How's this for a project studio mic cabinet?

[joelpilling]

Okay, as a few of you know by now, I'm trying to set up a small project/demo studio that will record most rock/metal genre's of music, but also venture out and have the capacity to record other genre's, such as jazz. I've been doing some mic research, from reviews on this website, feedback from all you guys, and checking around the actual websites of the companies that make the mics. To get to the point, I have put together a small list of mic's that would I would *think* I would benefit from having, and would'nt be useless and gather dust.
Heres the list:

AKG D112 and Shure Beta 52 for kick drum.
SM57's and some Sennheiser E604's for other parts of the kit.
Studio Projects C4 pair (small diaphragm condenser) for drum overheads, acoustic instruments such as piano and guitar.
Studio Projects B3 pair (room mics, guitar cabs, vocal, stereo micing)
Studio Projects C1 as the main vocal condenser. (or another type?)

At first, I was considering two SM81's as my two small d. condensers, but it seemed many did not like using these for overheads, so maybe down the line I will get one (hopefully two) for acoustic guitar and spot micing.

SO! Am I missing anything? Am I over doing it at any places? What do you guys think?

[MASSIVE Mastering]

(A) I'd get the 81's... They're a personal favorite for overheads and instruments. A few flavors of SDC's can never hurt.

(B) A large-diaphragm dynamic for vocals. RE20, SM7b... No collection is complete without one. Plus, they're far too flexible *not* to have - Not only perfect for 90% of vocal applications, but you can throw the RE20 on almost anything you'd want a larger dynamic on - You might use it instead of or in addition to the D112 on kick, bass cabinets, guitar cabs, brass...

[joelpilling]

Yeah, I was thinking about getting C4's first, but down the line I was going to get at least 1 or 2 81's just to have the variety. I'll have to look into the RE20 and SM7B, from what I heard they were mainly good for broadcast, voiceovers, and talking applications, didn't seem many people had experiance with using them for singing.

[nanashiwanderer]

The RE20 is used on a variety of things, its a top choice for agressive male vocals (hip hop, low rocks, metal vocals, certain types of females), i've heard plenty of people use it for the electric guitar. The SM81s are top choices on but, but since your on a tight budget the Studio Projects C4s give you a lot of versatiity. I have a suggestion ditch the Studio Projects B3's and the C1 (520$ in mics?) and pick up two M-Audio Solaris x2 (Studica has them for 275 on academic discount, or300$ normally). They have all the versatility of the B3, but would probably give you better results than the C1. Tweak has a nice review of the Solaris. I think it would be a better a far better investement. If you can't afford to toss to much more in ditch the C1, and just use the B3's.

[joelpilling]

I will for sure consider the two Solaris's after reading Tweaks review, I don't really have a budget anymore, just a goal, and sinse I'm buying everything one part at a time over a long period of time until I have my finished studio (probably in about 5 years) I just decided to ditch a set limit on money.

[MASSIVE Mastering]

I'll have to look into the RE20 and SM7B, from what I heard they were mainly good for broadcast, voiceovers, and talking applications, didn't seem many people had experiance with using them for singing.

They certainly are amazingly popular broadcast mics. But that's basically due to how flattering they are to the human voice. Either mic can handle far more volume than the average condenser (or the average dynamic for that matter).

They're used for vocal (singing) applications regularly in literally every single studio I've ever been in.

Except one... But that guy was a little weird anyway...

[shadyboy]

:Quote:

"They're used for vocal (singing) applications regularly in literally every single studio I've ever been in."

"Except one... But that guy was a little weird anyway..."


Im really not that weird

[nanashiwanderer]

I will for sure consider the two Solaris's after reading Tweaks review, I don't really have a budget anymore, just a goal, and sinse I'm buying everything one part at a time over a long period of time until I have my finished studio (probably in about 5 years) I just decided to ditch a set limit on money.

Thats the way I'd do it, and am doing it. Buy a core studio, so you can get started recording, and then let it expand as you have the means to. Make sure you don't limit your self in terms of upgrade paths, and buy products you won't be getting rid of a year from now.

[joelpilling]

Odd question, but is there any difference between getting a stereo pair of mics instead of buying two of the same type?

And reading on the solaris more, I'm gonna go with that, maybe get a B3 for some things anyway though. Or would the B3 just be a waste of money?

[MASSIVE Mastering]

A stereo mic gives you *one* option (usually a tight XY). With two mics, you can go close and far, XY, Jecklin, ORTF, spaced evenly, spaced off center, whatever you want.

[joelpilling]

No, I mean when its two mics in the package like "SM81 Stereo Pair" And it shows two mics.

[MASSIVE Mastering]

Oh - sorry...

Generally speaking, they try to match the pairs together.

That's good for about a week. But it's not a bad idea or anything...

[joelpilling]

Ahh, I get it now!

So does anyone have any input about the higher end studio projects mics? Like the tube ones? Or the C3? Would it be worth the addition, or go for something even bigger?

[nanashiwanderer]

I only own the B1's but from what i've read the studio projects becoming a less of value in the higher brackets, They give you a lot for your money in the lower end lines. But the Studio Projects C3 is similair to the Solaris, and I've much more flattering things about the latter (270 v.s 300$). The Studio Projects TB1 is comparibale to the MXL Mogami (One of MXLs better mics), I'd rather have it at that price point . The Studio Projects TB3 is 100$ cheaper than the M-Audio Sputnik and 200$ than Rode K2, which i've heard exceptional things for the price point about the latter two.

Given your scenario, the reason i think the Studio Projects C4, and the SM81 are both good buys is versatility of applications. With fairly serious home studios, and low budget project studios, versatility is the key to handling a number of different regular situations. Choices like the SM81, Sennhieser MD421, the SM57, the RE20, the solaris (mics that are expensive, but not 1000$ price point, high in demand, and have high resale value if we ever need the cash back quick) are most adequate. Because they are extermeley versatile, give us a number of commonly sought after sounds, and are likeley to not be a wasted investments. Stuff like the Studio Projects C3 is essentially a throw away mic once we move on to better gear, and something that will be hard to sell if we do.

[joelpilling]

Nods, the more mic names I hear the more I want to add to my list. Now I want the Rode N2.

[nanashiwanderer]

I think the must haves in the sense, the names i'd expect to see if i was paying for recording are...

1. SM81
2. A versatile Large Diaphragm Condensor or two (theirs a lot)
3. Sennhieser MD421
4. Electrovoice RE20
5. AKG D112
6. Shure Beta 52a
7. Shure SM57
beyond that collection the rest are personal preference and luxuries. highend Professional studios i'd expect to see an AKG C414II B, possibly Nuemann.

[joelpilling]

I'm looking at this now:

4 Shure SM57
Shure Beta 52
AKG D112
3 Sennheiser E604
2 Studio Projects C4
M-Audio Solaris
Electro Voice RE20
2 Shure SM81
Rode K2
Sennheiser MD421

Figure minas well get a couple more of the better ones as we hope to open as a small commercial studio for bands in the area.

[nanashiwanderer]

If you were buying all at once, i'd drop the C4's and the Sennhieser E604, and trade them for two MD421's. maybe even trade the K2 for two more. There mics you'll never stop using.

The sennhieser E604, and the C4 once you have SM81's will be collecting dust when you have better. Since you can't afford all of this right away... the C4, and E604 probably do for temp solutions.

[joelpilling]

I'm not buying at once (I wish!). I added the MD421, and the RE20 and K2 I will probably getting last. The reason I decided to go with the 3 E604's was mainly to have enought mics to cover a whole kit. (Micing my own drummers kit was fun... 2 bass drums mics, hihat, 2 overheads, 5 toms etc). Pretty big kit, and we're planning on recording him alot, so I want to be able to cover all his drums, and those of any other bands that bring in a big kit. I figured having the C4's first would be ok, adding the SM81's later, but I would probably still find use around a drum kit for the C4's. (Such as hats or ride cymbal if needed.)

My plan was to get the C4's, E604 3pack, and the beta52/3 sm57 pack in steps first. Then I will add the d112 and solaris to the collection, and from there add the higher end ones (K2, MD421 and re20). The only one I'm still not set on is the MD421 itsself, it seems like a mic you would want/need more than one of. Would it be a better option to drop the 3 E604's and wait to grab a MD421 in its place? My main worry is to not have enough microphones to cover a full kit. (Including extra's like bottom snare.) Although it seems having 3 of the MD421's would be better than 3 of the E604's, even with the bigger price. Would it be better to not get a higer end vocal mic (such as the K2) and just get two MD421's isntead?

I _believe_ this would give me enough mics and variety to pretty much handle anything that comes to us with good enough results.