KM184 vs AT4051A for guitar/percussion

J

Jonathan_P

Well-known member
I'm starting to film musicians (mostly guitars and percussion) and I want to do a better job with the audio. I'd be working in informal settings indoors, sometimes placing the mics up close and sometimes recording a group with a stereo pair. I'm currently using Oktava MK-012s with the super-cardioid caps but I'm looking at a pair of used Neumann KM184s I can get for $400. each. Another alternative would be to get AT-4051a mics, which would allow me to swap out a cardioid capsule for a super-cardioid and also boom it for dialog. The AT-4051a gets a really positive review in an emusician shootout of small condensor mics, but I'm not sure how much weight to give the review. You can find it here: Smokin' Condensers - A roundup of seven small-diaphragm cardiod-pattern condenser microphones . I can get the AT4051a new for $300. plus add a supercardioid cap for $200., so it makes it a better deal... Any advice appreciated!

-JP
 
Your Oktava's are going to sound just fine on guitar--especially if you have the circuits upgraded which is cheap. The Neumann 184 is OK but not nearly as good as the older 84 on guitar. A good "sleeper" guitar mic for $90 is the Studio Technologies B1--only the B1, not the more expensive ones. Although the 184 is a better all-round mic, I prefer the B1 on guitar. The AT's are a bit bright for me with the cardioid capsule.
 
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