Audio-Technica AT4060

Been making music for 30 years, into recording for 15. Over the years have built up a quality project studio, not without my fair share of tears!
I mainly record rock bands (mobile unit - this is all about attitude, not quality) and pop and rnb. Also do library work.

I use the 4060 in the studio for the pop/rnb stuff. I often put the 4060 through a John Hardy M1 preamp. This is superbly rich. Yet the tube sound is not in your face, saturating the sound beyond usability in the mix. Actually, it doesn't sound particularly 'like a tube mic'. Maybe that's why it is particularly good at layering bvs.

One thing I think that has helped enormously for me was replacing the stock Sovtek 6922/EC88 valve. Your taste may vary, but anything decent from Siemens, Amperex or Mullard will transform this mic from great to sublime. (Newbies - if you want to try this buy your tubes from a legit dealer or you will be ripped off!)

Full time recording engineer for over 10 years. Exclusively 24-Track analog up till 2 years ago, now Analog/Digital hybrid.

I auditioned the AT4060 a several years ago and it was something I knew I wanted in my collection the second I heard it. I finally bought one last month. It's a cardioid condenser tube mic with a nicely rich tone. The best way I can describe it is it cradles tone, embraces the sound.

I bought it as another LDC vocal mic choice and that's where it really shines. Right now my other a/b options are a U87 (70's), Blueberry, CMV563 w/M7 cap, AKG Solidtube, or SM7.

The 4060 was closer to the Blueberry but the 4060 was fatter and rounder especially with a driven male vocal. It really blew me away with softer vocals (male). That's when it showed characteristics of both the U87 and CMV563 w/M7. The 4060 has softer low mids than both those mics tho.

My complaint is the 4060 proximity effect and axis is really unforgiving. Move a little to the side or back away and the mic begins to thin out. BUT that can be a good thing as far as rejecting bleed from other sources in the main performance area.

I also wish it were multi-pattern but I'd suspect the price would go up.

Overall it's a great mic both in price and its ability to stand up against other mics that cost hundreds more. It'll probably be my first go-to mic regarding vocals just to make my initial impressions valid.

Been recording for over 15 years in pro studios. Now operate a mid-range digital studio.

My absolute workhorse mic - I've got 2 of em and use it on everything. Very smooth frequency response, with a slight nudge in the high end that gives it a classic sound. I was able to give it a trial run against a U67, U87, U47, C12A, and 4050 and found it to be most similar to the 67. Not the most popular vocal mic in my studio, but always goes up as an option when we're auditioning mics. Then again, the most popular mic in my studio is a Manley, so....

Probably the best tube cardioid mic available under $1500.