Turtlerock Forum

Hi all, considering buying some new mics. new being the operative word here as I've a few vintage lovelies but the upkeep can be a bit of a drag so, what are the cream of the modern mics for smooth, quiet and detailed?

I've a pair of Se4400a and I like them, I love my u89, I've used the Gefell m930s and they are excellent, I've used the at4050 and they are ok but what I'd really like are mics to compare with my um70 pair, my m582 set (esp. because it takes the um70 head) and my Ck12 capsule 414EBs. I really like low noise floor, multi pattern, LDC, valve or not isn't important. I've modded mics and that doesn't scare me but I'd prefer not to need to. Surely people are making great mics today?

*as a side note, does anybody know how to stop autocorrect respelling mics to miss? It really annoys me because I know how to spell and I hate my computer trying to correct my intended spelling.

I have heard some people liking some of the Lewitt mics. Have you checked the Mojave stuff? A friend of mine uses the 201 or whatever it is a lot, the LDC one. Reckons it is like a modern U67 and has used a lot of 67's. I also heard some great drum tracks from their sdc, not the tube one, the other one... MA100 maybe.

I have become quite the brauner fan
I have the vm1 and the stereo vm2 valve ones
But also they make much cheaper fet versions
That i havent tried

But apples being apples could well be worth
The time / money to take a punt .

Myles. Look into Open Plan Recording. Mark makes some nice sounding mic for not much money

I second the Open Plan Recording suggestion. I don't own one yet but have used the ribbon & the 251 version. Both were really surprising . The 251 was not the fancy version yet sound like the business to me. I used it as the fig 8 component in a MS recording & was very pleased.

Modern mic that is smooth, quiet and detailed.

I'd recommend the Blue Bottle.

I have the Soundelux (Bock) 251 and the Bock 507. Both outstanding Mics.

so are there any options that are not several thousand dollars?

I had a Miktek CV4 for a while that was a very good mic. Sold it for about $1100, can't remember.. m/pattern. Its lows and l/mids were tight and rounded. To some this sounds "small" but it is really a good mic if you're trying to make something sound full, but still sit well in the mix. I have an AT4047 MP arriving any day, so we'll see what that sounds like.

I second Ricks Dirk Brauner choice because I have one, the black annaversery model (no. 56 of 1000). When I lived in Germany in 2004 I went to the musicstore.de where I wanted to buy an NT2A. At that time they had a huge vocal booth in the store with 20 different brands of microphones all connected to a matrix of preamps so you could listen with headphones to one mic through 10 preamps or vise versa. I always thought a set up like that would be a great production tools to take singers to find out which mic and pre combo suits their voice... Anyway, The sales guy set up what I asked for and then when i had finished he said try this one. The moment I heard the mic I fell in love with it and did a payment plan for 8 months to pay it off and take it then and there. I still have it now and will never sell it. Those Germans know how to make great stuff.

Cris from federal audio was generous enough to send me a miktek c7 to Swaziland as sponsorship and that is a lovely mic. That is one on my list and I'm interested in trying more from them. I'm having difficulty justifying 4k+ on a modern mic though when I've built or modded mics for a total cost of 300-400 that sound excellent. I'm looking for outstanding AND flexible but don't understand why I can build quite a good mic from off the shelf components with handmade capsules for less than a grand in comparison to 4k from a manufacturer. Yes I know it's a business etc etc economies of scale, expertise and all but...any other options?

I heard some female vox this week tracked using a Miktek CV4, sounded great. You know that Oliver Archut was involved in the design of the circuit and it uses a telefunken Ef800 and one of his AMI transformers.

mylesgm wrote:I'm having difficulty justifying 4k+ on a modern mic though when I've built or modded mics for a total cost of 300-400 that sound excellent. I'm looking for outstanding AND flexible but don't understand why I can build quite a good mic from off the shelf components with handmade capsules for less than a grand in comparison to 4k from a manufacturer. Yes I know it's a business etc etc economies of scale, expertise and all but...any other options?

So why not just build/mod then if you can build a 4k mic for a few hundred bucks?
Saves you the price of the manufacturers marketing, employment, factory, export...and so on..

There are plenty of low to mid range options... What's your budget again?

Check on the Michael Jolly stuff (MJE) cheap and get decent reviews...
Same with Beeneez...
Same with Lewitt mics..
Same with Rode Classics...the K2 is quite a nice sounding mic and 350-400 bucks secondhand...(swap out the tube with something nos..)
Mann's are cheap and people like them..
Lautens, Pearl, Peluso and the AT4060...are further up price wise.
I wouldn't mind demoing the new Schoeps V4u but that's going to cost 3k.

Hard to tell exactly what price you'd be happy paying though. What's it primarily for? Or are you looking for an "all rounder"?
In most cases you still pay for the quality you get in noise floor, flexibility ,...

I agree about the Rode K2. You can pick up a second hand one in mint condition for around $400. (Got one recently for $370 to make a pair). Definitely swap out the tube for a NOS one. One of the best value mics around.

Seen these? http://eartrumpetlabs.com/

I have been tempted to grab one for a while because other people I know o/s have used them and reckon they're quite good and they've got a real visual appeal that I think might help coax a good take in some circumstances.

What about a couple of ribbons..Royers etc..? Give you some alternatives to the condensors...

Speaking of ribbons - these look interesting:

http://www.royerlabs.com/R-122.html

http://openplanrecording.wordpress.com/ check this out. I just bought his OPR87 & it sounds real good for the money. Total cost $225

I'm not really fussed about the money as I don't mid spending for quality but there is a serious leap in price between 1500 and 4-6k for the same functionality with essentially only small differences in componentry which doesn't seem right to me unless the leap in quality is equitable.

Not really interested in ribbons at the moment as I'm kind of sorted in that area.

What I'd really like are u89 or c414 equivalent all rounder mics. I will definitely be checking out the lewitt options...

What I'd really like are u89 or c414 equivalent all rounder mics. I will definitely be checking out the lewitt options...

Myles..Schoeps Colettes too expensive? CMC5/6

They are excellent in many applications I have found. And dare I say MUCH more versatile than a 414.

Microtech Gefell MT-71.1S?

Hey Myles,
You can shop around and get a Neumann M147 second hand for around $1500. Beautiful smooth mic with a valve in it - great on vox and many instruments. Its a little no frills (no pad or polar pattern choices apart from cardioid) but definitely a class above most offerings in that price range.
I'm also way into the Zigma stuff, mainly using the Lol47 head with the transformerless body. Dunno if you'd call it 'smooth' but it's honest in a way I really like. If the source and the room are right it's a winner.
You should come down the country and have a listen some time.....
Greg

I would love to swing by Greg… I'll text you.

I was going to take a punt on one of these mics.
Mesanovic Model 1 mics USA RRP$499.

http://www.mesanovicmicrophones.com/#!model1/c1560

Need to sell 1 x more item and then I should have the $$ to buy it.

I could not quite get the money together for the Model 2 version.

http://www.mesanovicmicrophones.com/#!model-2/c1ft7

I shall post results when it all happens.

Cheers
Dale