14 Mics, 1 Guitar – Cheap vs Expensive – What do YOU think?

I've been testing 14 mic configurations valued from $49 to $1595. Have a listen, and tell me which YOU prefer!

🎤 MICROPHONES USED
1. Behringer C-2 (Pair)

2. Shure SM57

3. Audio-Technica AT2020
Amazon: Audio-Technica AT2020

4. Rode NT5-S

5. Rode NT1-A

6. Shure SM7B

7. Rode NT5 (Pair)

8. Austrian Audio CC8

9. sE Electronics VR2 Ribbon

10. Neumann KM 184

11. Austrian Audio CC8 (Pair)

12. AKG C414 XLII

13. Neumann KM 184 + sE Electronics VR2 Ribbon

14. Neumann KM 184 (Pair)

🛒 AUDIO INTERFACE
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📖 CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:45 Behringer C-2 (Pair)
01:02 Shure SM57
01:19 Audio-Technica AT2020
01:35 Rode NT5-S
01:52 Rode NT1-A
02:13 Shure SM7B
02:30 Rode NT5 (Pair)
02:46 Austrian Audio CC8
03:03 sE Electronics VR2 Ribbon
03:20 Neumann KM 184
03:36 Austrian Audio CC8 (Pair)
03:57 AKG C414 XLII
04:14 Neumann KM 184 + sE Electronics VR2 Ribbon
04:31 Neumann KM 184 (Pair)

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[Guitarsketches]

Every gear comparison should be done this way

[anhellehna]

How amazing that you are playing throughout the whole video without any articulation changes, so we can just hear the tonal differences of the microphones. I don't even mention the levels.

Basically, I wonder how you played every take almost perfectly identical like the one before, whilst interchanging microphones each time and setting them up.

Surely, I want to emphasise your consistency at playing guitar like this over a bis amount of time. I totally appreciate your work. Just an amazing comparison video!! I don't think that I can find any better one out there. :)

[georgelennon]

Excellent comparison 👏 The Neumann KM184 pair was my favorite.

[TheoDahlemPickups]

Wow!!! I am surprised about how well the ol' SM57 sounds. Very focused.

[jimfogle]

One of the best microphone comparison videos I've seen. The chapters help compare like against like; for example ribbon against ribbon or stereo pair against stereo pair. Way to go Mike!

[FR]

I have a few AT 2020's in use. It is a very versatile microphone. Choir, acoustic guitar, overhead on drums. It never lets you down.

[Chiefmonks]

i liked the austrian audio cc8 the most, it was the cleanest and most neutral one. Every other mic had some kind of "flavour" or own footprint/boost/cut to it that you necessary dont always want. Clear winner for me. It gives you all the freedom in the mixing stage to shape the sound.

[stcenturyparagraphs]

SM57 provides me with the most familiar acoustic guitar sound, not surprising considering how many time-honored recordings have utilized it.
Sometimes less is more, there's no guarantee an expensive mic will make a raw acoustic sounds great.

[AleksiYrtti-bexj]

Awesome video and amazing playing, have to love it! ❤

[jimsanger]

Ive always preferred a single mic on an acoustic, nothing sounds better than that KM184 on its own

[themouthorganizer]

Really helpful and clear shootout - thanks Mike. I left thinking the Behringers punched way above their weight.

[philipalvarez]

Great work, as usual! I thought your editing with this video was fantastic, blending in each tone so you can REALLY hear the difference. Sometimes you hear mic comparison videos and the different samples aren't really back-to-back so it's a little harder to hear the subtle differences.

[charleshuguley]

Hard to compare, but one thing that struck me was how well the Behringer compared to much more expensive mics.

[SimonWellsthephotographer]

One of the best comparison vids I seen. I guess the answer is taste. Some sweet some savoury. But... creatively all useful.

[jeffkautz]

This is the best guitar mic comparison video out there. Thanks Mike! I second the motion on an available download of the audio so we can hear what it sounds like before YouTube gets ahold of it.

[alanhaynes]

My personal favourite for acoustic guitar is the AKG c414 XL11 - which is why I bought one.
It's also amazing on just about everything else too.
I tried the Austrian Audio OC818 as well - but it was just too 'tubby' in the lower midrange, and a shelving low-cut simply didn't rectify that.
Don't get me wrong, it's a great mic - but I definitely preferred the sound of the 414.

[joibjalla]

I seem to like the stereo pairs of small condenser mics the most. CC8 and KM184 sounded great but the Rode NT5 also! I also loved the ribbon VR2 and KM184 combo.

[stevesilva]

Stereo mic'g definitely add spaciousness to the sound. Before getting beyond halfway through, I remained impressed with the Shure SM57 dynamic mic. I have only ever recorded with these and have been happy with the results. However, once you compare that sound to the higher end mics, the SM57 begins to sound "thin". Thanks for the effort to do this comparison.

[pedrofialhodejesus-artist]

My favourite is the Neumann KM184. It's, by far, the best sounding on its own and it sounds great when paired - it's very distinctive. Awesome mic. Is it worth the price tag? Yes, if one can afford it, definitely yes.

Having said that, the Shure SM57 sounds great across the guitar's frequency spectrum, very balanced, but has very little detail in comparison. It would be my second choice from the set.

[DDIII]

Nice work Mike. I really enjoyed jumping between samples. Very helpful.