dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
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- re-cappin' neve
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dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
looking for mics for resonant toms, mostly. i have plenty of options for more neutral or bright, but have been digging the sE electronics X1D - just had one break and they don't make them anymore, so not holding out hope for a repair (still under warranty). hell, i'm tempted to try a cheap ribbon down there, but i'm guessing the SPLs would kill the damn thing? also unsure if i want the spill from the rear?
- A.David.MacKinnon
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
Ribbons can take crazy high spls. Just not direct blasts of air.
For dark LDCs I like Octava 219s (or 319s). They’re not really dark, just not hyped in the highs. They’re out there pretty cheap and are a great bang for the buck. Haven’t used them in toms but I can’t see why they wouldn’t work there.
For dark LDCs I like Octava 219s (or 319s). They’re not really dark, just not hyped in the highs. They’re out there pretty cheap and are a great bang for the buck. Haven’t used them in toms but I can’t see why they wouldn’t work there.
Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
CAD M179 (or uni, 178) are cheap and great on toms.
- losthighway
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
Shure ksm137 is great all around. Not dark, but definitely not bright for a small diaphragm condenser.
It's pretty much the exact same price as the venerated Oktava mk 012 which a lot of smart people love in that position as well.
It's pretty much the exact same price as the venerated Oktava mk 012 which a lot of smart people love in that position as well.
- michaelkerchner
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
another vote for a 319 or an mk 012. both great for this position and also excel at many other jobs.
sounds good, compress it
@thedarkchurchrecording
@thedarkchurchrecording
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- re-cappin' neve
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
yeah, the 012s are my go to for batter head! have wanted a ksm137 for a while, might be time to pull the trigger. used to use 4050s on bottom tom duties, funny enough, but found them to be a little thin. curious about a stock oktava 219/319. i only have the Joly modded 219, which is pretty damn good, i'll say.
curious about the cheap ribbons - may give it a go
curious about the cheap ribbons - may give it a go
- michaelkerchner
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
would you be using 2 ribbons or one ribbon with the nodes of the figure of eight at each tom? that could be a cool situation and less spl on the ribbon. ive seen/ heard it successfully done on the batter sidepermanent hearing damage wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:37 amyeah, the 012s are my go to for batter head! have wanted a ksm137 for a while, might be time to pull the trigger. used to use 4050s on bottom tom duties, funny enough, but found them to be a little thin. curious about a stock oktava 219/319. i only have the Joly modded 219, which is pretty damn good, i'll say.
curious about the cheap ribbons - may give it a go
sounds good, compress it
@thedarkchurchrecording
@thedarkchurchrecording
- A.David.MacKinnon
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
I have a pair of stock 219s that I did the mechanical mods on - damping the body, cutting the extra metal fins on the grill, removing the diffuser disk from the capsule and maybe removing some extra screening (can't remember).permanent hearing damage wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:37 amcurious about a stock oktava 219/319. i only have the Joly modded 219, which is pretty damn good, i'll say.
They're pretty great. I think I paid $100 a piece for them way way back. I now have many higher budget options but I still use them all the time.
- weatherbox
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
I'd put in a vote for the CAD M179s as well. Never had them crap out on close drums, and the polar patterns are really handy for tailoring rejection and proximity. I dunno if I'd call them dark, but I never thought of them as being overly assertive in any usage I had for them.
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- zen recordist
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
The X1D is a killer tom mic. SE is insane for discontinuing them. I liked them so much, I bought eight of them. I use them for all kinds of stuff. Anyway, they're not as inexpensive, but the Audio Technica 4047 sounds a lot like the X1D on toms. Makes sense, since they're both kinda based on the FET47.
Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC
Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC
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- re-cappin' neve
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
damn, you got 8?! jealous. $70ish a pop when they were blowing them out was pretty tough to pass up, but i only snagged 3. i'll make do. have wanted a 4047 for a good while, but yeah, a bit pricier. soon, though. curious about trying a cheap-o ribbon, now, though.
- digitaldrummer
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
Front End Audio has a bunch of Se B-stock mics on sale right now https://www.frontendaudio.com/b-stock/? ... red&page=2
I have one of the X1 D that is parked in front of my kick permanently but was curious how the X1 or X1 A compared (at $69). For toms they might be ok still. X1 A spec shows max SPL of 150. or they have the X1 R if you want to try the Fig8 (but 2 X1 A's are still cheaper...).
I have one of the X1 D that is parked in front of my kick permanently but was curious how the X1 or X1 A compared (at $69). For toms they might be ok still. X1 A spec shows max SPL of 150. or they have the X1 R if you want to try the Fig8 (but 2 X1 A's are still cheaper...).
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- re-cappin' neve
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
ah. hmmm. curious how the x1a compares. at $70, i'll bite! thanks!
- digitaldrummer
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
let us know how it compares to the X1 D.
- digitaldrummer
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Re: dark condensers on the cheap for high SPLs
I just picked up another X1D yesterday (used) for $50. it had some dents in the windscreen, so now I am also an expert in disassembly of these mics. anyway, looks much better now and still sounds as good as the other one.
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