VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Kristin Lennox · Flight Attendant Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 858

I have a gung-ho friend who is plunging headlong into VO -- I applaud her determination, and I'm helping her as much as I can...

But she's selecting a microphone, right now, and after testing several at Guitar Center, she really likes the Sterling ST6050 FET Studio Condenser Mic Ocean Way Edition (<--- copied that straight from the website...). I guess it's usually $1500, but it's on sale at Guitar Center for $499?

I've never heard of the mic, but that's not surprising. Is it a good mic? She's having heart palpitations about spending that much, and I said she could probably get a similar mic in the $200-$300 range -- am I lying? Is there a similar-sounding mic you would recommend?

Thanks for your expertise. Smile

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chuckweis · Contributor IV Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 136

Kristin---

I agree w/you about the mics in the 200-300 range. I can't speak on how other mics compare to the sound of that mic she likes cuz I've never heard of it, but I have been through A LOT of mics over the years, and I have realized that, now more than ever, there are very capable mics right in that 300 and under range. MXL makes several of them.

Having said that, if she's been through sampling a few and has found that the Sterling is *it* for her, $500 is a reasonable amount to spend spend on something you KNOW you like.

todd ellis · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:25 pm Post subject:

looks like a dandy mic ... HOWEVER, guitar center still has the AT-2020 for $50. THAT'S what i would do for someone starting out. but, again, the heart wants what the heart wants.
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Jason Huggins · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:28 pm Post subject:

Shoooot...you can get a CAD e100s for the high end of that budget. I'd say, much better than MXL offerings. I found a seller for $320 new on eBay. I believe they had multiple. Just picked one up myself.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Some random thoughts to consider:
Trying out a mic and liking it at GC does not equal liking how it sounds in her actual recording space

First mics are not always, but often, a shot in the dark and an upgrade becomes necessary. Make sure GC will allow a return if she ends up not liking it when she gets it home

A good clean used mic on ebay that is well known (like a TLM 102 maybe) will be a better candidate for resale IMO

All that said, I have broken every rule that I just pontificated about cool

Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

$499 is alot for a Chinese mic. My recommendation based on my wife who does VO at the highest level...

EV RE20 - sounds great on females. Warm with no sibilance problems.
Sennheiser 416
AT 4050
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:12 pm Post subject:

1) I'd never buy an expensive microphone from Guitar Center unless I knew it was a great mic at a great price. The reviews are mixed, but mostly good for the Sterling. However....

2) I'd never consider a $500 mic purchase for a beginner. There are plenty of mics that are just as good, and maybe better for half the price and less. The Studio Projects B1 is $120 on the Internet and is a very decent beginning mic. The Studio Project C1 is a tich more refined and it's only $250.

-- To learn to be a good golfer you don't need a $1,000 set of clubs. You can do very well with a $100 set of used clubs.

3) And if she's really a beginner, I'd go with Todd's recommended $50 mic, and then she'll have plenty left over to buy the next grade up when she's ready.

In summary, the difference between the quality all of these mics is so small that it just makes no sense to go high cost right now.

B
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todd ellis · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:46 pm Post subject:

btw - i still use my AT2020 in my road kit. it is beat to crap, has a ton of miles on it - and - in my opinion - sounds much, much better than the price tag would indicate.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

just tell your friend that we are the Buzzkill Brigade cool

georgethetech · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 5:06 pm Post subject:

+1 what they said...
AT2020 $50 FTW. Let her learn on the "reasonably priced car" then move up to the Porche GT3 when she's ready.
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Kristin Lennox · Flight Attendant Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 858

You all rock -- passing on the info. Laugh

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Always look on the bright side of life.

Dee doo. Dee doot doot doo dee doo.

my website

DougVox · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 5:27 pm Post subject:

Hey todd, where'd you see the AT2020 USB for $50 at Guitar Center? Best price I see there now is $129.

Thanks!
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Jason Huggins · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 5:39 pm Post subject:

Just the regular AT2020 is $50.59. The USB is more.

Bish · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:13 pm Post subject:

I'm going to buck the trend here...

I bought the $50 AT2020, and it's a fine mic for the price... a little brittle maybe (that's probably just me). No "wow" factor though. It's utilitarian, and that's not a bad thing.

Now, if I'm new, and I'm shopping for a new mic... I'd want some pride of ownership, which is not there with the AT2020 (IMHO). Stupid, I know, but as an amateur psychologist, these things are important Smile

Recommended by a whole list of VOs whose opinion I trust, I bought the AKG Perception 220... a nice case, a shock mount that looks like it would cost more than the package if it had a name brand on it, and a solid mic with pad and roll-off switches... and it's pretty. But what's more important, it punches far above it's weight (Cliff Z compares it to a $1000 mic.)... it sounds great and certainly has a "wow" factor which will satisfy someone both audibly, visually... and psychologically!

Still only $128 on Amazon... and GC has it with a price-match promise. I think it's a far better investment at the low price end and would point anyone starting out at it without hesitation.
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DougVox · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:19 pm Post subject: