Small diaphragm condenser mic that is bargainous and awesome....

[Owen]

..... any ideas?

 

To sit in with a large diaphragm condenser for detail work on acoustic guitar or Double Bass.

 

TIA

[Beedster]

Can't you do that with your rather lovely modelling mic......?

 

Or is that the large diaphragm you're referring to mate?

[Owen]

That is the large diaphragm. That will do the meat and potatoes, I am just looking for the redcurrant jelly as well.

 

It is lovely though

[Beedster]

I've got a nice pair of ribbons......

[Owen]

Read the brief Chris

[Wombat]

I’ve got an Aston Element which is a ‘hybrid’ (whatever that means) but it covers a multitude of situations for a bargain price.

[Dad3353]

I'm fully satisfied with our Superlux HI10 mic (£30 or so from Thomann...), used as part of our drum mic set-up (for hi-hat, mostly...), but also for picking out detail from acoustic guitars. There are doubtless better ones for top-end studios or rich purists, but we find them to be excellent, despite their low cost. Worth a look..?

 

Superlux HI10, Thomann...

 

[Owen]

41 minutes ago, Wombat said:

I’ve got an Aston Element which is a ‘hybrid’ (whatever that means) but it covers a multitude of situations for a bargain price.

£59 at Andertons. I got quite excited when I saw it at £113 on eBay, but decided to check further. Tough not to take a punt at that price.

 

https://www.andertons.co.uk/aston-element-cardioid-microphone/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20740064305&gclid=CjwKCAjwiezABhBZEiwAEbTPGA5ZdGR_IB7_lA-I3f84O9ALZEjD1oIgz7EJODuJE2A9j_L4pZaVoBoCs2wQAvD_BwE

[Wombat]

Aye,

the blurb from Aston about the focus groups of various musos that got to pick the ‘voice’ of the mic swayed me. I paid much more when it 1st came out. They are a steal at sixty quid!

[Dad3353]

1 hour ago, Wombat said:

I’ve got an Aston Element ...

 

That's a small diaphragm..? 

[Owen]

10 hours ago, Dad3353 said:

 

That's a small diaphragm..? 

Not in any way, shape or form

[Beedster]

12 hours ago, Owen said:

Read the brief Chris

 

Fair point although I was referring to the need to record detail not the specifics of the mic 👍

[chyc]

I own two Aston Elements, and they're absolutely amazing. Wouldn't say they'd replace a small condenser mic though.

 

If you're after bargainous, the Behringer B-5s are reasonably priced and offer multiple pickup patterns via interchangeable capsules. I own a pair of those as well. To be perfectly honest, if you put a gun to my head and forced me to make a choice between them I'd pick the Elements as their noise floor is incredibly low and the vocal sound is superb, but horses for courses and all that: the different pickup patterns on the B-5s can come in real handy.

 

 

[Woodwind]

On 07/05/2025 at 20:23, Owen said:

..... any ideas?

 

To sit in with a large diaphragm condenser for detail work on acoustic guitar or Double Bass.

 

TIA

 

 

Bit late to this,

 

I love my Line Audio OM1s which I use as a stereo pair, or use singularly combined with a ribbon for close mic'ing.

 

Their CM4 is meant to be great as well and I very nearly bought one on eBay recently for live use where I would want a cardioid pattern rather than my omnis.

 

Line audio are made in Sweden in small batches and are at bargain prices.

https://www.lineaudio.se/

 

Since leaving the EU it's tricky to get them directly, but there is a UK distributer - I haven't used them as I bought direct years ago.

 

https://pinknoise-systems.co.uk/collections/line-audio---microphones?srsltid=AfmBOoqlo1VbCHSPNyRVw8t286EIRm_r-2ZJiQBzCkJPjHCxW_Fog9k2#

Edited 3 hours ago by Woodwind