Wunder CM7 vs Beesneez T1 vs U87i vs Beesneez James

[anguswoodhead]

Well hi there slutz.
We had our first session up at the new Sunshine Coast Recording Studios in Buderim, Queensland, Australia yesterday.

While I was there I took a few minutes to do a little shootout between 4 mics.

The contestants are -

Wunder CM7 (U47 clone)
Beesneez Tribute 1 (U47 clone)
Neumann U87i (30 year old classic)
Beesneez James

Unfortunately the vocalists are all male as there were no females around, but here is the challenge.

Firstly pick which mic is which,
Then select which mic we chose to use on Kel's voice for the days recording.

[anguswoodhead]

Here is the 4 mics with Kel singing. The Rain - HOME
Obviously all 4 mics are being recorded at once.

I used 4 x JLM Audio Dual 99v 500 series Mic Pres.
No HPF is engaged.
In all the tests the vocalist is around 8 inches back from the mics.
I tried to level match them as close as possible.
They are raw 24 Bit 44.1 k files.
Kel is playing electric guitar while he sings.
The Amp is in the vocal booth next door.

[anguswoodhead]

Here is Al having a croon.

[anguswoodhead]

And Ian.

[anguswoodhead]

And James.

[Aearth]

I like 1 and 4 the best.

nIC

[Wiz_Oz]

For me, I like the sound of 1 the best...its kinda like all the other mics are in cardiod, and 1 is in omni...thats the best way I can describe it ....feebly..8)

thanks for doing the test...looking forward to finding out, whats what.


cheers

Wiz

[DONNX]

From this little test...With the first vocalist on the guitar. 1 and 4 were my picks (mic and preamp dry). The others seem a little bit too bright for my taste or hyped in the highs. I would say all the mics on the record are all good mics.


Now I assume you never changed the order of mics. 1-4.

Different vocalist really show that not one mic works for all.

On the other vocalist. the choices for me were different.
Ian normal voice mic#3
Ian (falsetto voice) mic#2
New york tune. by James. mic#2.
Gritty sea shell seller...mic#4

Thanks for the post..

[MadGuitrst]

I'm only going to comment on Kel #1

Mics:

#1 - The Wunder - a well rounded mic.

#2 - The T1 - based on your other clips (my Arabella doesn't sound like this. My Arabella sounds older, smokier, doesn't have the high end of your T1).

#3 - The James - round and no essiness.

#4 - U87, this was easy to pick out.

You picked the James on this day for this singer.

What do I win?

P.S. Please never let Al, ahem....sing again.....

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by MadGuitrst

P.S. Please never let Al, ahem....sing again.....

LOL.

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by DONNX

Now I assume you never changed the order of mics. 1-4.

That is correct - Mic 1 is always the same mic.
Mic 2, Mic3 and Mic 4 also.
Only way to be fair with the tests.

[MadGuitrst]

Hey Angus, I'm not sure what to make of your reviews after seeing this picture:



This explains the Mahalia clips.

[drBill]

I listened on LSR25P's.

Not sure if it was the mics, my tired brain (14 hour days ever since I got back from a week in HI a monthy ago), or the converters in my mac mini (I listened in my office not the studio), but there really wasn't enough of a difference between them to even make an intelligent comment. I mean, it's really a gnat's hair splitting of a difference at best.

Really, at this level it's just throw up a mic and let's make some music.

Maybe I'm going deaf?

BTW, I only downloaded the first batch - Kel. He sounds good on all the mics.

Maybe there's a more pronounced difference on the other singers....

Got to get back to work though. Maybe listen to the rest later.

bp

PS - kind of made me want to STOP buying more mics after trying to split hairs and justify buying a new $4k mic that sounds only infinitesimally different than ones I already have. If I can't get it out of the 60+ that I already have..... For R&R, the 87 always seems to get the nod around here and I've got a golden one so......

PPS - the beezneez logo is growing on me. Starting to like it......

[Aearth]

Originally Posted by MadGuitrst

Hey Angus, I'm not sure what to make of your reviews after seeing this picture:



This explains the Mahalia clips.

Is that what an Angus looks like?He also has the mic wrong way around if that is a Baby Blue.

nIC

[Kumbari]

I have seen him before and that is exactly what he looks like all day every day in or out of bed.

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by Aearth

Is that what an Angus looks like?He also has the mic wrong way around if that is a Baby Blue.

nIC

Promo photo mate - of course I know what the front of the Blue mic is - I used it for years as my studios main vocal mic.
Not a bad 'cheap' mic - the Beesneez leave it for dead though IMHO

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by drBill

PPS - the beezneez logo is growing on me. Starting to like it......

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by MadGuitrst

This explains the Mahalia clips.

(There was something wrong with the mic.)

[MadGuitrst]

Originally Posted by Aearth

He also has the mic wrong way around if that is a Baby Blue.

nIC

That was my point

[anguswoodhead]

Man I look young in that photo.
Thanks for that Mad.

Now can we get back on topic - anyone else game to have a guess at the mics?
Lot's of views but aren't you guys game enough to 'ave a go' at guessing which mic is which?

[mics]

can i guess? pleeeaaaase!!!

Just kidding, enjoy the shootout boyz and girlz

cheers

[Aearth]

Originally Posted by anguswoodhead

Man I look young in that photo.
Thanks for that Mad.

Now can we get back on topic - anyone else game to have a guess at the mics?
Lot's of views but aren't you guys game enough to 'ave a go' at guessing which mic is which?

Man I look Mad in that photo.
Thanks for that young.

nIC

[Aearth]

You picked the Wunder for the singer.

nIC

[Aearth]

Originally Posted by mics

can i guess? pleeeaaaase!!!

Just kidding, enjoy the shootout boyz and girlz

cheers

Don't do that, Lugo will come after you again.

nIC

[baslotto]

They all sound so close!
I like them all.

My guess:

1: James
2: Wunder Audio
3: T1
4: U87

I'm surely wrong since I have only heard a WA a couple of times and different U87s before.

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by baslotto

They all sound so close!
I like them all.

My guess:

1: James
2: Wunder Audio
3: T1
4: U87

I'm surely wrong since I have only heard a WA a couple of times and different U87s before.

You got one right.

[badboymusic]

Originally Posted by anguswoodhead

Then select which mic we chose to use on Kel's voice for the days recording.

Your Australian, so you better have picked one of the Beesneez.

I'm just going to say my preference on Kel's voice on this song would be #1.
I'm not familiar enough with Beesneez microphones to be doing anything more than guessing.

Cheers mate!

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by badboymusic

Your Australian, so you better have picked one of the Beesneez.

Hee hee - we picked the mic that we all felt was 'nicest' on his voice.
That's all I'm saying right now,
However I will say that when it comes to picking a mic for a particular vocalist I don't care whether it's a $1000 or a $10,000 mic - I just want what sounds the best.

[badboymusic]

Originally Posted by anguswoodhead

Hee hee - we picked the mic that we all felt was 'nicest' on his voice.

I'm just sayin', unless you want to be run off the island.

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by badboymusic

I'm just sayin', unless you want to be run off the island.

I hear ya mate.

It is only a small place after all.