AW: If you were going to buy just one Mic...

["Rainer Thelonius Balthasar Straschill" <rs@moinlabs.de>]

Just one mic...

...as already mentioned, this is really a tough call, but if I had to 
choose
that one mic, it should:
        (1) work with a lot of instruments
        (2) be rugged (stage use)
        (3) work with poor micpres and not require phantom power (e.g.
plugging into a Korg KP3)
        (4) record ensembles/rooms well
        (5) have a compact and practical form factor

(For now, nobody mentioned (6) price)

Sooooo, what we need is a:
        a) a mike that has an "open" sound normally but will get a lot of
pressure under high SPLs (coming from (1) and (4))
        b) directionality can be changed (from (4) mainly)
        c) be a dynamic or a VERY rugged condenser with battery supply 
(from
(2) and (3))
        d) be about the size of a SM57 etc. (5)

With that, the only thing I can think of right now is the Beyer M201. But
I'm sure Rick is going to mention the AKG C1000 as well...

Talking about the Octavas:
I heard numerous reports of a high quality/parameter spread with the 
Octavas
- this is due to the fact that their electronic circuits are built with the
components which are just available at the time of build.
So you either have to get like 10 pieces from the shop and find which one 
is
best, or rely on a reseller which will replace the electronics.

The Sennheisers:
Personally, I only use one Sennheiser mic (e902, I'm more of a Beyer guy,
and that has also to do with the fact that their dynamic mikes are still
somewhat of a secret weapon, hence used prices e.g. for a M88N are in the
same range as those for a Beta58...), but this MD421 has an exorbitant 
price
tag - is it really that good?

        Rainer