|
Re: Which mic? [message #104010 is a reply to message #104008] |
Thu, 27 August 2009 23:55 |
|
Hey Wayne - you might also want to take a look at Advanced Audio mics. Some pretty cool studios up here just rave about their C12-inspired mic (I was on a session that used several of those recently in different roles and they killed) and his CM47 is also getting seriously good reviews (this is what Tape Op Magazine and Lynn Fuston had to say).
"... being bitter is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other guy to die..." - anon
|
|
|
|
Re: Which mic? [message #104014 is a reply to message #104013] |
Fri, 28 August 2009 10:25 |
|
In case you missed it, they have a CM-47 FET version too, priced at $289 (!), but I don't know anything about it. I'll ask Paul Baker if he's tried it (he's just using Dave's mics now, his Neumanns seldom get out of their boxes nowadays). Although this is a totally different thing, Dave's CM-54 mics are excellent too. I've seen some new products he hasn't got up on the site yet, such as tube SDCs and a tube ribbon mic.
"... being bitter is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other guy to die..." - anon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Which mic? [message #104027 is a reply to message #104026] |
Sat, 29 August 2009 11:59 |
|
I always loved the TLM103 as a good "all - rounder".
Hmmm... is there a studio with an extensive mic locker in your area that you could book an hour in for a shootout? An hour or two of studio time would be a worthwhile price to pay, and you could listen to the examples at home. If you explain what you're doing, I'm certain there'd be folks who'd be more than happy to go well out of their way to help.
"... being bitter is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other guy to die..." - anon
|
|
|
|
Re: Which mic? [message #104029 is a reply to message #104028] |
Sun, 30 August 2009 00:24 |
|
Hey Wayne - you could also prepare a "no vox" mix of a section of a tune you do. Pick a song you know really well and tend to sing consistently; render it out without vocals, trim it down to say 30 sec (just enough preroll to hear your "in", and then enough for a couple of phrases), do a little fade in and fade out on it, dump it onto a thumb drive as a WAV and bring it to the studio with you. Dropping it into the DAW there will be quick, get relative levels once and there you are, ready to test in "real world" conditions, all they need to do between takes is rewind/swap mics/match levels.
And at the risk of telling you stuff you probably know already: unless your own studio at home is huge - you ain't buying a big room, so don't use theirs - that will add a variable you don't need, track in a booth if that's more like your own work environment. Arrange to have as many mics set up in advance as possible, and make sure they have them all ready to repatch into the same chain. Get them to use a pre as much like yours as possible, or if you're happy with your own, just bring it (some mics don't seem to match particularly well with some pres). If you do include any tube mics (probably not a bad idea, at least for reference - you aren't buying a tube mic today, but who knows, maybe some day you'll be in the market, and then you'll have the clips) then make sure they have 'em plugged in and warmed up, not sitting cold in a box waiting for their turn!
"... being bitter is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other guy to die..." - anon
[Updated on: Sun, 30 August 2009 00:39] Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
Re: Which mic? [message #104251 is a reply to message #104031] |
Mon, 19 October 2009 14:18 |
|
Hey Wayne - I recently ordered a CM47 and it made me think of this thread. How'd you get on with your mic choice, and did you wind up shooting some out?
- K
"... being bitter is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other guy to die..." - anon
|
|
|
|
Re: Which mic? [message #104254 is a reply to message #104252] |
Tue, 20 October 2009 10:09 |
Wayne
Messages: 206 Registered: July 2008 Location: Las Vegas
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Hi all,
I was able to test the TLM103, AKG C414, my CAD Equitek E-100 and a couple Blue's with the PreSonus Eureka (which is the pre I have) at GC. I ran it completely flat. They didn't carry the 4047 which I would have liked to test too. I ended up purchasing the Blue Dragonfly. It was a compromize between the two.
As a reference. The E-100 has a honk like the Yama's NS-10Ms do in comparison to, let's say, ie, Adams, Genelic monitors.
I was almost convinced that I was going with the 103 prior to my tests. And in hind sight I would have been OK. But the 103 seemed a tad too hissy on the highs and the 414 seemed too muddy in the low end. The Dragonfly is not completely tonaly nuetral but does capture my voice with relative accuracy and little coloration.
During my test the 103 had more presence but made me sound a bit processed, the 414 sounded too thick and washy. Since my objective was to capture my voice as clean and nuetral as possible I went with the Dragonfly.
The Dragonfly has just a bit less presence, a good amount of clarity on the highs without the sizzle and a round yet tight low end. With just the Paris plate reverb, noLimit and 2db in a couple areas during mixing, I can hear the change and the vox climbs on top.
Would I recommend it? Yes and No. Why? Because my tests convinced me that until you use your pre and your voice, you're not going to know which mike is best. I guess you guys already knew that.
Is it a good mic? Yes. At $800 bucks (including elastic shock mount) it's a contender.
Wayne
|
|
|
|