3-5 grand on microphones

[tmsteph]

If you had a max of 5000 for a studio recording mostly modern rock groups, what would you buy? Just getting some opinions from you good folks. I'll post my list soon, but I dont want to bias the discussion too soon.

 

[Frank Tuesday]

RE20
MD421
U87
SM81 (matched pair)

In more general terms, spend 1/3 of your budget on a good large diaphragm condensor. Next buy a good pair of small diaphragm condensors. There is half your budget. Buy a few high quality versatile dynamic mics, and fill out with a variety of workhorse mics (57's or similar)

 

[agreatheight]

Blue Blueberry (800) - vocals
Shure SM7B (350) - vocals
Royer R121 x 2 (1500) - overheads, acoustic instruments
Royer R101 (800) - guitar cabs
Shure Beta 52A (200) - kick
Shure SM57 x 2 (200) - snare, guitar cabs
Sennheiser e609 (100) - guitar cabs, bass cab
Sennheiser MD421 x 4 (1500) - toms, bass cabs

= $5450

Gotta assume if you buy at all once, you are gonna get a discount of at least 10% off MAP

= $5000

I was tempted to build my list around a U87, but it's close to half the budget... I like the Blueberry nearly as much, and would prefer to spread out the money.

 

[IK Obi]

Shure SM7B
2 SM57
2 EV 635a
2 Advanced Audio CM47
2 Fathead Ribbons
2 Advanced Audio CM54

 

[lowfreq33]

Blue Blueberry (800) - vocals
Shure SM7B (350) - vocals
Royer R121 x 2 (1500) - overheads, acoustic instruments
Royer R101 (800) - guitar cabs
Shure Beta 52A (200) - kick
Shure SM57 x 2 (200) - snare, guitar cabs
Sennheiser e609 (100) - guitar cabs, bass cab
Sennheiser MD421 x 4 (1500) - toms, bass cabs

= $5450

Gotta assume if you buy at all once, you are gonna get a discount of at least 10% off MAP

= $5000

I was tempted to build my list around a U87, but it's close to half the budget... I like the Blueberry nearly as much, and would prefer to spread out the money.

This, but I'd skip the Beta 52 in favor of a Heil PR 40, subtract one MD 421 and get two more SM 57's. Also, maybe forget the R121's in favor of a pair of Shure KSM137's and a KSM44. not knocking the Royers, but I think you can get more mileage out of the small condensers and a second large condenser, plus if you really want the ribbon sound the R101 has that covered.

I should add that I'm very familiar with all of these mics.

 

[teleharmonium]

Blue Blueberry (800) - vocals
Shure SM7B (350) - vocals
Royer R121 x 2 (1500) - overheads, acoustic instruments
Royer R101 (800) - guitar cabs
Shure Beta 52A (200) - kick
Shure SM57 x 2 (200) - snare, guitar cabs
Sennheiser e609 (100) - guitar cabs, bass cab
Sennheiser MD421 x 4 (1500) - toms, bass cabs

= $5450

Gotta assume if you buy at all once, you are gonna get a discount of at least 10% off MAP

= $5000

I was tempted to build my list around a U87, but it's close to half the budget... I like the Blueberry nearly as much, and would prefer to spread out the money.

Not a bad group, but the R121 have a street price of 1300 each

I don't record modern rock, but if I did, on that budget I'd probably go with something like

2 x md421
1 x sm7
2 x C414B ULS
2 x Beyer MC930
and a Bock 195

 

[colcifer]

The 421 is also great for guitar cabs. Make sure it's on your list.

 

[lowfreq33]

Also I'd hunt down the original Blue Ball. Great on guitar cabs and kick drum. No longer produced, but you can find them for 50-60 bucks used.

 

[Phatbottom]

+1 on the 421's and the Blueberry.

Both are awesome mics. 421's are a must have in my opinion as they can do anything pretty well, but are the bomb on toms, bass cabs, and guitar cabs.

Ps.- Blueberry's are sick drum overhead mics, stereo or mono.

 

[mixtapelove]

What a great problem to have.

 

[hbarcat]

To start with:

Shure Beta57 - $150
ElectroVoice RE20 - $400
AKG D112 - $220
Shure SM81 (x2) - $350 ($700)
C414B ULS - $1,000

And whatever else I ended up getting I would make certain to include one of these:

Mojave Audio MA-200 - $1,100

 

[DeadPoet]

(all to my taste, ears and experience)

Beyerdynamic M160's are way cheaper and have a more ribbon-like sound than Royer 121's (i find 121's too hifi sounding)

MD-421's never done it for me, CAD 179 seem to be an excellent choice on toms, for me it's two SM-7b's.

a couple of AT4050's or C414's will be workhorses in these kind of setups. Neutral, honest and take EQ well.

Josephson C42's for SDC's, beyerdynamic mc930 seem to be good smooth SDC's as well.

a bunch of 57's

an RE-20 to live on kick and bass cabs.



Herwig