Audio-Technica AT4021 Cardioid Condenser Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a sweet little small-diaphragm condenser. It is near-ruler-flat from 20-20KHz. Getting those extremes -- 15K-20Hz and especially 20-50Hz -- is unusual in an affordable cardioid SDC.
I like this mic for general acoustic ensemble or instrument recording because of the extended low and high-end (really sweet lows). It is very popular on acoustic guitars, and wherever you want to capture the shimmer up top (choirs, drum overheads). I've gotten agreeable full-range jazz drum kit tracks by setting one up level with the top of the kick, a foot out in front of the kit.
Another mic to consider at this price/performance point is the Shure SM81 Instrument Microphone (it has just the slightest bit of color compared to the 4021, and a narrower frequency range, but it is a classic clean bright sound for this kind of thing). You can find sound samples of this and other comparable mics by searching for SDC microphone shootout on the web.
You may also be weighing this against Rode NT5 Matched Pair Recording Condenser Package (or you were back when this was $250). I think the 4021 sounds a tad better than the NT5 as a single mic, a little less hyped upper mid. But if you are planning on using two as a stereo pair, you might prefer the NT5 matched pair, because its off-axis response is more suitable for stereo recording. The off-axis response of the 4021 is pretty interesting -- it stays flatter for the mid- and higher-frequencies, and drops off for the lows. That's backwards from many mics. It means it's more forgiving about placement for something like an acoustic guitar or cymbal. But it also means your stereo image will smear towards the center with coincident stereo miking techniques, except for the low frequencies (exactly where coincident imaging is less effective anyway).
So if you use a pair of these for stereo, set up non-coincident, ORTF or even as you might place omnis. I get really pleasing results with a 4021 pair inside a grand piano, in an ORTF configuration nearly centered inside with one pointing to the high hammers and one pointing to the low strings at the back of the piano.

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M-Audio Pulsar II Matched Pair Small-Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphones Review

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(More customer reviews)After exhaustive research, I purchased these for drum overhead recording. Amazing. Smooth high end, incredibly eq-able, low distortion. Better than AKG 451's in my opinion.[...]

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The M Audio Pulsar II small-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone takes M-Audio's pencil condenser technology to an even higher level. Designed in the U.S.A. by veteran engineers and hand-assembled to exacting standards, this precision microphone exhibits quality comparable to that of vintage classics. New features like -10dB pad and 80Hz high-pass filter switches, higher SPL than the original and a redesigned solid-brass backplate deliver smooth, accurate sound in the studio and on stage. The Pulsar II has many applications, including drum overheads, acoustic guitar, piano, close-miking strings and woodwinds, room miking and more. Flexible New Features The Pulsar II can adapt to many recording and live situations. The 12dB/octave high-pass filter reduces low-frequency rumble and the potential for overloading mic preamps with low-frequency signals. The Pulsar II also handles higher SPLs - an overall 2dB boost thanks to a new thermal diaphragm treatment, plus a new 10dB switchable attenuation pad. M Audio Pulsar II Features Professional small-capsule condenser microphone 3/4 inch, 6-micron Mylar evaporated gold diaphragm Solid brass backplate Solid brass body Class-A FET electronics Switchable 10dB pad and 80Hz high-pass filter Wooden storage box houses microphone, windscreen and clip Available as a Matched Pair This Pulsar IIpair is a matched set with only ±1dB tolerance from the excellent published frequency response curves - which extend from 20Hz to 20kHz. This makes the Pulsar II mics ideal for stereo rroom miking, stereo overheads and similar applications where balance

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Rode NTK Tube Condenser Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)Great mic - excellent sound. I have been a pro voiceover artist for over 30 years and have dealt with a variety of studio mics. In building my own studio I really wanted a front end that had a clear and smooth full-range sound. The R0de NTK was recommended to me by another "big voice" artist, and completely lives up to the recommendation. Everyone I have talked to says it's about the best value out there. If you have cash to blow, you can get a "noyyyyyymannnnn" (raise eyebrows here), or you can enjoy the sound of this mic and take the extra $3200 and spend it on more gear. The hard plastic padded case for the mic and power supply are a nice touch. Don't forget to buy a shock mount for it!
Enjoy -

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MXL Genesis Large Diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)What a fantastic product and great service from Amazon. The first one that arrived was a complete dud, which contained a lot of static and hiss. So I filed for a return through Amazon's website, and within a day I received a response with instructions on shipping it back for a replacement. What I didn't know was that a replacement, brand new, was already in route before I went to the post office to return the defective microphone; Amazon notified me via e-mail. I had to pick up shipping costs, and I was expecting to receive most of that back, but Amazon paid it back 100%! Great service!
Now on with the microphone, which was indeed brand new with all the plastic wrapping and cable plastic ties in tact. I have to admit that I was fearing that the replacement would give me the same issue. Fortunately, this one is a winner! The microphone produced a warm, clear sound and had no noticeable hiss, where as the defect had considerable amount of hiss and needed 100% gain to get any signal, which was extremely weak and full of static. Oh well. Even the best products have their occasional duds. I did a quick test with this microphone in an open area, and it sounded fantastic. I can't wait to get this into a better environment for recording projects.
I'm a happy customer due to the replacement and Amazon's excellent service. So why only 4 stars? The shock mount was a pain to install the microphone, for it was quite difficult to screw it into place. Putting the mount onto a stand was no problem, though. This microphone is a keeper.

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Blue Microphones Bluebird Cardioid Condenser Mic Review

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(More customer reviews)This microphone sounds very good on everything I've tried it on. Running the mic through a DBX 376 mic pre, I was able to get some great vocals. Though to get a good amount of clarity on the consonants I did have to ask the singer to back up about six inches from the mic. Being close in, the mic just didn't pick up the T and S sounds. With that adjustment, the mic did a good job on vocals ending up with takes the singer and I were both happy with. It didn't blow me away, but it sounded good. I've used it on a combo amp with good results as well as acoustic guitar and mandolin with better results. Not blown away, but overall happy with the way it sounds being a two to three hundred dollar mic.
What I really don't like about this mic is how the look of the design and aesthetics of the mic are clearly more important to blue than the functionality. Getting this thing in and out of the shock mount is a bit of a pain as it threads into it. I just know I'm going to mis-thread the thing once and have to spend another 80 bucks to get a replacement. Also, every time you adjust the angle of the shock mount you really have to crank the small thumb screw to get it to stay into place. I find the thing very difficult to lock into place all for the sake of looking attractive. I find nothing less attractive than poor functionality. Which brings me to the pop screen. I've read plenty of reviews claiming the pop screen was useless. I wouldn't know because the screen that came with my mic doesn't fit the mic. I sent an email off to Blue and didn't hear anything for two weeks, in the mean time Amazon shipped a free replacement, but it had the exact same issue. Blue responded to a second email and they said the last batch of screens was bad. Blue is supposed to be shipping me a pop screen "when they become available", so I hope I'll be getting one.
All in all, it's a good sounding mic for the money. I find it to be on par with my ADK A51. It's not the "crown jewel" of my modest mic collection but a different flavor to use. But I find the functionality of the accessories to be cumbersome at best, and unusable at worst.

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CAD Trion8000 Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)Please note that this mic does not connect directly to a standard XLR mic cable. It has an odd 6-pin cable that connects it to its power supply. (The power supply box DOES have XLR out.)
My problem is that the 6-pin cable wore out rather quickly, and finding a replacement is rather difficult. No one at the music supply stores know what I'm talking about when I ask for it
I am not sure why this mic couldn't have been powered with a standard XLR cable. Whatever the reason, it has turned my mic into a paperweight.
From what I remember, this mic sounded good, but it has been years since I've been able to use it.

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