AKG 535 / AKG C900 / Shure Beta 87 - Opinions?
raptor
female vocalist friend of mine.. she has a quiet voice.. um think Hope
Sandoval/Mazzy Star and the kick it up a notch or two, not weak but
really aggressive either.. we bought an AT4033 for recording after
using one in a "real" studio and we found it matched her
voice/technique quite well, very pleased with it so far (with the
right EQ).. I did what I always do when researching an impending
purchase, that is a google search to see what a few people had to say
about the mics, both Mike Rivers and Fletcher had decent things to say
about the AKG 535, Mike Rivers added that the C900 might be the best
choice for the main purpose of live vocals. The singer who will be
using the mic also plays flute and will be using the same mic for both
vox and flute.. seems to me that should influence my choice.. the
Shure is an after thought based on the allegation that the RadioHead
guy, Bjork, and the guy from Sigor Ros use the Beta 87 live.. all
performers we admire..the Sigor ros guy is notoriously anal about his
sound.. anyhow I'm getting off track.. there is no real way for me to
audition any of these mics, it's a surprise gift.. I already have
several different shure mics (no condensers though) and I'm leaning
towards the AKG's even if just for variety's sake.. wow this a long
post.. but you folks have trained me well..unless someone convinces me
otherwise I'm going for the 535.. I am just worried about possible
feedback issues in a live setting.
Jny Vee
rap...@nightfall.forlorn.net (raptor) wrote:
> I am buying one of these three mics ...unless someone convinces me
> otherwise I'm going for the 535.. I am just worried about possible
> feedback issues in a live setting.
ANY mic will feedback if the levels are too hi for the venue.
It happens regularly since most people think LOUDER=BETTER.
their loss.
ther is one and ONLY one way to answer your question...
find a dealer/friend/rental-house
(re-read that last one there several times and remember it)
who WILL let you have all 3 of these at once to compare in action.
choose the one that works.
buy it.
--
Perspective is vital to wisdom. It is indeed a good
thing to know that for every ELECTRIC LADYLAND there
were months/years/decades of tracking The Archies.
>> Help Keep The Net Emoticon Free! <<
Paul Tumolo
for a quiet female, i'd go with the 535 without hesitation. the 87 has a
tighter pattern which might help some wit feedback, but learning proper
technique will solve any feedback problems you might encounter.
as for "big name" users of the 87, Shure pays some performers to use
them. perhaps that is part of the reason you see so many. while the 535
seems to be AKGs forgotten child.
Jny Vee
anyone wants to hear what a 535 does on women's voices (now yeah this
is REALLY loaded as a 'test' since these women sound like angels to
begin with) you can hear AND get yourself a GREAT Christmas record
by picking up Herdman, Hills & Mangsen's VOICES OF WINTER album.
In article <3E00B5AD...@bay.csuhayward.edu>, Paul Tumolo
<PTU...@bay.csuhayward.edu> wrote:
Kurt Albershardt
> I am just worried about possible
> feedback issues in a live setting.
Then why not pick a mic with a tighter pattern like a Sennheiser MD431?
Jay Kahrs
---
-Jay Kahrs
Owner - Chief Engineer
Mad Moose Recording Inc.
Morris Plains, NJ
http://www.madmooserecording.com
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Come visit me here --> http://www.gearslutz.com
raptor
I placed an order today w/ Kurt Krueger over at Full Compass for the
C535.. 195.45 including COD and Shipping.. Kurt said they bought a
shitload of the C535's and two other AKG mics, I wrote the other two
models on my hand but I've washed up since then, something like C414
for 595.00 (don't quote me) and the other one I can't read at all..
thanks for the replies.. Although I sometimes have to pick "blind" I
can get a general sense of a product's reputation here.. for that I am
grateful.
Roger W. Norman
tell you. As for a comparison I'd have to get JnyVee to drop a 535 by.
When we went to get Bev's new mic (not new now, new then) I had her go
between the 87a and the 535. She liked the 87a better for her voice. Then
I had her go between the 87a and the Neumann KMS105 and initially she still
picked the 87a but after about 5 minutes her eyes lite up and I could see
she finally got it. Now she's got her Neumann squirrelled away somewhere
and I can't even use it.
Ah, but that's not good for snare either! <g>
--
Roger W. Norman
SirMusic Studio
Ro...@SirMusicStudio.com
301-585-4681
"Jay Kahrs" <brown...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20021218225707...@mb-da.aol.com...
Jay Kahrs
>tell you. As for a comparison I'd have to get JnyVee to drop a 535 by.
Actually the Beta 87 can sound quite good on snare.
Roger W. Norman
horns, vibes and even guitar cabs. I've used it as a solo mic for big
bands, and as section mics for a big band. I believe I've mentioned that
it's probably one of my live go to mics as it works in most any situation
I've placed it in. But because of it's frequency curve I can't see it
working on a snare, if the snare is right. If the snare is kinda dark, then
maybe, and certainly if it's the last mic in the kit and I need one more
mic. Otherwise it wouldn't be my first, second, or even third choice.
But I will experiment with it and let you know, if you wish. Not a big deal
and maybe a whole 5 minutes worth of work. But still I'd need a 535 to do a
real comparion. Then again, the message got tacked onto yours, not
necessarily was it an answer to yours execpt the snare idea.
And yes, I should distinguish between a Beta 87 and an 87, which could be
contrued as a U87. Damn all these number anyway.
--
Roger W. Norman
SirMusic Studio
Ro...@SirMusicStudio.com
301-585-4681
"Jay Kahrs" <brown...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20021219123402...@mb-mr.aol.com...