Anybody not like the CAD M179?

[msum]

Hi all,

Seems like everyone loves the CAD M179 as a a great "bang for the buck" mic or maybe even in some cases as a very good mic fullstop. I'll be ordering some later this month or next month (thanks to Warren from Zen Pro Audio; he's great to deal with).

I think I've only ever read one bad comment on GS about the M179s. Which led me to wonder, who here on GS dislikes the M179? If so, why?

Don't be shy. After all, people always seem to be more likely to mention things they like rather than ones they don't.

Cheers,
Matt

[Danner]

Beware of Internet lore

[Chrislpp]

For the polar patterns and FR I can't see a reason not to like it.

[dannygold]

Originally Posted by Danner

Beware of Internet lore

So.... you don't like them? Have you used them? I have and I think they're pretty great.

[lynyrd]

I have a pair of M179s and for toms they absolutely rule but that is the only thing I use them for. I don't think they sound particularly good on vocals for example.

[Dag Elias]

whats there to like about them?they dont compliment your drum sound in any way.
sounds like a cheap radio shack mic.
because of the the nasty frequency boost they are unusable for me.
why would you put a condenser on your floor tom for ex?
hats and cymbal wash all over the place if comp it...
a lot of the posters here sells it by the way...

[dannygold]

Originally Posted by Dag Elias

whats there to like about them?they dont compliment your drum sound in any way.
sounds like a cheap radio shack mic.
because of the the nasty frequency boost they are unusable for me.
why would you put a condenser on your floor tom for ex?
hats and cymbal wash all over the place if comp it...
a lot of the posters here sells it by the way...

Lots of of engineers use condensers on toms, and besides "I don't like condensers on floor tom" is not an argument against the M179!I mean you might as well say 414s suck because you don' t like condensers on toms. Jeez.

[Dag Elias]

well,thats my opinion about it.
and my experience of it.
so what's yours...?

[biggator6]

why would you put a condenser on your floor tom for ex?

Ask Butch Vig.

I have one 179 right now - will order a few more. They sound amazing on toms and as overheads - haven't tried it on vocals or much else besides drums yet.. but it's a fairly un-hyped sounding mic. It reminds me a lot of a 414 on some sources.

because of the the nasty frequency boost they are unusable for me.

which frequency boost are you referring to? where does it have a major bump in the response - and using which pattern?

Not picking on you - but if you're hearing a nasty frequency boost, there may be something wrong with yours.

[Tom Hakala]

I usually go for dynamics (sm57, md421, e504), but condensers are nice on toms too. You can reduce cymbal bleed with a figure 8 (414, at4050..).

[Dag Elias]

why would you put a condenser on your floor tom for ex?
Ask Butch Vig.

I have one 179 right now - will order a few more. They sound amazing on toms and as overheads - haven't tried it on vocals or much else besides drums yet.. but it's a fairly un-hyped sounding mic. It reminds me a lot of a 414 on some sources.


Yes,mine must have been broken if its supposed to sound ANYTHING like a 414!

[Dag Elias]

If your liking condensers on drums,try the octava mk 012!

[fiddler59]

What is there not to like about M179's. There cheap and while there are better mics out there, the M179 will hold its own. Especially for the price !! The main thing is they don't suck !!

David Blackmon

[Dag Elias]

because there are better (in my opinion)cheap mic's out there for drums.
like the sennheiser e604 for ex...

[rackdude]

When I pick up a mic just to play with, it's an M179. Why not?

[Digital Black]

Does anyone know where I can find some audio samples of the m179? If not please post some. I mainly want to hear how they sound as overheads, on guitar, and on vocals.

[xhavepatiencex]

My biggest complaint is they are really ugly. They do sound great on toms, and I think they sound great as room mics too. They don't tend to get used for much else though.

[Tomer1]

For the price they are great, I heard they use the same 797 capsule as SP choose for their B series mics.
Only down size compered to other Multipattern mics suce as the SP B3 for example is that the PCB is entirely SMD so in 5 years if it ends up sitting in your closet since you have upgraded to more blingy mics its gone be hard/impossible to make something new out of it other then replacing the capsule for a difference color.

[Ol' Betsey]

Originally Posted by dannygold

Lots of of engineers use condensers on toms, and besides "I don't like condensers on floor tom" is not an argument against the M179!I mean you might as well say 414s suck because you don' t like condensers on toms. Jeez.

I know. I like condensers AND 414's on toms.

R.

[erosconpollo]

I've found these to be quite nice on piano, especially in live performance. Might not be the first choice in the studio but they would do a credible job.

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by erosconpollo

... a credible job.

I carry around two 179's as "extra safety" backup mics on each and every gig. Like for the cases when you arrive at the hall and they hit you with, "oh, hey, at the last minute we persuaded a conga player/marimba/chorus to join us-- isn't that great!"

In addition to being excellente on close-focus things, the off-axis capture is always really, really fine-- uber reliable. So now I keep waiting for the "279"-- whatever that will be.

[Ol' Betsey]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

In addition to being excellente on close-focus things, the off-axis capture is always really, really fine-- uber reliable.

Haven't tried the 179's yet (it's on my utility to-buy list) but that's what I've always liked about 414's.

R.

[BFSound]

Originally Posted by Dag Elias

because there are better (in my opinion)cheap mic's out there for drums.
like the sennheiser e604 for ex...

While i have never used an M179 on Ftoms or any toms. I love our E604's i think for lower priced senheisers they have a good sound to them.

What do you think about them Dag?...

[RTR]

I have a CAD M37 , it is supposed to be like the m179 but cardioid only..I think it sounds very good!

[Dag Elias]

Originally Posted by BFSound

While i have never used an M179 on Ftoms or any toms. I love our E604's i think for lower priced senheisers they have a good sound to them.

What do you think about them Dag?...

the e 604 sounds great on toms up to a size 14"
the placement is important! i like them facing flat against the head about 2inches up!
if you like more of a jazz sounds with lots of presence go for the oktava mk 012!
not to many people probably ever tried them on toms....

if you want to master the sound of your drums read the "drum tuning bible"
theres 80% of the sound right there!

[GZsound]

Originally Posted by Dag Elias

well,thats my opinion about it.
and my experience of it.
so what's yours...?

I'd be real interested in what "nasty frequency boost" you are talking about.

Have you ever seen the frequency chart on the M179? And in what pattern are you talking about?

[gehauser]

Originally Posted by GZsound

Have you ever seen the frequency chart on the M179? And in what pattern are you talking about?

See attached image for frequency pattern

Originally Posted by blueSG96

Does anyone know where I can find some audio samples of the m179? If not please post some. I mainly want to hear how they sound as overheads, on guitar, and on vocals.

CAD M179 samples (cheap LDC shootout on guitar):
http://ffts.com/music/shootout5.htm
(Levels don't match in this shootout but you can get an idea)

[Bell Head]

Wow that looks like a 8db boost at 15K on the chart for the omni pattern. Kind of sus though, like I'm gonna believe that the pattern is perfectly spherical like that.

[Bell Head]

[QUOTE=gehauser;4884313]See attached image for frequency pattern



CAD M179 samples (cheap LDC shootout on guitar):
http://ffts.com/music/shootout5.htm
(Levels don't match in this shootout but you can get an idea)[/QUOTE

Sounds good man. Like the playing like the Cad best then the B3

[Chrislpp]

Originally Posted by Dag Elias

so what's yours...?

Condensers and shit sounding rooms don't mix.

That's not my opinion on them.