Due to interest from a previous thread I started when my NU-47 arrived from Finland, I have posted eight audio samples from different microphones in my collection. In no relevant order the mics are as follows:
Neumann U67
Neumann M149
Neumann U87ai
Sony C800G
Telefunken U47 (original long body chrome top)
Telefunken ELAM214 (re-issue from Telefunken USA)
Manley Reference
Nordic Audio Labs NU47
(NOTE: the mic order listed above is random and does not necessarily reflect the wav file order below)
This was by no means a scientific test, but all mics were level matched with the mic pre as closely as possible, and the chain was consistent - API pre, Radar Nyquist Converter, to ProTools HD (44.1, 24 bit .wav). The singer was here, so we just did a quick little comparison. No eq or compression was applied. I would love to know your thoughts. After everyone has voted, I will post a key as to which .wav file is which mic.
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I liked the brighter sound of 2,5,6 and 8. 5 was my favorite, not as sibilant as my other choices. Seemed to me to be balanced better than the rest. Great mic collection! Would be nice to hear how they sit in a mix though.
I like #3 and #5 the best. Like syra said there were a few gettin' a little sss'y but all in all they all sounded good and were probably useful. Nice mic collection and nice shootout, thanks for taking the time man.
Due to interest from a previous thread I started when my NU-47 arrived from Finland, I have posted eight audio samples from different microphones in my collection. In no relevant order the mics are as follows:
Neumann U67
Neumann M149
Neumann U87ai
Sony C800G
Telefunken U47 (original long body chrome top)
Telefunken ELAM214 (re-issue from Telefunken USA)
Manley Reference
Nordic Audio Labs NU47
(NOTE: the mic order listed above is random and does not necessarily reflect the wav file order below)
This was by no means a scientific test, but all mics were level matched with the mic pre as closely as possible, and the chain was consistent - API pre, Radar Nyquist Converter, to ProTools HD (44.1, 24 bit .wav). The singer was here, so we just did a quick little comparison. No eq or compression was applied. I would love to know your thoughts. After everyone has voted, I will post a key as to which .wav file is which mic.
Thanks guys - it was a lot of fun. We recorded several pieces quickly, including more aggressive rock tones, softer and warmer Sinatra type stuff, airy tones, etc. Each test showed different strengths and weaknesses. There were just too many to post here. However, we may put together one with an acoustic guitar. The guitar may show a little more frequency range.
Like I said, it was nothing really planned or scientific, just a quick check of some different tones from some of my favorite vocal mics. Obviously a mix, EQ, or compression can change things dramatically. The good thing is that there is no right or wrong. All are very usable in a mix and ultimately would make a great end product.
We decided to do one vocal take with all mics at the same time rather than separate performances on each mic. It is a little easier to compare that way. To offset the diaphrams being a little distance from each other, we had the singer stand back about two feet. This helped eliminate proximity effect and let each diaphram get an equal chance at sound. We also left open the door to the iso booth so we could hear what a little decay from the large live room would sound like leaking in. Once again, far from laboratory conditions, but fun anyway.
Once we get a little more voting, I'll post the microphone key.
Thanks a lot for putting this together, Glenn! Much appreciated!
First off, most of the mics sound very similar, a lot of them beiing Neumans or clones - it is to be expected. Now, I like a bright mic, so I prefrered 6 and 8, which I suspect are the Manley and the Sony. I finally settled for 8, but it was a close call. The esses were a litlle less agressive on number 8. Looking forward to hearing the results and getting to know which is which.
Cheers,
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World Studios
Malmö, Sweden
I just tried to compress the files heavily using Sonox Dynamics TDM. Then a hf ringing in number 8 became obfious and irritating. Can I change my mind? I now prefer number 6, which I think is the REF C (I have one), even if the esses do come off very hard. There is a fix for that particular problem. Number 5 is very nice too and mabye the most all round one and with a healthy boost at12k and up it would work for me, if I wanted a bit of that yummy Neumann vibe. I will shut up now.
This was by no means a scientific test, but all mics were level matched with the mic pre as closely as possible, and the chain was consistent - API pre, Radar Nyquist Converter, to ProTools HD (44.1, 24 bit .wav). The singer was here, so we just did a quick little comparison. No eq or compression was applied.
I'm going with #8... it's a well-balanced mic to my ears... #'s 5 & 6 (which have more votes, at least as i'm typing this) both seem to have a bit of a "boxy" quality I'm not enamored with. #4's got something weird going on... it sounds like it's being pushed hard, when in this vocal demonstration, it certainly isn't.
Thanks for posting the clips! I enjoy being able to hear examples.
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An interesting note about my M149, it is about 3 years old or so, after I got it, I didn't really like it on any voice (or much of anything really except choir/room), but after a 2 years of very little use, the tube started going bad. I called Neumann and ordered a new tube (comes with circuit board and tube together and cost $400 or something ridiculous). After replacement, the mic has never sounded better - it was a huge improvement - go figure?
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