Let Us Now Speak of Microphones

The (generally) well regarded designer and modifier of microphones, Michael Joly, pointed out on a message board a while back that there are three basic flavors of classic 'vintage' large-diaphragm condenser microphones and that if one had one of each, the recording bases would be pretty well covered. Those three are the Neumann U47 type, Neumann's U67/87 family, and the AKG C12.

The 47-style mikes are the least 'high fidelity' of the group, and the oldest design. But their midrange-forward sound can be very pleasing to the ear. The 67 types were an attempt by Neumann to create a more accurate microphone, an attempt that was largely successful. The bulk of the cheap Chinese mikes that came into the US over the past decade were part of this family, but often poorly realized.

The C12 sound has more top end and has long been a favorite for recording female vocalists. There are a lot of C12 Chinese copies out there as well. Naturally, there have been many other approaches to the condenser microphone over the years, but these are the Big Three.

So, how would one go about getting a selection of such mikes at a low price? The 67/87 isn't so hard, really, since (as I mentioned) the majority of Chinese large condensers use some form of the K67 style capsule. E.g., I have a Cad GXL3000, a fairly nice and quite inexpensive multi-pattern mike of this sort. It does not, like many of the cheapies, have a good application of the Neumann design and has that typical hyped (and even shrill) top end that has given Chinese microphones a bad name.

That's changing. Over the last few years, they've done a better and better job, though there are still plenty of the old hyped mikes out there. I now have an also-inexpensive MXL V67G which does a good job of catching the true U67 mojo (though obviously it's not going to sound just like a Neumann!). Sure, it's full of cheap parts but it's pretty good. Especially for the price.

There haven't been a whole lot of 47 style mikes coming out of China. Fortunately, two reasonably priced alternatives have been available over the past decade: Audio-Technica's AT4047 and the Octava 219/319. I have a couple of the latter and they were the probably the best recording investment I ever made, back when Musicians Friend was blowing out their remaining stock for next to nothing. I have done some of the 'mechanical' modifications on these mikes but don't think it's worth bothering with any electronic modding.

And then, the C12. AKG has their medium-priced microphones that cover this basic flavor, the 414 series. These are not exactly cheap, but they are a staple in many studios. The Audio-Technica AT 4040 and 4050 are sort of in the same neighborhood for somewhat less -- though not really 'budget' microphones. Stepping down, one finds the Cad M series. Good sounding, somewhat in the AKG ballpark. I have a couple M177s to cover this category.

Now, if you were looking to outfit a studio for cheap and wanted one (or more) of each flavor, you could do much worse than going over to Kel Audio and buying his nicely made and nicely priced LDCs. Yes, they're Chinese made but well done. The HM2 does 67 pretty well, HM7U is a nice 47, and the newest offering, the Song Sparrow, is in C12 territory. Their small mikes are nice too -- I do intend to expand my 'collection' with some Kels eventually.

But right now, what I have will do the job, along with the various dynamics and SDCs I have on hand. We'll eventually be able to record again here on Peanut Road. Soon, I'm hoping!

addendum, Dec 22: The Cad E100s. With price reductions and rebates, a microphone that would have cost $600 new last year is now going to run me only $350, so I ordered one as a last minute Christmas gift to myself! That's about what I would pay for some of the Kel mikes mentioned above and it is, all in all, probably a better unit. And made in the USA (or at least assembled here). This is a mike that doesn't exactly fit the categories mentioned before. It does, however, fit the 'good microphone' category. :)