Thinking about upgrading my microphone...

[Mivo]

I still recommend the Blue Baby Bottle. Thomann carries it, and with the 14-day return option (I think Thomann doubles that even), there is no risk in giving it a try.

[fese]

So I did some test with that old shure Unisphere (btw, does anyone know something about this mic? I've just seen it on eBay being sold as vintage for more than I paid second hand for it but else it is not much spoken of) and I was pleasantly surprised. Seems to work, so dynamic is an option for me. Well, I think I will order the new NT1 and the SM7B and give them a try.
Dammit, I just hope this isn't the beginning of my descent into microphone GAS

Hey bManic or anyone, just another question: the Nt1 has a pop shield which is very close to the mic itself. Now I learned, well, read somewhere that a pop shield is best placed at half distance between capsule and mouth. If that holds true, the NT1 shield position allows for very close positioning only. Now my crappy room suggests I do that, but so far I am usually not pleased with a very close up sound on my condensers and prefer a bigger distance. Might be different with a better mic with no nasty hi end...
Thanks so far, this has been interesting!

[bmanic]

I'd say that pop-shield advice is an urban myth. It either stops plosives or it doesn't. It's not really an issue of how close or far from the mic it is. Of course having a pop-shield pressed right on to the microphone would be silly because then you may as well use one of those foam tops.. so it makes sense having it a a few inches away from the mic but there's no benefit in having it extremely far from the microphone. If you are far from the microphone you'll have no real issues with plosives anyhow.

The Rycote pop-shield that comes with the kit is quite good for normal duties but I did notice that it is slightly resonant/ringing so depending on your signal source it may not always work.. but I'd by the kit anyhow for the excellent shockmount/cradle.

Cheers!
bManic

[Dean Aka Nekro]

Good choices in my very humble honest opinion fese,
I don't know very much about your shure's Unisphere microphone only that it was basically a younger version of what came to be the SM58, There were three models which I'm aware of (The 565, 585sa and B models). Used on countless stages (and probably studios also for that matter) and indeed well worth holding onto. To be honest, Gearslutz is a better bet than KVR for nerdy mic and such talk/quite a few very experienced with almost any piece of kit ever made (and that is not at all a dis to KVR)

Let us know how they work out or do not work out for you man , Cheers

Dean

Edit: This is a really useful resource all about microphones, It is free to sign up http://microphone-data.com/

[bmanic]

Dean, that's an AWESOME link!! Thanks man!

[Dean Aka Nekro]

Anytime dude, Glad it is useful

[psychoxkps]

hello,

even when u don't want tube look on m-audio sputnik.... in my honest opinion is currently most standard mic on vocals!

[thecontrolcentre]

Another vote for the NT-1 here. I just bought one (£175 @ thomann) and so far I'm very happy with the results. Used it mainly on vocals and my LAG acoustic guitar. Sounds crisp and full to my ears, and very quiet (unlike the C1 it is replacing). I have an SM58 that I picked up in the 80's ... it's been gigged and dropped more than once but still sounds great. The things are virtually indestructable.

[MadAnthony81]

Mic mod efx

Even if you dont want to use it you can use it to hear what other mics sound like.

Try musiciansfriend.com for a good price.

[fese]

So the SM7B and the NT1 arrived, I haven't done extensive testing but I can say that my old Nt1A and the se2200a are on ebay now...

The SM7B is very unlike any other mic I have heard (but I haven't heard many:), I like that despite the seeming lack of hi end it doesn't sound dull at all. It's easy to see why it is a favorite for speakers and voice, it has that firm authority in its sound. I don't think it is of any use for acoustic guitars though, maybe only for very loud and bright strummed ones. Also not that easy to use as it captures any involuntary dynamic variations in your vocal performance relentlessly, which is quite the exercise for a non-singer like me.
The NT1 I still have to use more but I think Rode made a mistake with the name as it bears too much similarity to the NT1A, but even it was only €50 more expensive than my old NT1A and has a much much better shockmount it is so much better. Completely different microphone. Next stop: test it with my Lakewood and my Ukulele...

Anyhow, thanks for all your help, I am pretty shure I will keep both of them!

[bmanic]

That's awesome to hear! You got a really good combo there. You may want to keep one of the older microphones too though.. there are instances where you want a brighter, edgier microphone.

Also, as a general rule of thumb.. you can't have too many of them. So keep em if you can afford them.

[Liero]

Has anyone tried out the other "black series" Röde mics, the pencil mic M5 and the larger M3?

[Redmerkurii]

Got a pair of M3's here been mainly used as a stereo pair for live action video work also work well on bass guitar cabs well at least on the handful of gigs I've used 'em for. They're quite a good price for what they can do.

Anyhow as bmanic said you can't have to many of them. 15 in the arsenal here and I still want more

[fese]

The NT1 is great on acoustic guitar, ukulele and background vocals!
Collecting microphones seems like a nice idea especially cause I really dont need more plugins , but I don't record that much and not many different instruments and even with two sold I still have two thomann ribbons I rarely use, an AT4041, a shure unisphere and the new ones. But I can see why people tend to get more and more mics, it's a fascinating world!