C42MP's.
E22s is my favourite snare mic, but gets used on guitar cabs too.
Coles 4038's are great on vocals, drums and sax.
U47fet is my go to male vocal mic but I use the U87ai a lot too.
RC33 is a great vocal mic too but it depends on the singer.
Royer 121 is always on guitar cabs along with a dynamic, either an E906/609. SM57 or sometimes an SM7B.

Cirrus

My RE-20 fell from knee height onto a soft, carpeted floor and broke. I think the diaphragm is jammed, still makes sound but nothing sub-500hz. Please join me and Lament to the heavens!

zepp76

octatonic said:

zepp76 said:

octatonic said:

I have a few.

Neumann KM84, KM184 (x2)
Neumann U47 fet, BCM104, U87ai
Mojave MA1000, MA200
AEA RC33AE
Sennheiser E906, E609, MD421 x3, MD441 x2
Josephson C42MP, E22s
Shure SM7B a few SM57's and 58's (plus betas), Beta 52, Beta 91
AKG D12, D112, C414 x2, 
EV RE20
Coles 4038 x2
Royer 121
Audix i5, D2, D4, D6, ADX51
Rode Classic, NT2, NT1a, NT3
Audio Technica 4050, 4040 (both x2)
Aston Spirit x2

I still need more.

Wow, that's some collection! Are there certain Mic's you prefer over others and what do you find you use the most?

I've been collecting microphones since the late 80's, so they do tend to build up- I only buy 2-3 a year and I've sold a lot over the time I've been recording too.

It depends on what I am doing, but really it comes down to pairing with the right preamps (which I have a similarly ridiculous number of) and then compression and EQ choices to disk.

I love the KM84's on drum OH's, same with the C42MP's.
E22s is my favourite snare mic, but gets used on guitar cabs too.
Coles 4038's are great on vocals, drums and sax.
U47fet is my go to male vocal mic but I use the U87ai a lot too.
RC33 is a great vocal mic too but it depends on the singer.
Royer 121 is always on guitar cabs along with a dynamic, either an E906/609. SM57 or sometimes an SM7B.

Sorry for all the questions but is it a requirement to run the Mic's through a preamp? My Tascam DP-03SD has dual XLR inputs with Phantom power, does that make a difference? Thank you for your time.

octatonic

zepp76 said:

octatonic said:

zepp76 said:

octatonic said:

I have a few.

Neumann KM84, KM184 (x2)
Neumann U47 fet, BCM104, U87ai
Mojave MA1000, MA200
AEA RC33AE
Sennheiser E906, E609, MD421 x3, MD441 x2
Josephson C42MP, E22s
Shure SM7B a few SM57's and 58's (plus betas), Beta 52, Beta 91
AKG D12, D112, C414 x2, 
EV RE20
Coles 4038 x2
Royer 121
Audix i5, D2, D4, D6, ADX51
Rode Classic, NT2, NT1a, NT3
Audio Technica 4050, 4040 (both x2)
Aston Spirit x2

I still need more.

Wow, that's some collection! Are there certain Mic's you prefer over others and what do you find you use the most?

I've been collecting microphones since the late 80's, so they do tend to build up- I only buy 2-3 a year and I've sold a lot over the time I've been recording too.

It depends on what I am doing, but really it comes down to pairing with the right preamps (which I have a similarly ridiculous number of) and then compression and EQ choices to disk.

I love the KM84's on drum OH's, same with the C42MP's.
E22s is my favourite snare mic, but gets used on guitar cabs too.
Coles 4038's are great on vocals, drums and sax.
U47fet is my go to male vocal mic but I use the U87ai a lot too.
RC33 is a great vocal mic too but it depends on the singer.
Royer 121 is always on guitar cabs along with a dynamic, either an E906/609. SM57 or sometimes an SM7B.

Sorry for all the questions but is it a requirement to run the Mic's through a preamp? My Tascam DP-03SD has dual XLR inputs with Phantom power, does that make a difference? Thank you for your time.

Your Tascam probably has inbuilt mic preamps which are probably fine for the device, so no you won't need outboard preamps.
However, outboard preamps are usually much higher quality than onboard preamps in devices.

zepp76

octatonic said:

zepp76 said:

octatonic said:

zepp76 said:

octatonic said:

I have a few.

Neumann KM84, KM184 (x2)
Neumann U47 fet, BCM104, U87ai
Mojave MA1000, MA200
AEA RC33AE
Sennheiser E906, E609, MD421 x3, MD441 x2
Josephson C42MP, E22s
Shure SM7B a few SM57's and 58's (plus betas), Beta 52, Beta 91
AKG D12, D112, C414 x2, 
EV RE20
Coles 4038 x2
Royer 121
Audix i5, D2, D4, D6, ADX51
Rode Classic, NT2, NT1a, NT3
Audio Technica 4050, 4040 (both x2)
Aston Spirit x2

I still need more.

Wow, that's some collection! Are there certain Mic's you prefer over others and what do you find you use the most?

I've been collecting microphones since the late 80's, so they do tend to build up- I only buy 2-3 a year and I've sold a lot over the time I've been recording too.

It depends on what I am doing, but really it comes down to pairing with the right preamps (which I have a similarly ridiculous number of) and then compression and EQ choices to disk.

I love the KM84's on drum OH's, same with the C42MP's.
E22s is my favourite snare mic, but gets used on guitar cabs too.
Coles 4038's are great on vocals, drums and sax.
U47fet is my go to male vocal mic but I use the U87ai a lot too.
RC33 is a great vocal mic too but it depends on the singer.
Royer 121 is always on guitar cabs along with a dynamic, either an E906/609. SM57 or sometimes an SM7B.

Sorry for all the questions but is it a requirement to run the Mic's through a preamp? My Tascam DP-03SD has dual XLR inputs with Phantom power, does that make a difference? Thank you for your time.

Your Tascam probably has inbuilt mic preamps which are probably fine for the device, so no you won't need outboard preamps.
However, outboard preamps are usually much higher quality than onboard preamps in devices.

Thank you for your reply, it may be something to look into at a later date, at the moment I'm trying to work out how to connect a midi keyboard to my SR18 drum machine to control the bass lines, all good fun!

revsorg

I don't know if this is just posturing but in 2017 Greg Price was saying he doesn't use plugins, EQ or compression for Black Sabbath's FoH he purely achieves their live sound by selecting the appropriate microphone.
https://youtu.be/FW9Df_-FjBg

WiresDreamDisasters

I don't really have many microphones of my own tbh.

Audix D6, two Rode M3's, Rode NT2000, Shure SM57a, AKG D5.

I have access to a bunch:

2x Golden Age Ribbons
AEA Ribbon
plenty of SM57's
several 421's
2x Rode K2

TBH, it's what you "do" with it. My limitations on mics have never stopped me from recording and releasing music. Some people collect loads of gear but do nothing note-worthy with any of it. Sorta blows my mind.

gringopig

.

zepp76

gringopig said:

Strangely, I also have a Shure SM57 and a rode NT1-A too! Just two and I'm still experimenting to make them sound good.

@gringopig it's nice to see someone using the same Mic's, how are you using the NT1-A? Purely for vocals or have you tried recording acoustic with it?