Condensers

Neumann U87 AI Modern version of the legendary classic. This mic belongs to The Laundry Rooms but can be hired for your session for a small extra charge.

Beyerdynamic MC740 A high-end multi-pattern LDC that sounds great. This mic belongs to The Laundry Rooms but can be hired for your session for a small extra charge.

AKG C414 B-ULS Another classic LDC mic that can be used for almost everything. This mic belongs to The Laundry Rooms but can be hired for your session for a small extra charge.

SE Electronics Z5600A This is a large diaphragm valve condenser mic with 9 polar patterns to choose from. It sounds big and detailed, but not too coloured. Its a great vocal mic, but I'm also fond of it as a drum overhead.

Rode NT5 (pair) A matched pair of small diaphragm condensers, excellent for drum overheads, acoustic guitars and many other applications.

Beyerdynamic MM1 This is actually a measurement microphone, but it provides very flat and accurate recordings, and as a true omni mic its a useful alternative to my NT5s.

Behringer ECM8000 Another omni measurement mic. This one from a manufacturer I usually avoid, but this is one product they seem to have got right: performance seems virtually identical to the Beyerdynamic MM1 above, and I have used the two together as a stereo pair with excellent results.

Samson CL8 Another large diaphragm mic. This one has a choice of three polar patterns, and I often use it in figure of eight mode in combination with the Z5600A mic for mid-side stereo recordings.

Stagg MC07 Another LDC, this time with cardioid or omni modes.


Ribbons

Beyerdynamic M160 A classic double ribbon mic with a hypercardioid pickup pattern. This is good for certain types of singers, or for warm fat drum overheads, or chunky guitars, or rich, earthy woodwind or brass... probably my favourite microphone!

Beyerdynamic M130 This is the figure-8 version of the M160. Slightly darker sounding, but otherwise very similar. This is designed to be used with the M160 for mid-side stereo recording, which can sound glorious for things like choirs, horn sections or classical ensembles.

Beyerdynamic M260 Mine is an old vintage model I found on ebay. Its a bit brighter sounding than the other two Beyer ribbons, and can be used for vocals without a separate pop-shield. Its another of my favourites!


Dynamics

AKG D12 It is highly likely that this microphone is older then I am! It was designed in the early 1950's, and during the 70's it became the standard mic to use for kick drum: with no processing it gives an instant classic 'thump' sound, but it also takes EQ well and can be shaped to give a more modern kind of 'slam'.

AKG D202 "Sound Rocket" This mic has an unusual shape (hence the nick-name) but also an unusual design: it uses separate diaphragms for the bass and treble frequencies, and combines them via a cross-over network, kind of like 'woofers' and 'tweeters' in reverse. The result is an unusually wide and flat frequency response for a dynamic mic, and no proximity effect. These mics are used in the houses of parliament: have a close look next time you see PMQ on the telly!

AKG D222 "Sound Rocket" Slightly more modern version of the D202 above. Also sounds fantastic.

Beyerdynamic M201 (pair) These hypercardioid dynamics are favourites of the BBC, and sound good on almost anything. They are particularly effective for snare drums, where they usually sound better than a '57 (in my opinion) and pick up less spill from the hi-hats.

Beyerdynamic M101 Omni version of the M201, with a very smooth and natural sound.

Beyerdynamic M88 This is ostensibly a vocal mic (Phil Collins sings into them live!) but it is actually my go-to mic for bass guitar amps, and one of my favorites for kick drum. Its also killer for guitars, brass,and loads of other stuff. Mine is a vintage silver model with a Tuchel connector (it used to belong to the BBC.)

Beyerdynamic M69 Similar to the M88 above but without the extended low frequencies, and with a presence boost which can work very well for female vocals. Also sounds great for guitars, snare drums, trumpets etc.

Beyerdynamic M81 / M810 (x3) These vintage mics look like minature MD421s, and have a warm and fat sound that suits guitars and toms very well. Both M810 mics have Tuchel connectors, while the M81 is hardwired, but otherwise all three mics look and sound indentical.

Blue Ball (pair) These are phantom powered dynamic microphones with a distinctive spherical shape. Good for drums, bass cabs and guitars.

Sennheiser MD515 "Stick Grenade" Another usual vintage mic with a distinctive shape and a nick-name. This mic uses the same diaphragm as the famous MD421 microphone, and produces a similar big, open sound, with lots of detail. This is a great mic for drums (including kick drum), or bass and guitar cabs.

Shure SM58 (pair) I don't suppose I need to say much about these. Industry standard for good reasons, and useful for much more than just vocals. My two are a bit dented from live sound duties, but both work fine even after years of service.

Shure SM57 (pair) As above, except I rarely use mine live (and never for vocals if I do) and have kept them both in perfect condition.

Shure Unidyne (x2) These were the precursors to the SM57, and sound very similar albeit slightly warmer. I have two slightly different models, and they provide useful alternatives when micing guitar cabs.

Shure Beta 56 Brighter sounding than the classic '57s, and with an angled body to make it easier to get into tight drum kits.