Best matched stereo condensers for the money

The Oktava 012s are available in matched pairs, and sound very good, though for your situation, you don't really need a matched set, so why pay extra for them?

$99 each at places like Guitar Center. Matched sets are usually not available at GC, but are available here for $426:

http://sound-room.com/customer/home.php

I was lucky to find one of the last matched pairs that GC had a few months ago, but you might check a store near you, as they say. My matched pair at GC was indeed factory-matched, and I got them on sale for $250-ish.

 

For anything other than the most discriminating classical recording, matched pairs aren't really necessary.

Try and find some MK-012s at GC - I've used several pairs of "grab two off the shelf" pairs and have found their consistency to be just fine. If GC doesn't have them, try E-Bay.

Huge bang for the buck.

Loudboy

 

...or if you want to spend some money, I sugggest the Audix scx-25 they will ship in pairs called the piano kit. If you wanna spend even more, a pair of DPA -4011 might do the trick.

You do get what you pay for!

 

I just picked up a matched set of Oktava 012s at GC Hollywood for $249 out the door. Haven't had a chance to use them yet, but based on reviews here and elsewhere it seemed like a good investment.

 

>>You do get what you pay for!<<

To a degree, yes. The DPAs are the successors to the B&K mics, and they're quite nice for lots of things. I still use a pair of B&Ks for piano and overheads, super nice mics.

But for the money, it's really hard to beat the Oktavas. In fact, they're a huge bargain, and are an exception to the above rule.

Moreover, for the intended application, they're plenty of mic.

 

On a related note, you may want to review a mic placement book for popular stereo micing practices. Usually, stereo mics are placed very close if not touching to capture a stereo field. Coincident pair and X Y configurations are an example. By spreading the mics far apart, you may introduce severe phase problems that will weaken the mix.

Maybe some of our more experienced members will chime in.

 

A quick search turned this up

 

i got my Rode NT5 pair for $299 from Interstate Music. dont think they're offering them at that price anymore, but i'm sure Ebay will turn something up.

 

>> By spreading the mics far apart, you may introduce severe phase problems that will weaken the mix.

That can happen, but if you do it right it's a useful technique. I've used omnis & cardioids spaced far apart to capture room reflections. I know other people who have used them spaced far apart at live shows, onstage or in the audience. IMO that technique works well for a broad sound in a big space. I don't know about jams in the basement...

>> i got my Rode NT5 pair for $299 from Interstate Music.

There ya go, something like that.

 

Just one more vote for the Oktava 012's.

BC

 

Listen to the man--

Spreading the mics apart and just about anything other than XY, ORTF or MS miking technique only appears to work because you are not listening to the recording on a balanced system that images properly (most consumer stereos).

XY consists of orienting the capsules so they are stacked on top of each other pointing inward at 135 degrees. Here's the spec for the ORTF method along with the same mics I used almost exclusively for this sort of recording:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/chris.burmajster/O.htm

I would go with this technique for the best results.

 

Very cool link .......... thanks!

Would ORTF be good for miking drums along with a snare and kick mic?

.... and where can I get one of those mounting brackets?

BC

 

Most likely the cardioid - is there a pattern on the capsule?

I've never used the -10 thingie, but I've heard that it adversely effects the sound.

Loudboy

 

I used to use these guys when I was in the recording business in 1992 and they are first rate. Not only is all their stuff good but they know what they're talking about. They'll have any of the special adapters needed.

The adapter needed for the ORTF is a simple gizmo that screws onto the end of a normal mic stand and it can be used for XY or even Mid-Side configuration also.

http://www.micworks.com

 

>>Does anyone know which capsule the single capsule set comes with?<<

Cardioid.

 

Well, the good thing is, there isn't much to know about the mics. Just put 'em up and see what works.

As an aside, I wandered to Bob Clearmountain's website - his home studio is almost as nice as mine - and he also uses a pair of the Oktavas.

I was actually surprised at some of the stuff he likes. It's very interesting.