Turtlerock Forum

I am thinking of getting a pair of condesor overheads......... just wondering some peoples thoughts......... I am thinking a pair of neumann tlm 103's or akg 414, if I had more dollars then sense I would get a pair of u87's or even better 2 u 67's

Any thoughts or suggestions would be most helpful

Simon

I really like ribbons for overheads. A pair of Beyer M160's are nice. I have a SF12 which I really like. A pair of shiney box mics might be interesting. I am thinking of a pair myself. Or a AEA ribbon
Maybe look at a pair of SDC like KM84,km85,KM184's,451's, Otava's or Joesphons c42's
A LDC can be used for a lot of other things later on as well.

It really depends what you are after and your room. So many choices. Also maybe try some chinese mics and see if you find a pair you like.

If you get a chance, have a look (or listen) to some of the Gefell range. A matched pair of 930's is one of the setups I use all the time. You can also order there funky little XY bar that goes with them. Or a Calrec Soundfield mic works beautifully to.

if you're on a budget, check out www.shinybox.com - two styles of ribbon mic with output transformer options.

i have the standard 46, and am awaiting delivery of a 23Cinemag model.

great stuff - love them. i'm actually on a huge non-phantom kick at the moment - i am refusing to buy or use any mic that requires phantom off the console (tube mics are ok).

that itself has changed my approach, and the final sound. and i like it.

chris.

Earthworks maybe?

I am keen to try the geffels

I already own an AEA ribbon, I will be getting an akg 451 in the not to distant future, but I prefer the sound of condensors as overheads..... and the other reason I am opting towards condensors is because like dave said it can be used on other things..... but I dont have a stereo pair of condensors..... so now there are 3 to choose from.... any other condesors that people like....

All have good and bad things. There are a few differnt 414's as well. Not all the same. Older ones different as well. So its hard to say.
Also maybe if you can do try and return some of the chinese mics like ADK, Studio Projects etc. Again they have good and bad points.
Although your call in the end for me I capture a lot of my drum sound from my overhead. I have been very happy with my SF12.

Simon B wrote:I am thinking of getting a pair of condesor overheads......... just wondering some peoples thoughts......... I am thinking a pair of neumann tlm 103's or akg 414, if I had more dollars then sense I would get a pair of u87's or even better 2 u 67's

Any thoughts or suggestions would be most helpful

Simon

Hi Simon,

I've tried lots and lots of overheads. My absolute go-to mic for overheads are a matched pair of Josephson C42's.

I cannot speak more highly of them, it's like they were designed as overhead mics as unlike many others, they tend to smooth cymbals out so they sound nice and creamy.

ribbons are great but sound quite dark and can lack clarity and definition. if you want that sound, great, but it's not right for everything.

Cheers

Chris

Hey Chris,
Depends on the ribbon. The royer SF range are pretty detailed and clean.

davemc wrote:Hey Chris,
Depends on the ribbon. The royer SF range are pretty detailed and clean.

Yeah, I've never tried Royer ribbons although I'd like to.

I was thinking more about the traditional ribbons - Beyer's, Coles etc.

Cheers

Chris

AKG 414 TLII's.very versatile...and you can use them for many
other studio uses as well..great for capturing the whole kit..incl
toms..or roll them off and use your spot mics..
terrific on vocals also...shop around..should get a good deal..

I recently did a session and did a direct comparison between 414's and Blue Dragonflies and was incredibly impressed with the Blue mics. They sound really good and the rotatable capsule is great for nailing your positioning. They did seem quite bright and may not suit every application but I'd reccomend giving them a listen.

No-ones mentioned them yet so I'll put in my vote for ye olde Octava o12's - they mightn't be the best of the bunch but they'll always give you a decent sound (they might just suprise you in a comparison as well).

You could also make many worse decisions than getting a pair of 414's as mentioned above - again they won't always be the top ranked in a shoot-out but they'll always sound respectable.

Justin.

Another ribbon candidate is the Sontronics Sigma.
http://www.stusol.com/sales/sontronics_sigma_s.htm

i'm surprised no one has mentioned stereo mics.. like the Studio Projects LSD2 (i think that's the number). Very versatile stereo mic that gives you a perfect stereo overhead image, and is a snack to get the phase right with the other close mics. Lovely tone too.. nice top end without being too shrill and plenty of detail.

I did a sesion over in Perth a few years ago with the Neumann stereo mic, and i've been sold on stereo mics for overheads ever since.

HH

I think the Royer SF series mentioned above are all stereo mics, except for the SF-1. I know the SF-12 definitely is...

Cheers
Dave

Yeah my SF12 is stereo and makes getting a nice image easy.
I used to use a pair of M160 Beyer ribbons before that, before that some KM85's. There is good and bad points with stereo mic as well. With two mics you can position then in different places. Stereo mic one central point. Funny I do not use the Royer that much apart from room sounds.. Being a delicate ribbon makes you careful :)

I just brought a Shiny Box like MDFU uses a 46C.. Used it last weekend as a room mic and vocals.. Sounded good for AUD$400 delivered. Not as open as my royer, different then my Beyer.

Oops.. my mistake on not knowing the SF was stereo. Never used one.. yet!

As for the lack of variety of positioning of stereo mics... i guess we all have the things we like. I decided very early on in my engineering career that the spaced pair cymbal miking thing was NOT the way i heard overheads. I then became a huge fan of X/Y, and from there stereo miking of overheads. I just like that the stereo overheads reflect the image of the kit, and i don't ever feel the need to hear them any other way. The one thing i do like about the Studio Projects stereo mic is that you can move the heads and the 'width' of the stereo field. Very handy sometimes for more extreme representation of the kit... or more narrow.

HH

Yep cannot move the heads on the Royer. I also like the old three mic drumkit sound sometimes. I really do like the SF12 its figure 8 so I find it gets a nice room sound as well out front sometimes..
Great for room mic for horns or percussion etc..

Which nicely leads on the M-S mic'ing of the overheads instead.

I'm a four mic guy
for a sound thats fly
just kick and snare
and an M-S pair
dial in some side
for a sound thats wide
or turn it down low
to keep it tight and narrow
its euphonic
audiophonic
forget the rest
it'll leave you catatonic
try it out some time
I'm sure you'll agree
that everything else
is like drinking, well, urine actually.

Do not do much M-S work since I got the Royer.. Used to before.
Imaging is real nice with the royer and I can do the Royer plus Kick or Front of kick easy. I have done Royer only for sections before.
I go through lots of mics and hardly any mic phases. Depending on the moon and who I am recording.

Hey Cris Linear, how do you find those C42s on other instruments? ac guitar for example? ill probable get some or the Oktavas.