Budget ish overhead mics?
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Budget ish overhead mics?
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!
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!
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
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.
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.
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Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
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- Smellthevalve
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Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
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.
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Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
James Perrett wrote: ↑Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:19 pm 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.
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
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.
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.
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- Matt Houghton
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Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
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!
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- Funkyflash5
Regular - Posts: 215 Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:43 am Location: Wisconsin, USA
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
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!
I'll get reading!
Thanks again!
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
blinddrew wrote: ↑Wed Oct 13, 2021 1:25 pm 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.
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- djangodeadman
Regular - Posts: 354 Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2003 12:00 am Location: Brighton
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
djangodeadman wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 2:02 pmblinddrew wrote: ↑Wed Oct 13, 2021 1:25 pm 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.
- Drew Stephenson
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Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
blinddrew wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 2:05 pmdjangodeadman wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 2:02 pmblinddrew wrote: ↑Wed Oct 13, 2021 1:25 pm 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!
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- djangodeadman
Regular - Posts: 354 Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2003 12:00 am Location: Brighton
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
+1 for the cm4’s.
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- Guest
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
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.
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.
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- shufflebeat
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Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
shufflebeat wrote: ↑Fri Oct 15, 2021 10:19 am 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?
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
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.
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.
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- shufflebeat
Longtime Poster - Posts: 9102 Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:00 am Location: Manchester, UK
“…I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career” - (folk musician, Manchester).
Re: Budget ish overhead mics?
Luke W wrote: ↑Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:33 pmJames Perrett wrote: ↑Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:19 pm 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.
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- Luke Highdriver
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