Microphones Concerning Super Cheap Microphones

[Sinne]

Hello all,

I felt inspired by mr. Thomas' article about the super cheap clip-on mic (with the charming deluxe clothes peg) to try and search for a very low priced 'standing' mic. I live in Europe and had no luck trying to find that Realistic 33-1063 Electret Tie Pin unit online, so I went to good ol' Thomann.de and checked out their cheapest 'sax' mics.

The search results (ascending in price) include the following mics:
- the t.bone BD 200 (€24,90) supercardioid, 20 - 16.000 hz
- the t.bone MB 75 (€32,00) dynamic sm57 copy(?)
- Superlux D10B (€35,00) dynamic supercardoid, 50 - 16.000 hz
- the t.bone BD 300 (€49,00) dynamic mic designed for bass (drum), 20 - 10.000 hz
- AKG Perception Live P4 (€75,00) dynamic cardioid, 40 - 18.000 hz

I was planning on testing these on soprano sax and clarinet in a couple of months (perhaps tenor too some day?). The fact that one could buy a whole bunch of these instead of one single big-brand mic does sound appealing. Of course it might all just be very disappointing.

But another, far more personal reason why I consider these is the vast ammount of live looping and echo I would like to unleash at (potentially loud) live gigs. In that scenario, I hope the saxophone sound will still be very distinguishably a saxophone, though it will most likely be a thin line between a saxy soundscape and utter chaos. Supposedly, when loops and echo's kick in, the difference between a half-decent and a great mic might not be heard at all... The bigger issue will be fighting the feedback. However, beside my own silly reasons for going cheap, I can imagine others being intrigued by very cheap mics too. Speaking for myself, I'm low on cash anyway. :{p

So if any of you have any experience considering these, or other mics in the same price range, do tell! I'll try to post reviews once I get all sorts of equipment together, which may take some time.

 

[Colin the Bear]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/NEEWER-3-5m...WHLA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1361536534&sr=8-6

http://soundcloud.com/you/tracks

 

[Sinne]

thanks! your link took me to my own soundcloud page (hehe), i suppose you meant this one https://soundcloud.com/colin-the-bear are all your track recorded with that mic?

 

[Matabayahsi]

@Sinne what did you get at the end of the day and are you satisfied with it?
@Colin the Bear Do you use an external soundcard or a DI box any that sort of thing on top of this? because I like how it sounds compared to the price

 

[Clivey]

Another old thread that I hope bursts back into life.I`m always curious about methods of making my terrible playing better heard LOL.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I must admit that I have upgraded to a cheaper microphone. Tracks less than a year old are made using

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CRASVFC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

I clip it to the side of the bell using a piece of foam which helps mask key noise, open Audacity on the laptop, with the mic in the hole marked mic. Select headphone mic, adjust the level and blow. It records on one side, so split the stereo track, erase the blank track, duplicate the one with the sound on and make the two tracks stereo. It takes a lot longer to type it than to do it. I sometimes add compression but lately I haven't. I usually add reverb to try to match the backing track or for a subway effect.

I'm having a lot of success with the Thomann T bone for live work. It sounds pretty good, it looks the part for the stuff I do and I find it easy to use when switching from sax to vocals. The size of room I play is usually small enough to play the sax acoustically . I've tried recording sax with it but it lacks a certain something. I do use it for recording vocals.

 

[Matabayahsi]

Another old thread that I hope bursts back into life.I`m always curious about methods of making my terrible playing better heard LOL.

there is that and there is the joy of recording yourself and facing how terrible you play I am more attracted on that side.

 

[Matabayahsi]

I must admit that I have upgraded to a cheaper microphone. Tracks less than a year old are made using

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CRASVFC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

I clip it to the side of the bell using a piece of foam which helps mask key noise, open Audacity on the laptop, with the mic in the hole marked mic. Select headphone mic, adjust the level and blow. It records on one side, so split the stereo track, erase the blank track, duplicate the one with the sound on and make the two tracks stereo. It takes a lot longer to type it than to do it. I sometimes add compression but lately I haven't. I usually add reverb to try to match the backing track or for a subway effect.

I'm having a lot of success with the Thomann T bone for live work. It sounds pretty good, it looks the part for the stuff I do and I find it easy to use when switching from sax to vocals. The size of room I play is usually small enough to play the sax acoustically . I've tried recording sax with it but it lacks a certain something. I do use it for recording vocals.

:O :O it really doesnt sound bad for 1.41£ I shall give this a try as soon as I get back to the UK

 

[Colin the Bear]

Don't be surprised if you don't sound like me lol

 

[Clivey]

The specs of these are good on paper. and at less than 20 quid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271630109938

 

[Matabayahsi]

Don't be surprised if you don't sound like me lol

well I ll try anyway

The specs of these are good on paper. and at less than 20 quid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271630109938

it looks very fancy but I really like the idea of a clip on mic because I think if I have to be carefull to not move it would get me tense which surely will affect my playing. Are there any advantages of having a standing mic rather than a clip on?

 

[Colin the Bear]

The specs of these are good on paper. and at less than 20 quid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271630109938

Man! That looks too good to be true.

Bought it.

Is this the same in black? For £14.99

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Black...d=100042&rk=2&rkt=27&mehot=pp&sd=271630109938

 

[Colin the Bear]

The disadvantages of a clip on are key noise and your instrument being tethered to whatever you have the mic plugged in to. A mic on a stand is versatile and you can move in and out for loud and quiet passages.

 

[altissimo]

The specs of these are good on paper. and at less than 20 quid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271630109938

Condenser Dynamic Microphone?
Neodymiun magnet = dynamic mic dressed up to look like a condenser
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz - plus or minus how much? I bet it's nowhere near flat

 

[Clivey]

heres the usual Youtube reviews they may be more useful than the claimed specs.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=BM+800

 

[Colin the Bear]

Uh oh!

 

[Colin the Bear]

It seems there are several different versions marketed under the same model number. Two different condenser types and a dynamic.

 

[Clivey]

It seems there are several different versions marketed under the same model number. Two different condenser types and a dynamic.

You have nothing to lose if they send you something thats not as described. and if it`s genuine. Well ?

 

[Colin the Bear]

Fingers crossed I get the battery one. No need to go shopping for phantom power then . I still can't hear the phrase phantom power without thinking of marvel comics.

 

[Matabayahsi]

The disadvantages of a clip on are key noise and your instrument being tethered to whatever you have the mic plugged in to. A mic on a stand is versatile and you can move in and out for loud and quiet passages.

I think if you know what you are doing it can be beneficial but I have this very annoying experience with a sax player who didnt know what he was doing on stage and we recorded the whole concert from the mixer but he is so close to the mic that nobody else can be heard it is just this very loud saxophone which ruined everything for us!