Line Audio Design CM3

[bolero]

Thanks for the new comparison, Didier.
I like example 3 the most, followed by 1 which to my ears sounds very similar with just a bit less resolution and detail.
Example 3 sounds nice to, but has a bit less detail and depth to it, which results in a different voicing.
My guess, judging from the similarity between the Schoeps and cm3 of the first comparison would be:
1: cm3
2: Josephson
3: Schoeps

Right?

If so, I´m ordering maybe 2 pairs of cm3. If not, just 1...

Daniel

[didier.brest]

Bravo Daniel! You are right.

[Piebong]

Thanks again, Didier!
To my ears, sample 2 and 3 have more detail. Also they can handle the louder passage at the end better than mic 1.
I'm not sure whether I like sample 2 or 3 more.
Pieter

[jpgerard]

Hi, sorry for being out of CM3's this week, I've put people on a waiting list with 10% off our regular price to help the situation, we'll have plenty of those in about 2 weeks (still have the SM3 and SM6 in though), I have to say that the demand for those little mics is pretty amazing. I've increased order quantities so I don't think we'll be out of stock again. In the meantime, apologies to those who have ordered this week but a 2 weeks wait is not all that bad. Thanks!

[jpgerard]

Hi guys, CM3's back in stock... availablle with CMEH shockmounts in stock as well!
__________________
JP Gerard
------------------------------------------------
NoHype Audio
http://www.nohypeaudio.com/
_ADK ))) microphones
http://www.adkmic.com

[jpgerard]

OK, moving up... we can now offer reduced international delivery rates thanks to our new Taxipost account. Please get in touch for a quote as this is based on weight. We do have CM3's in stock. Thanks!

[The Listener]

OK, I'm getting a pair, soon. Seems to be one of those "hypes" or "no hypes" , worth following...

Just a question - how is this technically possible, what's the "trick", where does it suffer in some way? Why does it sound exactly the same or very close (maybe even better for some things), but in any way comparable and usable on the same level as 10 times more expensive mics - it doesn't seem like a compromise to use it instedda of something like Schoeps MK21 - judging from the clips here - it sounds in the EXACTLY the same league as 10x more expensive Schoeps. What's the trick. I don't believe in fairy tales...

The users of both - what are your explanations - in what ways is it inferior - if it is?

There was hype before - miniature DPAs 4061, but to me - it was obvious, they are not in the same league as their big brothers or Schoeps and the like - they had way too much noise, tiny sound, etc. They are very good for what they were made for - but not for distant orchestra micing, or even close micing of instruments in the studio, etc. So it was understandable why they cost less and yet deliver OK results... But I was not confused as I am now - it was understandable what you get for your money. But in this case - it doesn't seem so...

Then you had things like Beyerdynamics 930 and other similar, Rode NT5, Shure KSM141, still costing much more than those CM3 mics, but you could hear they are very OK and usable mics, but not in the same league as Schoeps... but this CM3 mics costs one third of those average good mics and sounds THE SAME as Schoeps MK21...

A questions for less technically challenged - what's the trick, where is the catch... do they not handle some signals the same way as Schoeps maybe, start sounding worse in other occasions, break up after two weeks, or what? We only heard guitar and piano here, not full orchestra A/B samples... or maybe organ, or percussion - any percussion A/B with Schoeps or Sennheiser MKH range? Or at least a nice stereo percussion sample... or maybe a spot miced violin, cello, flute... lute... trumpet... horn...

Are they really completely EQUAL to those much more expensive mics? Would you - if money is no objection - use those mics for the SAME purposes regardless if you can afford a whole set of different Schoeps mics?

Would you use it for high rank clients instead of MK21 without hesitation?

And if not - why?

Really, what's the catch?

It is the first time I really hear NO lesser sound from a mic costing 10x less from another... what's the trick?

[jpgerard]

OK, here's the deal.

1) Line Audio doesn't make everything that's inside the mic. The capsule components come from Japan, then capsules are built to the required specs and picked according to Line Audio's tight tolerances. Product is built TO ORDER, there's litterally no stock at the factory. Production costs are low.

2) Line Audio doesn't spend money on advertising. Low overheads.

3) Line Audio is a one man operation. Low overheads.

4) Packaging and litterature is basic, no frills. Low overheads...

5) Line Audio is sold direct, there's no distributor involved. Lower end user pricing.

Yes, the performance of these little mics is amazing, as is the performance of the SM series, and the price seems to scare some people off but the facts remain that:

Line Audio products are hand made in Sweden
Line Audio products are durable
Line Audio products are designed to last but also to provide great audio performance
Line Audio products aren't available at every shop but anyone looking can find them easily and most dealers have enough stock for next day shipping.

I sure hope that we'll see more small companies like Line Audio come out of the woods, I think it's great to have a direct path to the manufacturer and low pricing for this level of quality is the icing of the cake.

I too thought there had to be a catch. But there isn't. The points I mentionned above are the secret receipe for a low priced, great product.

[satellitedog]

Wow, I think I should get a pair of these.

Does anyone own or use Line Audio preamps? I'm looking for a good, not too coloured 2 channel pre for around 450-500 Euros (maybe a BG-1 but that would be pushing it), and there aren't too many I know about, so if the 2MP is as good value as the CM3, I would strongly consider it.

Thanks for any usable information!

SD

[jpgerard]

Again, sorry fort he biased opinion, but the 2MP is a very unique preamp as it offers a very uncoloured response at a budget price. It's a hybrid Class A front end, A/B output. It has basic features and again, a no frills approach. What I've experienced and customers confrmed it, is that it yields quiet operation even with high gain settings and is sufficient for most ribbon mics when used with a balanced connection (unbalanced output is a little bit lower). It's also hand built in Sweden an the advantages listed above apply. The 8MP offers incredible value and studios take advantage of it - the 2MP is more of a home studio unit or goes to engineers/producers/musicians who have a lunchbox with plenty of "attitude" preamps and need a couple of neutral ones.

I hope this helps but I encourage any 2MP or 8MP user out there to post something. Please also note that the 2MP and 8MP are much better than the original design, the OMP.

[satellitedog]

Thanks for the info, and no worries about being biased. Yeah, I was wondering if it was quiet enough for ribbon mic usage, as it "only" has 60db of gain.

User input would still be very welcome though! Links too.

Thanks again

SD

[jpgerard]

I'm not sure where the rumour started but 60dBs will work fine with most ribbon mics except really vintage ones. Typical, modern ribbon mics are close to an SM57 in terms of sensitivity... or more sensitive in the higher end. Also, most recording systems have input gain so you can add a few dBs there and any mixing system lets you add gain too... all in all 60 dBs of CLEAN gain will work (some pres especially inboard pres do not have clean gain up to their limit).

[satellitedog]

Thanks,
I know 60 db should be enough, but the question is always whether the given preamp is clean and quiet enough all the way up...

If the LA goes up clean, I'll keep it on my shortlist!

[jpgerard]

Exactly - and yes, it does!

[satellitedog]

Good to know. Thank you! Stays on the list. :-)

Any Line Audio pre users around with an opinion about them?

[Joekkel]

hi there, here's a audioexample of the lineaudio 2mp amplifying a 40 years old dynamic stereo mic from philips. this mic needs a lot of gain, the potis of the 2mp were fully turned up.

the room isn't very quiet, you hear the fan of my computer through the wooden door and some other noises. you've got to listen to the hiss. it's there, but really quiet. i think it's the noise from the mic itself. since i have a 2mp, i realised, that the selfnoise of the mics is much more relevant, than the amps noise (i even don't know if there's any).

would like to hear a rode nt1a through a 2mp! should be dead quiet.

[satellitedog]

Pretty natural sounding, thank you for the sample, Joekkel! :-)

[kerouac]

Wow, I listened to the clips and while I preferred the Schoeps it wasn't by much at ALL. I hate my current SDCs, so I need to start saving for a pair of these NOW. :D

[samueljustice00]

I'm sold, I want to use the 2MP as a preamp running into a H4N with a pair of CM3s in an X/Y set up as a small recorder.
2 questions.
*Is there a pistol grip blimp that will support these in X/Y?
*Does the 2MP have some kind of battery pack?

[jpgerard]

Hi!

The Rode Blimp will fit great. PM me for a photo.

The 2MP doesn't come with a portable supply but you could power it up with any good portable AC supply: 15-18VAC @ 7-20VA. The supplied wall adaptor is rated at 17V @ 0,42A so 7,2 VA.

BR
__________________
JP Gerard
------------------------------------------------
NoHype Audio
http://www.nohypeaudio.com/
_ADK ))) microphones
http://www.adkmic.com

[SoundslikeSydnee]

So what advantages/disadvantages do these mics present for location sound use, say for like sfx for film?

[jpgerard]

Hi, on top of having a very flat response and thus a lifelike "sound", they're tiny (diameter of a Neutrik XLR for instance) and very light. I'm not sure GS is the best forum for Sound for Picture gear but there are a few outdoor recordists lurking around...