ShortScale.org

So I've spent hours today looking at some low-end condensers to use for vocals with my soon-to-be-formed modest studio setup. I've tried my flatmate's Audion Technica 4033a and was suitably impressed, and the samples on the AT site show both the far-cheaper 2020 and 2035 to be totally comparable in terms of depth and presence:

http://eu.audio-technica.com/en/resourc ... 0Voice.wav £90ish
http://eu.audio-technica.com/en/resourc ... 0Voice.wav £120ish (inc. shockmount)
http://eu.audio-technica.com/en/resourc ... 0Voice.wav £310+ (inc. shockmount)

However, the neato thing about the Rode NT1-A is it's available in a kit with a shock mount and popshield for about £145 on Ebay so makes sense financially and waiting-around-for-postie-wise. Thing is I can't find standalone samples online illustrating "rock" vocals to compare. Anyone got any experience with any of these?

Cheerz!

I know I have used them in recordings at the studio I go to and it always sounded good. One time we tracked vocals with a neumann and I had to go back and retrack later and the Rode was already set up. On playback both tracks sounded really dmaned close to each other.

I've used one as well. in my experience, it does the job well. I don't exactly remember any unique qualities to it's sound, it just sounded like a condenser is supposed to sound. I haven't read up on people's criticisms of it, but I suspect they would just come down to personal taste as far as frequency response. all I know is that it has the crisp top-end needed to sound like a professional recording.

friend of mine who's a mic head says "it's a good quality, value-for-money workhorse; see also SE2200. won't go wrong with either"

if that helps.

Cheers guys, most useful. I'm looking into the aforementioned SE2200 right now.

I have an AKGC3000B which is great.

The Rode NT-1A is also fantastic - Gareth has one.

Not much to add, but I love Rode's stuff for having great quality at decent prices.

I've used an NTK for almost a decade now, and absolutely love it...Everyone's voice sounds deliciously present and robust.

I've been looking at the Rode too. I'm definitely going to purchase one... I've only read good things about them.

I'm not really fussed about the Vocal Package so I'm going to get one from DV247 for £135 It still comes with the cradle so that's
a bonus!

Mike wrote:I have an AKGC3000B which is great.

The Rode NT-1A is also fantastic - Gareth has one.

We had a Rode NT-100 fall apart on us.

I didn't mention that Microphone. Why did you direct that at me?

I thought the microphones might be related, as the numbers were similar.

Rode Luv.

I really like my dad's M3. I steal it all the time.

Thanks for the continued input, dudes.

I've actually been looking at Red5 Audio mics for both their RV6 condenser and RVK7 7-piece drum mic sets- they're on the lower end of the price spectrum but I've heard nothing but good things. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Also, the bottom post in this thread made my tedious Google-trawling all the more enjoyable:

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=199281

^ LOL

Vintage lolz

Lolz so awesome it silenced EVERYTHING.

Haha!

Sloanlols aside, I've just gone and bought me these bundles of joy:






£248.74 for the lot, delivered. They're certainly not the most pricey models, but I've heard good reviews and decent sound samples of 'em and they suit my limited budget. Worst comes to worst, I end up upgrading the condensers in the future to use for drums and vocals, no biggy.

Red5 have a 14-day return policy just in case I'm not totally convinced.

Exciting stuff. Imagine what you're going to be able to come up with actual microphones.