Mercenary Audio KM-69

Nu-tra · 9th October 2007, 02:17 AM

Anyone have pictures and street prices of these mics?

Very interested.

numrologst · 9th October 2007, 02:26 AM

are these the km-84 design?

I am super interested in these

Nu-tra · 9th October 2007, 03:36 AM

numrologst · 9th October 2007, 05:14 AM

someone give us some pics and prices!

Kyle Ashley · 9th October 2007, 07:55 AM

sounds interesting...could be my first buy of 08 so lets see some $$ info and pics

jordanh · 9th October 2007, 07:57 AM

let me see let me see :)

glitch · 9th October 2007, 09:06 AM

There's a Fletcher made topic here:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/123rd...ml#post1550159

goldphinger · 2nd January 2008, 10:46 PM

any updates on these?

carival · 3rd January 2008, 03:09 AM

I was actually holding one just the other day, so they do exist. At least one does! Very nice.

seaneldon · 3rd January 2008, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carival

I was actually holding one just the other day, so they do exist. At least one does! Very nice.

There's more than one around as of now, fo' sho. Couple-three out for review, couple-three in the building I'm sitting in.

Soon enough, folks. Sooner than it was yesterday, anyway.

sonicdefault · 7th January 2008, 01:54 PM

Is there going to be a potential shortage of these when released? How about pre orders?

Also... I would love to see some specs as to how they compare to the original 84. Looking forward to this!

-SD

seaneldon · 7th January 2008, 03:48 PM

You will not see a spec sheet, and if you did, it certainly would not tell you any bit of anything as to how it sounds "compared to a KM84".

This mic is not a "clone". This IS a mic that has replaced the need for a KM84 at our shop, because it's doing a lot of the same "tonal velvet with crack" on the same sources we'd put a KM84 before. Oh, and it's made today and has a warranty.

You'll hear about it's release here, as well as on our website and a bunch of other places. They're selling for $950 each. Preorders ain't a bad idea, but we shouldn't have too big an issue with production numbers.

Jimbo · 7th January 2008, 05:04 PM

How was the name "KM69" derived. Does it have any special significance?

Q: "What's you favorite number?"
A: "69 dude!"

sonicdefault · 8th January 2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaneldon

You will not see a spec sheet, and if you did, it certainly would not tell you any bit of anything as to how it sounds "compared to a KM84".

This mic is not a "clone". This IS a mic that has replaced the need for a KM84 at our shop, because it's doing a lot of the same "tonal velvet with crack" on the same sources we'd put a KM84 before. Oh, and it's made today and has a warranty.

You'll hear about it's release here, as well as on our website and a bunch of other places. They're selling for $950 each. Preorders ain't a bad idea, but we shouldn't have too big an issue with production numbers.

Thanks for the response. I never base purchasing decisions simply on specs. That doesn't mean I overlook them either. I trust Mercenary's experience, and for me any information would only serve to generate more excitement for this mic. I've been hoping someone would remake the 84. I don't care if it doesn't sound the exactly the same. As a matter of fact, when I first read what was going on over there... my first thoughts were that it might actually exceed expectations.

-SD

videoteque · 29th January 2008, 08:52 AM

bump????

badfenderaxe · 29th January 2008, 05:14 PM

Yeah, what's the deal on the KM-69? I need 2 of em and I got cash burning a hole in my pocket!

sonicdefault · 29th January 2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badfenderaxe

Yeah, what's the deal on the KM-69? I need 2 of em and I got cash burning a hole in my pocket!

Me too... Needed them months ago- Could use them tonight. The natives are getting restless.

-SD

Fibes · 31st January 2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordanh

let me see let me see :)

Here it is:

starfightstudio · 31st January 2008, 10:24 PM

My stereo pair come in tomorrow!!! I can't wait to set these things above a kit, and put em in front of a acoustic....

+1 for Jay, Fletcher, Adam and ALL the great guys at Mercenary... Def. my fav company to deal with :)

davet · 31st January 2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaneldon

You'll hear about it's release here, as well as on our website and a bunch of other places. They're selling for $950 each. Preorders ain't a bad idea, but we shouldn't have too big an issue with production numbers.

So this is a Neumann mic?
DaveT

Chris · 31st January 2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davet

So this is a Neumann mic?
DaveT

It's a Mercenary product that is a clone of the KM84.

Fletcher can correct me if I'm wrong here.

davet · 31st January 2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

It's a Mercenary product that is a clone of the KM84.

Fletcher can correct me if I'm wrong here.

Humm, OK. I remember Fletcher's falling out with Neumann over pricing. Seems a bit like pulling the Tiger's tail using the KM designation. But hey, that's Fletcher!! Damn the Torpedoes!!

Fibes · 31st January 2008, 11:27 PM

The mic is not a clone of anything, it is a KM69.

I've had 'em for two weeks and they are microphones.

Chris · 31st January 2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fibes

The mic is not a clone of anything, it is a KM69.

I've had 'em for two weeks and they are microphones.

Um. I'm pretty sure I remember Fletcher he made them because "KM84s are expensive as all hell and KM184s sound nothing like the originals."

I could be wrong.

Okay, found what I read:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

The KM-69 sounds exciting. I just found this on the Mercenary website:

"What’s a KM-69 you ask? Excellent question!!! The KM-69 is Mercenary Audio’s very first product to be released on our own label!! For years Fletcher had been incredibly frustrated at not having a KM-84 at his disposal… so, seeing as we know a whole bunch of absolutely brilliant designers… we had one custom built for us… and it’s now called the KM-69. The mic won’t actually be released until the beginning of November but we’ll have several “final production proto-types” on hand".

Fletcher, any idea what the estimated street price will be?

thanks,
Brad

Sounds like a clone to me.

Fibes · 1st February 2008, 01:33 AM

Sounds like a clone to you?

It's not.

I guess my word doesn't mean shit until Fletcher comes in and reassures you that this mic was put together to conjure the same mojo as an 84 but is very much its own mic.

Fletcher · 1st February 2008, 06:37 PM

Hi all... the KM designation comes from "Kondeser Microphone"... 69 comes from either our phone number [+1] 508-543-00 (we're not talkin') 69 (we're both happy)... or from "1969" the year the first man walked on the moon... or the year the "Miracle Mets" won the World Series... or the year that hosted both Woodstock and Altamont... they all played into the equation.

The mic started it's life as a "damn I want a fvcking KM-84 for H/H" project... which held true... and then we started to mess with some stuff here and there... got a wee bit more 'shimmer' on the top without losing the "velvet" of an original 84... got a wee bit more clarity on the low end [which makes this little sucker one of my drop dead favorite piano mics], etc., etc., etc.

The units are starting to come in... they're starting to go out. Hopefully they'll be on our website next week or the week after... meanwhile they're all over the joint. There's a pair hanging over the piano, over the drum kit... in front of a couple of guitar amps [not loud ones]... been in front of all kinds of other acoustic instruments while we make some "audio file samples" for the website we're building around them.

We're not in a hurry to make a big splash about the things... and while we have some stock units in the building the majority of them are out there getting comments, feedback and reviews. So far Richard Lloyd has put one through it's paces for a Tape Op review... Bil Vorndik has had one... a few friends in the UK and France have been playing with them... blah, blah, blah.

If you would like to give one a go call the number up on the top of the post and talk to Sean or Adam who will be more than happy to hook you up with one or feel free to wait until they show up on their very own website [or the M-A site].

Peace.

Baz · 14th February 2008, 12:26 AM

Man, I was very excited about this mic, as I've had no luck finding a KMi84 to pair up with my current one and the prices are well, not only prohibitive, but ridiculous.

I just read that the KM69 doesn't have the -10db pad like the 84? Gotta say, I'm not nearly as stoked about this mic now. Love the 84 on snare.

Kris · 14th February 2008, 03:53 PM

You're in a good situation in that if you got the 69s and loved them, you could use them for all your sdc stereo micing purposes, and dedicate your 84 to the snare.

Fletcher · 27th February 2008, 07:25 AM

A few people had asked for some "audio samples" so here are some "audio samples" Audio and More

gainreduction · 27th February 2008, 09:13 AM

Made in the US ?

Not that it matters... just curious.

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9th October 2007, 02:17 AM	#1
Nu-tra Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,537	Mercenary Audio KM-69 Anyone have pictures and street prices of these mics? Very interested. __________________ http://www.nu-tra.com

9th October 2007, 03:36 AM	#3
Nu-tra Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,537	Yup __________________ http://www.nu-tra.com

9th October 2007, 07:55 AM	#5
Kyle Ashley Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tampa Bay/Cape Fear NC Posts: 659	sounds interesting...could be my first buy of 08 so lets see some $$ info and pics __________________ Kyle Ashley

9th October 2007, 07:57 AM	#6
jordanh Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA / Chicago, IL Posts: 285	let me see let me see :) __________________ Jordan H Gear\|Addict Clothing (Designer/Creator) Unique Audio/Music/Recording Related Clothing (Mics, Synths, Analogue Gear...Hip Hop and everything in Between)

9th October 2007, 02:26 AM	#2
numrologst Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,898	are these the km-84 design? I am super interested in these

9th October 2007, 05:14 AM	#4
numrologst Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,898	someone give us some pics and prices!

9th October 2007, 09:06 AM	#7
glitch Lives for gear Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,275	There's a Fletcher made topic here: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/123rd...ml#post1550159 __________________ I can't hear specs.

2nd January 2008, 10:46 PM	#8
goldphinger Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 16	any updates on these?

3rd January 2008, 03:09 AM	#9
carival Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: boston area Posts: 227	km-69 I was actually holding one just the other day, so they do exist. At least one does! Very nice. __________________ chris rival middleville studio http://chrisrival.com http://www.myspace.com/rivalchris

7th January 2008, 01:54 PM	#11
sonicdefault Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,213	Is there going to be a potential shortage of these when released? How about pre orders? Also... I would love to see some specs as to how they compare to the original 84. Looking forward to this! -SD __________________ ...My goal for many, many years was to obtain a beautiful API desk and be buried with it when I die... vin-gear ...My 57 is only a few years old, but I'd like to think that someday my children can pass it down to their children. Killahurts

7th January 2008, 03:48 PM	#12
seaneldon Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Foxboro, MA Posts: 2,102	You will not see a spec sheet, and if you did, it certainly would not tell you any bit of anything as to how it sounds "compared to a KM84". This mic is not a "clone". This IS a mic that has replaced the need for a KM84 at our shop, because it's doing a lot of the same "tonal velvet with crack" on the same sources we'd put a KM84 before. Oh, and it's made today and has a warranty. You'll hear about it's release here, as well as on our website and a bunch of other places. They're selling for $950 each. Preorders ain't a bad idea, but we shouldn't have too big an issue with production numbers. __________________ Sean Eldon Mercenary Audio sean@mercenary.com "Sean Eldon of Mercenary audio either has some trickery with Velcro going on or is put into his jeans surgically. 'Rock and Roll skinny jeans' begins and ends with Sean"- Jules

7th January 2008, 05:04 PM	#13
Jimbo Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,044	How was the name "KM69" derived. Does it have any special significance? Q: "What's you favorite number?" A: "69 dude!"

29th January 2008, 08:52 AM	#15
videoteque Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near Rome, Italy Posts: 461	bump????

29th January 2008, 05:14 PM	#16
badfenderaxe Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: GA Posts: 37	Yeah, what's the deal on the KM-69? I need 2 of em and I got cash burning a hole in my pocket! __________________ Brad Hobbs "Let's make a record. You mean a record record record. Not one that we'd play." That Thing You Do

31st January 2008, 10:24 PM	#19
starfightstudio Gear Head Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rumford Falls, ME Posts: 53	My stereo pair come in tomorrow!!! I can't wait to set these things above a kit, and put em in front of a acoustic.... +1 for Jay, Fletcher, Adam and ALL the great guys at Mercenary... Def. my fav company to deal with :) __________________ TJ Swan -Starfight Studio- www.myspace.com/starfightstudio

31st January 2008, 11:27 PM	#23
Fibes Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 511	The mic is not a clone of anything, it is a KM69. I've had 'em for two weeks and they are microphones. __________________ Fibes "you can like it, or not like it."

1st February 2008, 01:33 AM	#25
Fibes Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 511	Sounds like a clone to you? It's not. I guess my word doesn't mean shit until Fletcher comes in and reassures you that this mic was put together to conjure the same mojo as an 84 but is very much its own mic. __________________ Fibes "you can like it, or not like it."

1st February 2008, 06:37 PM	#26
Fletcher 3 + infractions, membership under review with GS admin Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Foxboro, MA USA Posts: 5,783	Hi all... the KM designation comes from "Kondeser Microphone"... 69 comes from either our phone number [+1] 508-543-00 (we're not talkin') 69 (we're both happy)... or from "1969" the year the first man walked on the moon... or the year the "Miracle Mets" won the World Series... or the year that hosted both Woodstock and Altamont... they all played into the equation. The mic started it's life as a "damn I want a fvcking KM-84 for H/H" project... which held true... and then we started to mess with some stuff here and there... got a wee bit more 'shimmer' on the top without losing the "velvet" of an original 84... got a wee bit more clarity on the low end [which makes this little sucker one of my drop dead favorite piano mics], etc., etc., etc. The units are starting to come in... they're starting to go out. Hopefully they'll be on our website next week or the week after... meanwhile they're all over the joint. There's a pair hanging over the piano, over the drum kit... in front of a couple of guitar amps [not loud ones]... been in front of all kinds of other acoustic instruments while we make some "audio file samples" for the website we're building around them. We're not in a hurry to make a big splash about the things... and while we have some stock units in the building the majority of them are out there getting comments, feedback and reviews. So far Richard Lloyd has put one through it's paces for a Tape Op review... Bil Vorndik has had one... a few friends in the UK and France have been playing with them... blah, blah, blah. If you would like to give one a go call the number up on the top of the post and talk to Sean or Adam who will be more than happy to hook you up with one or feel free to wait until they show up on their very own website [or the M-A site]. Peace. __________________ [COLOR="White"][/COLOR] [SIZE="2"][b]Fletcher[/b][/SIZE] If you have a question please email me at [email]Fletcher@mercenary.com[/email] instead of using the PM system... I very rarely check that system and it could take a while to get a response. I can also be found at either address below: [size=2][url=http://recforums.prosoundweb.com][b]R/E/P[/b][/url][/size] the [b]R[/b]ecording [b]E[/b]ngineer and [b]P[/b]roducer forums [url=http://www.mercenary.com][b]Mercenary Audio[/b][/url] [size=1][b]mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33[/b] We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid [b][url=http://www.ericambel.com/index.htm]Roscoe[/url] Ambel once said[/b]: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light[/size]

14th February 2008, 12:26 AM	#27
Baz Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Victoria BC, Canada Posts: 424	Man, I was very excited about this mic, as I've had no luck finding a KMi84 to pair up with my current one and the prices are well, not only prohibitive, but ridiculous. I just read that the KM69 doesn't have the -10db pad like the 84? Gotta say, I'm not nearly as stoked about this mic now. Love the 84 on snare.

14th February 2008, 03:53 PM	#28
Kris Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,507	You're in a good situation in that if you got the 69s and loved them, you could use them for all your sdc stereo micing purposes, and dedicate your 84 to the snare. __________________ http://www.logcabinmusic.com - studio http://www.fullblackout.com - band ... - Yours Truely "a GOOD mic pre is good with any mic on any instrument or voice for any genre of music and into any recording device." W. Wittman (ProSoundWeb) "Real engineers know that no one gives a shit about their musical opinion. " Methlab

27th February 2008, 07:25 AM	#29
Fletcher 3 + infractions, membership under review with GS admin Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Foxboro, MA USA Posts: 5,783	A few people had asked for some "audio samples" so here are some "audio samples" Audio and More __________________ [COLOR="White"][/COLOR] [SIZE="2"][b]Fletcher[/b][/SIZE] If you have a question please email me at [email]Fletcher@mercenary.com[/email] instead of using the PM system... I very rarely check that system and it could take a while to get a response. I can also be found at either address below: [size=2][url=http://recforums.prosoundweb.com][b]R/E/P[/b][/url][/size] the [b]R[/b]ecording [b]E[/b]ngineer and [b]P[/b]roducer forums [url=http://www.mercenary.com][b]Mercenary Audio[/b][/url] [size=1][b]mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33[/b] We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid [b][url=http://www.ericambel.com/index.htm]Roscoe[/url] Ambel once said[/b]: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light[/size]

27th February 2008, 09:13 AM	#30
gainreduction Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,660	Made in the US ? Not that it matters... just curious. __________________ "You always get more than you paid for at gearslutz" - Jules