TubeNet

Hey! I'm trying to record myself to evaluate myself and send out for preliminary auditions. I was wondering if I can get suggestions on good microphones. I have a budget, but I'd like to hear of all kinds of mics in case anyone would be selling them used.
Thanks!

Not sure where this one ranks in the microphone world, but a trumpet-player friend recommended the Audio-Technica ATR2500-USB, which plugs into the USB port of a PC or Mac.

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired ... index.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Note that you should not place the mike directly over the bell. It worked best using a tall floor stand to place the mike 3-4 feet to the side of my Sonora's bell. I won an audition with this setup.

RCA KU-3A

cmonte wrote:trying to record myself to evaluate myself and send out for preliminary auditions.

Aren't these mics about $4000-$5000 each? That seems a bit steep for his stated purposes. Also, I thought I read that there were only about 500 made. In order to get a good idea of how you sound, one the portable recorders like those from ZOOM or Tascam will work incredibly well. For prelim. auditions they might also be sufficient but there may others that will work for way less money. ...just my $.02
Pete

That RCA certainly is. But I paid less than $100.00 for my A-T.

For your purposes, any decent condenser mic like the popular and versatile Shure 57 or an equivalent will do. It's true that there are better mics for the tuba, but it doesn't sound like you want to spend that kind of money right now. A good condenser mic will get a true enough sound and be good for uses other than just the tuba.

It's all about finding a good room and placing the mic correctly. I would recommend you play with mic placement a little. In a large room, you might put the mic further away than you would in a small one, in order to take advantage of the ambient sound. Play with the placement a bit and listen to the results.

Good luck!

If anybody happens to be selling a mic, I won't mind hearing offers

A 57 is a dynamic mic, not a condenser.

ppalan wrote: Aren't these mics about $4000-$5000 each? ...just my $.02
Pete

True that, but….

cmonte wrote:… I was wondering if I can get suggestions on good microphones.
I have a budget...
I'd like to hear of all kinds of mics …
in case anyone would be selling them used.

It is a very good microphone.
He didn't specify what his budget was.
This is a kind of mic that would add variety to most any list.
You can't buy this mic new.

I use my Zoom H4 portable recorder almost every day.

Every musician could benefit from one in one way or another.