hi- i have a studio projects b1 and i use it for everything. i only have that, two sm57s, and an audio technica at25. i am a college student who is trying to learn the art of recording by buying the most useful stuff for the least amount of money. in other words, i try to buy stuff that is both inexpensive but good enough that i wont get rid of it as i slowly aquire different gear. i have heard great things about the at 4033. i have been genereally happy with the results i get with the b1 as an mono overhead and very happy with it for acoustic guitars. i am not too hot about the b1 for vocals. would the 4033 be a drastic upgrade for vocals and an overhead?
maybe new preamps would help. for drums i like a lot of high end and distortion on the overhead. i like cymbals to really crash. as for vocals, i have a monotone voice like steve malkmus. i want something that adds a little more character or bass presence. the b1 is a little thin.
i have been using the preamps on my tascam 388, but since it broke i want to fix it up, sell it and buy a tascam 38 and a soundcraft 200b. would the preamps on the soundcraft be a drastic improvement. also do they include phantom power. since i am trying to learn a lot, i want quality tools that let me fuck with placement to get sounds.
i know this was a long one, but any comments on anything i have mentioned would be greatly appreciated. thanks matt

Where I work sometimes we use the 4033's on toms, but for more pop type music, and for that they sound fantastic. I'm more a fan of 421's for that ap., But I can tell you they do have a bit of a cut sound that you may like if you don't have a whole lot of outboard gear. I'm not sure what the preamps in that price range sound like, but I do know what the 4033's sound like. A lot of people like them on electric guitars and bass, but they wouldn't be my first choice considering what I am granted to work with. Honestly, I can't remember hearing one on vocals, but we do have a 4060 (I think) that's a tube AT mic that sounds pretty nice.

Buy one on Ebay, if you don't like it, sell it back, that's the beauty.

4033 sounds pretty good on vox.
haven't used it as overhead
very good on kick and bass amps

mtar

I'd say, if you'd see a 4033 really cheap, let's say $ 190-200 on ebay, buy it. Clyde already mentioned that you can still sell it again if you don't like.
It's useful for vocals. I even preferred it over a Neumann U87 once but the singer had mumbly low-endy voice. It just doesn't work for all singers because then the voices are hard to place in the mix.
The 4033 has a 3-4 kHz boost that helps guitars and voices, let's say, cut through a mix really well.
It also works on accustic and electric guitars and bass cabinets. I've been using them on toms too, lately.
I'm actually really fond of the whole At 40s series.
If you want something with "more character or bass presence" try a AT 4047. I'm not sure how that suits your "monotone voice" or if it let's your "cymbals to really crash" and gives you enough "high end and distortion" but it's a nice mic to have around.
I'm not sure if a 4033 will be a step up from your studio projects microphone because I'm not familiar with it but it's good to have different tools to work with.
Take a close look at the Soundcraft 200b before you buy it.
In good condition it'll be a step up from your Tascam. They've reached this age now where things start to get a bit dodgy. That means you might have to invest a lot of time and money in a fairly cheap desk. The last 200b that I've been offered was pretty fucked.
Good luck and keep on keepin' on.
Max

radismatt wrote:hi- i have a studio projects b1 and i use it for everything. i only have that, two sm57s, and an audio technica at25. i am a college student who is trying to learn the art of recording by buying the most useful stuff for the least amount of money. in other words, i try to buy stuff that is both inexpensive but good enough that i wont get rid of it as i slowly aquire different gear. i have heard great things about the at 4033. i have been genereally happy with the results i get with the b1 as an mono overhead and very happy with it for acoustic guitars. i am not too hot about the b1 for vocals. would the 4033 be a drastic upgrade for vocals and an overhead?
maybe new preamps would help. for drums i like a lot of high end and distortion on the overhead. i like cymbals to really crash. as for vocals, i have a monotone voice like steve malkmus. i want something that adds a little more character or bass presence. the b1 is a little thin.
i have been using the preamps on my tascam 388, but since it broke i want to fix it up, sell it and buy a tascam 38 and a soundcraft 200b. would the preamps on the soundcraft be a drastic improvement. also do they include phantom power. since i am trying to learn a lot, i want quality tools that let me fuck with placement to get sounds.
i know this was a long one, but any comments on anything i have mentioned would be greatly appreciated. thanks matt

The 4033 is a nice mic. You might find it useful.