You're the only reviewer who has ever measured his head. This makes this Mic guide video all the more authoritative and reliable. A lot of other audio experts fail to see the connection between microphone choice and head size. I can't thank you enough.
This video quantifies what I've learned over the past 16 years. I am familiar with all the mics, but didn't realize just how much there is to know about them, and I just thought, well, these are the things about the different kinds of mics. Excellent way to break it down for people who are not so familiar. There's more to it than probably many people would expect. This video is also valuable for entertainment value....as well as reminding me of the incredible videos I can't afford. It's not what I do for a living, but it is something I am serious about. Thus, THAT is what my budget is. ;)
@@northcoaststudios oh man. Hard agree! I in no way can afford even the 416. I had to finance it. Seriously. I totally get what you’re saying. I’ll probably never have a Schoeps. Luckily I have a local music store that will get me whatever I need and let me throw it on financing. If I didn’t have that, I would have any of what I have. Maybe one day I’ll make money on TH-cam. Haha. But you have to do what you have to do. And we’re here right now on earth. Let’s try to enjoy it. Know what I mean?
These are more generalizations than hard and fast rules. With enough gain, dynamic microphones do start to behave more like large diapragm condensers. The Shure SM7B, for instance, is capable of resolving quite a bit of detail, but you aren't going to get that kind of gain on most USB interfaces- it will require dedicated preamps.
Yes. But who’s got 72dB of gain on their interfaces? I have several preamps that’ll push it that hard, but certainly my Apollo preamps couldn’t do it. Also, you run into the issue of noise. In-line preamps help.
Lav mics are used in music productions. I have a DVD with a Händel opera where in the bonus material we see how the singers are equipped with lav mics on their cheeks or in their hairline. Not for amplification, only for recording. One of the singers, a bass, is angling his lips to the side of his face where the microphone is placed, which looks weird, but sounds great.
How the heck do you have so few subscribers? You have great content, a great sense of humor, and high production values. I’m going to try to send some of my subscribers your way. I appreciate what you do.
Hey man. Thanks so much! I really appreciate that! I just make videos every week and hope for the best. Haha. Should I be advertising or something? I guess I’m 100% organic. I really appreciate your wonderful words! Cheers!
Super video again 👍 and I was looking forward to it 😊 Great and very! useful information for people like me who are interested in this area, but lack this kind of your vast experience. I had no idea and will watch it again. And I will explore the working of a ribbon mic somewhat more, because I don't understand how they work. Yesterday I bought myself a secondhand Orcabag 270 for about 50 bucks your currency. Now I just need a Mixpre 😆 Feedback: watch the part of the Shotgun Mics again. This part is in the second half of the video. You mention a lot! of new information to viewers who are new on this subject. So it is more pleasant to keep some space/brakes in the sentences/information you present (Like the first part!!!) It's ok (or even great 👍) that the video is long, and when you compress all the information by leaving out some breaks (to breathe or think) it becomes more fatiguing to watch, listen and especially process everything you say. Especially for people who are new in the field. And it might even cause that people stop watching the rest of your amazing video. The best (relaxed, informative and hilarious) parts watch were absolutely the Dynamic Mics and Large Diaphragm Condensers; really top!! content 👍👍👍
Well thanks, Roland! I always have so much information to impart and I worry about video length, but I suppose I shouldn’t. Glad you got an OR-270 for so cheap! It’s a great little bag!
Hi, my ideia is to record audio to later make it as a talk combined with travel videos or drone videos. So the goal is to have a clean and deep voice maybe with some chill lofi background music. So i am thinking about and dynamic mic or shotgun mic. Not sure what to choose. Also my room is definitely not noise isolated so… Anyways thank you for the video very nice explained. ☺️
Hey there. If you’re doing narration for travel videos, I might suggest a large diaphragm condenser microphone and used inside a closet full of clothes. A dynamic mic might not be the best, most professionally sounding option for that purpose, nor would a shotgun mic due to potential phase issues. Audio is more involved and much more important to a professional production than a lot of people realize. Once recorded and edited, I would then process the narration with mouth-click removal, noise reduction, EQ, compression, and limiting. Then I would carve some space out in the music tracks with another EQ to have the narration sit properly. It’s quite involved. But I do this for a living. I have a few videos that address this. Hope this helps!
@@TheRecordistIncredibly grateful. Never thought about that option but sounds better than the ones i was thinking about. That’s what means talking with a skilled and qualified professional. Thank you very much! 🙏
I couldn't have said any of what you said towards the end better myself. I believe all of us can get WAY ahead of ourselves when selecting gear, and then we get all wrapped up in wanting something "better" than what we've got every time. (That's how these businesses who manufacture it get us to fall into their traps. They know what people are willing to pay good money for. Hence why I don't always strive to create "quality content" when I make something to post online. I don't want to contribute to the doom scrolling) It gets us just so invested that we forget the original reason why we wanted our gear in the first place. It was to have the ability to create content. In the end, what works works.
You’re right. However, if you’re going into audio on a professional level, the best thing to do is to do all the research needed to decide what you’ll need going forward. There are a lot of really bad mics and gear. And there are a lot of mid-priced gear that is kick-ass. It’s all about figuring out what you want to do, making a plan, and executing it. It’s easy to fall down the never-ending black hole of gear purchases. We’ve all been there. But choosing where to put your money once, is probably the very best route. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
What a superb overview! I have a Rode NTG1 for outdoor dialogue recording, want to upgrade but can’t stretch to a Sennheiser 416. Any advice much appreciated!
Hey thank you so much! The 416 is special, but a really nice cheaper option would be the Rode NTG3. Normally I dislike Røde, but they made a great mic in the NTG3. It’s much darker than the 416, though. Very bassy. But superb sounding. I do not recommend any of the Deity stuff. Another great thing about the 416 is how it’s built to last. You can take it out in a rain storm and it’ll be fine. It’ll last you forever.
@@TheRecordist many thanks for this advice! I noted from your 416 video that the 416 matches well with the Oktava MK012 which I already have and love, so think I’ll go for a good used 416 for that reason. Sorry to be picking your brain (!) but is there a lavalier (small enough to conceal in clothing) you might recommend that could work well with those two and that doesn’t break the bank?!
I'm trying to make asmr, and I'd like to understand all of this before I begin. I've ordered some 25 dollar wireless lavs. I'm going to save up, either for a ribbon or large diaphragm condenser. Edit; Any recommendations on a first mic would be stellar. I am on tight budget though.
Hey there. If it were me, I wouldn’t go with ribbon for ASMR. I know that some people enjoy that. For me, it would be an LDC. Which one is the trick. I’d use one that is relatively flat and has fast transient response. I’m not sure what your budget is, but I would go for an sE Electronics T2 (for 4 polar pattern options) or the slimmed down T1 (with only cardioid). Great sounding mic. Will last you the rest of your life, and will not need replacing. Already professional level. I’ve reviewed the T2 on my channel. Also, the T1 review comes out tomorrow. So check back here then for that one. Alternatively, there’s the AWI SR3D binaural mic. I’ve reviewed that on my channel. Have a look for that one. I have a discount code for that as well, in the description. Hope this helps!
@@TheRecordist very helpful! I will admit, I bought a maono A04 for 30 dollars, as I figured it was a good price point for now. I'll check out these others and your vids!
@@TheRecordist they're nice, but I definitely can't afford one, not yet. I feel like they do better than the rodes, which seem like the name brand after Blue.
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Thankyou very much for this! Excellent video. My wife is a home jingle/commercial singer in a not sound proof made-up office with lots of external interference. We got initially an Audio Technica AT2020 but the mixers tend to have to EQ a lot, and after your video I think it would be better a Dynamic 🎤. I'm thinking a SM57 (from another video when you were Han Solo!) please your comments on this, or should we spend more on a SM7B?? Thanks!
Hi Ivan. Well, ideally you’ll want to try to quiet and dampen your room, but if you can’t, then an SM57 will be just fine. The SM7B will be even better. Huge price difference between them though. However, with dynamic mics, there comes another issue: they’re notoriously low-powered. If you were to get an SM7B, I would instead opt for the SM7dB. It’s much more powerful and really shines. th-cam.com/video/9erlaf5u1W8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=uXLFmccd-AhEeP0Z Alternatively, if you like the articulation of a condenser (like the AT2020) but want a the sound rejection that comes with dynamics, might I interest you in the Lauten Audio LS-208? th-cam.com/video/exOODK6rghU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=KaW0aoQspJyuqDSs Here’s the trick. Since you don’t know how you’re going to like something (everyone has different tastes and situations), try either renting mics or at least buying them from a company who have a good return policy. This way, if it doesn’t suit you, you can try a few until you find the one. One thing is for sure, all the options presented here are probably better than the AT2020 - which is a decent mic, but a little bit toppy and slightly noisy. Hope this helps!
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@@TheRecordist WOW. Thanks for the insight. Will definitely look into the options. She has a MotuM2 interface which could work with the SM7B but with the gain at max, but 500 is a steep jump. I'll check the LS. Also, she has a high pitch voice and gets loud sometimes so I'm not sure how to address the "darkness" of the mic, or if for her specific voice we should be looking for something different. Thank you again very much! I'm watching the LS and your dream brain. Jeje
@ hahaha. Thanks for watching the vids! Ok. The M2 is a nice interface and I think it has about 60dB of gain, which would push an Sm7dB. Do you have a sample of her voice that you could send me? recordist@thetps.ca She might be fine with an SM57 to save some money. Just be sure to have ample plosive protection. The 57 is very naked.
What type of mic would you recommend for say Scott Weiland, original Stone Temple Pilots type voice? Plush, Flies In The Vasoline, Wicked Garden. Stuff like that. Chris Cornell, Hunger Strike. Also classic Rock like Bad Company, Steve Perry of Journey. Etc. Etc. I think you get what Im after. Thanks for your expertise on the matter. There are only a million mics to choose from. Crazy.
@@JerryCalvert-x9u you know what? As soon as I was reading what you were after, a mic popped into my head. It was the Stam Audio SA-87i. Something with character and saturation. As I was writing this reply, I paused just to check if I was in the ballpark. I was. Scott Weiland used a U47 and Chris Cornell used a U87. As for Steve Perry, it was a mix of M49, U87i, U67, and U87. The Stam SA-87i is a 70s U87i clone. Alternatively, the Dachman DA 87i is fantastic. As is the Roswell Mini K67x. I’m assuming you’re talking about recording and not live, correct? Of note, all of those singers had their mics plugged into a Neve desk. So 1073 or 1084 preamps. Hope this helps!
@TheRecordist I spent the morning reviewing that mic SA 87i, and I've got to be honest, it's no good for me. The original sounds better and by a very long shot. There just isn't any comparison at all between the two. I can't even believe they're trying to compare it to the real thing. So I'm disappointed it wasn't the one. Back to the drawing board. This is harder than I thought. Is there perhaps maybe an analog mic or something, anything that I can capture my true, raw sound on? I couldn't imagine how you study this stuff and know so much about it. It must be a very time consuming process. You have to have a real passion for it because it's like a vast ocean. I wonder, has anyone ever actually recorded any song in a studio setting using a SM58? Do you think that's a taboo?
@@JerryCalvert-x9u that’s strange. The SA-87i is well known among professionals all over the world for coming the closest to the original mic than any other clone. Just in case you don’t know, it’s not a clone of the U87ai (modern one) but instead the U87i that is no longer made, but was popular in the 60s/70s. The U47 is a tube mic. Big money to get into that sound. I’m curious why you don’t think it sounds similar. Is it your own ears or someone else’s? The 58? Massive difference in the type of mic. We were talking about condenser mics and the 58 is a dynamic mic. Massive huge difference. I’m not aware of which songs a 58 might have been used on, but I know of many that used the 57.
@@TheRecordist Oh I see what you're saying about that SA-87i. But it's just not my sound at all. So by comparison let me tell you what I've found out this morn. and this will give you a better idea of my sound of what I was trying to find; the Shure 565SD. They say it was Freddie Mercury's mic, but it doesn't matter. The looks, the feel, the sound of that mic is what I need. It is so versatile. Live, studio, instruments, vocals. And so much control too over the sound just by distance and position. It's warm when up close, but bright when farther back. It can also capture very good sounds outside it's direct path. And all the other stuff too that makes it great. And dig that price tag? WoW. How are they even making money? Amazing! I've heard this is the mic they used as standard issue at Woodstock as well. So it's that raw 1960s rock sound I grew up on. Good stuff. You probably weren't expecting that as you may have thought I was into the modern day pop music for which I couldn't tell you even a single band aside from one. I haven't listened to any new music in probably 20 years or so was the last and final time. I'm so analog. I've also got a 1970s inspired Squire and a new analog PolyD Synth that is nearly identical to the original Mini-Moogs which is unbelievable in sound and performance quality. So you see where I'm going with all this. A very unique sound for this day and age. Very different. And just look what I'm able to get for very little money. Amazing. I subscribed to your channel and will watch many more videos. You have good content even though I can't grasp much of your technical information because it must take years of study to know what you do and that's a career in and of itself. I'd rather just seek your advice instead and you did help me out a lot pointing me in the right places. My philosophy is like this; if my voice isn't up to par, to practice until I get it right instead of using software or fancy equipment to achieve the results I'm looking for. I've seen the opposite approach, even in the professional world and it's just wrong. It's a betrayal of the fans trust in some cases too. Anyway. I wish you a good day of your research and reviews. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Have a happy holidays. Cheers!
@ hey Jerry. Excellent. Well, if the 565SD is up your alley, of course, by all means, that’s the one. Normally I’d warn about confirmation bias and convincing yourself (despite facts to the contrary) that the $100 mic is the correct choice, but it’s only $100. It’s not a huge loss if you need to upgrade later. I’ll let you know, as a guy who’s been working in music and sound for 35 years, that most modern artists are ALSO into analog. It’s pretty much universally loved, even with all this digital sounding music. Also, I didn’t in any way think you were into modern music, because you literally told me your influences and none of them were modern. My own vocal/guitar gear is almost 100% actual analog. I run outboard EQs, compressors, preamps, and even most of my guitar pedals are analog. I’m not unique. Most musicians/engineers are the same. Condenser mics are just as analog as dynamic or ribbon mics. Also, there’s no such thing as cheating when it comes to making good music. If it sounds good, it IS good - regardless of how you get there. By all means, practice and master your craft. That’s commendable. But the odds are, when in a professional studio, melodyne will be used here and there to make everything just right. Just keep your mind open. It can only help. And I don’t really know of any fancy equipment that is used to make a bad band sound good, unless you’re talking about doing a hundred takes and choosing the best one - and if that’s the case, that’s been done for many decades, even with tape. It was and is still called punching in. All your favorite artists did that. All this to say, audio is indeed a huge world, and there’s so much to learn. But always keep your mind open. Closing it off to different ways of thinking is a waste of enjoyment. Recognizing what you know, what you know you don’t know, what you don’t know you know, and what you don’t know you don’t know, is paramount to character development. Cheers and thanks for the sub!
Hey thanks! I have since changed how I do thumbnails. I’m not sure if they’re any good or not, but I really suck at them. What about titles? What do you suggest?
To illustrate what you said, Steve Albini had some interesting musical uses for lav/small electret mics... basically to provide more isolation while acoustic musicians played together in a room or, say, grab the 'click' of the bass drum beater without having the snare and whole kit overwhelm the sound, if I remember right. Rewatchable, newly-commentable content here.
@@TheRecordist Intriguing idea but I actually think he taped them to body of an instrument - or in the case of bass drum, just hung it over the drum on the batter side, so the mic was dangling near where the beater hit the drum. There's a youtube video from Electrical Audio where he discusses mic'ing acoustic string instruments, and he includes taping lavs to guitar and violin at least, maybe others, alongside more conventional uses of condensers mics at different distances and positions.
I own too many mics. (59 is the latest count). None more expensive than the 416. I own mics in every category, except ribbon mics: Fragile + expensive = no thanks. The cheapest I own is the Superlux Sonata 88s which cost $60 ... for a sixpack! Yep, ten dollars a piece. Bought them just out of curiosity. They're dynamics, SM58 style. Sound quality isn't too bad, but the handling noise is unbelievable! They had to save somewhere, I guess.
I’m the same as you! I’ve got every type except a ribbon-and for the same reasons as you. Haha. But I do have a Sphere mic that emulates expensive ribbons very well. I love it. Man, those are some cheap mics! Thanks for watching!
Hey thanks! Well first I’d need to know if the mic will be in the shot. Honestly, I’d pick an SM-57 with a pop screen over the 58. The 58 is great but mainly for live situations on a stage. The highs are somewhat rolled off and is less articulate.
Oh yes. Dynamics are far less prone to handling noise. This is another reason that dynamics are used by singers live on stages-many while holding them in their hands. Great question!
Awesome video! Thank you so much! I would like to start making voiceovers and get into voice acting; my budget is around $300 for a mic. Im a woman that can do anime girl sounds and also deeper like Maddie Star, Lana Del Rey kind of voices. Sometimes funny-popping expressions. I have an absolutely untreated 174 sq ft room for recording. Please help me! Which type of mic should I go for? Do you have any specific recommendations? Thank you so much in advance! :)
@@NaturallyWanderlust hey there! Hmm. VO is a particular sound. The very first thing you should do is create a treated area. This may be a closet with clothes hanging in it still, or even creating a blanket fort with a bunch of moving-blankets. Just make sure you have a few feet of space around you and the mic. As for the mic I suggest, I would go with an sE Electronics sE4100. It’s $50 more than you want but it’s leagues better than anything else in that price range. This would be a lifetime mic. You could grow with it and still put out great sounding stuff. This is, of course, assuming you have an interface or recorder. Let me know what you think!
@@TheRecordist thank you very much! I was specifically looking into usb mics because im a beginner. But obviously i would like a mic that will support me actually getting paid, and not being turned away because of the mic i have. i was looking at rode nt usb +, or sennheiser profile. (in the blanket fort or closet). are any of those a good idea for me?
@ I’m not a huge fan of Røde mics for the long haul, but both mics you mention will work to start, but if you take off, you’ll definitely be upgrading soon. Something like the sE Electronics NEOM is also a great choice. I have one here and it’s among the best USB mics I’ve heard. I know it sounds like I’m shilling for sE Electronics but I’m not. Haha. I just have a lot of experience working with them. The $300 price point is the hard part. Audio is expensive. At least, good audio is. If your budget was higher, I’d suggest a Shure KSM 32, a Lauten Audio LS-208, or even a Dachman DA 87i. But that’s getting really expensive for you. Hence the sE Electronics sE4100. It’s an incredible mic for a very low price. So far, I’ve only seen sE do it right that cheap. You would also need an interface. But luckily an inexpensive one would work for you. Something like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo or the Audient Evo 4. But if you want to start with a USB mic, the sE Electronics NEOM is a good starting point.
I have Vocaster 2. Everybody is telling me to upgrade, while others are advising me not to. I'm getting confused. I'm only streaming my games and adding effects on the stream using a voice changer and different voice effects. Should I upgrade or keep it as it is?
Hey. Well, here’s the question. Does the Vocaster 2 do what you want it to do? Is there something else you wish it did but doesn’t? If it does everything you want it to do, then there is absolutely no reason to upgrade. Generally what happens is people drop a few hundred dollars or more and then realize they sound the same. It’s the same. They just blew money for no reason. It’s depressing. Unless of course you need a function that this one doesn’t provide. Hope this helps!
I want to ask a question. I like to record live shows, or concerts, but ı want to know if ı am doin it right. Since ı am not a member of the crew of the concert that ı am recording, only way to record is using mics. (I am doıng this for educateing myself to record and mix properly a live sounds. I know, it's not the right way but ı want to record that live ambience like we hear at the moment and that's my goal when ı'm recording with mics. Currently, ı am recording with my tascam x 8's built in small condenser mics. They are good in capturing highs in this situation but ı want that bass rumbling at the same time capturing the highs of the cymbals. I want to know that which microphone or mics should ı use. Since can't get any closer, so I' am buying my tickets as close as ı can get to stage. My thought was to use two small condenser mics positioning x y, for capturing the highs of the sound, and two large diaphragm condenser mic pairs for low frequency sounds like kick of the drum. Is it right or should ı use different mics and different positioning? I really want to record good sound of the live concerts so if you help me, ı'm gonna really appreciate that.
Hi there. Well, the problem is that cardioid mics tend not to capture low end the further from the source they are. Large diaphragm condensers would be no different. I’m assuming the mics in the X8 are cardioids. The only thing that might help is perhaps a pair of Pluggy mics or Clippy mics. These are Omni mics and will help capture more of the lows the other onboard mics are missing. Plus they’re very small. Hope this helps!
@@TheRecordist thank you for your help, I think ı am going to buy lewitt lct 140 pair condenser mics.I liked the sound of the microphones and there are pads for low cut and flat or air switch for changing mic characteristics. hope it helps me to capture detailed and live sound. If there is a specific microphone brand or model you would like to recommend, I would be very happy.
Most ribbon microphones that I have seen are mostly used for paperweights. Not because they are a bad mic, but because some doofus still had phantom power on when they connected a ribbon microphone. Ooooopsie!
Hahaha. Oh man. One of the reasons I never bought a ribbon was because of how delicate they are. They need to be stored upright and can’t be blown on. And under no circumstance can you forget that phantom power is on. Hahaha.
SIR I want to do voice over. I want to record my poetry professionally. In which I get high quality. But in my poetry some lines will go in high tone and some lines will go in emotional low tone. Suggest me a good mic, headphone and audio interface.
Hi there. That sounds like a great thing you’re doing! Audio can get very expensive and there are so many categories of expense. To allow me to help you further, please let me know your budget and I’ll try to recommend some products that fit in.
@@TheRecordist My budget is $300 . My room is not sound proof. And I'm fully beginner. I have saved money very hard, tell me such a microphone and audio interface that I will not regret after buying.
@@civilfieldengineer ok. Here’s my suggestions: Not treated space means you should go for a dynamic mic. A low cost but really good dynamic mic is a Shure SM58-but one that comes with a cable. I think the kit is called Shure SM58-CN or something. A Shure SM57 is also a good mic but you’ll definitely need a pop screen due to plosives from your mouth. Actually, it’s not a bad idea to have a pop screen anyway. As for interface, the Audient Evo ones are fabulous for the money. The Evo 4 is great. For headphones, if you want a really good set that’ll last you years and be great for other stuff as well, I recommend the Sony MDR-7506. They’re not cheap but certainly not expensive. Now, I could have suggested a USB mic but I’ve never found any that I think are that great. But if you chose that route, the Røde Podcaster USB is somewhat ok and this would remove your need of an interface, but I don’t recommend it. You’ll also need recording software. Twisted Wave is popular for single track applications, but it’s $100. Audacity is free. So is garage band if you have a Mac. I hope this helps you in some way!
@@TheRecordist well, honestly i dont really know what type of deep voice that i have as a 16years old, lets do low sharp tone with a smoothness. or perhaps u could recommend the microphones for the low rounded tone and low sharp tone im sorry if im asking too much and couldn't help much identifying my own voice.
@@TheRecordistcan't really afford that😢 but those microphone u recommend sounds nice, might save up some lunch money tho, anyway thank you so much for spending your time answering my questions, i really really appreciate it u got me subscribing to you 😊❤
@@SirYsir the T1 is $349. It’s about the cheapest you can go and still maintain high quality. Alterantively there is the C-414 copy as made by Bai Fei Li (AliBaba) or ProAr (Amazon). These are anywhere from $50 to $120 depending on where you get it. Sorry about that.
hi , i am working on starting a production company for and looking to get two mics for video production i have the 416 but i was looking to get another mic like the 4053B for the Oktava MK-012-01 Movie Set, hypercardioid Capsule, Low Cut Filter, Windscreen (Silver) that you review awhile ago. or should i just go with a sennhieser mke600 . What is your recommendation for a start up production company ?
Hey. Thanks for the question! My suggestion would be my own personal suggestion and other recordists may differ in opinion. On a tight budget, I’d go with the Oktava. This is because I know it well and have used it extensively and it’s always been awesome with a little EQ finessing. As long as you get a good one (the quality control is sometimes sucky, but the newer ones seem great). Ideally it’ll be the Sennheiser MKH-50 but that’s about $1300 USD and quite out of reach to most people. The 4053B is a fantastic mic also. But more money than the Oktava. It’s also much more resilient than the Oktava, since the Oktava needs some babying (it doesn’t like too much humidity). I do have an EQ profile that works in FabFilter Pro-Q 3 that will help make the Oktava sound like the the MKH-50 on my website (www.thetps.ca/digital-downloads) So to sum, in order of suggestion: 1. Sennheiser MKH-50 2. AT 4053b 3. Oktava MK-012 Hope this helps!
Finding the right mic can quickly turn into a Space Odyssey, especially if you want a mic from 1968 or even 2001 and prices can go Interstellar...not just for vintage mics but also for good ones from 2014...or 2023. Doing ones research does not always protect one from picking up a bad apple every once in a while. I ordered one from Miller´s Planet just the other week and when I received it in about 9038 I sent it right back. It got there in about another 5000 years ago....🤣🤣🤣
Well, the 600 is nowhere near a 416 in terms of quality. It’s almost like Sennheiser has two different companies within one company. One one side, they make insanely great mics like the 416 or 8040 or MKH-50, and on the other side they make amazon basics stuff. It’s not that the 600 is a terrible mic, but it’s not going to get you the 416 sound. Also, I’ve heard that there maybe a quality control issue with the 600s. Some are very nosy while others are quiet. That’s my experience with the 600s. Sorry if it’s something you wanted or have already. In the end, as always, one gets what one pays for. With mics, too good to be true is always the case. Always.
@@TheRecordist thank you so much for amazing review and replying kindly, please keep going so we lean more from your experience. I live in Iraq and I bought SM7B after receiving it I contacted Shure and they told me its fake and there is no return policy in Iraq so I stuck with it, I want to buy another mic and I can’t find better than 416 at reasonable price, it’s about 700$ and mke600 is 200 that’s why tempted toward it. I only used it for TH-cam voice over . I will buy sm57 maybe later too
@@peshrawable yep. I tried and tried but I also do not enjoy the sound of a Deity mic. I think they sound good for other people but not me. At least, these are of the ones I’ve tried. Don’t get me wrong though. I think they’re better than a lot of other similarly priced mics but once you go higher end, all you can hear is that distorted 2K sound. I’ve given them a good review before with the D3 Pro, but I always have to remind myself that there are a lot of people who can’t afford the higher end mics and so I try to find the good in every product.
@@peshrawable there’s no return policy in Iraq?? That’s crazy! So people just get ripped off all over the place there? Well, you’d better watch for 416 knockoffs too. They’re out there. Same with SM57 mics. Make sure to contact Sennheiser and ask them who they recommend buying sennheiser products from in your area. Get it in writing like an email. This way you have a paper trail and can come after them if they steer you wrong. As for the 600, I think there are some better options. Although I’m no massive fan of Røde, the NTG3 is a great mic. Actually, it might be the best mic they make. You may be able to find a good price on a used one. And it comes with a 10 year warranty. If you can’t afford a 416, the next best thing is an NTG3 in my opinion.
@@yogggoogle3965 oh yes. That’s a fantastic mic. You’ll love it. For far less, a lot of people like the Oktava MK-012. It’s very low end heavy but it’s been used a lot. But the DO have quality control issues. But if you can afford a 4053b then you’ll be set. Fully recommend.
Well that all depends on the room you’re recording in. If it’s noisy or reverberant, then you’d want a dynamic mic like a Shure SM7B or an SM57. If you’ve got a dead room and not much noise or reverberation, then a large diaphragm condenser like an sE4400 will be excellent. For specific mics, I’d need to know your budget.
Once in a musical stage performance, many actors had the little mic on the forehead. Needless to say it looked very wrong and distracting, I had a hard time enjoying the play
Ahh yes. The old lav mic on the forehead trick. It’s the very best way to get not only excellently recorded sound, but for a PA system as well when in a very large venue. Ideally they’d be hidden in the front hairline, but sometimes with quick costume changes, having it somewhere where it won’t get in the way is best. Sorry you were distracted by it!
@@the_newvoice I think you mean the Thomann T.Bone. Is this correct? If so, they’re rather cheap. Cheap mics always sound… well… cheap. Haha. No matter what they say, if it’s a $50 mic, it’ll sound like a $50 mic. Mics begin to sound good at around $500 if you ask me. But depending on what you’re trying to accomplish and who you’re using it on, you can get away with cheaper. Like the Røde NT1.
You're the only reviewer who has ever measured his head. This makes this Mic guide video all the more authoritative and reliable. A lot of other audio experts fail to see the connection between microphone choice and head size. I can't thank you enough.
Hahahahahahahahha
Very well-put. Can't see any points missing from introductions of each mics.
Thank you very much! I’m always hopeful I didn’t miss anything. Cheers!
This video quantifies what I've learned over the past 16 years. I am familiar with all the mics, but didn't realize just how much there is to know about them, and I just thought, well, these are the things about the different kinds of mics. Excellent way to break it down for people who are not so familiar. There's more to it than probably many people would expect. This video is also valuable for entertainment value....as well as reminding me of the incredible videos I can't afford. It's not what I do for a living, but it is something I am serious about. Thus, THAT is what my budget is. ;)
Haha. Well thank you so much!
Which videos can’t you afford?
@@TheRecordist - Wow, what a word-o. I meant the "mics" I can't afford. A Schoeps is $1,600 on the low end, and $1,000 for the MKH-416.
@@northcoaststudios oh man. Hard agree! I in no way can afford even the 416. I had to finance it. Seriously. I totally get what you’re saying. I’ll probably never have a Schoeps.
Luckily I have a local music store that will get me whatever I need and let me throw it on financing. If I didn’t have that, I would have any of what I have. Maybe one day I’ll make money on TH-cam. Haha.
But you have to do what you have to do. And we’re here right now on earth. Let’s try to enjoy it. Know what I mean?
Really thankful for this video, for a beginner this is gold. Keep the excellent work
Oh you’re very welcome! Cheers!
The only review for beginner. Subscribed. I will be your loyal, just so much value in one video.
Incredible content. Deserves a big big audience
Oh thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words! Cheers!
These are more generalizations than hard and fast rules. With enough gain, dynamic microphones do start to behave more like large diapragm condensers. The Shure SM7B, for instance, is capable of resolving quite a bit of detail, but you aren't going to get that kind of gain on most USB interfaces- it will require dedicated preamps.
Yes. But who’s got 72dB of gain on their interfaces? I have several preamps that’ll push it that hard, but certainly my Apollo preamps couldn’t do it.
Also, you run into the issue of noise. In-line preamps help.
Love your work, man. Its informative and funny an the same time. Thank you for it and hope to see/hear more from you👍
Hey thanks so much! I’m here every Monday! Cheers!
Thank you for that great informative yet entertaining content! Helped a lot! Having a look at your other videos now :)
Oh you’re welcome! Cheers!
Lav mics are used in music productions. I have a DVD with a Händel opera where in the bonus material we see how the singers are equipped with lav mics on their cheeks or in their hairline. Not for amplification, only for recording. One of the singers, a bass, is angling his lips to the side of his face where the microphone is placed, which looks weird, but sounds great.
Oh yes. Lav mics are extensively used in musical theatre. Sometimes even hidden in their hair. It works well!
How the heck do you have so few subscribers? You have great content, a great sense of humor, and high production values.
I’m going to try to send some of my subscribers your way.
I appreciate what you do.
Hey man. Thanks so much! I really appreciate that! I just make videos every week and hope for the best. Haha. Should I be advertising or something? I guess I’m 100% organic. I really appreciate your wonderful words! Cheers!
@psionicaudio I just saw your subscriber list! Wow! That must feel great! I saw some of your videos and think they’re awesome! I subscribed! Cheers!
Extremely helpful, thank you!
Excellent! You’re very welcome!
This channel is going to explode(in a good way).
Hahaha. Thanks so much! I sure hope so! It’s fun to do but takes a lot of time. Thanks for watching and for the lovely comment! Cheers!
didn't know anything about mics, even took notes, great video!
Thanks very much!
Lots of very useful information, specially for a newbie like myself. Thank You
You’re very welcome! Cheers!
wow this now is THE video for audio. excellent work
Hey thanks so much! I appreciate that!
Super video again 👍 and I was looking forward to it 😊 Great and very! useful information for people like me who are interested in this area, but lack this kind of your vast experience. I had no idea and will watch it again. And I will explore the working of a ribbon mic somewhat more, because I don't understand how they work.
Yesterday I bought myself a secondhand Orcabag 270 for about 50 bucks your currency. Now I just need a Mixpre 😆
Feedback: watch the part of the Shotgun Mics again. This part is in the second half of the video. You mention a lot! of new information to viewers who are new on this subject. So it is more pleasant to keep some space/brakes in the sentences/information you present (Like the first part!!!) It's ok (or even great 👍) that the video is long, and when you compress all the information by leaving out some breaks (to breathe or think) it becomes more fatiguing to watch, listen and especially process everything you say. Especially for people who are new in the field. And it might even cause that people stop watching the rest of your amazing video.
The best (relaxed, informative and hilarious) parts watch were absolutely the Dynamic Mics and Large Diaphragm Condensers; really top!! content 👍👍👍
Well thanks, Roland! I always have so much information to impart and I worry about video length, but I suppose I shouldn’t.
Glad you got an OR-270 for so cheap! It’s a great little bag!
Hi, my ideia is to record audio to later make it as a talk combined with travel videos or drone videos. So the goal is to have a clean and deep voice maybe with some chill lofi background music. So i am thinking about and dynamic mic or shotgun mic. Not sure what to choose.
Also my room is definitely not noise isolated so…
Anyways thank you for the video very nice explained. ☺️
Hey there. If you’re doing narration for travel videos, I might suggest a large diaphragm condenser microphone and used inside a closet full of clothes. A dynamic mic might not be the best, most professionally sounding option for that purpose, nor would a shotgun mic due to potential phase issues.
Audio is more involved and much more important to a professional production than a lot of people realize.
Once recorded and edited, I would then process the narration with mouth-click removal, noise reduction, EQ, compression, and limiting. Then I would carve some space out in the music tracks with another EQ to have the narration sit properly.
It’s quite involved. But I do this for a living. I have a few videos that address this.
Hope this helps!
@@TheRecordistIncredibly grateful.
Never thought about that option but sounds better than the ones i was thinking about.
That’s what means talking with a skilled and qualified professional.
Thank you very much! 🙏
This is a great video and I learned a lot. Thank your so much.
You very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
I couldn't have said any of what you said towards the end better myself.
I believe all of us can get WAY ahead of ourselves when selecting gear, and then we get all wrapped up in wanting something "better" than what we've got every time. (That's how these businesses who manufacture it get us to fall into their traps. They know what people are willing to pay good money for. Hence why I don't always strive to create "quality content" when I make something to post online. I don't want to contribute to the doom scrolling)
It gets us just so invested that we forget the original reason why we wanted our gear in the first place. It was to have the ability to create content.
In the end, what works works.
You’re right. However, if you’re going into audio on a professional level, the best thing to do is to do all the research needed to decide what you’ll need going forward. There are a lot of really bad mics and gear. And there are a lot of mid-priced gear that is kick-ass. It’s all about figuring out what you want to do, making a plan, and executing it.
It’s easy to fall down the never-ending black hole of gear purchases. We’ve all been there. But choosing where to put your money once, is probably the very best route.
Thanks for watching and for commenting!
Thank you for the great information! They teach you very little of this in music school!
You’re very welcome!
Well explained
brother.. Thank you
Thanks! And you’re welcome!
Thanks for the useful information.
No problem!
Thanks, Hal!
You’re very welcome! Cheers!
Perfect, this was exactly the video I was looking for, thank you!
You’re very welcome!
Excellent informative video for recording Studio setup. Also the mics. selection is distinguished.
Thank you very much! Cheers!
Great video!
Thanks so much!
What a superb overview! I have a Rode NTG1 for outdoor dialogue recording, want to upgrade but can’t stretch to a Sennheiser 416. Any advice much appreciated!
I’ve just watched you brilliant (and hilarious) 416 video which
I think has answered my question. I need to stretch to a 416!
Hey thank you so much!
The 416 is special, but a really nice cheaper option would be the Rode NTG3. Normally I dislike Røde, but they made a great mic in the NTG3. It’s much darker than the 416, though. Very bassy. But superb sounding.
I do not recommend any of the Deity stuff.
Another great thing about the 416 is how it’s built to last. You can take it out in a rain storm and it’ll be fine. It’ll last you forever.
@@TheRecordist many thanks for this advice! I noted from your 416 video that the 416 matches well with the Oktava MK012 which I already have and love, so think I’ll go for a good used 416 for that reason. Sorry to be picking your brain (!) but is there a lavalier (small enough to conceal in clothing) you might recommend that could work well with those two and that doesn’t break the bank?!
Very useful thank u man.
Hey, you’re welcome!
I'm trying to make asmr, and I'd like to understand all of this before I begin. I've ordered some 25 dollar wireless lavs. I'm going to save up, either for a ribbon or large diaphragm condenser.
Edit; Any recommendations on a first mic would be stellar. I am on tight budget though.
Hey there. If it were me, I wouldn’t go with ribbon for ASMR. I know that some people enjoy that. For me, it would be an LDC. Which one is the trick. I’d use one that is relatively flat and has fast transient response. I’m not sure what your budget is, but I would go for an sE Electronics T2 (for 4 polar pattern options) or the slimmed down T1 (with only cardioid). Great sounding mic. Will last you the rest of your life, and will not need replacing. Already professional level.
I’ve reviewed the T2 on my channel. Also, the T1 review comes out tomorrow. So check back here then for that one.
Alternatively, there’s the AWI SR3D binaural mic. I’ve reviewed that on my channel. Have a look for that one. I have a discount code for that as well, in the description.
Hope this helps!
@@TheRecordist very helpful! I will admit, I bought a maono A04 for 30 dollars, as I figured it was a good price point for now. I'll check out these others and your vids!
@@TheRecordist they're nice, but I definitely can't afford one, not yet. I feel like they do better than the rodes, which seem like the name brand after Blue.
Thankyou very much for this! Excellent video. My wife is a home jingle/commercial singer in a not sound proof made-up office with lots of external interference. We got initially an Audio Technica AT2020 but the mixers tend to have to EQ a lot, and after your video I think it would be better a Dynamic 🎤. I'm thinking a SM57 (from another video when you were Han Solo!) please your comments on this, or should we spend more on a SM7B?? Thanks!
Hi Ivan. Well, ideally you’ll want to try to quiet and dampen your room, but if you can’t, then an SM57 will be just fine. The SM7B will be even better. Huge price difference between them though.
However, with dynamic mics, there comes another issue: they’re notoriously low-powered. If you were to get an SM7B, I would instead opt for the SM7dB. It’s much more powerful and really shines. th-cam.com/video/9erlaf5u1W8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=uXLFmccd-AhEeP0Z
Alternatively, if you like the articulation of a condenser (like the AT2020) but want a the sound rejection that comes with dynamics, might I interest you in the Lauten Audio LS-208? th-cam.com/video/exOODK6rghU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=KaW0aoQspJyuqDSs
Here’s the trick. Since you don’t know how you’re going to like something (everyone has different tastes and situations), try either renting mics or at least buying them from a company who have a good return policy. This way, if it doesn’t suit you, you can try a few until you find the one.
One thing is for sure, all the options presented here are probably better than the AT2020 - which is a decent mic, but a little bit toppy and slightly noisy.
Hope this helps!
@@TheRecordist WOW. Thanks for the insight. Will definitely look into the options. She has a MotuM2 interface which could work with the SM7B but with the gain at max, but 500 is a steep jump. I'll check the LS.
Also, she has a high pitch voice and gets loud sometimes so I'm not sure how to address the "darkness" of the mic, or if for her specific voice we should be looking for something different. Thank you again very much! I'm watching the LS and your dream brain. Jeje
@ hahaha. Thanks for watching the vids!
Ok. The M2 is a nice interface and I think it has about 60dB of gain, which would push an Sm7dB. Do you have a sample of her voice that you could send me?
recordist@thetps.ca
She might be fine with an SM57 to save some money. Just be sure to have ample plosive protection. The 57 is very naked.
What type of mic would you recommend for say Scott Weiland, original Stone Temple Pilots type voice?
Plush, Flies In The Vasoline, Wicked Garden.
Stuff like that.
Chris Cornell, Hunger Strike.
Also classic Rock like Bad Company, Steve Perry of Journey.
Etc. Etc. I think you get what Im after.
Thanks for your expertise on the matter. There are only a million mics to choose from. Crazy.
@@JerryCalvert-x9u you know what? As soon as I was reading what you were after, a mic popped into my head. It was the Stam Audio SA-87i. Something with character and saturation.
As I was writing this reply, I paused just to check if I was in the ballpark. I was.
Scott Weiland used a U47 and Chris Cornell used a U87. As for Steve Perry, it was a mix of M49, U87i, U67, and U87.
The Stam SA-87i is a 70s U87i clone.
Alternatively, the Dachman DA 87i is fantastic. As is the Roswell Mini K67x.
I’m assuming you’re talking about recording and not live, correct?
Of note, all of those singers had their mics plugged into a Neve desk. So 1073 or 1084 preamps.
Hope this helps!
@TheRecordist I spent the morning reviewing that mic SA 87i, and I've got to be honest, it's no good for me. The original sounds better and by a very long shot. There just isn't any comparison at all between the two. I can't even believe they're trying to compare it to the real thing. So I'm disappointed it wasn't the one. Back to the drawing board. This is harder than I thought.
Is there perhaps maybe an analog mic or something, anything that I can capture my true, raw sound on?
I couldn't imagine how you study this stuff and know so much about it. It must be a very time consuming process. You have to have a real passion for it because it's like a vast ocean.
I wonder, has anyone ever actually recorded any song in a studio setting using a SM58?
Do you think that's a taboo?
@@JerryCalvert-x9u that’s strange. The SA-87i is well known among professionals all over the world for coming the closest to the original mic than any other clone. Just in case you don’t know, it’s not a clone of the U87ai (modern one) but instead the U87i that is no longer made, but was popular in the 60s/70s.
The U47 is a tube mic. Big money to get into that sound.
I’m curious why you don’t think it sounds similar. Is it your own ears or someone else’s?
The 58? Massive difference in the type of mic. We were talking about condenser mics and the 58 is a dynamic mic. Massive huge difference.
I’m not aware of which songs a 58 might have been used on, but I know of many that used the 57.
@@TheRecordist Oh I see what you're saying about that SA-87i. But it's just not my sound at all.
So by comparison let me tell you what I've found out this morn. and this will give you a better idea of my sound of what I was trying to find; the Shure 565SD. They say it was Freddie Mercury's mic, but it doesn't matter.
The looks, the feel, the sound of that mic is what I need. It is so versatile. Live, studio, instruments, vocals. And so much control too over the sound just by distance and position. It's warm when up close, but bright when farther back. It can also capture very good sounds outside it's direct path.
And all the other stuff too that makes it great.
And dig that price tag? WoW. How are they even making money? Amazing!
I've heard this is the mic they used as standard issue at Woodstock as well. So it's that raw 1960s rock sound I grew up on. Good stuff.
You probably weren't expecting that as you may have thought I was into the modern day pop music for which I couldn't tell you even a single band aside from one. I haven't listened to any new music in probably 20 years or so was the last and final time.
I'm so analog. I've also got a 1970s inspired Squire and a new analog PolyD Synth that is nearly identical to the original Mini-Moogs which is unbelievable in sound and performance quality.
So you see where I'm going with all this. A very unique sound for this day and age. Very different.
And just look what I'm able to get for very little money. Amazing.
I subscribed to your channel and will watch many more videos. You have good content even though I can't grasp much of your technical information because it must take years of study to know what you do and that's a career in and of itself. I'd rather just seek your advice instead and you did help me out a lot pointing me in the right places.
My philosophy is like this; if my voice isn't up to par, to practice until I get it right instead of using software or fancy equipment to achieve the results I'm looking for.
I've seen the opposite approach, even in the professional world and it's just wrong. It's a betrayal of the fans trust in some cases too.
Anyway. I wish you a good day of your research and reviews. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Have a happy holidays.
Cheers!
@ hey Jerry. Excellent. Well, if the 565SD is up your alley, of course, by all means, that’s the one. Normally I’d warn about confirmation bias and convincing yourself (despite facts to the contrary) that the $100 mic is the correct choice, but it’s only $100. It’s not a huge loss if you need to upgrade later.
I’ll let you know, as a guy who’s been working in music and sound for 35 years, that most modern artists are ALSO into analog. It’s pretty much universally loved, even with all this digital sounding music.
Also, I didn’t in any way think you were into modern music, because you literally told me your influences and none of them were modern.
My own vocal/guitar gear is almost 100% actual analog. I run outboard EQs, compressors, preamps, and even most of my guitar pedals are analog. I’m not unique. Most musicians/engineers are the same. Condenser mics are just as analog as dynamic or ribbon mics.
Also, there’s no such thing as cheating when it comes to making good music. If it sounds good, it IS good - regardless of how you get there.
By all means, practice and master your craft. That’s commendable. But the odds are, when in a professional studio, melodyne will be used here and there to make everything just right. Just keep your mind open. It can only help.
And I don’t really know of any fancy equipment that is used to make a bad band sound good, unless you’re talking about doing a hundred takes and choosing the best one - and if that’s the case, that’s been done for many decades, even with tape. It was and is still called punching in. All your favorite artists did that.
All this to say, audio is indeed a huge world, and there’s so much to learn. But always keep your mind open. Closing it off to different ways of thinking is a waste of enjoyment.
Recognizing what you know, what you know you don’t know, what you don’t know you know, and what you don’t know you don’t know, is paramount to character development.
Cheers and thanks for the sub!
Nice and informative video. Best explanation by far. You need a little work on the thumbnail and titles and you will for sure blow up.
Hey thanks! I have since changed how I do thumbnails. I’m not sure if they’re any good or not, but I really suck at them. What about titles? What do you suggest?
Damn…this was so helpful!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Fantastic! Cheers!
Great stuff!
Thanks, dude!
To illustrate what you said, Steve Albini had some interesting musical uses for lav/small electret mics... basically to provide more isolation while acoustic musicians played together in a room or, say, grab the 'click' of the bass drum beater without having the snare and whole kit overwhelm the sound, if I remember right.
Rewatchable, newly-commentable content here.
Oh. Lavs as in mounted to the bodies of the players? Fascinating! That’s a really great concept!
And thanks!
@@TheRecordist Intriguing idea but I actually think he taped them to body of an instrument - or in the case of bass drum, just hung it over the drum on the batter side, so the mic was dangling near where the beater hit the drum. There's a youtube video from Electrical Audio where he discusses mic'ing acoustic string instruments, and he includes taping lavs to guitar and violin at least, maybe others, alongside more conventional uses of condensers mics at different distances and positions.
@@wychwoodmusic huh. Fascinating!
I own too many mics. (59 is the latest count). None more expensive than the 416.
I own mics in every category, except ribbon mics: Fragile + expensive = no thanks.
The cheapest I own is the Superlux Sonata 88s which cost $60 ... for a sixpack! Yep, ten dollars a piece. Bought them just out of curiosity. They're dynamics, SM58 style. Sound quality isn't too bad, but the handling noise is unbelievable! They had to save somewhere, I guess.
I’m the same as you! I’ve got every type except a ribbon-and for the same reasons as you. Haha. But I do have a Sphere mic that emulates expensive ribbons very well. I love it.
Man, those are some cheap mics! Thanks for watching!
very good video. I am thinking of making my first how to TH-cam video. Is the Shure SM58 a good choice?
Hey thanks! Well first I’d need to know if the mic will be in the shot.
Honestly, I’d pick an SM-57 with a pop screen over the 58. The 58 is great but mainly for live situations on a stage. The highs are somewhat rolled off and is less articulate.
such a great video
Thanks so much!
Which mic would be best for vocals in a ukulele band?
For live or for recording?
@@TheRecordist For live, since I play the ukulele and sing with other members at venues such as senior homes.
@ I’m partial to the Shure SM57 for such things.
For vocals, the SM58 and for the Uke miking, the SM57.
Pretty interesting, are generally speaking a Dynamic less prone to handling noise than others ?
Oh yes. Dynamics are far less prone to handling noise. This is another reason that dynamics are used by singers live on stages-many while holding them in their hands. Great question!
What are the best usb pencil condenser mics?
USB? I have no idea. I’ve never tried a usb pencil condenser mic. My apologies.
You're a rockstar
Haha. Thanks! Cheers!
Get your game on, go play
Awesome video! Thank you so much! I would like to start making voiceovers and get into voice acting; my budget is around $300 for a mic. Im a woman that can do anime girl sounds and also deeper like Maddie Star, Lana Del Rey kind of voices. Sometimes funny-popping expressions. I have an absolutely untreated 174 sq ft room for recording. Please help me! Which type of mic should I go for? Do you have any specific recommendations?
Thank you so much in advance! :)
@@NaturallyWanderlust hey there! Hmm. VO is a particular sound. The very first thing you should do is create a treated area. This may be a closet with clothes hanging in it still, or even creating a blanket fort with a bunch of moving-blankets. Just make sure you have a few feet of space around you and the mic.
As for the mic I suggest, I would go with an sE Electronics sE4100. It’s $50 more than you want but it’s leagues better than anything else in that price range.
This would be a lifetime mic. You could grow with it and still put out great sounding stuff.
This is, of course, assuming you have an interface or recorder.
Let me know what you think!
@@TheRecordist thank you very much! I was specifically looking into usb mics because im a beginner. But obviously i would like a mic that will support me actually getting paid, and not being turned away because of the mic i have. i was looking at rode nt usb +, or sennheiser profile. (in the blanket fort or closet). are any of those a good idea for me?
@ I’m not a huge fan of Røde mics for the long haul, but both mics you mention will work to start, but if you take off, you’ll definitely be upgrading soon.
Something like the sE Electronics NEOM is also a great choice. I have one here and it’s among the best USB mics I’ve heard. I know it sounds like I’m shilling for sE Electronics but I’m not. Haha. I just have a lot of experience working with them.
The $300 price point is the hard part. Audio is expensive. At least, good audio is.
If your budget was higher, I’d suggest a Shure KSM 32, a Lauten Audio LS-208, or even a Dachman DA 87i. But that’s getting really expensive for you. Hence the sE Electronics sE4100. It’s an incredible mic for a very low price. So far, I’ve only seen sE do it right that cheap. You would also need an interface. But luckily an inexpensive one would work for you. Something like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo or the Audient Evo 4.
But if you want to start with a USB mic, the sE Electronics NEOM is a good starting point.
Thank you. This was very helpful
Also
"Wanna know where I found this measuring tape?"
"Wanna know how I got these scars?"
Hahahaha. “My father was a drinker and a fiend.”
I have Vocaster 2. Everybody is telling me to upgrade, while others are advising me not to. I'm getting confused. I'm only streaming my games and adding effects on the stream using a voice changer and different voice effects. Should I upgrade or keep it as it is?
Hey. Well, here’s the question. Does the Vocaster 2 do what you want it to do? Is there something else you wish it did but doesn’t?
If it does everything you want it to do, then there is absolutely no reason to upgrade. Generally what happens is people drop a few hundred dollars or more and then realize they sound the same. It’s the same. They just blew money for no reason. It’s depressing.
Unless of course you need a function that this one doesn’t provide.
Hope this helps!
I want to ask a question. I like to record live shows, or concerts, but ı want to know if ı am doin it right. Since ı am not a member of the crew of the concert that ı am recording, only way to record is using mics. (I am doıng this for educateing myself to record and mix properly a live sounds. I know, it's not the right way but ı want to record that live ambience like we hear at the moment and that's my goal when ı'm recording with mics. Currently, ı am recording with my tascam x 8's built in small condenser mics. They are good in capturing highs in this situation but ı want that bass rumbling at the same time capturing the highs of the cymbals. I want to know that which microphone or mics should ı use. Since can't get any closer, so I' am buying my tickets as close as ı can get to stage. My thought was to use two small condenser mics positioning x y, for capturing the highs of the sound, and two large diaphragm condenser mic pairs for low frequency sounds like kick of the drum. Is it right or should ı use different mics and different positioning? I really want to record good sound of the live concerts so if you help me, ı'm gonna really appreciate that.
Hi there. Well, the problem is that cardioid
mics tend not to capture low end the further from the source they are. Large diaphragm condensers would be no different. I’m assuming the mics in the X8 are cardioids.
The only thing that might help is perhaps a pair of Pluggy mics or Clippy mics. These are Omni mics and will help capture more of the lows the other onboard mics are missing.
Plus they’re very small.
Hope this helps!
@@TheRecordist thank you for your help, I think ı am going to buy lewitt lct 140 pair condenser mics.I liked the sound of the microphones and there are pads for low cut and flat or air switch for changing mic characteristics. hope it helps me to capture detailed and live sound. If there is a specific microphone brand or model you would like to recommend, I would be very happy.
Most ribbon microphones that I have seen are mostly used for paperweights. Not because they are a bad mic, but because some doofus still had phantom power on when they connected a ribbon microphone. Ooooopsie!
Hahaha. Oh man. One of the reasons I never bought a ribbon was because of how delicate they are. They need to be stored upright and can’t be blown on. And under no circumstance can you forget that phantom power is on. Hahaha.
SIR
I want to do voice over. I want to record my poetry professionally. In which I get high quality. But in my poetry some lines will go in high tone and some lines will go in emotional low tone. Suggest me a good mic, headphone and audio interface.
Hi there. That sounds like a great thing you’re doing!
Audio can get very expensive and there are so many categories of expense. To allow me to help you further, please let me know your budget and I’ll try to recommend some products that fit in.
@@TheRecordist My budget is $300 . My room is not sound proof. And I'm fully beginner. I have saved money very hard, tell me such a microphone and audio interface that I will not regret after buying.
@@civilfieldengineer sorry. I should have asked you, which country are you located in?
@@TheRecordist sir I'm from India , but now in Nepal country
@@civilfieldengineer ok.
Here’s my suggestions:
Not treated space means you should go for a dynamic mic. A low cost but really good dynamic mic is a Shure SM58-but one that comes with a cable. I think the kit is called Shure SM58-CN or something. A Shure SM57 is also a good mic but you’ll definitely need a pop screen due to plosives from your mouth. Actually, it’s not a bad idea to have a pop screen anyway.
As for interface, the Audient Evo ones are fabulous for the money. The Evo 4 is great.
For headphones, if you want a really good set that’ll last you years and be great for other stuff as well, I recommend the Sony MDR-7506. They’re not cheap but certainly not expensive.
Now, I could have suggested a USB mic but I’ve never found any that I think are that great. But if you chose that route, the Røde Podcaster USB is somewhat ok and this would remove your need of an interface, but I don’t recommend it.
You’ll also need recording software. Twisted Wave is popular for single track applications, but it’s $100. Audacity is free. So is garage band if you have a Mac.
I hope this helps you in some way!
which type of mic is the best to catch a low/deep voice?
Oh boy. That’s a massive question. Low rounded tone? Or low sharp tone? Is there smoothness down in the low voice or does it have a lot of vocal fry?
@@TheRecordist well, honestly i dont really know what type of deep voice that i have as a 16years old, lets do low sharp tone with a smoothness. or perhaps u could recommend the microphones for the low rounded tone and low sharp tone
im sorry if im asking too much and couldn't help much identifying my own voice.
@@SirYsir hey no problem! Perhaps the sE Electronics T2, or the stripped down version T1 might really sound good for that type of voice.
@@TheRecordistcan't really afford that😢 but those microphone u recommend sounds nice, might save up some lunch money tho, anyway thank you so much for spending your time answering my questions, i really really appreciate it
u got me subscribing to you 😊❤
@@SirYsir the T1 is $349. It’s about the cheapest you can go and still maintain high quality.
Alterantively there is the C-414 copy as made by Bai Fei Li (AliBaba) or ProAr (Amazon). These are anywhere from $50 to $120 depending on where you get it.
Sorry about that.
hi , i am working on starting a production company for and looking to get two mics for video production i have the 416 but i was looking to get another mic like the 4053B for the Oktava MK-012-01 Movie Set, hypercardioid Capsule, Low Cut Filter, Windscreen (Silver) that you review awhile ago. or should i just go with a sennhieser mke600 . What is your recommendation for a start up production company ?
Hey. Thanks for the question! My suggestion would be my own personal suggestion and other recordists may differ in opinion. On a tight budget, I’d go with the Oktava. This is because I know it well and have used it extensively and it’s always been awesome with a little EQ finessing. As long as you get a good one (the quality control is sometimes sucky, but the newer ones seem great).
Ideally it’ll be the Sennheiser MKH-50 but that’s about $1300 USD and quite out of reach to most people.
The 4053B is a fantastic mic also. But more money than the Oktava. It’s also much more resilient than the Oktava, since the Oktava needs some babying (it doesn’t like too much humidity).
I do have an EQ profile that works in FabFilter Pro-Q 3 that will help make the Oktava sound like the the MKH-50 on my website (www.thetps.ca/digital-downloads)
So to sum, in order of suggestion:
1. Sennheiser MKH-50
2. AT 4053b
3. Oktava MK-012
Hope this helps!
what are best for drive through cases?
Like at a fast food restaurant? Perhaps dynamic? I’ve never even considered this question. Haha.
what model of pop fiilter is this?
That’s a Stedman ProScreen PS-101
Finding the right mic can quickly turn into a Space Odyssey, especially if you want a mic from 1968 or even 2001 and prices can go Interstellar...not just for vintage mics but also for good ones from 2014...or 2023. Doing ones research does not always protect one from picking up a bad apple every once in a while. I ordered one from Miller´s Planet just the other week and when I received it in about 9038 I sent it right back. It got there in about another 5000 years ago....🤣🤣🤣
Hahahaha. This guy gets it! Hahahaha
I wonder if you used Sennheiser mke600 and how compare it to mkh416
Well, the 600 is nowhere near a 416 in terms of quality. It’s almost like Sennheiser has two different companies within one company. One one side, they make insanely great mics like the 416 or 8040 or MKH-50, and on the other side they make amazon basics stuff.
It’s not that the 600 is a terrible mic, but it’s not going to get you the 416 sound. Also, I’ve heard that there maybe a quality control issue with the 600s. Some are very nosy while others are quiet.
That’s my experience with the 600s. Sorry if it’s something you wanted or have already.
In the end, as always, one gets what one pays for. With mics, too good to be true is always the case. Always.
@@TheRecordist thank you so much for amazing review and replying kindly, please keep going so we lean more from your experience.
I live in Iraq and I bought SM7B after receiving it I contacted Shure and they told me its fake and there is no return policy in Iraq so I stuck with it, I want to buy another mic and I can’t find better than 416 at reasonable price, it’s about 700$ and mke600 is 200 that’s why tempted toward it. I only used it for TH-cam voice over .
I will buy sm57 maybe later too
@@TheRecordist btw i hate sound of Diety mic, it’s like digitally created sound, it’s not human sound in my ears and I don’t know why
@@peshrawable yep. I tried and tried but I also do not enjoy the sound of a Deity mic. I think they sound good for other people but not me. At least, these are of the ones I’ve tried.
Don’t get me wrong though. I think they’re better than a lot of other similarly priced mics but once you go higher end, all you can hear is that distorted 2K sound. I’ve given them a good review before with the D3 Pro, but I always have to remind myself that there are a lot of people who can’t afford the higher end mics and so I try to find the good in every product.
@@peshrawable there’s no return policy in Iraq?? That’s crazy! So people just get ripped off all over the place there?
Well, you’d better watch for 416 knockoffs too. They’re out there. Same with SM57 mics. Make sure to contact Sennheiser and ask them who they recommend buying sennheiser products from in your area. Get it in writing like an email. This way you have a paper trail and can come after them if they steer you wrong.
As for the 600, I think there are some better options. Although I’m no massive fan of Røde, the NTG3 is a great mic. Actually, it might be the best mic they make. You may be able to find a good price on a used one. And it comes with a 10 year warranty. If you can’t afford a 416, the next best thing is an NTG3 in my opinion.
Ah. You did mention the CS-3e!
I think I did!
What kind of mic would you suggest for a recording in a room full of other people talking
For walla? I’d recommend a pair of cardioid condensers in stereo in an ORTF configuration.
\ /
I’m partial to Line Audio CM4 mics. Cheap and awesome.
Any mic…
In a different room.
Can you please recommend me a small diaphragm condenser mic within 500-800$ ?
Sure. What will you be using it for? This will help me guide you better.
@@TheRecordist Indoor talking head on a boom. Maybe Audio-Technica AT 4053B ?
@@yogggoogle3965 oh yes. That’s a fantastic mic. You’ll love it. For far less, a lot of people like the Oktava MK-012. It’s very low end heavy but it’s been used a lot. But the DO have quality control issues.
But if you can afford a 4053b then you’ll be set. Fully recommend.
@@TheRecordist Thanks a lot for the quick response! Take a like and have a great weekend!
@@yogggoogle3965 no worries. You too!
Hi sir what kind of mic would you suggest for voice recording like singing
Well that all depends on the room you’re recording in. If it’s noisy or reverberant, then you’d want a dynamic mic like a Shure SM7B or an SM57. If you’ve got a dead room and not much noise or reverberation, then a large diaphragm condenser like an sE4400 will be excellent.
For specific mics, I’d need to know your budget.
Once in a musical stage performance, many actors had the little mic on the forehead. Needless to say it looked very wrong and distracting, I had a hard time enjoying the play
Ahh yes. The old lav mic on the forehead trick. It’s the very best way to get not only excellently recorded sound, but for a PA system as well when in a very large venue.
Ideally they’d be hidden in the front hairline, but sometimes with quick costume changes, having it somewhere where it won’t get in the way is best.
Sorry you were distracted by it!
I like total nerd time
Woo hoo!
Hal 9000? 😂😂😂 Dude, seriously!
Hahaha. Yep!
I have only one mic that sounds equally bad on every track for years))
Well time for a new mic! Haha. Which mic do you have?
@@TheRecordist I have a T.Bone)
@@the_newvoice I think you mean the Thomann T.Bone. Is this correct? If so, they’re rather cheap. Cheap mics always sound… well… cheap. Haha. No matter what they say, if it’s a $50 mic, it’ll sound like a $50 mic.
Mics begin to sound good at around $500 if you ask me. But depending on what you’re trying to accomplish and who you’re using it on, you can get away with cheaper. Like the Røde NT1.
@@TheRecordist Yes. It's cheap. And it's sounds like that. You're right. Thanks.
@@the_newvoice no prob! If you want suggestions, hit me up! Good luck!