Aiight, Chinese LDC's you actually use

[Snarl 12/8]

MXL 2001's. I keep wishing I could figure out a cheap and easy way to make 'em even better

check this out (same mic as the MXL2001):

http://www.studiodrumtracks.com/mics/

it will help some - it might make it sound like a $300 mic instead of a $15 mic...

Wow. Thanks. Those look like steps I can follow! I was gonna say that my 2001s were unmodded, but I forgot that I did do the windscreen removal thingy. I guess I don't consider that a mod because there's no soldering involved, but that ain't true.

[agershon]

I've always liked my SP C1, though I recently had JJ Audio mod it (is that cheating?).

Also I've used my pair of M-Audio Novas for drum OH's for years. Pretty clean.

[vvv]

agershon: yes.

(FWIW, the ttrack what inspired this thread w/ CAD GLX 3000 on lead voc and ADK A51V on BVs is here - run thru a Eureka with light compression, w/ ITB limiting and pass filter and slight plate reverb and a touch more compression.)

[oldguitars]

I actually really like my MXL V6 Silicon Valve mic on hihat of all things...

but then again, I really never turn the hh mic up much at all... if ever...

[Scodiddly]

CAD is an interesting company, at least on the "cheap mics but pretty good" category. The earlier mics, such as the original E100, are (in my poor brain) classics that are still affordable. The newer ones are more subject to the less ideal market forces, but they do use Transsounds capsules which are readily available for DIY types such as myself.

And the still produced E100S is a really nice mandolin mic, for whatever that is worth.

vvv: You sing Tom Waits on occasion? What's funny about that is that to me Waits is somebody you can't imitate; you can cover his songs but you absolutely must find your own true voice in the process.

[vvv]

Oh yeah, not only do I like him, but when I don't intend to I sometimes draw comparisons. Hopefully it's not (just) my voice!

It's a cool thing when your influences come through unconsciously.

Some time back we did a Tom Waits cover thing in the Listen to My Shite forum; I did "Sixteen Shells from a 30.06".

[drumsound]

I've got the Tape Op Goup Buy ribbons that get used pretty regularly. I also reviewed mics by Ayeser a couple of years ago for RecordingHacks.com and ended up getting a pair of their L36B LDCs. I'm doing an acoustic record right now where I'm using them as room mics for a fake reverb free record.
http://recordinghacks.com/2011/10/13/a ... 6b-review/

[KennyLusk]

Tracked vocals yesterday with an ADK A6 that came out pretty smooth IMO.

ADK A6 > EHX 12AY7 > RNLA

Really surprised how this mic handles plosives and doesn't seem to have any sibilance issues at less than $250.

[kevin206]

I've got the MXL 990 and 2 MXL V250 mics. I've got the V250s to use as a "matched pair" for drum OHs, but I haven't got to use them much...they were $50 each on special. The 990 was my 1st LDC. The singer I've recorded most has complained that it has a midrange "nasal" sound, but he sounds that way on any mic.

I like the cheap mics enough that I'm really considering selling my better BlueBird mic.

[jgimbel]

The 990 was my 1st LDC. The singer I've recorded most has complained that it has a midrange "nasal" sound, but he sounds that way on any mic.

For what it's worth the 990 is actually a small diaphragm condenser, the body just looks more like an LDC. I've found using it more like I'd normally use an SDC often gets better results than using it in situations I'd use an LDC in.

[kevin206]

The 990 was my 1st LDC. The singer I've recorded most has complained that it has a midrange "nasal" sound, but he sounds that way on any mic.

For what it's worth the 990 is actually a small diaphragm condenser, the body just looks more like an LDC. I've found using it more like I'd normally use an SDC often gets better results than using it in situations I'd use an LDC in.

After I posted I remembered hearing that the 990 has a 3/4" diaphragm. I'm not sure where the cutoff is for a LDC. Maybe it's medium...MDC. I can't honestly say that it sounds fantastic, but it gets the job done well enough for anything I've done. I do wish that I had done a bit more research before I purchased the 990. I was getting pretty good results with a SDC. The SDC just didn't have "the look" of a studio vocal mic.

BTW, Jesse, I know that you have a nice selection of mics. When have you found the 990 useful?...and sorry for the hijack

[inasilentway]

The 990 was my 1st LDC. The singer I've recorded most has complained that it has a midrange "nasal" sound, but he sounds that way on any mic.

For what it's worth the 990 is actually a small diaphragm condenser, the body just looks more like an LDC. I've found using it more like I'd normally use an SDC often gets better results than using it in situations I'd use an LDC in.

I used to have one of these. free mod: I found that you get much better results if you pop the top off and expose the capsule, then use a windscreen. You have to be more careful with it, but the sound is less muddy.

Alternately you can do a Joly and remove some of the mesh and your capsule won't be exposed. Stock there's just too dang much mesh.

[losthighway]

If I'm not mistaken the Mojave mics are made in China and finished/tested in the U.S. My 301FET has supplanted the AT 4000 series mics as my all around, multipurpose LDC.

[vvv]

I was considering a pair of the Mohabe 201 Jfits, but then reconsidered because I really am happy with the @4040 pair.

And broke.

And still haven't even tried the CAD M179 pair I have ...

Anywhat, the 301 is multi-pattern? I'm intrigued ...

But still broke.

[losthighway]

It's the bee's knees. Guitar amp, bass amp, acoustic guitar, vocals, mono OH, sounds great in fig 8. It's just bright enough to be articulate without sounding harsh.