Small Diaphragm Condenser Mics

So I'm about to drop dosh on a pair of Antelope Audio Verge modeling mics, those are set in stone, getting a deal on them. In addition, I've got a chance to possibly get either a pair of MXL 603S or 606, I was wondering if anyone has any insight into either. The 606S come in at roughly double the cost of the 606, but they're also a true matched pair (does that actually make ask that big of a difference?).

They will be used almost exclusively for recording my Kay KDG70 and Ibanez EW2012ASENT guitars, as I'm currently shy an acoustic drum kit.

All that being asked, another question is what would be a good figure 8 pattern large diaphragm mic to pair with any of the above for mic-side configuration? Then again, I may pick up a single SDC mic for that job, so I can have the matched pair close in, the Antelope modeling as a spaced pair, then the LDC and SDC as mic-side.

Yes, all three. Different post processing on each side of the stereo track, with different EQ, swap mic positions for the double track, and see what happens.

Anyroad, the modeling pair is set in stone as I'm getting nearly 100 quid off. Just curious about the other sets, or suggestions in that similar price range.

What I've found out: no, the matched pair thing doesn't matter as much these days as it did back in the day when batches of microphones could sound very different from one mic to the next, so having a so-called "matched pair" ensured as close to the same EQ curve as possible.

As regards to which mics for what, jury is still out on that, going to be masking up tomorrow and going to my FLGC (friendly local guitar center) and checking out their demo rack on LDCs with a figure 8 if they've got any. If no, I'll just roll with my Blue Yeti for the nonce and upgrade it later, probably snag the SDCs next payday. The modeling mics should be here by Tuesday (if you're looking for those, you'll really want to snag them, according to one of the places that I tried buying from (the first £100 off, thank the gods for price matching) Antelope can't keep up with demand so they're going out of stock EVERYWHERE).

After I get them, I'll maybe do a demo showing them off.

the best bang for buck SDCs are the okatava mc012 and the rode nt5.... hands down excellent microphones and the okatva has interchangeable capsules

if you can spend a little I favor the akg c451, they're quite pricey

in figure 8 for blumlein I tend to sue ribbons but one side will be a little less toppy so its not always 'true' stereo imaging, but its interesting... a good al rounder at a good price would be the recent royer r21 I think it is? its their affordable one, I quite like that on guitar and think it would do m/s well.... I have fatheads and they're a little more balanced front and back, very affordable and good mics... I quite like a lot of the multipattern geffels and lomos.... I used to really like to do m/s with a couple CAD equitek back electrets, I think I sued an E100 for the cardioid and the multipattern 300 for the sides. I also used to use a pair of 414s or when i had a blue baby bottle I would pair that with a 414 as it has exception bass response for the middle and the sides can then be high passed for a great stereo image with no side muck.

it depends on your price range really, lots of good stuff out there....e ven the multi pattern behringer I have is a solid room mic in omni so would be a decent enough figure 8 for blumlein

or did I read this wrong and you need a middle mic.... in that case my favorites are situational but a good all arounder would be an AT4040 or 4047 at about 400 or so new last I checked or a 414 or the warm clone or the 314 or whatever it is fixed pattern one... then there's the neumann option on a budget, warm WA87 or the cute little TLM106 is it? i think that's the one? I hate it for vocals but its good at this.You couldn't escape it for a while, in every shitty studio you would record at and it says neumann so singers want it... I also like lollipop mics so a blue baby bottle or bluebird.... the mouse and dragonfly I also liked when i had them but not as much as the baby bottle

if going stupid cheap? oktava mk319, rode nt1a, thatmultipattern behringer, the C3 I think? or the good old AT2020.... there's not much else in the cheap seats that I like for one reason or another, often that reason is awful self noise, like the otherwise nice sounding MXL line...

you could also try a 2020 and 2050 for blumlein for a similar response from mid and side, very affordable option and those 20 series mics are nice, use my USB one all the time when i feel too lazy to go upstairs and run an XLR

I'll have to find audio clips of all of the above, but aye, the mid mic is likely going to be a ribbon all said. I need a good ribbon. Leaning heavy Blue Woodpecker here lately. I like the warmth it has. I feel like it'll play really, REALLY well with my KDG70.

Originally, I was thinking have the modding mics for spaced pair, and then use analog for mic/side, but the more I think on it, the more I think I'll just use one of them for that paired with an analog as well. I'm really liking the sounds I can get with 'em, and it'll save me quite a bit of dosh going that path. That's not to say I'm NOT going to be building out further, just at the moment I'm not sure I need to go all out with having every possible way to record an acoustic guitar set up at once. My partner reminds me "That's a bit overkill, probably. Need to pull back just a bit."

Well, I say I need a good ribbon, I don't have one, but it's probably more of a want a good ribbon. Right now the nerve/tendon situation is such (along with general health) that I just can't record like I want to anyway. Basically just trying to get my studio in order for my grand (assuming such a thing ever happens) return. I WILL record again.

I have to keep telling myself that. The alternative is just... it's not an option.

no no, the mid mic should NOT be a ribbon, that's figure 8, you need cardioid for mid, so a condenser typically

We're talking mid/side mic placement, right? Ribbon/other figure 8 pattern mic, with a condenser mic placed above it? I'm talking about the Woodpecker for the ribbon mic in that equation.

Not wordsing very goodly, I guess. TL;DR: I've got a couple of SDC modeling mics that sound pretty damn nice, original plan was to use them for spaced pair, get an all analog SDC for to go above whatever I run for figure 8 in the mid/side-mic/side (which is it called, actually?) equation, but the spouse thinks that may be a bit overkill because I'll be double tracking anyway.

Gods above I should be in bed.

ribbons are mostly figure 8, I assume the woodpecker is, never used one... so the figure 8 is the sides, can be top or bottom, not important...the cardioid mic is mid.... you'll mult the figure 8 and flip phase onthe double and then balance those against the cardioid mic to vary the amount of stereo and mono information and develop an image that represents the source the way you want

Aye, that was that way I understood it to work. And aye, the Woodpecker is figure 8. Real nice one (imo) for acoustic guitars. Just have to track one down's not damaged, and in my budget. Which not really sure what my budget is at the moment, the partner hasn't greenlit any future spending at current...

Will have to check on that before any future plans, for sure!

I think we got stuck in an a scottish to american english translation error

Happens rather frequently. Online, I'm FULLY bloody Scots as much as possible, since in person I've had to learn to speak with an, what I guess passes as American? Accent. Actual people from the region I ape could probably tell, but I learned enough of the local dialect that most people can't.

Reason? I'm naturalized US citizen, aye. Born Scots, raised in Africa (missionary parents), but when we moved to the US, where we settled people jumped me because I was "filthy euro trash," so when we moved again, I just started talking like I was from the region we were just in. Kids, man. They're the cruelest form of people on the planet.

Anyroad, that's a bit of a rant, innit? Point being, online I get to be myself, and I am so, unashamedly!

weird, we love all our local scots in philly.... now we might call them irish to piss them off but that's just philly's version of love