Ableton Forum

Hi All,

I have a new AKG Perception 100, my first large-diaphragm condenser. I am running it through a new MPA Gold (I'll upgrade the tubes soon) and am generally very happy with the improvement from using a Beta 58A without the mic pre. I will be buying a second condenser to do vocal and acoustic guitar playing at the same time. I'd like to use the perception on Guitar, and get a better condenser for vocals. Best I've heard for the money--I can consider $500 or under--is the NT2A. I hear the NT1A is a bit brittle at the top end for vocals. I hear that the Bluebird is not much better than most other $200 mics, though it looks better. After reviewing a bunch of online forums and asking around I have the sense that large-diaphragm condensers for $200 and under are about the same with respect to sound quality.

Have any of you A/B'd some of these mics and formed an opinion? I'm alson wondering if I should be getting one with multiple polar patterns since I will be using two mics in close proximity. I appreciate any thoughts.

--Adam

sE Electronics 2200a: IMO, best under $300(new) large diaphragm mic.

I picked up a couple of used(like new) on EBay for around $150 a few months ago.

Google for reviews.

I've also heard and read great reviews of the SE2200a

Might also want to put the Audio Technica AT2020 on your list

i've heard good stuff about the sE stuff. but i've done a number of tours with and recordings with a shure ksm 27 and have been pretty pleased with it. did a recording at a small studio and ended up using the 27 over the studios Rode NT1a for vocals. There you go, might want to check out ADK and pacificproaudio as well.

You'll get better results recording acoustic gat with a small dia condenser like the Rode NT5 or any number of good alternatives.

I've used the perception on vocals and I really like it for a budget mic - it sounds nicer on my voice than the cheaper Rodes do. I feel lately though, that it really is worth saving up and getting a really good mic at some point...like the AKG C 414. Man I want one (or two) of these so much...

hill56871 wrote:After reviewing a bunch of online forums and asking around I have the sense that large-diaphragm condensers for $200 and under are about the same with respect to sound quality.

Have any of you A/B'd some of these mics and formed an opinion? I'm alson wondering if I should be getting one with multiple polar patterns since I will be using two mics in close proximity. I appreciate any thoughts.

--Adam

I've pretty much found that to be true, although the Perception punches well above its weight compared to the competition. ADK make great low cost mics - check out the Vienna for a good ldc. Marshall make a very highly regarded pencil mic in the MXL603, Oktava MC012 ( also a pencil mic) is also fab for the $$

Also, bear in mind that any half decent mic can sound like crap through a shitty pre in a bad room. I had the good fortune to do a lot of tests on mics at home and then at a state of the art studio with Grace preamps, horribly expensive acoustic treatment, Genelec monitors, you name it...and a lot of these Chinese mics were surprisingly good.

The 414s mopped up though....best mic I've ever used.

Thanks, all of you, for suggestions. Now I've got a few more mics to put on the list. I am lucky to have a buddy with a 414 that I can borrow to A/B against cheaper mics. I especially appreciate the suggestion about using small diaphragm condensers on acoustic guitar.

Cheers,

--adam

studio projects C3 is also a good one.