New mic pre vs new mic....

[dr_daw]

That is the question I've been asking myself for the last few weeks. Been in the market for a new mic for the last little while. I have had great success with what I have, especially on acoustic guitar.

Was contemplating a TLM 103 for vox, but have been kinda talked out of it. So have now been thinking about just saving my money and getting a U-87. Another suggestion was to actually get a SM7b with a cloudlifter!

Then I came across a half decent deal on an Avalon 737sp. I've wanted one of these for years and this one is $1000 off! What to do...what to do?

[Southsidemusic]

If I were you I would get the Avalon and a Good mic. Doesn't have to be a U-87 to make great recordings, I know Albee has a few pretty good priced mics that works fine for recordings. I would only get a TLM-103 if I was only making Rap recordings as it is a Hit with rappers but not soo much with vocals.

Even if you get a 3000K mic and have a medioker preamp that mic won't be what it could be so a Good Cardioid mic and a Avalon would be a great setup.

There are pretty sweet mics from Peluso and they are GREAT! We have 2 of these aswell as U-87's and a few others for vocals but in the price range of under 2K the AK-47 blows most of the competition out of the water.

Usually we end up recording with our Manley Ref C and Reference Gold but they are a bit more expensive.

Here are a few ideas:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AK47MKII

This Peluso is awesome and we use it for guitars and vocals alot.
http://vintageking.com/peluso-microp...tion-demo-deal

You will get loads of other chimes here from members but remeber, you NEED a good preamp in order to take any good mic to it's full potential

Best of Luck

Christopher

[YYR123]

Curious as to why you were talked out of a TLM103?

That same head is in the U87. Does the Avalon have variable input impedance?

[dr_daw]

Awesome Chris,

That's what I started feeling about the mic pre, part of the reason I stepped back from the mic shopping. I'm getting good results from the focusrite pre's, but felt if I was going to drop 2k on a mic, that I was wasting my time.

The vocals I mainly record are female singer/songwriter, so the mic would end up also being used on guitar. I've been getting surprisingly great results on acoustic with my NT1's, but they lack on vocals.

I've used a 737sp extensively in the past, but can't remember if I ever plugged an NT 1 into it...maybe on snare? I can't remember. Mainly used a U87, or I believe it was a TLM 67. I like the looks of that AK47....mmmmm mics....common lottery! Then I can just get it all! LOL

[dr_daw]

A close friend of mine, and the engineer that's mixing our new album talked me out of it. He felt for my wife's vocals that it may not provide the sound we're looking for. Even went as far as to say that he 'hates' that mic. LOL

No it doesn't have a variable input impedance, it only has mic/line/instrument selector.

The mic input impedance is 850/2500 ohms

Originally Posted by YYR123

Curious as to why you were talked out of a TLM103?

That same head is in the U87. Does the Avalon have variable input impedance?

[YYR123]

Variable input impedance changes the tonality of every mic.

Usually the lower the better

[YYR123]

Wow for $1400 that's a great price on a channel strip

[propower]

I haven't owned a ton of mics but IME for Female Vox I have really liked AT4060, Lawson L47, and Gefell M990. The AT mic can be had for ~$750 used and is a great mic!

For preamps - I also like the Avalon. But depending on what you already have you may not hear that much difference. 747's sell for under $1K in my area. The compressor and EQ are both good but do you use it that way?? Many just record dry. If so a great 2 channel clean pre is always a great place to start. I am a real fan of the Hardy dual channel that can also be found used for $1K.

[YYR123]

Originally Posted by propower

For preamps - I also like the Avalon. But depending on what you already have you may not hear that much difference

The Avalon pre is it clean and clear or colored?

[propower]

Originally Posted by YYR123

The Avalon pre is it clean and clear or colored?

IMO very much on the clean side ( a little color). For color I reach for GTQ2 and maybe more significant - a colored compressor - Retro Doublewide - and a colored mic - on it goes!