Well I do a lot of both finger style and rhythm playing. But now I'm going to have to take out the 4050 and do some more experimenting. I only tried it once on acoustic and didn't like it, but honestly can't remember what I might have been playing. I remembered it sounding kind of boxy - low mid rangey. I own a couple of Martins which I guess are on the "boomy" side, but I love their sound. Once I got the SM81, I just kept using that.

But my SM81 and Millennia Origin (which I just recently got)do not get along. Even after Millennia (Larry Boyle) added 10dB to the output, the SM81 has very low gain through it. My AT4050 sounds gorgeous through it - almost like a different mic, and I have no gain problems.

I just picked up 2 Oktava MK012s from Guitar Center on Saturday - $99 for the pair! They have huge gain, and sound great - but brighter than the SM81. Someone told me the problem with matching the SM81 and the Millennia could be an impedence matching issue. But I don't know what that means, really. But I do notice that some preamp manufacturers promote variable impedence controls.

Larry

http://www.cdbaby.com/fragilistic

Tightrope,

Boxy describes the 4050 on acoustic strummed parts great. THe Sm81 through my Phoenix Audio DRS-1 is heavenly. The MK012's arent really in the class of the 81 IMHO.


Justin

quote:

---

Originally posted by musical5:
I have one and it gets used for only one thing... guitar cabs. I hate it on vocals and acoustic. It sounds small and sort of dark. Actually sounds terrible on my hand built acoustic and my Takamine. The mic is very popular, and can be made to sound great with lots of eq. I just like using a mic that is going to achieve the sound that is closer to the way Ill end up using it in a mix. Hey but what the hell do I know.


Justin

---

Justin,

What kind of preamp are you running this through? I am surprised that you wouldn't like it for vocals OR acoustic... Although, I have had experiences where not-so-great preamps made me undervalue some really good sounding mics.

SmattyG,


I totally agree that a good mic through a crap pre may not sound as good as it should. That why I dont use any. I do use a Phoenix Audio DRS-1 and a side car Raindirk with 4 preamps. I do like the mic on finger picked acoustic and guitar cabs. I have never found a singer that sounded good through it compared to my C1. I really should get rid of the 4050, since I have other mics that work well on those sources.


Justin

PS. heres a few tunes of mine...maybe Im just silly not liking the 4050

http://www.users.qwest.net/~musical5/

quote:

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Originally posted by musical5:
...I have never found a singer that sounded good through it compared to my C1. I really should get rid of the 4050, since I have other mics that work well on those sources.

Justin

---

??? Well to each his own, I guess! My experience is opposite yours. Not to put down the C1 - but it's very hyped, not very flat response. This will work to some vocalists' advantage, but against others. The AT4050 is a much more accurate mic and will, therefore, sound better on more sources - much more of a utility mic. In a pinch I would use the AT on acoustic guitars, but never would I use the C1 for that application! I've gotten great vocal tracks with the AT4050

All the vocals on my project below used the AT4050. No EQ on the tracking, slight Eq during mix.

Larry

http://www.cdbaby.com/fragilistic

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tightrope:

quote:

---

Originally posted by musical5:
...I have never found a singer that sounded good through it compared to my C1. I really should get rid of the 4050, since I have other mics that work well on those sources.

Justin

---

??? Well to each his own, I guess! My experience is opposite yours. Not to put down the C1 - but it's very hyped, not very flat response. This will work to some vocalists' advantage, but against others. The AT4050 is a much more accurate mic and will, therefore, sound better on more sources - much more of a utility mic. In a pinch I would use the AT on acoustic guitars, but never would I use the C1 for that application! I've gotten great vocal tracks with the AT4050

All the vocals on my project below used the AT4050. No EQ on the tracking, slight Eq during mix.

Larry

http://www.cdbaby.com/fragilistic

---

Larry,

I have never and will never use the C1 on an acoustic! Where did you get the idea that I would? I said I have better mics for that application. SM81, MK012 just to name a couple. Your vox sound great on that gal, as I stated earlier in this thread. Now put 5 males and 5 females in front of both mics and I can gurantee you that the C1 will win 8 out of 10. This has been my experience. If yours has been different I would like to hear about it.


Justin

Ps. heres my original message to you

Larry,


Your vocals sound great! Maybe I just havent found the right vocalist for use with the 4050. Still blows huge on acoustic!


Justin

Justin

Like some of you have already pointed out . . .

I don't find the 4050 to be particularly "scooped" the way a lot of the others do, and I think a lot of vocalists like a little dip in the midrange, as it helps make their vocals sound a little more polished. Particularly good for people who might sound a tad nasal.

Some voices on the other hand -- particularly singers with really good technique -- don't necessarily need that, and might actually sound a lot better (or cut through a mix nicer) with the full midrange in tact, moreless.

www.moonunitsound.com

there are two 4050s at ebay at the moment, both starting at 399 with a buy it now price of 499$. you can check them out here and here. i won the auction over a 4033 ($195) a few weeks ago (but haven't yet received it yet) and now i'm reading that the 4050 is noticeably better-sounding everywhere. well, i wouldn't have had the money for a 4050 anyway... i'm gonna check out the listeningsession-mp3s now...

I have both a 4033 and a 4050. I like the 4033 on acoustic guitar a lot (I have a 74 Martin D-35). It also works well on my voice. But I haven't tried the 4050 on it yet. I've been wondering if using it in omni mode might work better than in cardioid. It also might not be that good of a match for the D-35, which is a huge sounding guitar.

The 4050 also worked well for my voice, but I thought the 4033 added a little something, sparkle maybe. I ended up using the 4050 for all the backup vocal tracks on a recent recording and thought they were great.

I bought my 4050 used for about $350, and at that price I think it was a steal. Nice also to have the option of the different patterns.

My songs

quote:

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Originally posted by Tightrope:
Not great on acoustic guitar, but I haven't found a LD condenser that sounds good for that.

Larry

http://www.cdbaby.com/fragilistic

---

Ever tried the AKG C414 ?

I checked out the 4050 awhile back and found it to be nice sounding, but didn't seem like it stood out as anything special.

I ended up buying a CAD E300 on that occasion, but the 4050 is certainly a useful and professional sounding microphone.

S. Cruz
Florida

AT4050 yummy.
Some of ya's mention a Sm81 for ascoustic,but I had too much mud on my excersion. It was a nylon string don't know what ax actually.It was rather
new to me at the time, so I had'nt checked it out much previously. So I used a 414 with success.
Now that I have used the 81 for a while I don't have a problem.
So hows the 4040 compared to the 4050? in cardioid
sans other config's. more HF, less HF?

quote:

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Originally posted by vox:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tightrope:
Not great on acoustic guitar, but I haven't found a LD condenser that sounds good for that.

Larry

http://www.cdbaby.com/fragilistic

---

Ever tried the AKG C414 ?

---

No, and I realize I shouldn't sound so definitive. After all, it's not like I've had access to tons of LDs and tried them all. I've had very good luck with various SC's on acoustic and it seems to be conventional wisdom to use them for that application. But I hate it when I realize I've gotten close-minded about something. I'm going to experiment again.

Larry

http://www.cdbaby.com/fragilistic

I used an At4050 for about a year and loved it, it was loaned to me and I returned it but it will probably be my next mic purchase, 499$ is great. I loved the way it sounded on vocals and percussion.

Btw thanks to the person that posted the www.midwestpercussion.com link. The Giovanni Compact Conga for 97$ is VERY tempting, my friend bought one at guitar center 3 weeks ago for 129$ but returned it, he has the original Giovanni's and in my opinion the compact sounded better than his but it also had the synthetic head so who knows if that made the difference?

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible"FZ

I have 3 at4050´s and have just bought a brand new At4040 at Manny´s one monthe ago.
The at4050´s are greta mics. I have used them for almost everything, done orchestra, horn bands, etc etc.
They are great for overheads, acoustic guitars, but be careful with too sibilant guys. Ok, you can insert waves de-esser and there you got a nice vocal track.
I have not done enough testes with the At4040. I will post here soon. I promise!
Nice week


Eng. Alécio Costa
Studio Digital Performance
Music Producer/Singer/Musician
http://br.geocities.com/studiodigitalp

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ticalaru:
Btw thanks to the person that posted the http://www.midwestpercussion.com link. The Giovanni Compact Conga for 97$ is VERY tempting, my friend bought one at guitar center 3 weeks ago for 129$ but returned it, he has the original Giovanni's and in my opinion the compact sounded better than his but it also had the synthetic head so who knows if that made the difference?

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible"FZ

---

The best percussion prices I've found are at www.steveweissmusic.com

--Steve, publisher of Mojo Pie
www.mojopie.com

quote:

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Originally posted by ozraves:
The best percussion prices I've found are at http://www.steveweissmusic.com

---

Thanks oz, I requested the catalog. My drummer is looking for an entire Zildjian A customs cymbal set and I told him about Midwest Perc. so we're gonna take a trip there today, they beat plenty of Guitar Center prices on their site alone, should be interesting.

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible"FZ

Thanks for the link OZ,I'll check it out.

Ticalaru
There is no way the compact one would sound better,but to each his own. For the price, it could be a great addition to a studio though.
T

quote:

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Originally posted by ozraves:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ticalaru:
Btw thanks to the person that posted the http://www.midwestpercussion.com link. The Giovanni Compact Conga for 97$ is VERY tempting, my friend bought one at guitar center 3 weeks ago for 129$ but returned it, he has the original Giovanni's and in my opinion the compact sounded better than his but it also had the synthetic head so who knows if that made the difference?

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible"FZ

---

The best percussion prices I've found are at http://www.steveweissmusic.com

--Steve, publisher of Mojo Pie
http://www.mojopie.com

---

FWIW,

People seem to be mentioning te 4033 & 4050 as being interchangeable but they are not similar mics.

As for the build:
The AT4033 is not a large diaphragm mic, but a mid diaphragm. It is also not a true condenser.
The AT4050 is a large diaphragm mic and a true condenser.

A sound comparison:
The AT4033 is higher output, fuller and thicker in the mids. The high end is a bit hashy. In my experience, the AT4033 excels on acoustic guitar, works really well for some voices but not at all for many others. I totally dislike it on my voice; it's just about my last choice. My girlfriend's voice sounds totally smoking on the mic though, it's one of her favorites. Rappers seem to like the mic, maybe because it is thick sounding, which may also make it good for some voices that need a bit of girth.

The AT4050 - as large diaphragm condensers go, it is relatively neutral. The output is lower than the AT4033, it is certainly less hyped in the mids, and the high end is smoother. Although I like the 4033 better on acoustic guitar, I like the 4050 better on most other sources, my voice included. If you find other condensers to have too much high end, grit, and/or girth, the 4050 might be just the ticket. It's really a very good all around mic to have in the studio and is one that can work well when others seem to get in the way.

The Madguitrst has left the building

quote:

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Originally posted by Ticalaru:
Thanks oz, I requested the catalog. My drummer is looking for an entire Zildjian A customs cymbal set and I told him about www.midwestpercussion.com so we're gonna take a trip there today, they beat plenty of Guitar Center prices on their site alone, should be interesting.

---

Well, we went there today and I didn't like the service there at all, it was annoying to the point where I almost snapped. We walked in and didn't get any service so we just walked around the store checking out different cymbals and drumsets. About 10 minutes later a white woman walks in and is immediatly greeted and is asked if she needs anything, it was four of us and we looked at each other and just let it pass. After she leaves an old white guy walks in and is helped also and starts with a long boring story about his grandson wanting a drumset, he leaves about 10 minutes later not having bought anything. We were about to leave at that point but decided to check prices on the A Custom cymbals so my friend gets the guys attention and the clerk says "yeah G, what do you need"(). We just pick the ones we want and my friend pays in cash, the cashier then says "Wow, did you rob and ATM" and my friend says "Nah man, I got a job", I almost said "Nah, we rob white folk for a living". I just got to thinking that he would never say that to his other customers so why us, I was beyond ticked off. My friend got a deal on the cymbals though, and I almost ended up hitting the guy. I'm glad I don't have to go shopping there for good prices and lame service, I'm a guitar and bass guy. Sorry for rambling, I just needed to vent.

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible"FZ