| First of all thanks for doing this shootout!
Without really knowing room acoustics, and mic positions it can be difficult to really ascertain which is really better.
Guitar:
I definitely like the TLM 49 on the finger picking guitar.. very nice. The oktava sounded good, the Shure was smooth but it sounded cheap. 57 - always a great blend mic, but not by itself.
Vocals:
TLM 49 really nailed that pop sound, was an alright mic pairing for the singer. 4047 was ok, some nice air.. not the best choice for the singer. KSM44, the obvious best sounding match for the vocalist, still very smooth. 57 actually really surprised me. I thought it sounded great (when there wasn't clipping), and very usable.
The oktava would do just fine in the acoustic realm, definitely on par with the 49, I didn't like the KSM44, and the 57 was a bit gritty.
The KSM44 was the right pairing for the voice, but unfortunately in my opinion; it sounds cheap - like a home recording. you would have to spend a lot of time vocal processing to get a great sound.
The verdict: The winner hands down to both IMO is the TLM 49. While just hearing those samples by themselves, it may have sounded harsh or in the instance of the vocals, not the right match for her voice. BUT, in the context in the mix; no doubt will the TLM 49 shine through in all the right ways - especially in the vocals. It just sounded more like something I'd hear on a record. |