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Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69855] Sat, 01 July 2006 09:45 Go to next message
Dedric Terry is currently offline  Dedric Terry
Messages: 788
Registered: June 2007
Senior Member
Well,

My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and while
I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low cost,
great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I get
in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup, and I
may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.

When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back to a
Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few years
ago on a whim.

Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
(female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
(proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great on
male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic can't
be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male R&B
vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...

So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects C1)?

Regards,
Dedric
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69856 is a reply to message #69855] Sat, 01 July 2006 09:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gene lennon is currently offline  gene lennon
Messages: 565
Registered: July 2006
Senior Member
One sleeper for male vocals is the Shure SM7b, which sells for around 350,
but goes on eBay for just over 200 used.

I like ribbons on female ld, but I haven’t tried any of the new low cost
units like the shinybox 23C. If you do go with a ribbon you need a preamp
with lots of clean gain. (about 60db)

Gene




Dedric Terry <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote:
>Well,
>
>My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and while
>I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low cost,
>great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
get
>in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
>want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup, and
I
>may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
>
>When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
>good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
>unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back
to a
>Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few years
>ago on a whim.
>
>Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
>than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
>(female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
>(proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great on
>male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic can't
>be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
R&B
>vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
>isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
>
>So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
>smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
C1)?
>
>Regards,
>Dedric
>
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69861 is a reply to message #69856] Sat, 01 July 2006 10:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deej [1] is currently offline  Deej [1]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 2149
Registered: January 2006
Senior Member
The new SE ribbon mic has lots of output and is a wonderful vocal mic. I'm
using one in my rehearsal room right now with a Mackie VLZ preamp. (course,
it's a bit more than $200.00)

Deej

"gene lennon" <glennon@NOSPmyrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:44a6a8e4$1@linux...
>
> One sleeper for male vocals is the Shure SM7b, which sells for around 350,
> but goes on eBay for just over 200 used.
>
> I like ribbons on female ld, but I haven't tried any of the new low cost
> units like the shinybox 23C. If you do go with a ribbon you need a preamp
> with lots of clean gain. (about 60db)
>
> Gene
>
>
>
>
> Dedric Terry <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote:
> >Well,
> >
> >My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and
while
> >I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low
cost,
> >great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
> get
> >in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
> >want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup, and
> I
> >may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
> >
> >When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
> >good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
> >unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back
> to a
> >Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few
years
> >ago on a whim.
> >
> >Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
> >than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
> >(female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
> >(proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great on
> >male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic
can't
> >be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
> R&B
> >vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
> >isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
> >
> >So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
> >smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
> C1)?
> >
> >Regards,
> >Dedric
> >
>
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69866 is a reply to message #69855] Sat, 01 July 2006 11:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
wmarkwilson is currently offline  wmarkwilson   UNITED STATES
Messages: 114
Registered: July 2005
Senior Member
Hey Dedric, I bought one of these on your recom. Still have it, still lean
on it. Great mic.

W.

"Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
news:C0CC02C4.1824%dterry@keyofd.net...
> Well,
>
> My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and
> while
> I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low
> cost,
> great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
> get
> in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
> want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup, and
> I
> may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
>
> When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
> good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
> unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back to
> a
> Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few years
> ago on a whim.
>
> Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
> than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
> (female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
> (proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great on
> male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic
> can't
> be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
> R&B
> vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
> isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
>
> So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
> smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
> C1)?
>
> Regards,
> Dedric
>
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69869 is a reply to message #69866] Sat, 01 July 2006 12:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dedric Terry is currently offline  Dedric Terry
Messages: 788
Registered: June 2007
Senior Member
Hey Mark,

I had forgotten about that. It sounds like I liked it at the time :-). It
is interesting that some of these mics do turn out to be a bargain of sorts.
I had forgotten about mine until recently.

Regards,
Dedric

On 7/1/06 12:10 PM, in article 44a6b982$1@linux, "W. Mark Wilson"
<wmarkwilson@integrity.com> wrote:

> Hey Dedric, I bought one of these on your recom. Still have it, still lean
> on it. Great mic.
>
> W.
>
> "Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
> news:C0CC02C4.1824%dterry@keyofd.net...
>> Well,
>>
>> My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and
>> while
>> I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low
>> cost,
>> great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
>> get
>> in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
>> want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup, and
>> I
>> may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
>>
>> When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
>> good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
>> unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back to
>> a
>> Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few years
>> ago on a whim.
>>
>> Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
>> than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
>> (female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
>> (proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great on
>> male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic
>> can't
>> be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
>> R&B
>> vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
>> isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
>>
>> So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
>> smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
>> C1)?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Dedric
>>
>
>
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69870 is a reply to message #69869] Sat, 01 July 2006 13:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dubya Mark Wilson is currently offline  Dubya Mark Wilson   UNITED STATES
Messages: 108
Registered: May 2006
Senior Member
Mine doesn't do the car key test very well but fortunately I'm not recording
car keys. I think the PPA is a 797 Audio with Pacific Pro Audio's label on
it. Haven't looked into it deeply but I think that was confirmed by someone
in the know.

W.

"Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
news:C0CC2662.183B%dterry@keyofd.net...
> Hey Mark,
>
> I had forgotten about that. It sounds like I liked it at the time :-).
> It
> is interesting that some of these mics do turn out to be a bargain of
> sorts.
> I had forgotten about mine until recently.
>
> Regards,
> Dedric
>
> On 7/1/06 12:10 PM, in article 44a6b982$1@linux, "W. Mark Wilson"
> <wmarkwilson@integrity.com> wrote:
>
>> Hey Dedric, I bought one of these on your recom. Still have it, still
>> lean
>> on it. Great mic.
>>
>> W.
>>
>> "Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
>> news:C0CC02C4.1824%dterry@keyofd.net...
>>> Well,
>>>
>>> My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and
>>> while
>>> I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low
>>> cost,
>>> great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
>>> get
>>> in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
>>> want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup,
>>> and
>>> I
>>> may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
>>>
>>> When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
>>> good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
>>> unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back
>>> to
>>> a
>>> Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few
>>> years
>>> ago on a whim.
>>>
>>> Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
>>> than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
>>> (female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
>>> (proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great
>>> on
>>> male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic
>>> can't
>>> be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
>>> R&B
>>> vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
>>> isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
>>>
>>> So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
>>> smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
>>> C1)?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Dedric
>>>
>>
>>
>
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69871 is a reply to message #69870] Sat, 01 July 2006 14:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dedric Terry is currently offline  Dedric Terry
Messages: 788
Registered: June 2007
Senior Member
I think I had heard the same thing about the PPA.

I actually did record car keys recently, but used a different mic.

I'm considering mixing a little car keys with my cow bell tracks. I think
it will be a nice touch to my Christmas project: "The First CowBell".

Regards,
Dedric

On 7/1/06 2:40 PM, in article 44a6dcb0$1@linux, "Dubya Mark Wilson"
<mark.xspam@avidrecording.com> wrote:

> Mine doesn't do the car key test very well but fortunately I'm not recording
> car keys. I think the PPA is a 797 Audio with Pacific Pro Audio's label on
> it. Haven't looked into it deeply but I think that was confirmed by someone
> in the know.
>
> W.
>
> "Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
> news:C0CC2662.183B%dterry@keyofd.net...
>> Hey Mark,
>>
>> I had forgotten about that. It sounds like I liked it at the time :-).
>> It
>> is interesting that some of these mics do turn out to be a bargain of
>> sorts.
>> I had forgotten about mine until recently.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Dedric
>>
>> On 7/1/06 12:10 PM, in article 44a6b982$1@linux, "W. Mark Wilson"
>> <wmarkwilson@integrity.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hey Dedric, I bought one of these on your recom. Still have it, still
>>> lean
>>> on it. Great mic.
>>>
>>> W.
>>>
>>> "Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
>>> news:C0CC02C4.1824%dterry@keyofd.net...
>>>> Well,
>>>>
>>>> My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and
>>>> while
>>>> I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low
>>>> cost,
>>>> great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
>>>> get
>>>> in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
>>>> want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup,
>>>> and
>>>> I
>>>> may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
>>>>
>>>> When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
>>>> good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
>>>> unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back
>>>> to
>>>> a
>>>> Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few
>>>> years
>>>> ago on a whim.
>>>>
>>>> Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
>>>> than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
>>>> (female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
>>>> (proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great
>>>> on
>>>> male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic
>>>> can't
>>>> be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
>>>> R&B
>>>> vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
>>>> isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
>>>>
>>>> So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
>>>> smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
>>>> C1)?
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Dedric
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69872 is a reply to message #69855] Sat, 01 July 2006 16:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rob Arsenault is currently offline  Rob Arsenault   CANADA
Messages: 152
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Check out this MXL, very affordable and impressive, sounds great.

http://www.digitalprosound.com/2003/07_jul/reviews/mxl_v69.h tm

"Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
news:C0CC02C4.1824%dterry@keyofd.net...
> Well,
>
> My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and
while
> I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low
cost,
> great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
get
> in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
> want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup, and
I
> may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
>
> When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
> good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
> unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back to
a
> Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few years
> ago on a whim.
>
> Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
> than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
> (female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
> (proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great on
> male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic
can't
> be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
R&B
> vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
> isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
>
> So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
> smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
C1)?
>
> Regards,
> Dedric
>
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69873 is a reply to message #69855] Sat, 01 July 2006 17:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Carl Amburn is currently offline  Carl Amburn   UNITED STATES
Messages: 214
Registered: July 2005
Senior Member
Man, I love my CAD E100's and E-II. I think the E200 & E300 lines are sweet
as well. They aren't the quietest mics in the world - and they are super-hot
(high level). Takes a little getting used to. You can find these pretty
cheap nowadays too - especially on eBay.

-Carl

"Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
news:C0CC02C4.1824%dterry@keyofd.net...
> Well,
>
> My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and
while
> I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low
cost,
> great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
get
> in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
> want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup, and
I
> may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
>
> When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
> good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
> unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back to
a
> Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few years
> ago on a whim.
>
> Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
> than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
> (female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
> (proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great on
> male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic
can't
> be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
R&B
> vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
> isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
>
> So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
> smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
C1)?
>
> Regards,
> Dedric
>
Re: Favorite sleeper mics? [message #69877 is a reply to message #69873] Sat, 01 July 2006 21:54 Go to previous message
Dubya Mark Wilson is currently offline  Dubya Mark Wilson   UNITED STATES
Messages: 108
Registered: May 2006
Senior Member
Carl, isn't the EII the same thing as the E200? I got my E200 in 1994. Was
the EII before or after?

W.

"Carl Amburn" <carlamburn@hotNOSPAMmail.com> wrote in message
news:44a711dd@linux...
> Man, I love my CAD E100's and E-II. I think the E200 & E300 lines are
> sweet
> as well. They aren't the quietest mics in the world - and they are
> super-hot
> (high level). Takes a little getting used to. You can find these pretty
> cheap nowadays too - especially on eBay.
>
> -Carl
>
> "Dedric Terry" <dterry@keyofd.net> wrote in message
> news:C0CC02C4.1824%dterry@keyofd.net...
>> Well,
>>
>> My two best vocal mics both went south (how inconsiderate of them) and
> while
>> I'm waiting for repairs I decided to see what was out there in the low
> cost,
>> great value market (diamonds in the rough?) for LDC mics just in case I
> get
>> in a pinch and rental isn't an option - any suggestions? I don't really
>> want to spend more than $200 as it would just be an emergency backup, and
> I
>> may rent anyway, but any range is of interest if only out of curiosity.
>>
>> When I recently found my vocal mic for the session that day (and my last
>> good one) had developed a terminal case of buzz and hum (not cables
>> unfortunately - probably a cap or the power supply), I had to fall back
>> to
> a
>> Chinoknockoff $99 LDC from Pacific Pro Audio that I had bought a few
>> years
>> ago on a whim.
>>
>> Despite my expectations, the PPA mic actually sounded good - much better
>> than I expected. The high mids and highs were better on this vocalist
>> (female) than the mic that died. No sibilance problems - easy to EQ
>> (proximity and sensitivity isn't consistent, and low mids aren't great on
>> male vocals, but for this it worked). Hmmm. My brain knows this mic
> can't
>> be that good (didn't fare so well on the key jangling test, or on a male
> R&B
>> vocalist, but...$99 is only $99) - hey, if it works, it works. It still
>> isn't the best of the inexpensive knockoffs though...
>>
>> So, what other sleeper mics are out there that are clear, clean, and as
>> smooth as one can expect for that price (other than the Studio Projects
> C1)?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Dedric
>>
>
>
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