Turtlerock Forum

You have approx $1700.

You want to buy a decent mic, all-rounder but mainly for vox.

You have no other gear really to speak of, just starting out.

What would you buy?

What would you buy if your not in the know (eg AT or c414) or........

Mark in my honest opinion a Blue Kiwi is the best mic you'll get for that price. Will definately get the most professional results with the least amount of effort.

Now thats if you can find 1 at that price, ahem ebay will usually find you a cheap Kiwi if your lucky.

I know I sound like a busted record on this mic but they sound superb.

Heres an audio example if you want to check out it's potential, though it's not just great on female vox its great on male vox too.

All 3 songs the vox were tracked with the kiwi straight into a digi 001, though processed later with api comps (patience api 525 comps and roll the dice api 2500 comp) and avalon eq.

http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists ... stid=19019

I'd look around and try to find a secondhand peluso, maube the 2247LE.
I had an offer to buy one for about $1500 AU secondhand about 6 months ago. AT mics are nice for the spend. I definately would not let a friend buy a Rode, no matter how attractive the low cost was, although I did use that stereo one they make with the funny lookin head(NKsomething?) and it didn't sound tooo bad, which confused me.

assuming you already have an sm58....

maybe buying second hand...

a neuman TLM103 or Microtech Gefel 930 (i think thats the right model number) or, a Rode NT2A...(low noise, sounds pretty good on most stuff, i was very surprised with this mic)

+

Second hand Sennheisser 421 or 441 (condensor sound with dynamic's SPL handling)....

should cover you.....in general....the tlm 103 is rumoured top heavy, the geffel slightly smoother.

Might put u out more than 1700....but albeit much more versatile.

Hi there,

Maybe a Telefunken AK 47 ??

Cheers
N
Y
M
O

Maybe a Naked Eye from the guys at Awave? It's a ribbon but has two different sounds depending on which side you use. One is darker and one is almost "condenser-ish". The regular (non-roswelite) version retails for $850 I think.

I'm getting some spectacular sounds from the AEA R84 Ribbon. It does acoustic guitar, Guitar cabs, horns, strings percussions and vocals. Is there anything left. Having said all that, it is going through a BAE1073>Purple MC77>Apogee AD16x. The chain may be helping. :-)

Great value new at $1400. Geez, I sound like a salesman. I have no affiliation with Mixmasters........

Cheers
Peter

Friends don't let friends buy Rode's.

I agree - assuming the prior existence of an SM57 / SM58, go the ribbon!!!! (also assuming enough clean preamp gain . . .)

if not enough gain on the pre, go the Senny MD421.

just, for gods sake keep clear of a hyped top end!!!

c.mfdu

mfdu wrote:Friends don't let friends buy Rode's.

I have a Rode Classic 2 which works great on many sources. I haven't had much experience with the others though.

Cheers
Peter

Whats wrong with a Rode Classic II - ?? They are nice mic...
The rest of Rode's, well........... it's each to their own I guess.


Ah, Pete, you beat me too it!!

"hyped top end" is all a bit cliched now for Rode now, isn't it? Its like one of those internet urban legends that just gets repeated and repeated, and like most generalisations (yes, I'm aware of the irony) its a complete oversimplification of the true picture.

I actually own and use 2 Rodes (an NT1000 and an NT2A) as well as a whole range of other dynamics and condensors (both tube and FET). Do they do everything? Of course not. Do they do some things extraordinarily well? Yes they do. Room mics, guitar cabs, accoustic guitar, male vocals, some orchestral stuff - I've even used them as an MS pair inside a piano. I'm happy to have them in my toolbox. If you think they're crap, fine, I'll buy yours off you for $10. Deal?

you are totally right, chrisp - i was just perpetuating the tale. but i do push a very 'dark' sound in pretty much everything i do, so the slightest bit of top-end really peaks out and says boo to my ears.

i have and use the nt5 pair (as regularly as i turn on phantom power, anyway . . . usually combined with a dark mic to balance the sheen), and i've used NT2A and NT1.

really, it was the NT1 that was like fingernails down a blackboard to me. my ears clench with anticipation on everything else from Rode since then . . .

thanks for keepin' it real for the homies!!!!

c.mfdu

I just saw a guy from the Central Coast has a Peluso 2247 for sale..
I've copied the ad from Gearslutz into a post here..

FOR SALE: Peluso 22 47
Bought brand new, and I've only used it twice.

The microphone comes as a complete system, with Microphone in Wood Box, Power Supply, 7 Conductor Cable, and Shock Mount in Flight Case. Hand built in the USA.
Details available from http://www.pelusomicrophonelab.com/2247.html:

Reselling due to it being not quite what I was after.

Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia.
Asking Price: NEG $1700.00 AUD + postage
RRP: $2290.00 AUD

Offering it on this site before it goes on Ebay.
Have great selling history, User ID: caravanrec
Accept PayPal & bank deposit only.

Whats the difference between the 2247 the 2247SE and the 2247LE. They seem to be different prices as well. Does anyone have experience with these mics?
Cheers
Dale

Dale,
I had a quick look on the Peluso website and they all are replicas of the neumann U-47..
SE based on the VF14 using an American Steel tube..
The LE based on a German-made Telefunken Steel tube..
The Vacuum tube model uses a glass triode tube..

However, each of the descriptions are all the same in regards to their midrange and balanced highs, 9 polar patterns and the power suply..
HTH..
Tim..

[quote="chris p"]If you think they're crap, fine, I'll buy yours off you for $10. Deal?[/quote]

I don't own any. I didn't use the word crap, as I said I personally wouldn't recommend one to a friend. For a little more money you can get a much better mic, in my personal opinion. I don't know about the 'hyped top end' thing, it's the mids through the upper mids that I find hard to like. As Tim said, each to his own.

hey chinagraf, it's ok. chrisp was commenting on my dumb-ass post. not yours. but your post wasn't dumb-ass. mine was.

(to dampen the flame)

c.mfdu

Cheers Chris, (and Chris) no flames :) just clarifying my comments. Shoulda put lots of smilies in to indicate I wasn't havin a go....

you could also snag a royer 121...for under 1700.

2 sides..one bright one darker.

and its a standard on electric guitars too...


boo ya!

C.MDFU

Sorry, guys, if my post came across as huffy - Mdfu, I didn't mean to flame you especially, nor Chinagraf, and especially not on a subject of sub-$2k mics, where subjectivity does play some role. I agree that there are lots of tinny sounding mics available cheaply, and would equally confess that some are Rode models. All I was objecting to was the blanket assessment that all Rode mics are hyped and thus to be avoided at all costs. Even Chinagraf acknowledges that he has heard at least one nice Rode.

'nuff said, I'm out of this topic.

i love you guys.

c'mon - group hug.

mfdu wrote:Friends don't let friends buy Rode's.

:)

a Rhodes, OTOH...

I once tried to listen to a Road but nearly got run over....................

;-}

asuming no other mics are in youre cabinet

i would ask around for a u 87 second hand
some one will sell you one for $1700 that needs cash to pay the bills

alrounder and just dose its job

U87 go for about $2,200. I reckon the Peluso might be go value. The Rodes, well I think I had most of them, but not now.
As Heath wrote a used Kiwi from the USA will be a mic you would use forever....the best all rounder IMO.

nIC

nIC, I got my U87 Innertube mod back from the repair shop. It's so sweet. I'd love you to hear it.
When is the next listening session at yours?

Cheers
Peter

tunetown wrote:nIC, I got my U87 Innertube mod back from the repair shop. It's so sweet. I'd love you to hear it.
When is the next listening session at yours?

Cheers
Peter

Wow - that was quick.
No more clicks and pops???

tunetown wrote:nIC, I got my U87 Innertube mod back from the repair shop. It's so sweet. I'd love you to hear it.
When is the next listening session at yours?

Cheers
Peter

Oh yeah that would be great.

nIC