KVR Audio

SampleScience · Post by **SampleScience** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:37 pm

Hi all,

I'd like to buy a microphone to record some acoustic "real" life instruments but I'm kind of lost in which kind of mic would give me good results.

Will a 100-200$ mic give me bad result or lo-fi sounding samples? Which brand are recommend? Do I have to buy a 1000$ microphone to have that professional "CD" quality sound recordings?

I already have a TEAC Model 2A mixer & a standalone cd recorder, I have tried to record stuff with some cheap mic but the result are really bad... I even tried to record home percussions with a vintage Sony uni-directional microphone with very poor result...

What's the secret?

manytone · Post by **manytone** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:50 pm

A Nice Budget mic that sounds Great.
NT1 from Rode.
This thing records acoustic stuff and Vox excellently.
Of course you can spend more but on a budget ... that is a nice mic. You will need phantom power for it.
Paul

SampleScience · Post by **SampleScience** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:10 pm

What is phantom power?

I'm not really on a budget, if I would I could buy a 200-300$ mic easily which I guess is not too cheap for a mic... I just want the right thing, I want to samples mainly acoustic drums, bongos, congas, some ethnic stuffs... maybe guitar eventually... I've read that some people use preamp, would I need it to record some quality samples?

Thanks for replying!

topaz · Post by **topaz** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:15 pm

get a decent Valve Pro Channel as well (most have phantom power) I use a cheap ass Joe Meek VC3 Mk11.

fwiw, I use an Oktava Mk219 Mic.

SampleScience · Post by **SampleScience** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:25 pm

topaz wrote:get a decent Valve Pro Channel as well (most have phantom power) I use a cheap ass Joe Meek VC3 Mk11.

fwiw, I use an Oktava Mk219 Mic.

But what is phantom power? I think I'll google it to see what it is...

thanks for the infos, I really your music by the way, the complete cycle is excellent!

Cheers

manytone · Post by **manytone** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:27 pm

Some mics need what is known as phantom power to power them
Usually you would want a small preamp ...preferably Tube style... These will usually have 48v phantom power in them to power your condensor Mics. You will usually get better crisper samples from a mic that is powered but at times a good old shure 57 is great on some Percussions and that does not need phantom Power. But if you are going for 1 good all round Mic and system ... Try a phantom powered condensor with a small Tube preamp and hopefully a 24 bit soundcard and you will be able to make some decent Samples.
Paul

SampleScience · Post by **SampleScience** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:34 pm

manytone wrote:Some mics need what is known as phantom power to power them
Usually you would want a small preamp ...preferably Tube style... These will usually have 48v phantom power in them to power your condensor Mics. You will usually get better crisper samples from a mic that is powered but at times a good old shure 57 is great on some Percussions and that does not need phantom Power. But if you are going for 1 good all round Mic and system ... Try a phantom powered condensor with a small Tube preamp and hopefully a 24 bit soundcard and you will be able to make some decent Samples.
Paul

Thanks! That's all the infos I needed. Will search now more infos on how much it cost to buy all these things!

Cheers

topaz · Post by **topaz** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:47 pm

thank you

SampleScience wrote:thanks for the infos, I really your music by the way, the complete cycle is excellent!

Cheers

jimmbimm · Post by **jimmbimm** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:49 am

An other alternative might be the AKG C1000S. it is a condensor mic anc coust a little bit more than 200$. It use phantom power from the mixer/preamp or a 9 Volt battery.
with an adapter you can switch from cardioid to hyper cardioid, wich might by usefull, when you don't record in a perfect quiet invironment.

question regarding sampling acoustic instruments