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New Post 10/29/2008 6:13 AM
  jonathanscott
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Transformerless cardioid condenser choice 
I see there are a lot of 'what mic should I buy' questions here, so apologies in advance for yet another one... I'm looking to augment our mic collection with a matched pair of high quality transformerless cardioid condensers. They are being chosen mainly as a stereo pair for 'classical' recording (XY, ORTF, NAS, etc.), but will get used for all kinds of other purposes as well. High on our list of priorities is that they are as quiet as possible. At the moment we have Focusrite Octopre pre-amps but are thinking of upgrading to some 'character' and 'flat' pre-amps (such as some Focusrite Reds for the former and Earthworks for the latter). We already have a pair of old Neumann KM84s (that have transformers). So far I've considered the Sennheiser MKH40 and the Earthworks SR30 (we already have a pair of QTC1 omnis, which are fabulous mics). Does anyone have experience of either of these mics for this kind of purpose and would you consider any other models? I'm not really familiar with models from Schoeps, for example. Many thanks.
 
New Post 10/29/2008 6:43 AM
  Rip Rowan
82 posts
www.prorec.com
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Re: Transformerless cardioid condenser choice 

If you want to do classical recording, I'd suggest a pair of large diaphragm multipattern condensers instead of the small diaphragm models you're considering.  In general, large diaphragm mics are quieter than small diaphragm mics, and you'll get more utility from multipattern mics - Blumlein and M/S miking in particular.

We use a pair of 414 B-XLS at Pleasantry Lane and I couldn't recommend them more highly.  They are dead quiet, offer 5 very useful patterns, and sound great.  I am no fan of the 90's model 414s (like the TL and TL II) but these B-XLSs sound superb on all kinds of sources.  They will not be a ruler-flat as an Earthworks mic, but "ruler-flatness" is not necessarily preferable to "nicely euphonic".

Note that most tried-and-true orchestra miking techniques employ large diaphragm mics with flattering response curves.


Rip Rowan - ProRec Editor-in-Chief
 
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