tube mics

[jake_xms3_punk]

hi, i was wondering which mic to get for my home studio, i know i defo want a valve mic but are unsure which one to invest in! could someone please help me? im either going to get the LD Systems Tube Condenser D1120 or the akg SolidTube.they are both around the same price. i've worked with mainly akg's in the past and know what they can do, but im open to trying something different, anyone heard anything about LD systems? which one of these 2 mics is better? cheers

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: tube mics

The Studio Projects and the MXL Mogami edition are supposed to be pretty good for the cash. I liked the MXL when I used it for a budget mic.

 

[Wattage]

Re: tube mics

http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/t3.html

I've never used this one but all the other SP stuff kicks major booty so it is worth following up on to see if it'll meet your specs.

 

[J Moose]

Re: tube mics

There is no "best" mic.

Nor is there any "stereotypical" tube mic sound...

What are you planning on recording with it?





Based on personal experiences I'd avoid anything made by Studio Projects like the fukking plague and switch careers before I used one of their microphones...

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: tube mics

There is no "best" mic.

Nor is there any "stereotypical" tube mic sound...

What are you planning on recording with it?





Based on personal experiences I'd avoid anything made by Studio Projects like the fukking plague and switch careers before I used one of their microphones...

I've never used a SP mic what didn't you like? Most people I have read posts by who have them speak well about them.

 

[J Moose]

Re: tube mics

I've never used a SP mic what didn't you like? Most people I have read posts by who have them speak well about them.

Awwww man...


I could go into some LONG-ass rant here but I won't. It's just NOT worth it in the grand scheme of things.


So I guess I gotta come up with something else instead...


HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


Geez...how to make a long story kinda short...well...


I pretty much "grew up" as it were in at a studio that had a 40 channel Neve desk...a pair of 2" 24-tracks...PILES of KILLER outboard gear and a krazy mic locker.

White Zombie...Rollins Band...Clapton...

This was back in the day when a real "old" blackface 1176LN was about $300-400 and an honest to Mirtha authentic Pultec could be had for $1000 or less...2" 24-tracks were still $20,000 used...

I'm JUST under 30...so 'ya know...it's all realitive...

But the merits of what constitutes "good" audio and how to make a real honest to mirtha "record" were pretty much instilled during my stint there.





Shlt.

I'm going off on some kinda deep tangent.


Yeah. Anywhooooooo...




The "Studio Projects" microphones and "toob" mics as it were...



Hmmm.


The super short version of my experience with them is that I was sent a bunch of different models to try out and "review" in my shop for as long as it took to get a grasp on them back in like...I dunno...

2000....2001.

Somewhere in there.

They sent over several (cough cough)

AHEM!

"Matched pairs"


Of audio transducers, aka...microphones for me to put through their paces on whatever came through the door.

I got a pretty large sampling of everything that was in the line. I was REALLY interested in the multi-pattern tube mic...C6 or whatever...

This...in a room with pairs of Blue, Neumanns, AKG, all the "standards" and whatever else was around at any given time and honestly dudes...



They just didn't stack up.

Given $300-500 to spend on a "microphone" for "recording"

Be it 'toob' microphone, dynamic...ribbons (which are ALSO dynamic mics!), small diaphragm or large...

Whuddever.






I'd STILL drop coin on any of the old school "standards" like Sennheiser 421, 441, 409/609; an EV RE/PL-20 & whatever other dynamics are out there...any "old" AKG dynamic is probably worth a roll in the hay for anything...

Shure SM7....NOT the SM57.

The Audio Technica 40 series mics are also pretty solid tools. It's tough to go wrong with a 4050 or a 4033...any of those pencil mics...

4031's are a little wonky...I like 'em a lot on toms & bass amps.




Pretty much ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNYTHING made by Beyerdynamic will slay too.




$500 spent on one of the above is a WAY MORE SOLID INVESTMENT into your musical career, not to mention 'yer money...then a "Studio Projects" or some other flavor of the month microphone.














Someone freakin' "archive" this 'cause I don't wanna' rant like this all the time!






:chairfall

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: tube mics

AT 4050 for the cash is my choice. I hear your rant and respect.

 

[aleclee]

Re: tube mics

You sure you "defo want a tube mic"? Recording systems are just that: systems. As the cliche goes, they're only as strong as their weakest link. How's your room? What are your preamps like? Are you recording guitars, drums, vocals, or something else? I don't believe that there's a do-it-all mic and if I were going to spend 300 pounds on transducers, I'd probably look for a couple cheaper ones, maybe an SM57 for guitars and a decent condenser (SS or tube) for room sounds.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: tube mics

hi, i was wondering which mic to get for my home studio, i know i defo want a valve mic but are unsure which one to invest in! could someone please help me? im either going to get the LD Systems Tube Condenser D1120 or the akg SolidTube.they are both around the same price. i've worked with mainly akg's in the past and know what they can do, but im open to trying something different, anyone heard anything about LD systems? which one of these 2 mics is better? cheers

I've never used these two mics, but I do have the MXL V69 Mogami and I love it. I use it for vocals, acoustic guitars and sometimes as the "room" mics when I record an amp. Just change the tube from stock.

 

[Wattage]

Re: tube mics

Moose your first post isn't really worthy of a response but since these are the type of things that make me broil about the forum lately I am calling you on it. You obviously are entitled to your opinion and no doubt you have more experience than I do with mics but you know I've been around the block a few 100x myself and have found some pretty useful tools, SP mics being one of them, especially their C1. I have used it for a slew of vocal recording without one issue from anyone doing the performing, mixing or mastering. From my practical standpoint it is well worth looking at. I don't have the cache of old school mics available to me to A/B anything and certainly if I did I imagine I might feel differently about them but in the modern context of what is affordable and useful for a home studio I have seen far less effective gear than what SP makes. I don't know that SP stuff is what belongs in a PRO studio but it is far from pure crap.

Anyone addressing someones posts in that manner on this forum is being outright low class and inappropriate. Your second post where you qualify your opinion without the disrespect is completely appropriate, beneficial and much appreciated. You seem like a good guy and a quality guy, I don't get it, I must've missed something along the way here. Lets raise the bar guys not lower it, c'mon be respectful of the SD company and your bro's on this board matters.

 

[J Moose]

Re: tube mics

Hey "Wattage"...


I'm gonna pretend that maybe I didn't quite read your post there...




We all have bad days now & then...

Times when we get up on the wrong side of the bed, maybe someone pissed in the fruitloops or handed out decaff instead of the high-test...

Whudderever.














I'm still gonna stand by my ORIGINAL point, that those mics...as well as just about ANY of that gear that's as cheap as it is cheap...






Is a COMPLETE waste of both money saved & invested and time spent fudging around with inferior tools.















It's got NOTHING to do with what something costs or what "name" is on the thang!




The only thing that I ever really think about & consider when I'm about to spend money on anything is this...



Will this tool be a good additon to the toolbox?


Is it going to be used? Money well spent?

Or is it krap?






Believe you me!


I've got "freebe" ratshack mics next to $3000 german made tube audio transducers in a box that's about 7 feet from where I'm sitting now.












In the case of all those Chinese mics...

98.5% of them are all made in the same factories and 97.9% of them are all using the SAME exact capsule design...

A really, REALLY poor imitation of the capsule that's in a Neumann U87.

I think the K67 or something like that...


And there have been several different variations of the U87 over the years too. They started making them back in the '70's....

Almost 40 years ago!!!




Longer then I've been alive! :laugh2:




Anyway.






None of those mics are really worth "investing" any kind of money into.

I mean...they work & all...







Kinda like a Squier happy-meal pack kinda works.






Maybe you can set it up & do a gig or two here & there with it...






It's a pretty solid "My First Fender-price"





But it's NOT a "real" instrument.




Dollar for dollar if 'yer shopping for a microphone...something that you'll be able to use for a long career in music, and you've got like $200-500 USD to spend....



You can get a LOT more bang for 'yer buck elsewhere.











That's all I'm sayin'





Peace.

 

[Wattage]

Re: tube mics

As I'll stand by mine as well.

Be positive that's all I am saying, when a member has 77 posts and that is how a thread is responded to it brings the place down.

 

[J Moose]

Re: tube mics

As I'll stand by mine as well.

Be positive that's all I am saying, when a member has 77 posts and that is how a thread is responded to it brings the place down.

I dunno man,

I'm a pretty happy & laid back person most of the time...


Plus the original poster still hasn't answered the question of what he/she is planning on recording with the mic...


So, whuddever.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: tube mics

You sure you "defo want a tube mic"? Recording systems are just that: systems. As the cliche goes, they're only as strong as their weakest link. How's your room? What are your preamps like? Are you recording guitars, drums, vocals, or something else? I don't believe that there's a do-it-all mic and if I were going to spend 300 pounds on transducers, I'd probably look for a couple cheaper ones, maybe an SM57 for guitars and a decent condenser (SS or tube) for room sounds.

Exactly what I was going to post.

A good pair of essential low-cost mics would be an SM-57 and an Audio Technica AT-2020.

 

[J Moose]

Re: tube mics

A good pair of essential low-cost mics would be an SM-57 and an Audio Technica AT-2020.

Or for about the same cash...$200-250...you could score a used RE-20 or Sennheiser 421 which are FAR hipper mics that sound good to GREAT on everything from kick drums to horns to guitar amps & vocals...