Cheap mics vs. Expensive mics

[TrevCircleStudios]

Originally Posted by Monarch

Interesting points Frank.

You mentioned Chinese brands...I have heard a lot about the SE Mics, they seem to get good reviews (I think they are a Chinese brand)....I would guess they are low to mid in terms of Mic class...how would you rate them?

Low to low-mid. The ones I've tried have a boosted highs/harsh thing going on that I didn't like at all.

But then saying that, a vocal through an SM-57 processed with Trash for an alternate, but nice vocal sound did the job recently.

Like both i and frank have said above a decent dynamic paired with a great pre is a compeltely different mic. I predict a riot (kaiser chiefs) lead vocal was done on an sm58

[FrankGIK]

Originally Posted by Monarch

Interesting points Frank.

You mentioned Chinese brands...I have heard a lot about the SE Mics, they seem to get good reviews (I think they are a Chinese brand)....I would guess they are low to mid in terms of Mic class...how would you rate them?

Hey, don't get me wrong...I own and track with my fair share of cheap, Chinese manufactured mics. That doesn't necessarily equal "bad"...it's all in the design. The SE stuff, though made in China is an example of fantastic value...you get a lot for spending a little. On the other hand, the Behringer B-1 is absolute, unadulterated CRAP...you get nothing for spending just about as much as an SE.

Don't let the purists talk you into spending your whole budget on a U87 just to have one. It's better to have a bunch of nice value mics (SM7b, Fat Head, AT-4040/40450, Shure KSM series and SM series, SE, some MXL stuff...the list goes on) and some nice pre's than have a single, *ahem* over-priced mic and no good pre's.

Frank

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by FrankGIK

Don't let the purists talk you into spending your whole budget on a U87 just to have one.

Correction: vintage U87. The newer ones are just awful, absolutely unuseable.

(tongue firmly planted in cheek)

[FrankGIK]

Originally Posted by terminal3

Correction: vintage U87. The newer ones are just awful, absolutely unuseable.

(tongue firmly planted in cheek)

T3...you snob, you.

Frank

[Monarch]

Originally Posted by mutilatedlip

I mainly use a Brauner Phantom C which is a beautiful mic for the money and comparable to stuff far more expensive. Just lower in price than it's big brothers due to less options/patterns etc.

I also use an MXL V69 which is a gorgeous mic for the money. It's tube and a great companion to the Brauner for darkening and warming vocals.

But then saying that, a vocal through an SM-57 processed with Trash for an alternate, but nice vocal sound did the job recently.

Cheers. I need to Google some of those brands. SM -57 I know of but not the others. Judging by your feedback they are worth a very serious look.

Originally Posted by TrevCircleStudios

Low to low-mid. The ones I've tried have a boosted highs/harsh thing going on that I didn't like at all.

Hmmm I'll probably not risk the SE's then. Thanks Trev.

Originally Posted by FrankGIK

Hey, don't get me wrong...I own and track with my fair share of cheap, Chinese manufactured mics. That doesn't necessarily equal "bad"...it's all in the design. The SE stuff, though made in China is an example of fantastic value...you get a lot for spending a little. On the other hand, the Behringer B-1 is absolute, unadulterated CRAP...you get nothing for spending just about as much as an SE.

Don't let the purists talk you into spending your whole budget on a U87 just to have one. It's better to have a bunch of nice value mics (SM7b, Fat Head, AT-4040/40450, Shure KSM series and SM series, SE, some MXL stuff...the list goes on) and some nice pre's than have a single, *ahem* over-priced mic and no good pre's.

Frank

Plenty for me to think about in that post Frank. Cheers! You made a really good point about Pre's. That is something I need to look at more closely at some point.

[TrevCircleStudios]

Hmmm I'll probably not risk the SE's then. Thanks Trev.

As ever man, YMMV. Try em yourself, they might be fine to your ears! (to put this in context, I dislike the neumann TLM103, nasty harsh thin sounding thing to my ears. A friend whose judgement I trust and who has some reasonable credits is using one at the moment on a label job with an API 512 and a drawmer 1968. Not a combination that would enter my head for vox but he says it's working for him so hey, just goes to show!)

[terminal3]

I've got an sE 2200A ... makes a great room mic, and decent on some male vox as well (in a certain range.) Money well spent, it's cheap!

As with anything at such a low price, there are compromises. For example, if there's a worse mic for female vox I haven't heard it yet (B*hringer does not count, because I *refuse* to hear it) ...

But it's nice for a fairly low cash outlay. Given the choice I'd spend a teeny bit more and get a CAD M179 if it was a serious budget issue, but there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the 2200A on the right sources. And that's the trick with these cheaper mics, as has been pretty much stated - on the right sources, they can be absolutely just fine, but they're not gonna work on everything, whereas an expensive mic probably will work on (almost) everything.

And, erm, +1, or -1, or whatever it is for the TLM103 - basically I agree with Trev, it sucks, and for the money, you're better buying a handful of Chinese mics. But as he's also illustrated, your experience may differ.

[Monarch]

Originally Posted by TrevCircleStudios

As ever man, YMMV. Try em yourself, they might be fine to your ears! (to put this in context, I dislike the neumann TLM103, nasty harsh thin sounding thing to my ears. A friend whose judgement I trust and who has some reasonable credits is using one at the moment on a label job with an API 512 and a drawmer 1968. Not a combination that would enter my head for vox but he says it's working for him so hey, just goes to show!)

Good points. I guess I am using your knowledge as a guide of sorts (you , Frank, T3 e.t.c know way more than me here) but yeah I will look to try them myself which makes sense. The perception of how something sounds really is so subjective but it's nice to get some feedback from those who have already been there. Thanks.

I've got an sE 2200A ... makes a great room mic, and decent on some male vox as well (in a certain range.) Money well spent, it's cheap!

As with anything at such a low price, there are compromises. For example, if there's a worse mic for female vox I haven't heard it yet (B*hringer does not count, because I *refuse* to hear it) ...

But it's nice for a fairly low cash outlay. Given the choice I'd spend a teeny bit more and get a CAD M179 if it was a serious budget issue, but there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the 2200A on the right sources. And that's the trick with these cheaper mics, as has been pretty much stated - on the right sources, they can be absolutely just fine, but they're not gonna work on everything, whereas an expensive mic probably will work on (almost) everything.

And, erm, +1, or -1, or whatever it is for the TLM103 - basically I agree with Trev, it sucks, and for the money, you're better buying a handful of Chinese mics. But as he's also illustrated, your experience may differ.

Cheers T3... Lots to consider...I need to Google that CAD M179 you mentioned. Quite a few names have popped up on this thread that are now on my list to consider

The feedback on this thread has been a rich source of info for me and I did not even start this thread

Thanks again guys!

[modz1]

Originally Posted by Monarch

Edit:

The feedback on this thread has been a rich source of info for me and I did not even start this thread

Thanks again guys!

Top advice from the boys in the know.. Thread stickied..

[Bloke From Barnet]

I bought the SE2200A too. It is a stonking mic for the money, but I used to have an AKG solidtube and even though I ain't no pro, I can hear the difference on vocals and acoustic guitar. I'll keep the SE mic, but I will be getting another solidtube as soon as the piggy bank is good for it.

I run it through a mackie 8 bus & a TLA 5021 compressor. Maybe another preamp or something might do the trick, but this setup with my old solidtube just sounded great on everything.

[FrankGIK]

Oh lord in heaven, the TLM-103...where do I start? Is there a "vomiting" emoticon, or a monkey urinating on somethin' emoticon...? No? Then I'll just use this one a bunch of times:



Man that mic sucks. Bad. Anything SE makes would beat it; an AT-2020 would beat it. A couple of tin cans and some string would beat it.

Frank

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by FrankGIK

Oh lord in heaven, the TLM-103...where do I start? Is there a "vomiting" emoticon, or a monkey urinating on somethin' emoticon...? No? Then I'll just use this one a bunch of times:



Man that mic sucks. Bad. Anything SE makes would beat it; an AT-2020 would beat it. A couple of tin cans and some string would beat it.

We are still brothers.

[FrankGIK]

Originally Posted by terminal3

We are still brothers.

Good to know. In that case, if I end up in London at any point this year, you can come have a pint with Trev and I. I'll bring my vintage U-87.

Frank

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by FrankGIK

Good to know. In that case, if I end up in London at any point this year, you can come have a pint with Trev and I. I'll bring my vintage U-87.

As there are only 29 days left in this year, I won't count on it, however, the first round is definitely on me if it's before, say, 2010.

Anyway, what I meant to say was, I hate the TLM103 more than I hate vegemite.

[saxman]

I have not used a U-87 or a TLM103 but from what I've read on SOS it seems the TLM103 was designed as a cut-down U-87. So I presume it is natural to dislike the TLM103 if you own a U-87 but it surprises me to read any comment referring to the TLM103 being total garbage?

A lot of smaller professional and home studios would love to have a mic cupboard full of Neumanns -- but quality always costs, and for many, mics like the U87 are outside their available budgets. The TLM103 has been designed to address this problem by providing what is, in effect, a cut-down U87, but at a much more attractive price -- about a third that of the U87, in fact.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun9...s/neumann.html