Upgrading a mic

I can speak for what I have used. The 414 is a very versitile mic, but can be hit or miss on placement. It is quite bright, and sometimes I think there are other mics that have more "body" to them. Nonetheless, it is still a studio standard (for good reason) and considered a good vocal and instrument mic choice. The TLM103 is a CLASS-ACT for vocals. Very much has the classic "Neumann sound" in the high end. It tends to have some coloration, and I have used it primarily on vocals and less on instruments. The AT 4050s are, IMHO, some of the best mics to have around. I have found them less bright than any of the others you mention. I have not used them on vocals, but they are absolutely the best piano mics I have ever heard. Highly recommended, and a very good deal. That's my $0.02-- Good luck!

I agree with BHeller on the AKG 414. It's a very versatile mic. If you don't have a lot of mics then it's perfect for recording many different kinds of voices and instruments. I recomend the AKG C414 B-TLII. It's the version of the 414 which I feel is best for vocals. Don't get me wrong the 414 BULS is nice too, but I really feel there's a warmth and sharpness that's captured in the TLII much more. It's one of the best mics I've used on acoustic instruments also. This mic never goes back in its case, it's always being used for something. Questions? E-mail me if you have any.

While I don't have any experience with it, there's a new mic modeling software product that may be of interest, Antares' MicModeler (). Given a decent mic in hand, it's designed to emulate a variety of other (some costly) mics. Anybody know how well MicModeler works? Of course, for guitar amps, the Shure SM57 is a studio standard, and I've read that Tom Petty uses them for vocals, as does POTUS.

If you're going to use it to mic guitar amps (or other instruments), you should consider getting a Royerlabs R-121. What I like about this mic is that it won't change your sound the way other mics do. I've used it to record guitar and harmonica, and if you're getting a sound that you really like with your amp, you don't want a mic that is gonna alter this. A lot of producers are using it for recording guitars. Check out and good luck on your search.