My Top 5 Mics for Studio and Location Recording

(RE-Upload after a YT view count bug) Over the 30 years I have been into recording sound I have assembled a small but varied locker of microphones. I always tried to balance utility and price, so I can record anything in a "good enough" way without overspending. In this video share my top 5 microphones for studio and location recording with you. There are vintage classics here by AKG, Neumann and Sennheiser, but also usual and even new mics. I also talk about some very special mics even the die-hard mic-heads among you might not know. My hope is that this will be an inspiration when you choose which mics to add to your collection.
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00:00 Introduction
01:28 Top 5
11:11 Things Voice
11:58 Number 1 Spot
13:45 Oddball Beauties
15:28 Why A Collection of Mics makes sense

[@Hainbach]

Re-uploaded after KZbin had a site-wide bug that caused views to be counted incorrectly. I did not want to let it die to a malfunctioning algorithm, I have seen that before. So I deleted it. I rarely ask, but liking and commenting on this would be a massive help. Thank you!

[@LCOmusic]

Welcome back into the field of view of the algorithm :)

[@Podcastage]

Incredible collection Hainbach, thank you so much for sharing. Your exploration of rare and unique gear is always interesting and this is no exception. Keep up the great work and keep making incredible music.

[@hollownation]

My favourite mic is my iPad mic because I always have it with me and I can record anywhere anytime and immediately start to make music

[@roberttower8059]

I was astounded by your voice over microphone. It is absolutely gorgeous. The evenness of the response when you moved around was breathtaking. Wow!

[@scottvogel8477]

I am happy you made this. Just from the thumbnail I could see your astetic in your choices well.

[@insan0r]

Haha, the one about the akg still being quite affordable till the release of this video cracked me up. I made up a term for when some vintage equipment prices increase after one of your videos and someone get's all whiny on the internet about it: "You just got hainbached"

[@compucorder64]

If you ever come across them, the Calrec CM654 SDCs are very nice. I've used them for string instruments, like acoustic guitar.

[@GoodAttitude-hq4tt]

I was so happy to see my favorite mic in your collection. The Shure sm-57. What a great mic. I have a special filter that fits on mine that makes it more like an sm-58. Much love Hainbach you’re awesome!!

[@tommihommi1]

you won't find a studio in the whole world that doesn't have a bunch of sm57

[@clemmcguinness1087]

Great, what filter is that?

[@chinmeysway]

interesting.. i often don’t like it and i have three!

[@discgolfpancho]

A Hainbach video focused on microphones? Splendid! I surprise myself with how excited I get for them. My favorites these last few years have been vintage Realistic microphones. They give my field recordings a certain quality I love. I don't suppose you have ever tried one? Vielen Dank für die Inspiration, die mir deine Filme geben! Tschuss!

[@AB.BABY.]

Was turned onto the MD21 years ago. Great mic for many applications and virtually indestructible.

[@joeheap5193]

Your voice is like a cosy jumper on a winter day - nice to know how it is recorded! 😊🧣☕️

[@HunterAnton]

Great to see Extinct Audio in there!

[@vespid1709]

I love that even with your eclectic microphone collection, you still have an sm57 😂

[@Hainbach]

Would not be a collection without one! I lost my SM58 touring sadly.

[@FRIDGEYTHEGOAT]

I love the personality a mic brings, I'm always trying out different kinds of mic and seeing which I prefer for the sound I want

[@HANGINGOUTWITHAUDIOPHILES]

Great list! I might have snagged a 522 after watching :) never knew about that one. Right up my street.

[@Hainbach]

Oh yeah you will love it!

[@HANGINGOUTWITHAUDIOPHILES]

@@Hainbachha. It was sold. Reverb seller messed up

[@Hainbach]

@@HANGINGOUTWITHAUDIOPHILES Oh no! If I come across one I will let you know. Maybe contact knobexploit on instagram.

[@bricelory9534]

Also, I wanted to thank you as a huge fan of Dials! Offering Voice as a free perk for the plug-in is very generous! I already am a huge fan of AudioThing and your work with them, but this is such a kind gesture! Thank you again!

[@purseffonyserena6253]

Comment of tribute to Lord Algo, purveyor of Rhythms. That Cactus Duet was really cute

[@dieontape]

Hainbach could make a video on the sounds of paint drying on a wall and I would still watch it.

[@oliveribasta5929]

Beautiful collection.

[@Si-Al-Ti]

Nice selection, solid ones, hidden gems and a few, like you said, oddballs. What privilege it is to be able to surround oneself, learning and building one's knowledge with the stuff you love.

[@alexandrumihaibudes3852]

Really helpful video and I always watch these type of episodes with much interest, as a fellow person also on a budget searching to accomplish a minimal functioning setup. I think many would welcome a follow up episode, with other honorable mentions (of microphones) that you came across your path. Thank you!

[@rfinz]

yay! glad to see this video back up :))))

[@Hainbach]

Yeah! I am still wary of pressing release, will wait for a day or so to make it available for everybody again.

[@bricelory9534]

I absolutely love this! These niche sort of comparisons are so helpful when thinking about our own mic choices when there are so many options out there. I would love, if it ends up being something you'd find interesting to do, is run the same audio sources through different mics so we can have a better sense of what each excels at. Of course, I understand that this has extra challenges with KZbin compression and the other well-noted issues with sharing precision audio comparisons on different audio set ups. But I think it could still be really interesting to hear! Regardless, I really love this video - thank you for sharing!

[@soundon4980]

Lately I've been looking up Royer ribbon mics & how they're made. I think its incredible how they're designed & how they capture sound. Also, that cactus toy you put on the piano was a dope idea, that would be cool to use for making loops & samples

[@harzbefehl2443]

Even the cactus sounds good through those

[@paullawson8610]

Nice collection of microphone s ,alot of professional studios I've been to have the U87 but they are expensive thank you sir enjoyed that look through your collection

[@patfinn2697]

Thank you for this priceless review. Microphone purchasing instills much trepidation for me.

[@psychosbudgetsynth7445]

Nice! Thanks for the re-upload!

[@Rivenworld]

Wow! What a collection... awesome!

[@themoonbootman]

I loved this one, thanks hainbach

[@jesusflores2121]

This dude has some crazy dope microphones!!!

[@besenkopf77]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!

[@robertelovsson8344]

This was a wonderful one, thank you!!

[@chubbichicken]

What a collection! ❤

[@BatmanWangChung]

Suh dude! Fabulous mics and commentary! ✌️ 😎

[@DasDoktorchen]

As always very interesting and entertaining....never forget to take the Spinne to the recording palce 😆

[@andrewgobel4936]

Great vid! Cheers & thanks for the insight

[@clemmcguinness1087]

Great video, thanks

[@LouieTaylorMusic]

Awesome!!

[@wychwoodmusic]

Ok, sure, awesome mics with typically interesting Haimbach takes BUT WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THE TOY CACTUS playing back beautifully lofi and distorted piano?!

[@Hainbach]

I wondered that too!

[@wychwoodmusic]

@@Hainbach It sounds amazing! Especially with the contrast between that rich ribbon mic piano sound and the lofi broken cactus sound. Gonna have to look into getting our own cactus - if a pedal made that sound, people would probably be losing their minds and dropping hundreds of dollars.

[@EldarBaruch]

Thank you for the inspiring sharing ✨

[@RogerWarszawa]

"I could ramble on and on about all the special microphones that are in my collection". Well, you said it, and that sounds like the perfect idea for a follow up video. You ramble, we listen 👍 Btw, did you record the first part of this video and then realise that your sweater was on wrong? 🤔

[@Hainbach]

Very observant! :-)

[@RogerWarszawa]

I'm mostly here for the sweaters, so they always have my full attention 😉

[@HubertTheMad]

I don't know how I got here, but I'm glad I i did! Great chamnel, and keep up the great work!

[@robmooijaart5313]

I learned something today, thanks!

[@kurtwestphal2513]

Very nice! Thank you.

[@astrosoniq459]

BM9 is my favorite too, got 4. Recently added the BoRbon, another awesome mic by Extinct, worth checking out.

[@BodoLayer]

Great video, thanks.

[@DTZinatbakhsh]

Yay it's back!

[@redgopnik2227]

those are some sweet vintage tools man, makes me jealous

[@curtishoffmann6956]

I'd be happy just having one of those. And a studio to use it in...

[@ronchichiron8986]

beautiful

[@gloniarz145]

Lovely micophones ❤

[@b.c.slumber3694]

Stunning!! :)

[@paulsutherland3813]

Thanks for the video! At the risk of causing a bunch of microphones to suddenly go up in price, I would love to hear about any very lofi microphone types. Beyond piezo and a couple you've featured before, I'm not finding much.

[@Hainbach]

I just picked up a 1920s Siemens & Halske Hearing Aid, hope I get it working

[@paulsutherland3813]

@@Hainbach oh that's fantastic! fingers crossed for you!

[@alvaroartimejimenez8461]

Super interesting video! Quick question. What are those schockmounts? For example in the extint audio. Thanks !!

[@Hainbach]

Those are by AKG

[@alvaroartimejimenez8461]

Oh really? The thing that you have on the gefell and the extint audio? What's the name of them? Because I can't find them

[@therealnickthesquid]

I’ve got a lovely km86 that needs a new home! Couldn’t think of a nicer place for it to go..!

[@compucorder64]

One type of mic I find indispensable is a stereo Omni in ear headphone sized set. Just got a new set from Earsight in France for around €100. But there's Clippy, and Usi Pro too, but Earsight are better value and may sound better than the Clippys and the Usi is hard to buy. Perfect to carry always with my Zoom F3 for a tiny but great sounding recording setup. For a slightly bigger setup, I like the Line Audio CM4 cardiod on a stereo bar for compact ORTF setup with Sound Devices MixPre 3. Then I like the character of the Oktava MK-012 and it's flexible with the multiple capsules. Think you can mod them for even lower noise. A lot to be said for a self contained recorders mics, like the Sony. Loved my Sony m until I lost it

[@ekkoflok]

Thanks for the recommendations! Just fell in love with the Neumann km184, but totally forgot the cm4, maybe that would be a more affordable alternative...

[@compucorder64]

@@ekkoflokNo worries, there's some good mics at all the price points. CM4 is great, very nice character, but maybe being a back electret doesn't have the top end extension, SNR / senstivity and resistance to handling noise of some more expensive. Then I think the Oktava MK012 also has nice crisp character, especially on voice and guitar, but self noise isn't quite up there with the very best. Then Beyerdynamic MCE930. Then then Neumann km184 you mention. And on up to Schoeps. All good options.

[@ekkoflok]

@@compucorder64 oh, wasn't aware it was an electret mic... Not that it necessarily matters, I just feel the often have a certain vibe... Would you say the CM4 sounds like an "electret mic" if you know what I mean? But thanks for all the recommendations :)

[@compucorder64]

@@ekkoflok no, I wouldn't say it does sound like the electret mics I've used before. It has a smooth high end, but so does something like JZ Vintage mics. And it's maybe not quite as sensitive and ultra low noise as some. But with any kind of good clean preamp, they sound really good. With my Zoom F3 they sound great, Sound Devices, my MOTU Ultralite mkV. Then again, there's some great DPA mics that are electret designs. So I think think really hampers them from sounding good. Neutral but smooth, intimate but not compressed or congested is how I'd maybe describe them - pleasant basically.

[@ekkoflok]

@@compucorder64 thanks for elaborating!

[@chameleonblockstudios]

Micurious, ah I love it

[@marco_movie]

Yes, I've just watched your video and I need to have one. One of these cacti, I mean.

[@gleblasarew6714]

nice Video! Thanks :)

[@KlemenKotar]

Thank you for this video! Loved it. I also own Dials so :) Questions: Ever tried Shure sm545? It's very good, supposedly. Older than sm57. Nr2: Would stock Gefell UM70 sound completely different to your's (because of the preamp)?

[@Hainbach]

I don’t think so - the way to upgrade the preamp would be to use the earlier tube version. Than the sound of the UM would be better

[@chrissherman01]

Just got Dials and Voice, early Xmas present (for me) :)

[@user-et7fk5nz4p]

Hey! Love your content! But what about vintage mic ?

[@NihilQuest]

Great video as always. Do you have / use any boundary mics? I'd love to see a video on these things. I think this is the least known type of mic.

[@Hainbach]

I actually haven't! They seem more of live sound thing to me?

[@NihilQuest]

@@Hainbach I know some people use them for drums / percussion (a kick drum, cajon) but honestly I haven't seen any reasonable info or comparisons, hence my question.

[@LYFoulidis]

They’re a bit of an oddity you won’t use every day. I know of one engineer who loves laying one in kick drums. I wouldn’t describe them as warm and natural, but they have their purposes.

[@NihilQuest]

@@LYFoulidis It's safe to say we're all about oddities here : )

[@needfortweed8734]

Did I spy an Uher M537? I got excited anyways. That is my go to microphone for voice. Naturally, I bought one as well as a backup in case the first one ever breaks...

[@fleshsimulator]

Was hoping to see the Bruel & Kjaer 2203 make an appearance!

[@Hainbach]

I already made video on that, and to be honest I used it only in very special occasions now - it just too heavy to place anywhere.

[@DataCollaborate]

When a Video together with @SanjayC with like Vintage Mics? would be happy to see a Collab

[@medenine4828]

I was hoping you would review the TE CM-15! So curious how it compares to others at that price and generally.

[@Hainbach]

That is the Teenage Engineering one? I was impressed when I used it at Superbooth, seems very handy.

[@MickBenjamins]

mi-curious ❤

[@MinstrelxwS]

damn that u87 sounds nothing like the new one. So lush

[@8manyeah]

MD 21 is truly great ! Have you tried the old french LEM DO21B by wich it is "inspired" ?

[@Hainbach]

No I haven’t! Have to look into that

[@josefpaier5505]

Hallo Hainbach, war ein schönes Konzert in Graz, am Donnerstag! Was für ein Instrument spielst du hier bei 8:09 - eine Art Melodika ...

[@jordanmuller4735]

What’s that cool box instrument @ 8:04?

[@bartolocasanova]

Hi Hainbach, what are you playing here 8:09? Thanks

[@mastaboog749]

Sm 57 for years but I want a really good one next

[@borisgrigull7772]

Im a bit Ribbon Mic obsessed at the moment.. Its cool your no.1 is ribbons!

[@G.Man-]

Are there any versatile budget / reasonably priced ribbon mics you would recommend - i've been looking at the NoHype, sE, T.Bone & Avantone options..?

[@borisgrigull7772]

@G.Man- , I think those options will do just fine, I have had the sE x1R, which stood out sound wise, Also the Bumblebee pro Audio DIY offers great quality components, I bought their ribbon motors and Samar audio transformers, many transformers available . One of my absolute favorites is the Rode NTR, they are apparently going back into production anytime, they are possibly the most versatile, it sounds similar to my AEA KU5A somehow but with a diffreent polar pattern, but costs a bit more than the range you mentioned. I am at a point now if I had to start again, I would just go straight for the mics I want specifically. However I think the so called budget options available now will almost all sound great, hope that helps!

[@G.Man-]

@@borisgrigull7772 Thanks for your suggestions, i appreciate it, sE x1R already on my radar, will look into the other models mentioned

[@borisgrigull7772]

@@G.Man- I introduced my classical flautist/composer friend to ribbon microphones, We did a comparison of classical and Baroque flutes. He has an exceptional ear and had never heard himself recorded with a ribbon. We started with a 44b which was on a whole other level, went through a handfull of others and a condenser for reference but was smitten with the sound of the sE x1R, especially at 1/15th of the cost, and has reported since capturing great vocals and various other instruments since. This was before I acquired the Rode NTR's, which I would personally reach for before the sE....

[@G.Man-]

@@borisgrigull7772 Cool, some have said they find the x1R highs to be a little too much & 'condenser like'... Have you found that?

[@resound7]

I’m curious about the Things Voice compressor app- does it effect the audio recorded by the iPhone during video recording?

[@Hainbach]

It can do live processing yes.

[@resound7]

@@Hainbach very cool, I’ll be getting it and the pc version today!

[@matthewharty6531]

wow

[@exooptik]

Hope the algo picks up

[@thomasjarmer5387]

Schöne Dinge! Sag, wie nennt man das Instrument bei etwa 8:08? Danke für diesen Einblick!

[@Hainbach]

Tocante Karper

[@ninjaxhayabusa]

Is that Alice 828S mixer yours? Regardless, what did you think of it?

[@Hainbach]

I Love it - sounds fantastic

[@soup047]

jeeze

[@marielanomade]

Here for the rerun and pushing the algorythm😅

[@orchestratedpassage9468]

ding ding ding

[@chinosevi]

love den kleinen grünen Kaktus

[@hintzundkuntz6208]

Where can I get the sampling cactus?? 😁

[@Hainbach]

Its everywhere on Amazon etc

[@AutoReport1]

So the clipping is streaming compression?

[@Hainbach]

She was not clipping on the board

[@ajdopeshow]

😮

[@boimesa8190]

What's that dancing cactus thing?!

[@Hainbach]

It’s a fun toy you can get almost everywhere. Found it scaring babies on TikTok

[@ceobe333]

Hi, what's the instrument at 8:02? Thanks :-)

[@Hainbach]

Tocante Karper

[@montazownianr1]

No love for Lewitt?

[@redlopa1]

3:06 audio glitch in the left channel!

[@Hainbach]

It is recording to a live tape loop, so that is normal and part of the sound.

[@Sevetamryn]

Wo bekomme ich en Pianokaktus?

[@Hainbach]

Amazon, Ebay

[@niknice1646]

Mmmmm mics

[@Steinwelt]

When airwaves swing distante voices sing

[@kotanecrosis96]

Is that a Beyer Dynamic M500

[@Hainbach]

M260

[@harrisonrdavis]

commenting for algorithm

[@Nuxman2000]

What the hell happened to your sweater after the first 45 seconds? 😅

[@Hainbach]

I had in on inside out 😄

[@siltyroach1584]

Comment for the dark gods of youtube

[@ElvenSpellmaker]

Wow you recorded Johnny Depp /s