Mic Recommendations (old/unknown models under $100)

magritte · Post by **magritte** » Sat May 04, 2013 6:09 pm

Can anyone recommend an underdog type mic that's sub $100 but gets the job done? I don't like the generic sound of a SM57 and mics like the coppertone are too over the top, though that's closer to what I like...looking for something more velvet underground or even 50s sounding. All the popular models cost a lot, so looking for something off the beaten path (e.g. mics from other countries, old and overlooked, flops, etc). Also, I'll be plugging this in through a line 6 preamp into cubase, so I need that compatibility.

Right now I am using an Olympus LS-10, and I don't like the digital/"artifacty" sound. Hoping an old mic will resolve this, but not sure. Latency is sub 10ms, so I believe I am okay there. I'm fairly new to recording on a pc.

I'd like to stay under $100, but could probably do $200 for the right fit.
Can't wait to hear mic suggestions.

thanks.

springreverb · Post by **springreverb** » Sat May 04, 2013 6:42 pm

Maybe cheap chinese ribbon mics. If you got enough clean Gain.
Other than that, there are plenty of funky old dynamic mics.. lots of ElectroVoice mics are cool, the 635a would be cheap and cool

i think it's more about the mics, placement, playing technique and recording/production approach than it's about the recording medium
but there are sure ways to funk up the audio in a way digital really can't

ott0bot · Post by **ott0bot** » Sat May 04, 2013 6:51 pm

electrovoice re11 or re15.

killer sleeper mics...the velvets probably used them live.

great tone, darker, but not dull. they rule

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Sat May 04, 2013 6:55 pm

Shure 545
Senn MD21
Audix OM2
Old AKG's (100oE, etc.)
Old EV's (as stated above) -635a, RE10, PL5
Old AT's
Cheap new Shures
Digital Reference (AT's budget brand)
MXL 144 ribbon
ADK A5
...

magritte · Post by **magritte** » Sat May 04, 2013 9:09 pm

Thanks, guys. A lot of great leads. I've found clips from some of these and so far prefer the ev re11 (like the 15 a lot, too). Any input on interfaces? I was going to plug it into my Line 6 UX2. How good/bad is it as a preamp, and any suggestion for a preamp to make whatever mic I get live up to its potential?

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Sat May 04, 2013 10:07 pm

I'm not sure about the Line 6 itself, nor how well a pre into it would work.

On the inexpensive side, people speak highly of the Electro Harmonix EH12AY, and I like the Studio Projects VTB1 in the US$100 range. The Rolls MP105 is also usable for around that price.

ott0bot · Post by **ott0bot** » Sun May 05, 2013 12:00 pm

another great overlooked pre is the ART Tube MP project series (not the standard tube mp, thats just ok). a bonus for dynamic and ribbon mic users is a +20 dB switch. super handy for mics that need a lot of gain. keeps the noise floor lower than cranking up the gain and trim all the way. it works great as a DI and trs/xlr or xlr/trs adapter. handy little unit.

magritte · Post by **magritte** » Sun May 05, 2013 1:06 pm

I was just watching this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tWbwcS_9sA

Really cool.

I have some ND magents from an old hard drive I disassembled, and the rest of the parts seem easy enough to come by. Live in a small apartment and don't have any tools, though. I wonder if it's possible to make a really ghetto version of that mic.

magritte · Post by **magritte** » Sun May 05, 2013 1:08 pm

ott0bot wrote:another great overlooked pre is the ART Tube MP project series (not the standard tube mp, thats just ok). a bonus for dynamic and ribbon mic users is a +20 dB switch. super handy for mics that need a lot of gain. keeps the noise floor lower than cranking up the gain and trim all the way. it works great as a DI and trs/xlr or xlr/trs adapter. handy little unit.

Cool, I will look for a cheap one. Do you know anything about using a line6 UX2 as a mic preamp? Since I have one for guitar/amp modeling, it would be nice if it could double.

ott0bot · Post by **ott0bot** » Sun May 05, 2013 2:46 pm

^^sorry, never used one. but since you already have it, give it a shot. my guess is there isn't a lot of headroom, but for louder sources it will be ok.

rhythm ranch · Post by **rhythm ranch** » Sun May 05, 2013 4:25 pm

magritte wrote:Do you know anything about using a line6 UX2 as a mic preamp? Since I have one for guitar/amp modeling, it would be nice if it could double.

I have no idea how it sounds, but from the specs it's certainly capable of handling mics in addition to guitar input:

Line 6 wrote:1/4-inch guitar input (normal or pad)

Two balanced XLR inputs with mic preamps

Gain knobs

Phantom power

1/4-inch stereo monitor input

Two 1/4-inch line inputs

Two balanced 1/4-inch line out

S/PDIF digital out

1/4-inch stereo headphone out with level control

Assignable VU meters

magritte · Post by **magritte** » Sun May 05, 2013 4:39 pm

Can anyone recommend an old, cheap, sleeper preamp too? I have the ART Tube MP as one to research, but wondering if there's anything pre-70s that sounds good and sells for cheap. By sounds good I mean like Velvet Underground, etc. Lo-fi but nice.

What would I need in terms of adapters in order to hook one up to a PC?

Darlington Pair · Post by **Darlington Pair** » Mon May 06, 2013 12:30 pm

I'm pretty fond of the AKG D1000e and those Rat Shack SM58 type things.

ott0bot · Post by **ott0bot** » Mon May 06, 2013 4:03 pm

magritte wrote:Can anyone recommend an old, cheap, sleeper preamp too? I have the ART Tube MP as one to research

just to be clear. the art tube mp PROJECT SERIES. slightly different beast.

also. sound on the other side of the mic may be more beneficial towards your vintage quest. the velvets have a live vocal feel on a lot of their stuff. try live vox with a band an keep the bleed to keep the live feel. or track vox with a speaker instead of phones. you get some bleed that way too.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Mon May 06, 2013 4:46 pm

Darlington Pair wrote:I'm pretty fond of the AKG D1000e and those Rat Shack SM58 type things.

I have both and like them on snare and lead guitar.

As a matter of fact, I used the Rat Shack on 4-30-13 here, and yesterday, here on lead guitar.

Message Board

Mic Recommendations (old/unknown models under $100)

Mic Recommendations (old/unknown models under $100)

Who is online