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I have $200 and I want to get two microphones, they will mostly be used for toms but I would also like something that I can experiment with, like for guitar, snare, and maybe vocals.
The mics that I had my eye on were either the Oktava MK012 or the sennheiser 609, or maybe one of each? Any other suggestions?
Thanks,bob

I know (from reading it in here) that Bob Weston rates the Oktavas highly (as do other people around here).

I'm sure other people will chip in, but there have been similar discussions to this that you would find useful - do a search of the tech forum, you're sure to be enlightened.

the 609 is good for guitars. thats really it though. the oktava's though are really great mics. they just are. i use them on all kinds of stuff and theyre usually one of my first choices for toms. no question, for what you're looking to do, the 012s are the champion.

Jeremy

Why does no one want to use an SM57 when looking for a versatile mic? That's what these things do.....everything pretty well. And they're cheap. For those of you that don't like the 57, try it through an API or Neve style pre and I think it'll open your eyes a bit.
later,
m

I like 57's... when they're one of your only choices they're good for everything. When you have the options, then you may pick other mics for other things, but 57's are good for just about everything.

I already have an sm57 and am using it, they are good for everything but for around the same price I think I will try to get the mk012.

The octava's are going really cheap all over eBay right now. I'd also check out the SE Electronics range, some pretty great chinese mics, some of which are the same as more expensive models by other brands, cheaper branding, same mic. They also do a loan scheme where you can try them out for a week and then buy if you like them. Personally, i think that's an awesome idea.

A really great tom mic that also does well on guitar cabs is the Sennheiser MD406. There was recently a pair up on Ebay. Don't know if they're still up, but they started pretty cheap. They don't seem to come up very often, but are totally worth looking for. They're older dynamics with a very sweet proximity effect...