a good mic pls

[plautus]

look at the JZ mics-very affordable specially at sale prices. I use the Amethyst on just about everything. best 600$ ive ever spent on a mic. Also keep in mind that if your room sounds like crap, a better more derailed condenser mic will also bring that out.

if the akg perceptuion can sound just as good modded, there's no need

 

[micolas]

if the akg perceptuion can sound just as good modded, there's no need

On some audio sources Perception sounds good stock.
First you have to test it unmodified, record it on your voice in your specific conditions, process the audio material, listen to it, analyze it and only if necessary modify it. I have one stock and one modified, I like both, they are good for various situations.
Possibly post some tests here and we will recommend how much to modify it.
More pairs of ears are better

 

[MicMaven]

Unfortunately, today we no longer have the patience to learn, to study, to understand.

I see this in other hobby discussion forums. Many newer and sometimes older participants expect instant answers to basic questions which are clearly answered in user manuals, in books, on the Internet, message archives, and so on. Too many expect the more experienced, better informed members to just give away their knowledge and expertise, as if inquisitors are privileged and entitled to the fruits of others’ labor. Worse, they expect simple one sentence or one paragraph explanations of complex subjects, as they are either unwilling or unable to comprehend anything longer than a 142 character Tweet, with others doing all the work. (I believe Mr. @Wordsushi referred to this as "fast food" answers.)

I ran a business using computers instead of people for many years. I spent many late nights developing and nursing the system, often dealing with experimental software ahead of prime time as a beta tester. At some point, I realized friends, colleagues and clients blithely assumed they were absolved from fixing their own computers and entitled to the fruits of my efforts simply because I "know all that stuff." Many were offended and felt betrayed, while others were downright angry when I stopped helping them, explaining they would learn more and be more self-reliant if they solved their own problems. Crazy concept, eh?

I blame Bill Gates and Stee Jobs! While that may sound draconian and over the top at first, my point is: As computers have become ubiquitous in daily personal and business activities, they have also become easier to operate, becoming (for many people) something they manage by simply jabbing a finger at an image while saying, "I want that" – And, VOILA! You got it. The more people use computers, the less they know about how they work. Similarly, as communications software gets better, more consumers are becoming less effective expressing their thoughts. Somebody else "knows all that stuff" while point-and-click software does all the thinking. It is little wonder so many consumers want abbreviated Tweet-length answers to complex questions. Ham operators, for example, do not have time to read user manuals – they just want to press a button and talk over the air. Why does it have to be so danged complicated?

This trend is reinforced by the plethora of "product review" web sites which are, in essence, merely shills earning a commission driving sales through an online affiliate program. Too many so called reviews tout the "Five Best This" or the "Ten Best That," listing and describing the most popular models of this and that, described with bullet points copied from product box labels, pretending they have actually tested and have first hand experience. Meanwhile, consumers abdicate their responsibility to know what they are buying, hoping the reviewer truly knows what is "best." And yet, it is all, in essence, another case of pointing/clicking on a link and saying, “I want that.” (Imagine I am poking and jabbing at a touch screen whilst repeating "I want that, I want that ..." over and over like a tantric mantra. If you doubt me, search the Web for the " best __x__ " and count the number of insipid reviews which are tantamount to advertising fluff coupled with links to a retail vendor web site, presumably indicating current market prices. Shoot, even the rather helpful recordinghacks.com web site is festooned with links to vendors selling stuff. And then there is a myriad of YouTube channels touting “The Best __x___” as practically every third teenager with a computer recording interface has converted his bedroom into a bona fide recording “studio” knows all and tells all because he has glommed onto at least six sub-$100 microphones and that is sufficient to qualify him an expert.

So, Yeah, no wonder we are asked, "What is THE best microphone" for voicing over, podcasting or whatever, as consumers have been conditioned to believe there really IS a best microphone. We ARE living in a world of "fast food" information. A quick web search, perhaps using AI, will scour the Web and reveal all in an instant, and we accept the result as fact, whether it is truly accurate or not.

Related Sidebar - Parenthetically, while I am on a tear, this "fast food" mentality pervades nearly all aspects of modern life. For example, I like to cook. I marvel at the number of consumers purchasing expensive pre-fab products, like macaroni and cheese kits, when it is just as easy and a whole lot cheaper (and way better tasting,) to boil a mess of pasta and grate real, fresh cheddar cheese on it. Perhaps they prefer the processed powdered cheese crap that comes in the box?) When I ask why they don't make it from scratch with real freshly grated cheese, they universally exclaim "But, the box kit is much more CONVENIENT!" Seriously?

Similarly, Keurig coffee pod machines nothing more than basic pour over coffee makers dripping boiling water through ground coffee into a cup. When asked why they spend nearly for times as much for regular drip coffee, they unanimously claim "But this is far more convenient!" They do NOT claim it costs less than other brewing methods or makes better coffee! But wait, the WORST case is pre-fab frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crusts removed! As if it is inconvenient spreading PB and J on a slice of bread – and grown adults still have their mommies cut the crust off the bread! Grown women claim those are for men who cannot cook? My wife says she would have nothing to do with any man so lazy and incompetent he cannot make his own PB and J “sammich.” Crazy, eh?

So, considering social and economic trends, I understand someone asking what is the best microphone and expecting a simple, low tech reply.

OK - Rant over. I apologize for carrying on, but several comments in this thread have struck a very familiar chord (nerve) for me !!

We now return to the regularly scheduled diversion.

Um … Instant coffee, anyone? James

 

[Barry Hufker]

James, I read every word in your "rant." And while I understand much of what you're saying (and you're not "wrong"), we won't be changing society back to some previous (non-existent) "ideal." When I am buying a vacuum cleaner, I do want to know "the best" for what I need and so I check several "best vacuum" sites looking for a consensus. It is something I will buy only once every 10 or 20 years (hopefully). But other things are what I make my living with so I will do in-depth study of "the thing" and how it operates. It is all based on "need," "use" and where our heart lies.

So coming here to ask knowledgeable people is somewhat akin to looking for consensus among several "best microphone" sites. It is a more convenient way one can make a quick, informed decision. I have no problem with that. What irks me is when the enquirer receives personalized attention on this site (or any other), that person demonstrates a lack of gratitude, patience, politeness and the willingness to learn at least a little bit. I don't expect someone to have the same depth of interest as I have. I want just a little bit of being a polite, thoughtful, appreciative human being.

End of reply rant...

 

[pmfalcman]

James and Barry - yes.

-----------
I will add: short attention span and decline (or death even) of reading habits. TLDR syndrome.
Once I was asked: "Paweł, you read so much, isn't it boring?"

We had prime (infuriating) examples here:
- "oooh! but there's so much comments there (in the NT1 kit thread)"

[facepalm]

- " what will I learn from that?"

Read it, ffs!! You'll see.

 

[Khron]

- " what will I learn from that?"

Read it, ffs!! You'll see.

That might even be related to movie trailers nowadays showing you basically the entire plot "anyway", so you know going in, what you're signing up for. That's the best / only(?) way the movie industry figured out to entice people to go see movies in cinemas, i guess

 

[pmfalcman]

That might even be related to movie trailers nowadays showing you basically the entire plot "anyway", so you know going in, what you're signing up for. That's the best / only(?) way the movie industry figured out to entice people to go see movies in cinemas, i guess

And then it turns out that you already saw the good part of the movie. All the rest is lenghty "psychological" talks on the level of 4 year olds. Or full of logic holes. Sorry - AND full of logic holes.
Made for barely literate teenagers.

 

[micolas]

Guys, what the hell are we doing here?


"Dead Horse Theory"

It is a satirical metaphor that reflects how some people, society, corporations, are faced with obvious problems that are impossible to solve, but instead of accepting reality, they cling to everything and try to justify them.

The central idea is clear:

If you find yourself riding a dead horse, the wisest thing to do is to get off and abandon it.

However, in practice, the opposite often happens. Instead of abandoning the dead horse, steps are taken such as:

• A new saddle is bought for the horse.
• Improves the horse's diet, even if it is dead.
• Changing the rider.
• The horse manager is fired and a new one is hired in the same position, expecting a different result.
• Meetings are held to discuss how to speed up the dead horse.
• Committees, work teams are created to analyze the problem of dead horses from all angles. These committees work for months, prepare reports and finally conclude the obvious: The horse is dead.
• Justifies efforts by comparing the horse to other similar dead horses.
• Training courses for horses are proposed, which implies an increase in the budget.
• The concept of "dead" is redefined to make sure that the horse still has possibilities.

Lesson Learned:

All this highlights how many people and organizations prefer to deny reality and waste time with analyses, theories and efforts for useless solutions, instead of accepting the problem from the beginning and making an intelligent and effective decision."

 

[Khron]

• A new saddle is bought for the horse.
• Improves the horse's diet, even if it is dead.
• Changing the rider.
• The horse manager is fired and a new one is hired in the same position, expecting a different result.
• Meetings are held to discuss how to speed up the dead horse.
• Committees, work teams are created to analyze the problem of dead horses from all angles. These committees work for months, prepare reports and finally conclude the obvious: The horse is dead.
• Justifies efforts by comparing the horse to other similar dead horses.
• Training courses for horses are proposed, which implies an increase in the budget.
• The concept of "dead" is redefined to make sure that the horse still has possibilities.

Yes, but look how many jobs that creates, nevermind trade and demand for supplies and whatnot...

 

[micolas]

Yes, but look how many jobs that creates, nevermind trade and demand for supplies and whatnot...

Yes, you are right.
It creates many jobs. Paid, and really well!
But here, in our case...
we struggle...pro-bono.
And we don't even need gratitude or respect.