Do Dragonfly & Bluebird overlap?

[manthe]

I have a Blue Dragonfly and I love it (on certain things...when positioned properly). I have an opportunity to pick up a Bluebird very cheap.

The freq charts on the site are a *little* different, but these charts never tell the whole story anyhow.

My mic locker is in decent shape. I am not hurting for mics, but I always welcome options! I don't want or need another dragonfly. But, if the Bluebird sounds very different, I'm happy to snag it for $325!

Any one own both? How do they stack together (or separately, for that matter).

If I don't buy that, I can get a Korg R3 synth pretty cheap. I don't really have any decent hardware synths, aside from an older Roland RS9. I don't use them mucj, but the R3 has a Vocoder and might give me something in the studio that I lack....hmmmm....decisions!


In case you're curious (I'm sure your not...but as a reference to my current mic line-up):

SM57 (x2)
SM7B (x2)
Beta52
AKG D112
Audix I5
Audix D6
Sennheiser E609 Silver
EV RE20
Nady RSM 100
Cascade Fathead
Cascade Vinjet
Blue Dragonfly
RODE NT5 (x2)
Groove Tubes GT66 (x2)
Groove Tubes GT44
Groove Tubes Convertible
AT 3035 (x2)
Neumann TLM149
DRK218
DRK4 (x3)
MXL 2003
Naiant MSH4 (x2)

I'm sure I missed one or 2....but you get the point...

[Schmacko]

Don't do it! The Bluebird is very different from the Dragonfly - besides the fact that it just plain sucks (and I own and love many, many BLUE and RED mics!). Also, don't consider the BLUE website's frequency plots, they're incorrect for almost every mic! To view the correct freq's, download the .pdf manuals for each mic that you're interested in.

Anyway, besides that I didn't find the Bluebird to sound very nice, it's cardioid polar pattern didn't seem exactly cardioid - too much off-axis pickup.

For a condenser in that pricepoint you'd be better off with a KSM32 (which isn't in your list). But, I also noticed you don't have any 421's - it's not a condenser, but it's a great mic to have

-G

[manthe]

I've been on the fence about 421s for a long time now.

A - From what I've read (and having physically inspected them), the clips seem to be 'suspect'. I'm afraid they will break.

B - How close are they to the SM7Bs? From what I've read, they are a lot more receptive to higher freq.

You're the 1st person I've actually heard from that actively hates the Bluebird. I'm interestedin your opinion on this. Given how much I like the dragonfly.

I hear mixed reviews on the Baby Bottle. Any thoughts on this one?

I've also STRONGLY considered the Blueberry...but I'm afraid I'd be duplicating my TLM149 to much.

I was not impressed with the Woodpecker at all.

Actually, I think it is time to break down and get a 414 as well.



PS - I brought the R3 home to demo. I have not had a chance to mess with it too much yet, but the vocoder is really great! Great time waster!

Originally Posted by Schmacko

Don't do it! The Bluebird is very different from the Dragonfly - besides the fact that it just plain sucks (and I own and love many, many BLUE and RED mics!). Also, don't consider the BLUE website's frequency plots, they're incorrect for almost every mic! To view the correct freq's, download the .pdf manuals for each mic that you're interested in.

Anyway, besides that I didn't find the Bluebird to sound very nice, it's cardioid polar pattern didn't seem exactly cardioid - too much off-axis pickup.

For a condenser in that pricepoint you'd be better off with a KSM32 (which isn't in your list). But, I also noticed you don't have any 421's - it's not a condenser, but it's a great mic to have

-G

[lowfreq33]

The Blue bird and the Baby Bottle are either great or they suck, depending on the source. No in between. $325 is an okay price if it's mint, and it is SLIGHTLY different from the Dragonfly. It was Blue's first attempt at a "swiss army knife" type of mic, and it isn't bad. But if you already have a dragonfly you probably won't get much use out of it. If you want something different you might want to look at Chameleon Labs new tube pencil condensor. It's $499, sounds great.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

The Blue bird and the Baby Bottle are either great or they suck, depending on the source. No in between. $325 is an okay price if it's mint, and it is SLIGHTLY different from the Dragonfly. It was Blue's first attempt at a "swiss army knife" type of mic, and it isn't bad. But if you already have a dragonfly you probably won't get much use out of it. If you want something different you might want to look at Chameleon Labs new tube pencil condensor. It's $499, sounds great.

Actually, I was thinking about a *good* pencil too. All I have are the RODE NT5 pair. I also have the GT44 and GT Convertible, but I consider those mediums, not small.

I came across a used Neumann KM84 (original, not the 184) used for a good price. I was thinking about grabbing that as my 'go to' pencil condenser.

[lowfreq33]

Iwas never really impressed with the NT5's. Not awful, just boring. I'd take some of the cheaper Audio Technica's over the Rode. KM84's are good to have around though, great on darker acoustics.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Iwas never really impressed with the NT5's. Not awful, just boring. I'd take some of the cheaper Audio Technica's over the Rode. KM84's are good to have around though, great on darker acoustics.

We share the exact sentiment re: the NT5. Honestly, with a 'colorful' preamp, they can be made to sound marginally interesting, but really there just.....there.

I suppose they are a good utility mic, and they will certainly perform well enough if you need an extra SDC on something and you've run out. For example...I was maxed out once trying to cord a 5 piece band in my tiny little home studio (ridiculous!!). This particular drummer (on this particular track) was doing some very 'fancy' hi hat work. The overheads just weren't 'featuring' the hi hat enough.

The NT5 would not be my 1st choice for hi hat, but I had no other viable option. So, it definitely worken in that pinch. With some clever EQ'ing, the track turned out just fine.

I KNOW that 84 would make a great hi hat mic, as well as any bright percussion. Acoustic gutars at the neck joint or over the shoulder, bottom of snare...etc. The 84 seems like the perfect, high-quality SDC.