Anyone used the Tascam TM-STPRO stereo microphone?

[Leaf Rustler]

I am in the market for a stereo microphone and was considering the AT8022 or the AT825. But then I found the Tascam TM-STPRO on the B&H site and after extensive searching on the Internet I could find no reviews. Is it that bad or is it that new? I think it's been around for two or three years so I was a little surprised to find that no one had reviewed it. My question is, has anyone here used the mic and if so, how did you like it? It's far cheaper (an indication?) than the previously mentioned mics and fits my budget much better.

 

[Noiz2]

Never heard of it. But that doesn't say much except that folks I know haven't used it.
My question to you would be what do you want a stereo pair for? If it's for FX then there is some argument for the convenience factor, but not a lot. A stereo pair is a much more flexible than a stereo mic. I have a couple of stereo mic's and have a friend who has the AT825. They are more compact in general but you do pay a price. They are smaller diaphragms that a pair would normally be so generally more noise less low end and less sensitivity. That is a big generalization but still pretty true. So if you don't need a small portable kit (and if you stick the pair in a single zep it's not really much of a size difference) then a pair is a better choice. Plus you can use them independently. On the flip side if you look at some of the Sony stereo mics in the sub $300 range they are pretty good (though most (all) of them have mini plugs not XLR so they may not work with your recorder). It really depends on what you doing and what your going into

 

[Noiz2]

Oh and as a VERY general rule, be very skeptical of things with "PRO" in the name. There are plenty of exceptions but if they have to tell you it's "pro" it often isn't. When your in higher end gear it may just be a marketing dept quirk but if it's really cheap and it has PRO in the name it's a big red flag.

 

[Alex H.]

Oh and as a VERY general rule, be very skeptical of things with "PRO" in the name. There are plenty of exceptions but if they have to tell you it's "pro" it often isn't. When your in higher end gear it may just be a marketing dept quirk but if it's really cheap and it has PRO in the name it's a big red flag.

How true. The "PRO" mics from AT are their lower/pro-sumer end. The TM-STPRO seems to me to be just a step above the Pro24 stereo mic, which is a pretty cheap mic. That said, I really dig the Pro37 small-diaphragm condenser mics in live applications. Great choir mics, great percussion overheads.

I'll second the stereo pair being much more flexible. I do have a single-point stereo, the Shure VP-88, and I love it. But there are just times when I like to have a little more control over the stereo image.

 

[Noiz2]

The VP-88 weighs, what 25-30 pounds? ;~) It's not that bad but it is one of the heaviest mics I have ever used.

And I use PRO Tools all the time, so like I said it's only a generalization.

 

[Rippie]

The VP-88 weighs, what 25-30 pounds? ;~) It's not that bad but it is one of the heaviest mics I have ever used.

And I use PRO Tools all the time, so like I said it's only a generalization.

I think that actually backs up your theory
kidding.

 

[Alex H.]

The VP-88 weighs, what 25-30 pounds? ;~) It's not that bad but it is one of the heaviest mics I have ever used.

But heavy means high-quality, right? Right?



Do you remember when Radio Shack was actually taping bricks inside their electronics (home audio components, Tandy computers) because the things were so lightweight that people didn't trust them?

 

[Chadfish]

The TM-STPRO seems pretty low-end. It doesn't have the full frequency one wants in a mic at 30Hz - 20kHz. It's got 2 x Back Electret Condensers rather than true condensers.

I'm pretty happy with the Rode NT4.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/255008-REG/Rode_NT4_NT4_Cardioid_Studio.html

The rode sounds pretty natural to me, and can run on 9v battery for a long time, though Phantom power always sounds a bit better. It has better specs all around.


This one looks pretty cool:
Audio-Technica AT8022
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...AT8022_X_Y_Stereo_Phantom.html#specifications

This one is better, and Ty Ford wrote the review on it on the B&H page:
Audio-Technica BP4025
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...a_BP4025_BP4025_X_Y_Stereo_Field.html#reviews


Here's a matched pair of Rode NT5s. They have the same capsule as the NT4, only you can position them how you like. I preferred to go with the NT4 because I just want to set it up with no fuss, in a perfect X/Y configuration. I use it for live music, or plays.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/255009-REG/Rode_NT5_NT5_Matched_Pair.html

 

[Noiz2]

I think that actually backs up your theory
kidding.

True and then there is Sound Track Pro. Depending on what your trying to do and who's doing it they both get maligned. And often for good reason. I'm trying to think of a good one... I know I have some "pro" something around here that is a clear POS that I picked up while delusional.

Anyway for the OP. NEVER believe the marketing. The hype is usually inversely proportional to the "pro-ness" of a product. When was the last time you saw a super hyped ad for Nagra or Cantar, or Schoeps, or Deva. I could keep naming names but the really top players live on their reputations not on the marketing. Once marketing gets a hold of something you start getting hyped features that you don't want and functionality that you need gets pushed to the side for the next BIG thing.

OT. I have a little prediction. FCP is going to see some serious competition from Adobe. I wont go into details here because it's a different topic but one has been paying attention to serious users and one has let marketing get too big a grip on it. I could be wrong but I'm thinking it will be a hot topic in 12 -18 months.

 

[Noiz2]

The TM-STPRO seems pretty low-end. It doesn't have the full frequency one wants in a mic at 30Hz - 20kHz. It's got 2 x Back Electret Condensers rather than true condensers.

I think the corollary to "don't believe the marketing" is "don't trust the specs". The specs don't "lie" but they often tell the truth in a misleading way. 30 isn't bad for the low and a lot of very high end mics are Electret Condensers. I'm sure someone will correct me but if I remember correctly true condensers require quite a bit of juice to work.

Anyway the above specs wouldn't nec slow me down. Noise would be a biggie for me. But again they all spec it differently. The hard truth is your often better off going with recommendations from people you trust than the "specs".

But you are probably right and it is probably a low end mic with iffy sound. But you never can tell.

A friend needed a stereo pair of wired lavs for this project. She tested some semi pricey ($300+ for the pair) and, just because I would loan them for free, a pair I picked up at Radio Shack to connect to a MiniDisk recorder as a bar amb stealer package (~$30). And the RS mics won by a large margin. BUT it all depends on what you want to record.