Hi all. I am going to be doing some live recording of a band, mainly
for archive purposes (ie this won't end up on an album). I have the
recording end planned out, but at the moment I'm stuck on mics. I only
have two options, a pair of Apex 435 large diaphram cardiod condensor
mics, or a pair of Apex 180 small diaphram pencil cardiod condensor
mics.

First off, I know that Apex isn't the best out there. I don't have a
whole lot of choice in the matter. The 435s seem to have a better
frequency response, though a lower sensitivity I believe, judging from
what I can get off the Apex website. There is no cardiod plot, so I
have no idea how strong the off axis rejection is. This is for a
stereo recording, so at the moment I'm planning on angling the mics 90
degrees apart, facing the stage/speakers. They will be on a tall
stand, slightly above head height most likely.

Anyway, I'm not sure which way to go. Any and all advice appreciated!

Thanks,

Josh

Josh Koffman wrote:
First off, I know that Apex isn't the best out there. I don't have a
whole lot of choice in the matter. The 435s seem to have a better
frequency response, though a lower sensitivity I believe, judging from
what I can get off the Apex website. There is no cardiod plot, so I
have no idea how strong the off axis rejection is. This is for a
stereo recording, so at the moment I'm planning on angling the mics 90
degrees apart, facing the stage/speakers. They will be on a tall
stand, slightly above head height most likely.

The Apex mikes are Shanghai mikes. The 180s will definitely have better
off-axis response than the 435s, but it will vary a lot from one microphone
to the next.

Anyway, I'm not sure which way to go. Any and all advice appreciated!

Why the Apexes? Why not the Oktavas, or even the $35 Behringer omnis?
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Josh Koffman wrote:
First off, I know that Apex isn't the best out there. I don't have a
whole lot of choice in the matter. The 435s seem to have a better
frequency response, though a lower sensitivity I believe, judging from
what I can get off the Apex website. There is no cardiod plot, so I
have no idea how strong the off axis rejection is. This is for a
stereo recording, so at the moment I'm planning on angling the mics 90
degrees apart, facing the stage/speakers. They will be on a tall
stand, slightly above head height most likely.

The Apex mikes are Shanghai mikes. The 180s will definitely have better
off-axis response than the 435s, but it will vary a lot from one microphone
to the next.

Anyway, I'm not sure which way to go. Any and all advice appreciated!

Why the Apexes? Why not the Oktavas, or even the $35 Behringer omnis?
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On 1 Oct 2004 22:27:38 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

Josh Koffman wrote:
First off, I know that Apex isn't the best out there. I don't have a
whole lot of choice in the matter. The 435s seem to have a better
frequency response, though a lower sensitivity I believe, judging from
what I can get off the Apex website. There is no cardiod plot, so I
have no idea how strong the off axis rejection is. This is for a
stereo recording, so at the moment I'm planning on angling the mics 90
degrees apart, facing the stage/speakers. They will be on a tall
stand, slightly above head height most likely.

The Apex mikes are Shanghai mikes. The 180s will definitely have better
off-axis response than the 435s, but it will vary a lot from one microphone
to the next.

Anyway, I'm not sure which way to go. Any and all advice appreciated!

Why the Apexes? Why not the Oktavas, or even the $35 Behringer omnis?
--scott

I've bought several Apex 180's for $70 CDN each; that's about $55 US.
They've all sounded about the same, and survived as drum overhead and
high-hat mics for live PA. I even tried one on a banjo, and guess
what?

Yep, it still sounded like a banjo.

The Beringer ECM8000 omni is OK, as long as the source is close and
loud. Works OK on high hat.

I love the Oktavas, but I'm not using my matched pair for live PA
work.

Mike T.

On 1 Oct 2004 22:27:38 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

Josh Koffman wrote:
First off, I know that Apex isn't the best out there. I don't have a
whole lot of choice in the matter. The 435s seem to have a better
frequency response, though a lower sensitivity I believe, judging from
what I can get off the Apex website. There is no cardiod plot, so I
have no idea how strong the off axis rejection is. This is for a
stereo recording, so at the moment I'm planning on angling the mics 90
degrees apart, facing the stage/speakers. They will be on a tall
stand, slightly above head height most likely.

The Apex mikes are Shanghai mikes. The 180s will definitely have better
off-axis response than the 435s, but it will vary a lot from one microphone
to the next.

Anyway, I'm not sure which way to go. Any and all advice appreciated!

Why the Apexes? Why not the Oktavas, or even the $35 Behringer omnis?
--scott

I've bought several Apex 180's for $70 CDN each; that's about $55 US.
They've all sounded about the same, and survived as drum overhead and
high-hat mics for live PA. I even tried one on a banjo, and guess
what?

Yep, it still sounded like a banjo.

The Beringer ECM8000 omni is OK, as long as the source is close and
loud. Works OK on high hat.

I love the Oktavas, but I'm not using my matched pair for live PA
work.

Mike T.