Neumann CMV563

[Fletcher]

They have as much in common with a U-47 as a U-67... they're often very nice mics for general recording, voice over, and sometimes vocals [which, like any other mic will depend on the singer and the song]. They're often in not so good condition as they're in the 50 year old range and maintenance costs money [which most people don't like to spend as long as the thing still works] so the sound and condition of any given unit can vary greatly.

The best way to know what one sounds like is to try it. I couldwrite 15,000 words on the subject [not that I would] and you'd still know as little about the unit as you do at this very moment. If a picture is worth 1000 words then a listen is worth 15,000... give it a listen, make a decision.

Peace.

[studio57]

Thanks, what is the street price?

[spark1studios]

I've just bought one from Vintage King Audio and had it shipped to me here in Australia. My God, I love this mic!! I've only had it for a month now. Before this I had used AKG 414s and an SM PRO MC 03(modded by JLM Audio here in Queensland), RODE K2's, NTK's etc.. I never really knew how good vocal recording could sound till I got to use my CMV. I see why they say all Rode's lead to Neumann. The dudes at JLM have been on my case to get a CMV and I finally lashed out and got one. I guess for me the sound is just even all the way in the freq spectrum, nothing too hyped. So any EQ etc.. added sounds great. My acoustic guitar recordings now sound amazing too. I used to use a neumann KM184 for acc gtrs but have since retired it. Fiddle as well, not scratchy. I've heard a Gunter Wagner remake U47 recently at a friends studio, that's a phenomenal mic, but my CMV seems to give it a run for it's money, (the U47 cost $10,000 AUS). the CMV cost me $3500 AUS landed here. I like it better than the Peluso U47 copy.

[Fletcher]

When a buyer is willing to buy... and a seller is willing to sell... and they can agree upon a price then that is the price of the unit. 563's aren't traded often enough to really have a "book value" like 47's, 67's, etc. I know I wouldn't pay more than like $12-1500 for one in absolutely mint and stellar condition... but that could just be me... I'm sure some folks would pay double that... but maybe not.

In other words... I dunno... maybe check eBay to see if there is a pricing sales history and work from there.

[Hamburg58]

I have two. They're great mics. Not my favorite on vocals. But they're my favorite room mics ever! And they're great on toms believe it or not if you don't mind the bleed.

It might just be that the PVC diaphrams are starting to get old in mine, im sure some still sound fantastic on vocals!

[Drumsound]

I have a reconditioned CMV 563 with M7 capsulefrom a known guy in the Ukraine. I love it to death. It's full and round without a lot of top hype. Exactly what I was looking for. So far I've liked it on vocals, elec gtr, and bass both ac and elec.

[gainreduction]

I have a cmv563 with M7 capsule that is in heavy use. Vocals and acoustic guitars with brilliant results.

One word of warning. cmv's were made in former east germany and like most businesses under the communist government they had a monthly quota of products to manufacture. Parts available or not, the mics had to be made. This means there are cmv's of very varying quality, they are not consistant because of the non-consistant parts supply in the former east block.

There are ways to find out what parts you have in a cmv. The best ones have small components (resistors and caps) labelled "1" which meant good enough for export.

The good news is, you can still get these mics fully serviced and upgraded to spec "as new and how they should have been made" at the Gefell factory. This includes reskinning or replacement of the M7 capsule. They still make them by hand, the same way as 50 years ago.

I did this to my cmv:

- restored the M7 capsule at the Gefell factory
- recapped and replaced aged resistors (also at Gefell)
- NOS Telefunken tube
- Upgraded to Tab Funkenwerk output transformer
- Checked the PSU
- Bought a EA M600 mic mount for it

In this condition it's a quite rocking mic. Lots of love for it.

PS. The folks at Microtech Gefell are super nice and the customer service is unbelievable. I got the feeling that my 50 year old mic was still under warranty and that they take great pride in servicing them. Amazing company.

PM me if you want to hear soundfiles.

[SergioS]

I got mine from Vintage King with m7 capsule. Brilliant mic if serviced properly. In my case, VK did a great job.

Great mic!!

[matucha]

And they gave me a box for M7S for free after restoring the capsule.

The difference the new capsule made was quite significant. The old ones I've encountered were mostly hard sounding with very strong higher mids. Ok for some things, but the gefell-restored capsule is smoother, more extended to the bass and highs... and the tendency to sound agressive went is greatly diminished.

It sounds supersmooth on softer voices/sounds, but it will saturate too much on screamers.

I'm using it a lot though.


Gainreduction > the Tab Funkenwerk transformer was put into your CMV at Gefell ?

[studio57]

How does the M55K capsule sound? seen those as well?

[matucha]

Very very bright omni. Interesting one, I like it on (nylon) acoustic guitar more than M7 most of the time, because M7 can get too heavy and uninteresting with "dull" sound of nylon. But it depends. Sometimes they are cool on vocal too.

Must say I'm really happy to have a pair.

[gainreduction]

Originally Posted by matucha

Gainreduction > the Tab Funkenwerk transformer was put into your CMV at Gefell ?

Yes.

[Podgorny]

Originally Posted by studio57

How does the M55K capsule sound? seen those as well?

CMV-563/M55K is brilliant on acoustic guitar. The lack of proximity allows you to place it close to the guitar without it getting honky.

As far as value is concerned, it depends upon condition and what capsules are included, but expect to pay between $1200 and $2000.

The CMv-563/M7 combination is great on everything from drum overheads to electric guitars. It's also quite good on vocals (though it lacks some of the bigness of a 47).

All in all, they're probably some of my favorite mics.

[frenzy]

Originally Posted by studio57

How does the M55K capsule sound? seen those as well?

The M55K capsule is a free-field compensated omni directional microphone which is the reason for the rather extreme HF boost, about 6 dB at 10kHz according to Vintage King. The HF boost is very audible but without sounding thin or sharp. I call it the "frying bacon treble" because it kind of sizzles in you face.

I bought a M55K capsule on Ebay after lurking around for a while and it sounds really cool. It has more the characteristics of a wide cardioid, because the back rejection is quite audible, but without the proximity effect when positioned close to the source.
Compared to my M7 capsule it sounds much brighter, but when positioned really close to the source is has a more natural bass and low mid response (like most omni-directional mics) which I like a lot.

I still use the M7 capsule most of the time, but the M55K is a cool option that won't cost you that much if you already own a CMV-563.

It's very nice on acoustic guitar.


Cheers
Frederick

[kosmokrator]

Originally Posted by studio57

How does the M55K capsule sound? seen those as well?

you can hear the CMV563/M55K as room-mics (although quite processed) here: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/6803-pictures-miced-up-drum-kits-studio-40.html#post2055260

[studio57]

we really love our own pair with m7 capsules, useful for many things!! great for over heads, vocals...etc

[perun]

We did many songs with it as the main vocal mic. More as a guitar mic. Some as overhead mic.

We own M7, M8 and M9 capsules. It's like having 3 mics in one! Not only different characteristics, but different characters!

Try it if you can. With all M combinations.

Regards!

[Arthur]

On the first song ("Blanche"), the vocals were sung through a CMV 563 with a Siegfried Thiersch reskinned M7:

MySpace.com - Studio Mégaphone - FR - Other - www.myspace.com/studiomegaphone

This song is kind of a ballad with punky interludes. Please note everybody was recording live, including the singer, which was quite challenging for him, the mic... and the rest of the chain. No overdubs (except for the backing "vocals"). The singer is blowing a couple of harp chords into the CMV as well.

[Joel Hamilton]

I have a pair, with M7/M8/Mk55's, and they are great microphones.

For certain sources, they really do something that none of my other mics (U67/47/87/RFT7151/etc/etc/etc) will do.

[wildpark]

well this gefell mics are the bomb

i have 3 neumann gefell um57 complete restored

since iam too much in mobile recording

i will sell 2 of them send me a mail with your offers.

[jarbar]

The two CMVs I use (M7x2 and a 55K) I think are fantastic mics. I've never used a U47 (same capsule, no?) so can't compare, but I was surprised at their quality for the price (2k/ea). There's no comparison to the U87 (1975) for many applications (piano, drums, room mics, and vocals). Sure, sometimes the 87 (or whatever mic) is better for the job at hand, but the CMVs seem to have that high end sound I (think) I hear in great recordings - clear but smooths highs and great depth.

A few mentioned that they didn't stand up to the U47. Fine. But I was wondering, how do they compare to some of the new tube mics in that price range ($1500-2000)? Ak-47, Peluso's, etc. Are these mics, while maybe not up to par with a true 47, comparable to the CMV?