Nate Dort wrote:With that budget, I'd get a pair of AKG C414. Preferably the old B-ULS if you can find them.+1. Super versatile and not too too expensive. Even the older versions Nate mentioned should be available within your budget.

Greetings y'allSo I have an intentionally minimal small home recording set up and need some microphone selection help.I am recording a live instrumental loud 3 piece band (bass, drums, & guitar)I am recording onto a Teac 3340S 1/4" 4 track machine at 15 IPS My mics currently are a Sennheiser MD421 on the bass cabinet & Royer 121 on the guitar.I am plugging straight into the front end of the TEAC using the build in Mic Pres and going direct out of the back of the machine into a TASCAM DA3000 making DSD mixes utilizing no eq or compression.Given this simple set up I need two more mics for the drums I have used Oktava 219s in a overhead / rightside glyn johns setup with no front of kit mic. And had a decent result but found the 219 boxy. What mics would you recommend for the drums in this type of situation.My budget is about $1000 a mic...I am assuming I should use two as I do like the stereo spread created in this simple setup. Thanks for your time and advice

219s are boxy. The enclosures on them resonate. The 319s sound better. Same circuit and capsule, different body shape. With that budget, I'd get a pair of AKG C414. Preferably the old B-ULS if you can find them.

Nate Dort wrote:219s are boxy. The enclosures on them resonate. The 319s sound better. Same circuit and capsule, different body shape. With that budget, I'd get a pair of AKG C414. Preferably the old B-ULS if you can find them.I filled my 219s with silicone a-la http://recordinghacks.com/microphones/Oktava/MK-219Did make a noticeable difference. Would love C414s instead

I think you need a change in priorities.Sorry to be blunt, but you want to spend 2 grand on mics and you're not even using a mixer or a compressor?In your situation I would be buying an AKG D112 for the kick drum, Shure SM57 for the snare (both are tried and tested for this application) and getting a pair of cheap but decent overheads if you don't like the Oktava's. Alternatively you could get your Oktava's modded to improve them.Research these:Audio Technica ATM450CAD M179Sahe Little Blondie'sMXL 603Rode NT5There plenty other suitable mics for OH's, and there's plenty of wiggle room in the above scenario E.G. swap out the AKG 121 for an EV RE20, Use your MD421 on the snare and get something else for the bass etc. etc.So if you've done the above you should have spent well less than a grand, which means you have plenty left over for a mixer and a couple of compressors.Just a thought.

Overheads I've actually used and liked:AT 4047Shure KSM141Mojave 301fetCascade FatheadBeyer M160By far the most flexible as an overhead, as a utility instrument/percussion mic is the KSM141. That said all of these other mics can be great on guitar amps, and many of them are solid choices for recording vocals.Price-wise, the only thing on this list anywhere near your ceiling is the Mojave.I understand you can get a lot done with an AT 4050 as well, but I don't have one of those in my closet right now.

bishopdante wrote:Microtech Gefell are worth investigating.Shhhhh! PM750s are my secret weapon for overheads.

curry pervert wrote:I think you need a change in priorities.Sorry to be blunt, but you want to spend 2 grand on mics and you're not even using a mixer or a compressor?In your situation I would be buying an AKG D112 for the kick drum, Shure SM57 for the snare (both are tried and tested for this application) and getting a pair of cheap but decent overheads if you don't like the Oktava's. Alternatively you could get your Oktava's modded to improve them.So if you've done the above you should have spent well less than a grand, which means you have plenty left over for a mixer and a couple of compressors.Just a thought.I don't think you have to reinvent the wheel, but it does seem like the limitation is the 4 tracks. I'll second the idea of integrating a small mixer so you can use 4 mics for the drums and send them as a stereo mix to two tracks of the tape machine. It'll require a little more thought though, as you'll have to adjust the drum mix before tape. For example, you could easily get a Soundcraft EPM6, KSM141 pair, D112, and an SM57 for $1400. And you still have $600 to make upgrade(s) to that list if you think anything is too pedestrian or you want a compressor.I definitely understand that lean way or working though. I almost never EQ anything. Instead I spend a little more time on mic placement until I like the sound of it naturally as-is. But I do think you'll like mixing in a little close miked snare and kick though. You can make do with just a stereo pair no problem. You'll get 90% of the way there, with placement. I just know I never end up muting the snare and kick mics on my mixes.

thanks for the input everyone.Definately reconsidering what I am doing in my set up.Thoughts on those API 3124MB? Or maybe a Revox C279 Are there better preamp/mixer options out there?Also pretty much ready to give up on the TEAC 3340s and considering just going in straight to the DA3000...or should I just get a pair of SDC Omnis and do a live recording that way?Seems like a good solution for my drums and keeping things small footprint. I guess one of my biggest obstacles is I hate carrying a bunch of bulky recording equipment around with me.