Ldc's, 2 Rode NT-1a's vs 1 AT 4040

if6was9

Right i've been mulling over what Large diaphragm condenser to buy for a few months now, it'll still be a while before I can actually get one too. It'll be my first although I've used some nice ones in college- U87, Rode K2, Rode Tube Classic II.

- I'll be using them for lots of stuff but mainly Vocals, drums and acoustic instruments. The style's of vocal i record will range from guttural/screaming metal vocals to quiet male/female singing so I'm looking for something a little versatile!
I'd it narrowed to a rode nt 1a or an At 4040. I noticed I can get 2 of the rode's in a matched set for around the same as the Audiotechnica mic. It'd be great to have 2 for stereo room on the drums and for acoustic stuff too. plus I record live a bit and it'd be great for this too.

I've read as many reviews I can find of the both- alot of them compare the At to the Rode pretty closely. Which would you go for? I can't afford a matched set of the At's yet- the mic alone is pushing the edge of my price bracket as I plan on getting a set of rode Nt-5's aswell.

teamdresch

Well if you've got the Rodes for stereo recording, then the AT4040 might be the way to go.

Obviously, it'd be best to try both and make a judgement based on that.

Seziertisch

I was looking for something similar a while back and decided to go for the SE Electronics Z3300A.

Check out the reviews.

http://www.seelectronics.com/Z3300a.html

The cheapest I found it was from Dawsons over in England. It worked out at around 265 Sterling including postage. For the price you might even be able to afford a pair. I read that they are already closely matched so it is just a matter of putting two together.

PaulBrewer

Seziertisch wrote: »

I was looking for something similar a while back and decided to go for the SE Electronics Z3300A.

Check out the reviews.

http://www.seelectronics.com/Z3300a.html

The cheapest I found it was from Dawsons over in England. It worked out at around 265 Sterling including postage. For the price you might even be able to afford a pair. I read that they are already closely matched so it is just a matter of putting two together.

That's very expensive ....;)

They're fine mics, though. All the sE stuff, after a few stinkers, are pretty good.

I know our own StudioRat uses a pair of 2200s.

Seziertisch

It is a very useful mic. On a number of occasions I have chosen it over some other mics that cost considerably more. If I had a choice between the SE and an AKG 414 as part of a limited collection of mics, I would go for the SE.

Looking at the frequency response chart there is boosting heading towards and at the top end of the range but it is generally fairly flat. I have found that if you have a good sound at the source it does a pretty good job of capturing that fairly predictably with just a hint of top end sparkle. The bass is also nicely preserved.

The choice of patterns and the -10db cut make it particularly useful.

And the price point it is more than attractive.

PaulBrewer

Seziertisch wrote: »

I have chosen it over some other mics that cost considerably more. If I had a choice between the SE and an AKG 414 as part of a limited collection of mics, I would go for the SE.

Cool!