Best Microphones For Classical Guitar (2024 Update)

This pair of small microphones give beautiful rich sound. I placed one near 12th fret and was rewarded with natural and clear harmonics. It seems no need to add any artificial reverbs. Great value if one needs to record acoustic guitar.Krzysztof

I wanted a pair of pencil condensers for the home studio; that I could use primarily for recording acoustic guitar, but that also sounded great in other applications as well. (overheads, room mics, etc.) On an acoustic as a pair these sound fantastic, the dry signal itself sounds practically record ready (Taking into consideration the instrument quality and room setup as well). There are probably "better" mics out there in this category, but not that I know of at this price, and in terms of sound quality alone maybe not by much. These NT5's absolutely blow away any lower end mics I've used (MXL, CAD) and as far as I can hear sound basically just as good as most higher end microphones that you'd spend twice as much on. (Go to Youtube and watch some Mic Shootout comparisons with these) I grabbed one of Rode's stereo bars for the pair which makes setting them up nicely convenient. (Couln't find this on musician's friend, GC, or Sweetwater though. Went to RODE's website and ordered separate.) A phenominal set of pencil condensers for the home studio recorder. At 0.5" capsules, they don't overkill high frequencies, but certainly don't lack in the bottom end either. I use these mostly recording acoustic & acoustic rock styles and the tonal balance is perfect in my opinion. Excellent clarity as room mics, haven't tried as kit overheads yet.Cully

I haven't had a chance yet to fully experience the microphone in any situation, but so far it's been pretty good. Definitely adjust the gain based on the distance it is from the source. Always keep it a little lower than you would usually like it because that will prevent it from clipping and you can always increase the volume in post production. Worth the money in my opinion.Zachary

I recently installed a stereo pair of these mics on a grand piano for recording purposes. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of sound they delivered. The KM184 makes the recording sound like I am sitting in the same room as the piano. It has a very smooth response across the entire spectrum, and with the right placement you can achieve the perfect balance to make a piano sound better than you ever could have imagined, with crisp tone and no discernible hammer noise at all. Whether you are testing the waters of recording or if you are a seasoned veteran in the field, this is definitely the microphone to use if quality is of any concern.Steve

This Pair of Neumann KM184 arrived well-protected in a well-made wooden box that is handy to carry around, with all their attachments included. I needed to record a group of string players, so set them up as overheads and they did a brilliant job of capturing the sound.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I'd kept a vintage pair of km84s in an old sunglasses case in my drawer.. finally decided to give them a proper home. This box was designed for 2 km184s, but my pair of 84s fit fine. The foam cut is a tiny bit too short length wise, but they still squeeze in there just fine. Unfortunately I keep my clips fitted with quick releases, which prevents them from fitting in their designated slots.. I prefer AKG SA60 clips for km84s, which fit perfectly with room for the badge, and are almost $50 cheaper than the neumann clips intended for 184s, and they also are also more rugged. The Neumann wn110 windscreen doesn't quite fit in the windscreen slot without being squished, so ultimately I'm only storing the mics in here, which seems a little wasteful, but it still feels more secure to store the 84s in this box rather than a random drawer, so I'm glad I picked it up.Michael

I looked up and down everywhere to see what's the best mic for all around, Like the hidden gem in the cornfield. People told me the rodemic, Razer and snow xlr mic, But from looking past the "Normal" I seen the sm57. A famous hidden mic no one really knew about, Basically has the same tone sm7b just a little different. $100ish instead of $400 count me in, I been using it for zoom calls, Twitch, Discord and everyone i talked to said i went from a very noisy and outland voice to a solid nice tone. I personally use mine with a boom arm, the a81ws, focusrite. No issues with it and i had it for about 3 months, I'm not the gentlest on it either so I feel comfortable using it on a day to day basis. Who would i recommend this to? To be totally honest everyone, You want it to do something? Trust me it will. 10/10Bradleigh, K

I've only had chance to do a quick sound check miking my Bugera V22 and recording the sound using my new Tascam DP-008 EX 8-track recorder. Sound quality was very good, especially for a basic home office recording setup. I can see why this mic is so popular in the industry. For perspective, I am a hobbyist and don't perform, but like to have the best sound for my limited budget to make recordings for myself and maybe friends and family. This mic lives up to its rep for being a great value for what you pay, punching above its class, no doubt.Steve

These little mics are inconspicuous and sensitive enough to pickup sounds well. Obviously not as sensitive as large diaphragm mics they are still crisp. Being small they are less intimidating and obstructing than large mics. Being lightweight they work well on boom arms. I have used them (as a stereo pair) inside a piano on a long boom.Edward B.

These Rode M5 compact microphones are way more than awesome!! They are not what I expected but they were much much more. I just received them last week and have already used them on a filming job of a choir. When I did a run thru very first time with the choir last Thursday I had my headphones on just making the necessary audio adjustments and my other videographer on camera #2 looked at me from across the room where he was running his camera and said Looks like you are happy about something!! I bet it's those new Rode mics!! Never seen you with a smile like that in a long time!!! I just gave him a thumbs up and was totally way overwhelmed. The sound is what I would expect from a $2,000 plus microphone. Anyway, this is a MUST BUY and you probably better buy quickly from B&H because the pricing on this won't stay this cheap for long.Gary

Has high hopes for these after using many quality Rode products and reading all the great reviews. However, I found them invredibly tinny sounding and not at all warm like many users have described them to be. I was not horribly surprised by this, as you really just can't get a good pair of "matched" mics at that price point. My biggest complaint was these mics are definitely not matched. There was a rather large (3 dB) difference in volume. This is the only bad review I've ever left for anything.Curtis

These little mics are inconspicuous and sensitive enough to pickup sounds well. Obviously not as sensitive as large diaphragm mics they are still crisp. Being small they are less intimidating and obstructing than large mics. Being lightweight they work well on boom arms. I have used them (as a stereo pair) inside a piano on a long boom.Edward B.

These Rode M5 compact microphones are way more than awesome!! They are not what I expected but they were much much more. I just received them last week and have already used them on a filming job of a choir. When I did a run thru very first time with the choir last Thursday I had my headphones on just making the necessary audio adjustments and my other videographer on camera #2 looked at me from across the room where he was running his camera and said Looks like you are happy about something!! I bet it's those new Rode mics!! Never seen you with a smile like that in a long time!!! I just gave him a thumbs up and was totally way overwhelmed. The sound is what I would expect from a $2,000 plus microphone. Anyway, this is a MUST BUY and you probably better buy quickly from B&H because the pricing on this won't stay this cheap for long.Gary

Has high hopes for these after using many quality Rode products and reading all the great reviews. However, I found them invredibly tinny sounding and not at all warm like many users have described them to be. I was not horribly surprised by this, as you really just can't get a good pair of "matched" mics at that price point. My biggest complaint was these mics are definitely not matched. There was a rather large (3 dB) difference in volume. This is the only bad review I've ever left for anything.Curtis

It has a reputation, because it is that good. Takes any vocal and places it at a higher level. Clarity, warmth, presence, yep. If you could only buy 1 piece of gear and youre doing vocals, forget everything else and get this microphone. Run through any interface with a daw, and youll see the difference. Its expensive, yep, but its an investment. Been doing more serious recording over the past 2 years, now I want to go back and re-record all the prior vocals.wdalgabbar_0

An ultimate aspirational mic for me. I have compared this with a vintage u87. For vocals, the vintage U 87 has a slightly more noticeable presence. By presence, I mean that you feel like the microphone is a noctilux-level macro lens focusing in on the singer's articulation and bringing them up close to your ear. All that, but it doesn't sound like it's trying. The new U 87 Ai is almost the same as the old U 87, but a bit more neutral. Less emphasis of sounds like ch (as in, chess), and the specs say less noise. That's my two cents, at least! The U 87 Ai is an amazing sounding mic and lives up to its name. I'd agree with so many reviewers who say that it's just plain good on anything.Peter

I own a lot of microphones for an individual (not a studio), from SM57-58 types, up to the AKG 414 XLII and a bunch in between. As I prepared to move to a greater focus on writing and recording, I decided it was time to purchase a couple of microphones that were the type I have used in a professional recording studio. The first of those that came to mind was the Neumann U87. It was one of two mics (the other being the AKG 414, mentioned above) that I have seen in literally every professional studio I have ever walked into. To say it is a recording industry standard is quite the understatement. Let's talk cost: yes, it costs more than many others. In the world of professional microphones, it's actually on the cheaper end of the spectrum when compared with tube microphones, and it costs many times less than vintage originals. But is it expensive? NO, IT IS NOT. Expensive is a relative term, and refers to the amount of money an item costs… relative to what it is. When what it is happens to be one of the most meticulously built, most heavily copied, and highest performing microphones out there (that is in the estimation of the top-tier professionals in the business, not Joe Equipment-reviewer on your local forum) , the cost is reasonable, and as mentioned, low in comparison to others in its peer group. And how does it sound? Clear and honest. If you sound bad or ameteurish, you will get a very clear rendition of a bad and ametuerish sound. Don't blame the mic. If you put great sound into it, you get incredibly great sound out, and you can hear every nuance. In testing at home, it was sometimes shocking how much more revealing the U87 was. I can only compare it to my experience with any other top of the line equipment. It just keeps surprising you with "oh yeah" moments. Ultimately, nothing is for everyone. And if you don't have the ears to hear the difference, don't waste your money. But if you're up to it, I promise you this mic is up to it as well.Rick In TX

I set up in my basement with it a few weeks ago and started messing around, have found nothing to be disliked. The overall sound is good, it has strong low end for my growls, and it doesn't have any problems with recording at any volume. I even put it in front of my drumset to see if it'd pick up okay, which it did surprisingly well with. I haven't been doing vocals for very long, but from what I can tell it easily competes with mics twice the price. 10/10 would recommend, worth it. P.s. get a pop filter toothe wheat man

I have one first generation version, which lacks the headphone jack, and this is my 2nd of the newer generation. If using this in an application where you want a shock mount, be sure to buy the Audio Technica shock mount that is made for this exact form factor. I have both of mine on boom arms. I like the side address form factor and the ability to get cheap pop filters that are semi-cylindrical. Compared to the much more expensive gold standard Shure SM7B, this sounds a bit brighter and has a wider, flatter frequency response. That makes the AT2020 better suited for instrumentals and other sound sources, whereas the SM7B tends to be very specifically suited to voices. I own USB and XLR versions of this mic, and the integrated analog-to-digital conversation seems very good, not introducing detectable noise.Matthew

I've used these mics now on a few sessions and found that the sound quality is excellent on both acoustic guitar and for drums. It has a very wide frequency response with great clear top ends, mids are fresh and and the bottom end goes on forever and stays clear the whole way down. We've also recorded some other percussion including triangle and bongos which I didn't think would sound that good based on their position but it come through extremely clear. Cymbals sounds fantastic! I want to also mention that the filters are a great feature and come in very handy. Again, these have only been used a few times but I haven't been able to stump these yet. These are great and I would recommend getting a pair of them, I've captured some phenomenal sounding tracks so far with mine.Brandon G

I bought this microphone to record piano with, and it's ended up becoming an integral part of my studio. I can easily capture piano, guitar, ukelele, and even strings in amazing clarity. Transients feel natural and clear, every frequency is captured, and the overall audio quality is fantastic. It's not great for vocals, but that's not why I bought these. They're clear, easy to set up, and sound fantastic. They're also built like tanks-I feel like I could run over these with a truck and they'd be great.Ela B

I recently installed a stereo pair of these mics on a grand piano for recording purposes. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of sound they delivered. The KM184 makes the recording sound like I am sitting in the same room as the piano. It has a very smooth response across the entire spectrum, and with the right placement you can achieve the perfect balance to make a piano sound better than you ever could have imagined, with crisp tone and no discernible hammer noise at all. Whether you are testing the waters of recording or if you are a seasoned veteran in the field, this is definitely the microphone to use if quality is of any concern.Steve

This Pair of Neumann KM184 arrived well-protected in a well-made wooden box that is handy to carry around, with all their attachments included. I needed to record a group of string players, so set them up as overheads and they did a brilliant job of capturing the sound.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I'd kept a vintage pair of km84s in an old sunglasses case in my drawer.. finally decided to give them a proper home. This box was designed for 2 km184s, but my pair of 84s fit fine. The foam cut is a tiny bit too short length wise, but they still squeeze in there just fine. Unfortunately I keep my clips fitted with quick releases, which prevents them from fitting in their designated slots.. I prefer AKG SA60 clips for km84s, which fit perfectly with room for the badge, and are almost $50 cheaper than the neumann clips intended for 184s, and they also are also more rugged. The Neumann wn110 windscreen doesn't quite fit in the windscreen slot without being squished, so ultimately I'm only storing the mics in here, which seems a little wasteful, but it still feels more secure to store the 84s in this box rather than a random drawer, so I'm glad I picked it up.Michael

This pair of small microphones give beautiful rich sound. I placed one near 12th fret and was rewarded with natural and clear harmonics. It seems no need to add any artificial reverbs. Great value if one needs to record acoustic guitar.Krzysztof

I wanted a pair of pencil condensers for the home studio; that I could use primarily for recording acoustic guitar, but that also sounded great in other applications as well. (overheads, room mics, etc.) On an acoustic as a pair these sound fantastic, the dry signal itself sounds practically record ready (Taking into consideration the instrument quality and room setup as well). There are probably "better" mics out there in this category, but not that I know of at this price, and in terms of sound quality alone maybe not by much. These NT5's absolutely blow away any lower end mics I've used (MXL, CAD) and as far as I can hear sound basically just as good as most higher end microphones that you'd spend twice as much on. (Go to Youtube and watch some Mic Shootout comparisons with these) I grabbed one of Rode's stereo bars for the pair which makes setting them up nicely convenient. (Couln't find this on musician's friend, GC, or Sweetwater though. Went to RODE's website and ordered separate.) A phenominal set of pencil condensers for the home studio recorder. At 0.5" capsules, they don't overkill high frequencies, but certainly don't lack in the bottom end either. I use these mostly recording acoustic & acoustic rock styles and the tonal balance is perfect in my opinion. Excellent clarity as room mics, haven't tried as kit overheads yet.Cully

I haven't had a chance yet to fully experience the microphone in any situation, but so far it's been pretty good. Definitely adjust the gain based on the distance it is from the source. Always keep it a little lower than you would usually like it because that will prevent it from clipping and you can always increase the volume in post production. Worth the money in my opinion.Zachary

I think for the price this is a decent mic. It gives a clearer sound then what I had in my arsenal for my acoustic guitar. I've not tried it on anything else, so I haven't had a need to use the pad. I was trying large condensers on the acoustic and they were too muffled. This comes across much cleaner, maybe a little on the bright side but that's better than muddled. I'm using it to mic at the fingerboard and it gives a better, cleaner and more full bodied sound. I would note it's a little sensitive to being bumped. I found if I bump it I have to readjust the connection to get rid of a bit of hum it seems to pick up after the bump.Z

I used this product on a number of things. Timbale,Drums Overheads,Acoustic Guitars,String Quartets, Vocal Choirs,Steel Drums and well as room mic's. It comes with a 20db pad which is very helpful when recording loud percussion like Timbale,Steel Drums, and loud Drums. Make sure you have a low noise pre amp and you get really good results. I only wish it came with omni capsules or at least had that option. These mic's are great for the money.Joseph

I was reluctant to believe that I could make any type of Splash using this microphone to do my first ever voice over gig, but honestly it was all I could afford at the time. It came out smelling like a rose! Of course at that price point you're not going to get anything close to a u87ai. And the noise floor in my opinion leaves quite a bit to be desired, but with the little bit of offset compression and some other tweaking, this mic can sound as good as anything Shure has on the market, or possibly even the sm58 for voiceover work.RB

As a home recording artist, this mic definitely met my needs. For the longest time, I've owned the AKG Perception 120 (the old model), and I've never had a problem with this mic. The main reason to why I bought the P220 was so I can change my setup to have one mic for recording vocals (the P220) and the other mic for recording YouTube videos (Perception 120). The shock mount for the P220 is being used for the Perception 120, and it fits the mic perfectly. Both mics are basically the same size, so I figured that it would work. The build quality on the P220 is rugged and tough, and the functions are very simple. You have 2 main settings: the bass roll off, which is great if you want to record without having to deal with any unnecessary low end frequency that the mic picks up. The other setting cuts off the signal by 20db. From my experience, it's best use is if you have a noisy background, and you don't want that to bleed into the mic. It basically isolates the signal to only be heard right in front of the mic as opposed to everything in the environment. I would be lying if I said that were some things I don't like about it (because I simply LOVE AKG products) but for other people, this might be too simple of a mic compared to other more expensive mics. The sound of this mic is warmer and more direct than the AKG Perception 120, so I felt that it was better for recording vocals. However, the Perception 120 still crushes it in the studio. Some people might consider a different taste in sound compared to other mics, but for me, this mic suits my needs perfectly. The AKG Perception 120: AKG Perception P120 Professional Studio Microphone, Sliver So, here are my pros and cons: PROS: – inexpensive – simple settings – versatile (vocals, guitar, etc.) – rugged CONS (possible opinions of others): – too cheap – too simple (not enough settings) – not preferred taste of sound – too heavyA.D.W.

For the past couple of years, I had been using a Nady SCM-800, as circa 50 had been the most I could spare for a vocal mic – but in the more affluent interim, I had not bothered to wonder if I could do better. Recently, I started to notice that that mic was prone to sibiliance of the "crispy" variety, though it did serve the low end of a baritone voice rarther well. I also came to realize that it was not, in fact, a "large-"diaphragm mic, but rather a "medium," and that a larger diaphragm would surely capture more nuance and presence of a voice. This time, I my budget permitted spending up to 150 on a mic. One reviewer compared the P220 to the AKG C214 as being identical in sound and performace, so I gravitated toward this one, though all the reviews of the P220 were nothing but positive. Once I got the P220 set up with my preamp/interface and my DAW, I recorded a vocal track. My suspicions about a larger diaphragm and my expectations about an AKG-brand mic were affirmed: I could hear my own voice in so much greater detail that it MADE ME A BETTER SINGER. That's how it felt, and sounded, anyway. I kept the first take, with a couple of small re-take parts. I was elated. Now I wish that I had bought the AKG P220 a LOT sooner (if it's not a new production model; I don't know). I regret not having recorded so many songs with a much better microphone for vocals. At the time, the SCM-800 had been a big "step up" from the USB mic I'd been using. Not to denigrate the Nady brand – fine manufacturer. The SCM-800 was so inexpensive because it's not exactly their best. The bass-rolloff switch on the body of the P220 reduces the "proximity effect," whereby sounds get louder as they approach the mic. For a baritone voice, this is an important detail, to avoid boominess. Sibilance with this mic is easy to tame. Home-recording vocalists: BUY AS GOOD A MIC AS YOU CAN AFFORD; EVEN GO INTO DEBT FOR AN EVEN BETTER ONE! You'll sound better now and have far fewer regrets later.Guy Dudeman

I went into B&H on a recommendation from a friend who lives in the area, didn't know what to expect. It's like Santa's Workshop in there. Super busy, packages going around above your head on like a chute/train track vibe. I was still easily able to get the attention of an associate who talked to me for a while about different condenser mic options. Actually had decided on a different mic but it wasn't in stock at the store and I couldn't wait for shipping because I needed a mic that week, so went with the AKG and honestly don't even notice that it wasn't my "first choice" because it does everything I want it to. I use it for singing and I'm really pleased with the quality of sound I get. I also use a Rode NT USB mic that I love too but I needed a mic that connected through XLR and this one is definitely at least as good as the Rode, probably better but I haven't done a comparison test.Paula

I've used these mics now on a few sessions and found that the sound quality is excellent on both acoustic guitar and for drums. It has a very wide frequency response with great clear top ends, mids are fresh and and the bottom end goes on forever and stays clear the whole way down. We've also recorded some other percussion including triangle and bongos which I didn't think would sound that good based on their position but it come through extremely clear. Cymbals sounds fantastic! I want to also mention that the filters are a great feature and come in very handy. Again, these have only been used a few times but I haven't been able to stump these yet. These are great and I would recommend getting a pair of them, I've captured some phenomenal sounding tracks so far with mine.Brandon G

I bought this microphone to record piano with, and it's ended up becoming an integral part of my studio. I can easily capture piano, guitar, ukelele, and even strings in amazing clarity. Transients feel natural and clear, every frequency is captured, and the overall audio quality is fantastic. It's not great for vocals, but that's not why I bought these. They're clear, easy to set up, and sound fantastic. They're also built like tanks-I feel like I could run over these with a truck and they'd be great.Ela B

A few years ago I was cutting vocals with my AKG 414 TLII when a friend came by with 2 of these 214’s his church had bought. We decided to cut the harmony vocal with the 214 and compare to the 414TLII. It sounded terrible and I trashed the takes and used a TLM 67 instead. The 214 sounds like a Chinese condenser from Amazon. I understand people want the AKG pedigree for an affordable price point, but this mic is not it. You may not be able to hear it right now, but trust me and the other experienced ears that have said similar. This mic is the sonic equivalent of a sugar loaded donut. It sounds good if you have few examples to compare it to, but the sound has no “nutritional value” and will fatigue you fast. Especially if you use this for most of your tracks. It is very much worth it to not skimp on microphones. I have bought and sold many, many mics in my career so trust me and save a little longer and get something a little better. No matter what price point you’re buying at.Marty

. Used this on and off for a few years, but was never really happy with it. Very average sound…better on piano, weaker on vocals. Sold it on Ebay and picked up the C414 XLII. WOW!! On the piano it is fantastic. Vocals are excellent too. Much more detailed, nuanced, smooth sound. Really, really like the C414 XLII .Daniel

This was my first condenser microphone that I have purchased for my small in home studio. After months of research I decided upon this mic based off the price and versatility of the product. I am a full time guitarist and vocalist but have never been much on the production side, pretty much saying I know what sound I am looking for. I use this mic mainly for vocals and I’ve got to say that the recordings sound so good out of the mic that I really don’t have to do much as far as mixing goes which I love. This mic has definitely helped boost my confidence in my recording ability and I know that if the track doesn’t sound great it’s from my personal error not the mic. Overall would definitely recommendBrennan

Firstly it comes in a really nice wooden storage box, very classy presentation I must say. For the prices I can't believe the sheer quality and crystal clear signal processing it contains. I find myself barely having to push my EQ or compression as I would normally with one of my old mics which found better use at a pawn shop! I've only had it about 4 months now, and since then every artist I work with including my own songs have been worlds easier to mix and also sound worlds better. I highly recommend it for any engineer or producer on a budget and need a great input source for their craft to have it's best foot forward.EZ Duzzit

I am more than pleased with the Bluebird SL. The upward curve in frequency response exactly meets my needs (recording a wind instrument whose character lies hidden in the overtones). I can easily imagine voices or instruments that this mic is unsuitable for but if you find yourself boosting the 5khz-8khz with eq to achieve a certain presence, do yourself a favor and let this mic do it for you.Mitchell

I love how clear my Bluebird SLs are on everything I've tried them on. Vocals pop in mixes without being too edgy. There's so much headroom there that I need less preamp gain, making for a much cleaner sound. They also sound nice and clean in various positions on my Guild D25 acoustic… even right up on the sound hole without being boomy. I find Bluebirds are brilliant on hand percussion, as well. I liked my first Bluebird so much, I got a second one for stereo. A pair of Bluebirds made my relatively mellow 7' Steinway B cut through an ensemble mix in much more the way a Yamaha does, so bonus… two grands in one! (For solo piano, I'm preferring a pair of Blue's Baby Bottle SLs due to their additional low end.) All in all, Bluebirds are good for just about anything you want to feature in a track, especially if you're going for a modern sound.Moogman

It has a reputation, because it is that good. Takes any vocal and places it at a higher level. Clarity, warmth, presence, yep. If you could only buy 1 piece of gear and youre doing vocals, forget everything else and get this microphone. Run through any interface with a daw, and youll see the difference. Its expensive, yep, but its an investment. Been doing more serious recording over the past 2 years, now I want to go back and re-record all the prior vocals.wdalgabbar_0

An ultimate aspirational mic for me. I have compared this with a vintage u87. For vocals, the vintage U 87 has a slightly more noticeable presence. By presence, I mean that you feel like the microphone is a noctilux-level macro lens focusing in on the singer's articulation and bringing them up close to your ear. All that, but it doesn't sound like it's trying. The new U 87 Ai is almost the same as the old U 87, but a bit more neutral. Less emphasis of sounds like ch (as in, chess), and the specs say less noise. That's my two cents, at least! The U 87 Ai is an amazing sounding mic and lives up to its name. I'd agree with so many reviewers who say that it's just plain good on anything.Peter

I own a lot of microphones for an individual (not a studio), from SM57-58 types, up to the AKG 414 XLII and a bunch in between. As I prepared to move to a greater focus on writing and recording, I decided it was time to purchase a couple of microphones that were the type I have used in a professional recording studio. The first of those that came to mind was the Neumann U87. It was one of two mics (the other being the AKG 414, mentioned above) that I have seen in literally every professional studio I have ever walked into. To say it is a recording industry standard is quite the understatement. Let's talk cost: yes, it costs more than many others. In the world of professional microphones, it's actually on the cheaper end of the spectrum when compared with tube microphones, and it costs many times less than vintage originals. But is it expensive? NO, IT IS NOT. Expensive is a relative term, and refers to the amount of money an item costs… relative to what it is. When what it is happens to be one of the most meticulously built, most heavily copied, and highest performing microphones out there (that is in the estimation of the top-tier professionals in the business, not Joe Equipment-reviewer on your local forum) , the cost is reasonable, and as mentioned, low in comparison to others in its peer group. And how does it sound? Clear and honest. If you sound bad or ameteurish, you will get a very clear rendition of a bad and ametuerish sound. Don't blame the mic. If you put great sound into it, you get incredibly great sound out, and you can hear every nuance. In testing at home, it was sometimes shocking how much more revealing the U87 was. I can only compare it to my experience with any other top of the line equipment. It just keeps surprising you with "oh yeah" moments. Ultimately, nothing is for everyone. And if you don't have the ears to hear the difference, don't waste your money. But if you're up to it, I promise you this mic is up to it as well.Rick In TX

The Aston origin has been a complete game changer for me. It works on virtually every source, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and of course vocals. This mic makes a vocal cut and sit right in the mix. Throw some traditional eqing on it and it's the complete wow factor. People probably think that at this price point, it can't be as good as some of the big boys in the industry. Those people are terribly wrong. This mic should be in everyone's collection, it is a workhorse and in my opinion will eventually become an industry standard. Thank you Aston for making such a great and affordable microphone that sounds as good as as it looks.Rick

In the past, I've owned the Rode Classic, Rode NTK, Neumann TLM 103, and currently own an MXL Revelation Solo, Neumann TLM 49, and Rode NT1. The Origin is easily as good or better than any of the mics that I've owned up until now. It's amazing what you get for the price! Unlike the TLM 103, which sounds almost hyper-real, the Aston sounds completely natural. It was love at first-listen! I was intending on buying another 103, but since I bought the Aston, what for? It's that good of a mic! Ignore the price. This mic takes me further on the dollar than any mic I've ever used. I was a little concerned about the SE Electronics connection, because I had tried and returned a quite lackluster SE mic in the past, but this little mic wipes the floor with the SE mic I tried. And, unlike the new Rode NT1, which is a pretty good mic for the price, the Aston doesn't make you feel like you wish you were using something a little better. It sounds GREAT!!!! After experiencing what this mic can do, I can't NOT get the Spirit!Oklahoma Crooner

Sounds great, excellent design, integrated pop shield works beautifully. Light enough for desktop mic stands too. No daft rubberised coating to peel and flake off in a couple of years either. I don't think I'll ever need to buy another large diaphragm condenser.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Whenever you need a great mic for an unusual situation, consider this unit. I have used this for picking up bass fiddles, saxophones and banjos for over 2 years and have found that this is superior to many other methods of micing instruments. You must set the EQ for each instrument to achieve the tone that you want but this is normal for any competent sound engineer. As with any condenser mic, speaker placement is critical to avoid feedback. This mic is a bit "hot" so be careful when setting the gain to prevent distortion. The cable is a bit thin and care should be taken to prevent damage to the wire. If the connector is left on the floor there is a possibility of pulling the wire from the capsule. In the more than 2 years I have used this mic I have never had a problem with the unit.Reggie409

While I am not a sound engineer, nor do I get too technical about the equipment I use, I do have some respect for the Audio Technica brand name. I bought this little microphone for a specific purpose, and that was to amplify an LP udu drum, which required two condenser microphones. I have found that the holes left in the clay drums are more often than not too small for this mic, however, with a little reaming using a small pen knife, I have been able to custom fit these units into the udu chambers. Most of the newer models have a recessed roll-off switch that drops the reception of lower frequencies to eliminate ambient noises, but with the mic installed internally, I have had no use for that switch. Removing the mic from the flexible arm and clip, I keep the pop screen on otherwise there is distortion from the air movement inside the drum's chamber. The newest design from AT for this Pro35 is the detachable end, which is a good idea since hooking up the instruments always requires untangling of wires, and the CE adapter is quite heavy. This microphone has been extremely useful to me in playing these unique African drums in concert. The sound quality is very high in my opinion, and the sensitivity of these condenser types are uncannily effective for my application. I have used the clip-on arm with an Egyptian jar drum, and this works well also. It is my understanding that these mics are useful for horns or any wind instrument with a bell, and I would like to try them on the rims of snare and tom drums, but haven't gotten around to that yet. For the price these sell even new, I can personally recommend this product for live or studio use to anyone who doesn't mind being restricted mobility wise by the very thin wires that could potentially be easily broken. Handled with care, these little gems should last a long time, hence my excellent rating.outerbeing

The Pro 35 mic is a fine bell mic for horns. I am using mine with a tenor and a soprano sax. Positioning is fine for the tenor — attached to the bell and pointing into it; somewhat less so for the soprano, where the mic is attached to the bell and pointing to the lower keys. The mic's soundscape is neutral and pleasant. Perhaps the one thing I don't like is the rather heavy power module at the end of the mic's cord. It's something that's just waiting to be stepped on and damaged. That said, this is a great mic for the price, no doubt about that at all.Bob_B

If you want to step up your snare recording go for this Microphone. It offer so much more than the SM57. Plus it’s great for Backing Vocals and gives you a natural separation in the EQ without compromising quality! I’d recommend it to anyone!Josh L.

Certain microphones fall into the pantheon of "go to mic" for certain purposes. This is one of those. For snare drum live and in the studio this is as important a tool and in the same class as the venerable 57 (you all know to what I refer). But wait there is more. It is small and easy to place. For snare drum this is to be seriously considered and it ain't to shabby on guitar cabinets. Beyerdynamic is also a very reputable and a legacy manufacturer so it is to be trusted for support. In short no mic locker worth a hoot is to be without one or two of these baby's.pipbiancamano

Versatile, clean warm sound. A deeper low end response compared to a Beta57, yet with a more detailed midrange which gives the impression of better high frequency extension. From now on it is my go-to for micing electric guitar cabs. Build quality top notch, feels very sturdy in your hand and although I havent owned it for long enough to put it through its paces I have read multiple reviews from engineers who have used it in drum applications and say it is built to last. I was so impressed I bought several more to multi-mic drums and percussion.hatchinmusic

Overall: I ended up using this as the vocal mic on a project. The singer was more comfortable with the sound and response of this one versus some other options. This performed great and is clearly tuned for vocal use, tidying up some common shortcomings that can come across on some microphones. You wouldn't believe the vocals were recorded with this and an SM57 a few feet away. It sounded great and proved that this mic can compete with more pro choices in certain circumstances. I've used it for demos and field recordings and it did the trick there too. It's no replacement for "real" studio mics but it's great to have on hand for those moments where you need an extra, and it really does sound good. It honestly has no business sounding as good as it does. If you're considering this mic (it's ideal for a lot of nonstandard applications) it's worth getting.Russell

I have the 990/991 set, and the 990. Both came with stand mounts. Whether your giging, or just knocking out tracks in a buddies studio, you'll want these rigs. The 991 on a fixed stand in front of your accoustic, and the 990 dangling in your face comes out pure heaven on tracks. Crisp, clean, and as good as any $500+ I've been in front of. The cases protect them well. If you set in with your buddies band occasionally, bring these, your instrument, plus your mic stand, and everybody will be using your rig over the 54, 57s, or 58s up there. No kidding. They sound THAT much better. Use the shock mount and a pop screen for best results. One night I had to use electrical tape, and my cord box foam for a pop screen, and it worked great. I've had my stand kicked over, dented the screen a tiny bit, but it kept running like champ. How tough is it? 2 years of S. TX bars tough. So tough that after the first one took a HARD hit and kept running, that I bought another. Money well spent. Get one if you can. Needs phantom power, but if your boards, amps don't have it, you can get the mini amps, compressors that provide it. You won't regret getting one. I put a 54, 58, my 990, and a Peavey into our mixer/power amp, same settings, and this had the best clarity and volume. I'm going to buy a couple more before they go extinct at these prices.guitarasaweapon

Iv'e been recording professionally for over 30 years. I have worked with artist like Prince, Michael Jackson, Patti Labelle, Luther Vandross, DJ Quik, TLC, Tyrese, and the list goes on and on and on. Initially I purchased 8 of these mics to use to record a choir. I had a high end board so I figured I couldnt go wrong with them. BTW .. Marshall produces some pretty amazing high quality microphones. Do not be fooled by the price. An experienced engineer can get the best out of any equipment. But Marshall really does produce good microphones for an unbelievable low price. I was amazed at the performance of these little mics. Since then I have used them on everything from vocals, acoustic guitars, guitar amps, overheads for drums. One day a friend came in with his that he did a 3 dollar modification on. He simply changed out 3 capacitors and opened the head basket. We recorded his vocals and I was floored. We did a A/B with my Nuemann 103 running into a pair of Avalon M5s and again I was floored. I modded 4 of the 8 and they have been my go mics for several years now; and we have a mic locker most would kill over. Even with out the Mod you cant go wrong with these. Get a GOOD pre-amp and I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed. Am I saying that these mics are going to compete with a C12, Telefunken, Neumann that cost anywhere from 1500 – 13,000 …. Yes …… and NO! Just depends on the platform. If using a kick drum or overheads ..NO! Vocals …. yes/no (a tube mic will sound different). But then you have to ask yourself if the difference is worth 10,000 …. If I had one complaint about them is that the mids can be a little harsh with a lower end pre-amp. But even a 10k mic wont sound its best through a terrible pre-amps.Boogie Wonderland