Mic Shootout
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:06 pm
So I was part of a semi-unorthodox, however completely cool-ass class today for my Digital Studio Operations 300 Class. Kevin Herring is the instructor, and an excellent one at that. So anyways, yesterday I received the news from school that my bursary was coming in soon (ie; money I don't have to pay back to the government...sweet....) and I allotted between $400 to $700 to buy a new mic. So I asked Kevin about a couple condensers within that price range yesterday, so for today's class Kevin went out and got a couple mics in that price range from Tony's, along with 2 we had in the studio, to do a listening test in the Live room at CAT's studio.
We used:
1. Rode NT2A
2. Audio Technica 4050
3. Rode NTK
4. SE 4400's
So we tested it using an acoustic guitar, and my vox. The array was basically a cross, with the diaphragms all centered, and the sound sources focused on the center. We used Kevin's 30 year old acoustic maple bodied Guild for the test.... 20" away from the 12th fret. And for the vox, a pop screen about 2" away from the mic array, and I moved to and from the mic, depending on the dynamic of the parts I was singing. I went from normal speech, to up, close, and personal singing, to about 2 feet away from the array...belting out loud.
So here's a beginner's quick review of these mics in this situation, in this studio, with this array, running through the school's SSL console.
The Rode NT2A
I like this mic, it's a decent all rounder. However, with my vox, the upper end was noticeably more harsh, and the "sssss' for sibilance were enough to make me frown. Noticeably harsher on my vox. Sounded almost a bit...almost distorted, or artifact-ish on the upper end. Would definitely need to do some corrective EQing to minimize those upper frequencies (6-8kHz and beyond) Acoustic guitar sounded fine, no complaints, but nothing outstanding. Just a decent all-arounder, in my opinion, on my vox...but not the first choice within that price range for my vox. I do like that it offers cardiod, bi-directional, and omni polar patterns with a couple of standard pads.
The AT 4050
This was my overall favourite of the lot. Flat frequency response. My voice sounded like my voice going through this mic. It sounded like there was non extra flavours added to the sound of my vox singing through this mic. For a condenser, it was warm to me, and accurate. I will buy this mic. Acoustic guitar was accurate, sounded good, no complaints. I liked that there were polar pattern options and pads similar to the NT2A. The verdict is that I will buy this mic, a great all arounder.
The Rode NTK
I really liked the sound of this mic. A large diaphragm, tube condenser mic. It did what I had hoped it would do. Warmth city. This mic I would buy, but right now, because it is only cardioid pattern, no pads, it's a mic that I won't be able to use, in different situations as much as the AT-4050. Versatility is the word I'm thinking about. I would sing through this mic again, and I would play my acoustic to it. This was my introduction to tube-condensers, and I like that sound. Tony's is having a sale.....maybe I'll stop in.....
SE 4400's
So far, I have not heard the limitations of this mic. I really like it, but the price is just outside the $700 range. We did some mid side miking with a pair of these with an acoustic guitar a few months ago. We also used them as a spaced pair OVH on the drums. And they sounded excellent. The sound of these mics consistently left me satisfied. I wish to have a pair of these, they are officially on my wish list. I don't have a whole lot to say about them, because I knew they were just outside my price range. So I just enjoyed listening to them, and left it at that.
So that's it. My quick noob review of the 4 mics that we tested today. Please, if you get the chance, post your own reviews of any mics in this price range, or any other price range. This posting could be a whole other animal.....maybe belongs in the Fluid section. Anyways, this is today's contribution from me. Now to try and update Pro Tools. Grrrrrrr
*EDIT: I am more than willing to be a test dummy in the future, for any microphone shootouts anyone may wish to have. I'll bring my guitar and my vox.
We used:
1. Rode NT2A
2. Audio Technica 4050
3. Rode NTK
4. SE 4400's
So we tested it using an acoustic guitar, and my vox. The array was basically a cross, with the diaphragms all centered, and the sound sources focused on the center. We used Kevin's 30 year old acoustic maple bodied Guild for the test.... 20" away from the 12th fret. And for the vox, a pop screen about 2" away from the mic array, and I moved to and from the mic, depending on the dynamic of the parts I was singing. I went from normal speech, to up, close, and personal singing, to about 2 feet away from the array...belting out loud.
So here's a beginner's quick review of these mics in this situation, in this studio, with this array, running through the school's SSL console.
The Rode NT2A
I like this mic, it's a decent all rounder. However, with my vox, the upper end was noticeably more harsh, and the "sssss' for sibilance were enough to make me frown. Noticeably harsher on my vox. Sounded almost a bit...almost distorted, or artifact-ish on the upper end. Would definitely need to do some corrective EQing to minimize those upper frequencies (6-8kHz and beyond) Acoustic guitar sounded fine, no complaints, but nothing outstanding. Just a decent all-arounder, in my opinion, on my vox...but not the first choice within that price range for my vox. I do like that it offers cardiod, bi-directional, and omni polar patterns with a couple of standard pads.
The AT 4050
This was my overall favourite of the lot. Flat frequency response. My voice sounded like my voice going through this mic. It sounded like there was non extra flavours added to the sound of my vox singing through this mic. For a condenser, it was warm to me, and accurate. I will buy this mic. Acoustic guitar was accurate, sounded good, no complaints. I liked that there were polar pattern options and pads similar to the NT2A. The verdict is that I will buy this mic, a great all arounder.
The Rode NTK
I really liked the sound of this mic. A large diaphragm, tube condenser mic. It did what I had hoped it would do. Warmth city. This mic I would buy, but right now, because it is only cardioid pattern, no pads, it's a mic that I won't be able to use, in different situations as much as the AT-4050. Versatility is the word I'm thinking about. I would sing through this mic again, and I would play my acoustic to it. This was my introduction to tube-condensers, and I like that sound. Tony's is having a sale.....maybe I'll stop in.....
SE 4400's
So far, I have not heard the limitations of this mic. I really like it, but the price is just outside the $700 range. We did some mid side miking with a pair of these with an acoustic guitar a few months ago. We also used them as a spaced pair OVH on the drums. And they sounded excellent. The sound of these mics consistently left me satisfied. I wish to have a pair of these, they are officially on my wish list. I don't have a whole lot to say about them, because I knew they were just outside my price range. So I just enjoyed listening to them, and left it at that.
So that's it. My quick noob review of the 4 mics that we tested today. Please, if you get the chance, post your own reviews of any mics in this price range, or any other price range. This posting could be a whole other animal.....maybe belongs in the Fluid section. Anyways, this is today's contribution from me. Now to try and update Pro Tools. Grrrrrrr
*EDIT: I am more than willing to be a test dummy in the future, for any microphone shootouts anyone may wish to have. I'll bring my guitar and my vox.