Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Advanced Audio CM-47 VS ACM1200, TLM49 & C414uls

pasarski · 17th January 2010

Thanks for the shootout!

(Got them all, yeah

)

I have ACM1200 (different brand though) and have used 414 (not the ULS though) quite much. Haven't used the other two mics but heard some TLM49 clips before.

ACM1200 and CM47 was the hardest. To me they sounded almost the same. ACM1200 sounded a little bit 'warmer' to me whereas CM47 had a bit more defined mid range. I think it would be easier to EQ the CM47 to sound like ACM1200 than the other way around..

ACM1200 vs. TLM49 was easy. I don't know if its the tube vs. tranny thing or more the C12 type vs. Neumann type sound thing but the difference was huge. Lack of mids (or mid definition) in ACM1200 compared to TLM49 was obvious as was the hyped top end of the ACM1200 compared to more delicate Neumann highs. ACM1200 still 'warmer' but very 2D (which isn't all bad, cause it also makes it sit nicely in front of the mix, contemporary 'on your face' style)

To CM47 vs. TLM49 the above text applies, exept the 'warmer part', and maybe the 2D part, I think that CM47 is a tad more '3D' than the ACM.

414-ULS vs.CM47. Like night and day. 414 has so much that low mid - upper low - 'meat' in it that it's scary. It's a little bit cold sounding, little bit SM57'ish if I may say. Very workable sound though. BTW ain't this the B-ULS that people refer to 'bullshit'? It don't sound shit to me, better than the XL II I've used anyway. XL II sounds even more cold to me, and has upper mids/highs that I find harsh.

I just bought a mic which is same as ACM1200. Was happy to hear how well it did in the test (BTW, I swapped the stock 12AX7 valve to NOS 12AT7 which made it 'smoother' and removed the 2 inner layers of grille mesh which helped to get rid of the nasty spike it had at the 10khz area.)

Considering the price, if I were to choose two mics of different colors from this bunch I'd pick ACM1200 and 414 B-ULS.

EDIT: If i were to choose just one 'universal' vocal mic and the price wasn't a issue I'll maybe pick the TLM49.

17th January 2010	#11
pasarski Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Finland Posts: 845	Thanks for the shootout! (Got them all, yeah) I have ACM1200 (different brand though) and have used 414 (not the ULS though) quite much. Haven't used the other two mics but heard some TLM49 clips before. ACM1200 and CM47 was the hardest. To me they sounded almost the same. ACM1200 sounded a little bit 'warmer' to me whereas CM47 had a bit more defined mid range. I think it would be easier to EQ the CM47 to sound like ACM1200 than the other way around.. ACM1200 vs. TLM49 was easy. I don't know if its the tube vs. tranny thing or more the C12 type vs. Neumann type sound thing but the difference was huge. Lack of mids (or mid definition) in ACM1200 compared to TLM49 was obvious as was the hyped top end of the ACM1200 compared to more delicate Neumann highs. ACM1200 still 'warmer' but very 2D (which isn't all bad, cause it also makes it sit nicely in front of the mix, contemporary 'on your face' style) To CM47 vs. TLM49 the above text applies, exept the 'warmer part', and maybe the 2D part, I think that CM47 is a tad more '3D' than the ACM. 414-ULS vs.CM47. Like night and day. 414 has so much that low mid - upper low - 'meat' in it that it's scary. It's a little bit cold sounding, little bit SM57'ish if I may say. Very workable sound though. BTW ain't this the B-ULS that people refer to 'bullshit'? It don't sound shit to me, better than the XL II I've used anyway. XL II sounds even more cold to me, and has upper mids/highs that I find harsh. I just bought a mic which is same as ACM1200. Was happy to hear how well it did in the test (BTW, I swapped the stock 12AX7 valve to NOS 12AT7 which made it 'smoother' and removed the 2 inner layers of grille mesh which helped to get rid of the nasty spike it had at the 10khz area.) Considering the price, if I were to choose two mics of different colors from this bunch I'd pick ACM1200 and 414 B-ULS. EDIT: If i were to choose just one 'universal' vocal mic and the price wasn't a issue I'll maybe pick the TLM49.