Hi Corey,
If the "wow" factor is what you're looking for, and you want a Swiss
army knife, just get one or two U87's and be done. The Neumann name is
a known high-end commodity. Otherwise, get a different Neumanns, such
as the TLM103.
At this point, sound is not the motivation, name recognition is.
Neumann wins, since it is known universally as a high-end mic. And
Neumanns will also sound good.
Dean
coreybenson wrote:
Running a modestly successful project studio, recording everything from
advertising voiceovers to Ska, Punk and Metal, straight on into female
folk singers. In other words, we record about every source you could
think of, at many different skill levels. We're on the high end of
"reasonably" priced in our area for project studios, but on the low end
of PRO studios.
The studio is located in my home's basement, and comprises three rooms
plus a restroom. We have 7.5' ceilings throughout. Performance room
measures 11' 6" by 10', the Control room is 7' 6" by 10', and the
lounge takes up the balance of the 600 sq ft basement, minus a small
furnace room and the restroom (a 3/4 bath that sometimes operates as a
vocal booth, of course! lol).
Here's my current microphone list:
6 Shure Beta-56 Drum Microphones
2 Shure Beat-52 Kick Microphones
2 Shure Beta-58 Vocal Microphones
2 Shure SM-58 Vocal Microphones
6 Shure SM-57 Microphones
5 Shure SM-98A Condensor Microphones
1 Electrovoice 747 Vocal Microphone
1 Electrovoice RE-20 Microphone
3 Sennheiser 421 Microphones
1 Sennheiser e609 Microphone
2 Marshall MXL-990 Condensor Microphones
1 Marshall MXL-909 Condensor Microphone
4 Audio Technica M1000 Blue Condensor Microphones
1 Alesis/GT AM61 Tube Microphone
4 Oktava MC012 Condensor Microphones (two are about to be modified with
the Scott Dorsey mod)
1 Audio Technica ATM-25
While I have good luck with the current microphones, I don't have
anything I'd consider a "flagship" mic, and I've had people NOT come
work with us because of this.
So, knowing what we do, if you had a small pile of money to throw at
it, what would you consider for a do-it-all high quality mic? Neumann
U87? AKG 414 (I actually don't like them!)? Neumann TLM149? Some other
high buck mic?
The key is wow factor, but I'd like to get a Swiss Army knife mic if
possible. Even better would be two of them, if they'd work well as
overheads on drums, etc. Every time I buy a single mic I end up kicking
myself.
Thoughts? Opinions? Tell me to shut up and just keep recording,
ignoring the gear snobs who don't know any better?
Waiting patiently to spend my hard earned money! lol
Corey Benson
www.curbsideproductions.com