Budget ish overhead mics?

[Adamamam]

Hello!

I've been using a pair of se1 mics for overheads for ages. I would like a change/alternative.

Budget is low. Maybe 300 for a pair.

Is there anything worth buying as an alternative for that money? Ecm8000 is interesting, but currently unavailable.

Any ideas would be great!

[Drew Stephenson]

On my list I'd probably have: Rode NT5, Audix F9, Sontronics STC1, Lewitt LCT140 and the sE8.
Should be able to get a pair for £300 for any of those if you hunt around.
Choosing between them is probably a minefield but the Rode might have a bit of a head-start in that you can add an omni capsule further down the line if you want.

[Smellthevalve]

Sontronics tends to get a thumbs up around here

https://www.sontronics.com/stc1s

[James Perrett]

Around that price I'd be also looking at the Line Audio CM4's. I have the older CM3's and they are excellent on all the sources that I've tried them on including overheads.

[Luke W]

Around that price I'd be also looking at the Line Audio CM4's. I have the older CM3's and they are excellent on all the sources that I've tried them on including overheads.

That was going to be my suggestion. I've not used them myself but know of a few people who either have some or have used them, and I've heard nothing but praise.

[Matt Houghton]

Wildcard option, depending on your space/preferred technique: ribbon mics.

You could pick up a pair of cheap ribbons for that price (though how well matched they'd be I don't know) or, for just a wee bit more (currently 399 Euros according to their site = approx £340) the Prodipe RCL stereo ribbon.

[Funkyflash5]

Not sure how the prices are where you are, but I've liked my pair of Lauten Audio LA-120s, and here at least they are on sale this month within your budget. And for just over (or if you could track down a used pair) the Cascade Fatheads are the most used mics in my collection!

[Adamamam]

Thanks so much for all the recommendations! I'm going to sift through and research them. I'd love a pair of ribbons, but I can't find anything near budget, PLUS my room isn't great, so I'm not sure that investing in something that will contain so much room (omni/ribbon) is wise.

I'll get reading!

Thanks again!

[The Elf]

A pair of MXL603 are decent mic's for little money.

[djangodeadman]

On my list I'd probably have: Rode NT5, Audix F9, Sontronics STC1, Lewitt LCT140 and the sE8.
Should be able to get a pair for £300 for any of those if you hunt around.
Choosing between them is probably a minefield but the Rode might have a bit of a head-start in that you can add an omni capsule further down the line if you want.

There are omni capsules available for the SE8s now as well.

[Drew Stephenson]

On my list I'd probably have: Rode NT5, Audix F9, Sontronics STC1, Lewitt LCT140 and the sE8.
Should be able to get a pair for £300 for any of those if you hunt around.
Choosing between them is probably a minefield but the Rode might have a bit of a head-start in that you can add an omni capsule further down the line if you want.

There are omni capsules available for the SE8s now as well.

Didn't know that, thanks.

[djangodeadman]

On my list I'd probably have: Rode NT5, Audix F9, Sontronics STC1, Lewitt LCT140 and the sE8.
Should be able to get a pair for £300 for any of those if you hunt around.
Choosing between them is probably a minefield but the Rode might have a bit of a head-start in that you can add an omni capsule further down the line if you want.

There are omni capsules available for the SE8s now as well.

Didn't know that, thanks.

They also now sell an omni version of the SE8, for which you can buy a, you guessed it, cardioid capsule!

[Guest]

+1 for the cm4’s.

[shufflebeat]

I'm currently assessing the Slate ml2 which has some very interesting software options.

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/slate-d ... one-system

https://www.soundonsound.com/news/slate ... -announced

I was pretty.sure there was a review of this in the mag but can't put my thumb on it for now.

[Adamamam]

I'm currently assessing the Slate ml2 which has some very interesting software options.

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/slate-d ... one-system

https://www.soundonsound.com/news/slate ... -announced

I was pretty.sure there was a review of this in the mag but can't put my thumb on it for now.

This is a very interesting option that I hadn't considered at all! How is your assessment going?

[shufflebeat]

I initially bought the mic for it's reported linear/flat resonse properties as a training mic for my Tonedexter and general duties. The SDC and 421 modelling works really well for acoustic guitar which is the basis of most of my experimenting at the minute.

I'll be doing direct comparisons with a real '57 and '421 when time allows. I don't have any others on the freebie list but will also compare the ribbons to my little Beyer to see if the character is in any way similar.

Unfortunately the ML2 hasn't proved to be an improvement over (or indeed, as good as) a '57 in the role for which it was intended.

[Luke Highdriver]

Around that price I'd be also looking at the Line Audio CM4's. I have the older CM3's and they are excellent on all the sources that I've tried them on including overheads.

That was going to be my suggestion. I've not used them myself but know of a few people who either have some or have used them, and I've heard nothing but praise.

Agree. I have the CM3s which have a much more omni-like bottom at a distance and smooth top to boot. Ideal on OH for me. The CM4 has the same wide pattern, so the same sound presumably. I spoke to Roger Jönsson a while back who said the CM4 has improved off axis performance as well. Recommend.