[jim1960]

Microphones

SDCs (Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphones)
SDCs are the most common microphones used for recording acoustic guitar. SDCs are usually regarded as instrument mics and generally not very good for vocals. They can be used as single mics or paired with another mic (the same or different) to create a stereo image. In general, you can expect a crisp clean and more natural sound from SDC microphones compared to other types of mics.

The “Higher End” and “Lower End” lists are the SDCs most often preferred by both hobbyists and studios. That does not mean you have to choose from those lists to get good recordings. AGF members have offered some less popular mic options with which they’ve had success. The list is organized according to price.

Higher End ($750+ for a single mic)
Gefell M300 ($790, pair-$1840)
Neumann KM184 ($830, pair-$1550)
Earthworks SR30 ($870)
Gefell M295 ($1480, discontinued in 2022)
Telefunken ELA M 260 ($1500, pair-$2500)
Josephson E22S ($1500)
Schoeps CMC64 ($1740, pair-$3450)
DPA 4011A ($1800, pair-$3660)
Neumann KM84 (vintage $1800-$2300)

Lower End (under $750 for a single mic)
Lauten Audio LA120 ($420 for pair)
Audio-Technica AT4041 ($300)
Peluso CEMC-6 ($400)
Shure SM81 ($400)
Shure KSM141 ($450)
Earthworks TC25 (used $450)
Beyerdynamic MC930 ($550)
AKG C451B ($600)
Soyuz 013 FET ($600)
Earthworks SR25 ($620)

Lesser known SDC mics owned and recommended by AGF members
Behringer C2 ($49 pair) (robj144)
Line Audio CM4 ($130) (Wrighty)
Line Audio CM3 (cardioid) (n/a) (ChuckS)
Oktava MK-012 ($215) (DukeX)
sE Electronics SE8 ($285) (RodB) (b1j) (TBman)
Audio-Technica ATM 350 ($350) (j3ffr0)
Audio-Technica AT4041 ($300) (DukeX)
Shure KSM137 ($350) (islandguitar) (DukeX) (johnnydobbers)
Sennheiser e 914 ($380) (DukeX)
Serrano Vintage 84 ($450) (jim1960)
AKG C460B (used $500) (j3ffr0)
3-Zigma CHI TL with capsule of choice ($600) (ChuckS)
AKG C451E (used $500-700) (Bob Womack)
Soyuz 013 FET ($600) (keith.rogers)
Peluso P-28 ($1150) (alohachris)
Sennheiser MKH40 (cardioid) (used $1100-1300) (ChuckS)
Gefell M296S (omni) ($1280) (ChuckS)


LDC (Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphones)
In general, you can expect LDCs to offer a fuller representation of the audio spectrum in the lower frequencies. LDCs are also the preferred microphone for vocal recording. You can record with a single LDC, a pair of LDC, or a combination of an LDC and another type of microphone.

This is a list of LDC microphones owned and preferred by AGF members. It is organized according to price.

MXL V67 ($75-150) (catdaddy)
AKG Perception 200 (used $85-100) (robj144)
Blue Spark (used $125-150) (Dave Hicks)
ADK A6 (used $150) (jim1960)
Audio Technica AT-2035 ($150) (TBMan)
3U audio CM1 Teal ($165) (DukeX)
Audix OM5 ($170) (DupleMeter)
Audix D6 ($200) (DupleMeter)
MXL Revelation I (used $200) (Bob Womack)
ADK Vienna Mk8 (used $200) (phcorrigan)
Rode NT1 (used $200-260) (Bob Womack) (Silly Moustache)
Rode NT1A ($230) (Bob Womack) (b1j)
Warm Audio WA-47Jr ($250) (TBMan)
3U Audio Warbler MK II ($300) (DukeX)
Audio-Technica AT4040 ($300) (johnnydobbers)
Miktek MK300 ($300) (keith.rogers)
ADK Hamburg Mk8 ($600 for pair) (phcorrigan)
sE Electronics SE2200 ($350) (RodB)
Sony ECM56-F (vintage $350-500) (RRuskin)
AKG C214 ($365) (keith.rogers)
Warm Audio WA-14 ($400) (TBMan)
Blue Baby Bottle ($400) (standup)
Audio Technica AT4033 ($400) (Doug Young)
Rode NT2000 ($600) (Bob Womack)
Shure KSM32 ($600) (j3ffr0)
ADK 3 Zigma TL w/ either 47, 67, 251, or 12 capsule ($600-650) (RRuskin)
3U Audio GZ251 ($700) (standup)
AKG C414-TLII (vintage $900-1200) (RRuskin) (min7b5)
Telefunken AR-51 ($900-1100) (jim1960)
AKGC414B-ULS (vintage $1000-1400) (Bob Womack)
Shure KSM 44A ($1000) (j3ffr0)
Neumann TLM 103 ($1100) (Doug Young) (Bob Womack)
AKG C414 B-XL II ($1200) (jim1960)
AKG C414 XLS ($1200) (j3ffr0)
JZ Amethyst Vintage ($1200) (rockabilly69)
Mojave MA-200 ($1200) (alohachris)
Audio Technica AT4050ST ($1300) (Doug Young)
Sony C-37P (vintage $1300-2600) (RRuskin)
Audio-Technica AT5045 ($1400, $2500/pair) (Cocobolo Kid)
Neumann TLM 107 ($1450) (j3ffr0)
Beesneez BU67 ($1500) (jim1960) (Knives&Guitars)
Townsend Labs Sphere L22 ($1500, additional cost for more emulations) (Doug Young)
Sony C-38B (used $1500-2000) (RRuskin)
Lauten Atlantis FC-387 ($1600) (jim1960) (Knives&Guitars)
Microtech-Gefell UM70 ($1600) (standup)
JZ Microphones Globe ($1700) (rockabilly69)
Gefell UM70 (used $1750-2000) (gwlee7)
Pearlman TM-1, recent manufacture date ($1800) (Brent Hahn)
Soundelux U99 ($1800) (DupleMeter)
Soundelux ifet7 (used $2000) (DupleMeter)
AKG C414 COMB (vintage $2000-2700) (Bob Womack)
AKG "The Tube" (vintage $2000-3300) (Bob Womack)
Blue Kiwi ($2000) (jim1960)
AKG 414EB (vintage $2000-7000) (Brent Hahn)
Neumann TLM67 ($2200) (DupleMeter)
Sony C38b ($2200) (standup)
Brauner FET Phantom V (used $3000) (KevWind)
Neumann TLM-170 ($3100) (Bob Womack)
Neumann U87 ($3200) (Brent Hahn)
Neumann U87ai ($3300) (j3ffr0) (DupleMeter)
Neumann U89 ($3250) (Doug Young) (Bob Womack)
ADK Z MOD 251 Tube ($3600) (KevWind)
Heiserman H47T ($3800) (standup)
Microtech-Gefell UM 900 ($4200) (alohachris)
Flea 47 ($4500) (Brent Hahn) (jim1960)
Sony C-37A (vintage $6000-8000) (RRuskin)
Brauner VM1 ($6500) (Doug Young)
Neumann U47 (vintage $25000 and up) (Bob Womack)


Dynamic Microphones
Dynamic mics usually have a cardioid pattern and are good at rejecting off-axis sounds.

Beyerdynamic TG V30d ($50) (CASD57)
sE Electronics V3 ($80) (CASD57)
Electro-Voice 408 (used $80-$100) (standup)
sE Electronics V7 ($120) (CASD57)
Electrovoice EV664 (vintage around $100) (DukeX)
Shure SM58 ($100) (j3ffr0) (keith.rogers)
Shure SM57 ($110) (CASD57) (j3ffr0) (standup) (TBMan)
Sennheiser 845 ($100) (Nama Ensou)
Audix D4 ($180) (standup)
Audio Technica AE6100 ($190) (Nama Ensou)
University Sound US660 (used $200) (standup)
Electo-Voice PL95 (used $250-$300) (standup)
Electro-Voice RE18 (used $300) (standup)
Placid Audio Copperphone ($300) (standup)
Sennheiser MD421 ($400) (Bob Womack) (RRuskin) (standup)
Shure SM76 (used $400-$500) (standup)
Heil PR35 ($265) (Nama Ensou)
Beyerdynamic M201 ($300) (keith.rogers) (standup)
Beyerdynamic M69 TG ($400) (j3ffr0) (standup)
Electro-Voice EV-666 (vintage around $350-700) (Brent Hahn)
Beyerdynamic M88 TG ($360) (j3ffr0)
Electro-Voice RE15 (vintage $650-950) (RRuskin)
Beyerdynamic M88 ($400) (Brent Hahn)
Shure SM7B ($400) (FrankHudson) (j3ffr0)
Electro-Voice RE20 ($450) (FrankHudson) (j3ffr0)
Shure Unidyne III 545S (vintage around $150-400) (DukeX)
Sennheiser MD 441N (vintage around $500) (Brent Hahn)
Sennheiser MD 441 ($600-800) (Brent Hahn) (Bob Womack)


Ribbon Microphones
Ribbon mics employ a figure-8 pattern so they pick up what’s behind them as well as what is in front of them. To the sides is a null area where essentially no sound is collected. Ribbons are often said to produce a warmer sound than SDCs, LDCs, or dynamics.

Sterling Audio ST170 ($150) (TBMan)
Samar Audio AL95 ($400) (DukeX)
sE Electronics VR1 ($450) (gwlee7)
sE Electronics VR2 Voodoo ($400) (RodB)
Royer R10 ($500) (DukeX) (j3ffr0)
Beyerdynamic M160 ($700) (Brent Hahn) (RRuskin) (standup)
Cascade X-15 ($520) (Doug Young)
Stager SR-2n ($600) (standup)
AEA R92 ($800) (j3ffr0) (standup)
Fostex M22RP (vintage about $950) (RRuskin)
AEA N22 ($1000) (KevWind) (Doug Young)
Blue Woodpecker ($1000) (jim1960)
AEA R84 ($1100) (RRuskin) (j3ffr0) (DupleMeter)
AEA KU5A ($1200) (standup)
RCA 77 (vintage $1200-3000) (Brent Hahn)
Royer R121 ($1300) (j3ffr0)
Shure KSM313/NE ($1300) (gwlee7)
Coles 4038 ($1400) (Brent Hahn)
Cloud JRS-34 ($1500) (rockabilly69)
RCA 77-DX (vintage $1500-3000) (RRuskin)
Royer R-122 (used $1600-1800) (Cocobolo Kid) (Bob Womack)
Mesanovic Model 2S ($2100) (jim1960)
AEA R88 ($2000) (Doug Young) (DupleMeter)
RCA 44 (used $3000-4500) (Brent Hahn)
Royer SF24 ($4300) (Doug Young)