Best large diaphram condenser under $500?

kmacbeatle · Post by **kmacbeatle** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 2:18 pm

Hello! I am looking for a condenser microphone for under $500, mostly for vocals and room mic'ing amps. Thanks for your help!

Recycled_Brains · Post by **Recycled_Brains** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 2:54 pm

I'll say it before someone else does:

UTSF

AstroDan · Post by **AstroDan** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:31 pm

And I'll say Audio Technica AT4050 before anyone else does...

Recycled_Brains · Post by **Recycled_Brains** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:04 pm

AstroDan wrote:And I'll say Audio Technica AT4050 before anyone else does...

Except they just jacked their prices up like $150, so it doesn't really fall into that category anymore.

Jeff White · Post by **Jeff White** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:22 pm

It does if you find one used on here or the eBay. I paid under $700 for my pair on eBay, new, two years ago.

How ya been Ryan?

AstroDan · Post by **AstroDan** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:18 pm

Yeah, I've seen them go for under $300 lately. Sucks, cause I just sold mine for $300. Everything is being given away right now.

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:21 pm

anything Oktava.

ofajen · Post by **ofajen** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:53 pm

AstroDan wrote:And I'll say Audio Technica AT4050 before anyone else does...

Yeah, without a doubt, the next time I have $300 in one place at the same time, I'm buying another one of the older (CM5) ones. And then probably a third.

Cheers,

Otto

ctmsound · Post by **ctmsound** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:02 pm

http://www.clmics.com/TS2.htm Buy it direct.

thegeek · Post by **thegeek** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:53 pm

Rode NT 2A... new they go for like $500 or something but can be found used for about $250 or so.

I REALLY like mine...

cale w · Post by **cale w** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:56 pm

PPA LD-3

200 bones, sir.

And it's got TOOB!

http://ppadirectimports.com/microphones.html

cale w · Post by **cale w** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:59 pm

calaverasgrandes wrote:anything Oktava.

Yes. I also think the 219 is underrated.. even unmodded.

Sometimes you want dark becasue you don't always want SUPER F'IN HYPED HIGHS for under $500...

jgimbel · Post by **jgimbel** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:19 am

What cale said +3. I've got a lot of low budget stuff - lots of mics under $300 or so, so that harsh high end is definitely a problem. I recently started using my Oktava MK319 that I got off ebay for $82 more and more for all kinds of things. I bought it originally to contrast all my harsh mics but I found it TOO dark, but now I'm finding that stacking tracks of it works really nicely. Stacking tracks with an MXL - vocals, backups, guitars, things start to sound bad pretty quick. I've been using the Oktava for vocals while recording acoustic and singing at the same time, and putting it up like I normally would for just vocals has gotten a great vocal/guitar bleed sound. I had my eye on some other cheaper mics because I didn't mind the harsh high end too much, but honestly now the most important thing that I'm looking for is mics that don't have unusual buildup like that. I wish we could compile a list of mics under $500 that aren't super hyped in the highs, I'd bet it would correspond with the best mics in general under $500. I just recorded a soft acoustic cover of Final Countdown and my RSM-4 got used on almost everything - cymbal rolls, floor tom roll, electric guitar.

Anyway, I think not being harsh in the high end is what a lot of people like about most Oktavas, the 319, 219, 012 are all often described as natural or a little dark, which I think is a quality that a lot of higher end mics have. Oktava all the way, I'll be getting more soon.

losthighway · Post by **losthighway** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:57 am

That Oktava stuff is supposed to be cool.

I love all of the AT 40- line.

The 4033 is super utilitarian and versatile.
The 4047 is sexier but less versatile.
The 4050 is even more versatile while also somewhat sexy (depending on who's singin on it).

You could get two 4033's on Ebay for that budget, possibly even new ones. You could get one of the other two used for that budget.

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:59 am

Thing I like about Oktavas over a lot of other mics is that they have a certain richness to the upper mid/treble that I dont find in other mics except certain German ones. There are definetly more accurate mics out there but the Oktavas have something happening with some harmonic distortion or some capsule reflection black magic that just sounds better to me than any of the chinese mics.
I had a similar experience with mine. I didnt think they sounded "condensery" enough when I first got them. But now they seem to end up on everything sooner or later.
wish I had bought a dozen when they were on sale at gc

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Best large diaphram condenser under $500?

Best large diaphram condenser under $500?

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