A decade ago, no "average musician" could have ever dreamt of owning a real pro-quality studio mic. But today's serious studio owners all know that they need at least one killer mic in their sonic arsenal, particularly for vocals and solo acoustic instruments. Happily, price-to-performance ratio is getting better all the time. At the top of many studio owners' lists are the fabled mics from Neumann. Pictured on the right is the Neumann M149 Tube Powered Large Diaphragm Condenser. At $4750, it's still a significant investment, but like all the mics on this page, it's an investment that will last for decades. The M149 is actually the first new tube mic from Neumann in over 30 years and it's the world's first transformerless tube mic. With nine switchable polar patterns, a nine-position high pass filter and specs that are to die for, this is a great performer that will enhance any recording. |
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Carrying a shockingly low suggested list price of just $395 (no, that's not a misprint), the Audio Technica AT4041 Cardioid Capacitor Microphone features ruler-flat frequency response, a fixed-charge, permanently polarized capacitor element and a stunning 121dB dynamic range. |
Another major industry leader is AKG Acoustics, and their awesome C12VR Twin Large Diaphragm Condenser ($4199 list) offers true audiophile performance, combining classical tube mic design with superior 1990s manufacturing techniques. The C12VR has nine polar patterns plus -10 and -20dB attenuation and switchable bass roll-off and cut-off filters. |
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From Australian mic maker, Rode, comes the NT-2 Condenser Mic ($749 list) with Dual Pressure Gradient Transducers, a transformerless circuit and large capsule with gold-plated membrane. Standard are dual polar pattern and switchable high pass filter plus a -10dB pad switch. |
Obviously we don't have room here to tell you all about these sonic overachievers, so call your Sweetwater sales engineer for more information and special low pricing on the mic of your dreams (and budget). Or check out our Hot Studio Mic Web Site for complete details on these and the many other fine mics we carry (including the exceptional Beyerdynamic line).