dark - darkish multi patterns

what multi patterns would you guys consider to be more towards the dark side than bright?

a list of mics i think ive been able to ascertain are dark(ish)

m49/e49
umt92.1s
cactus
4050
u47 and other remakes of?(not sure on this one)

im sure theres more to add to the list. mics that fall about neutral are fine, but im definitely looking at not-bright mics.

bump?

[~ufo~]

may I be so blunt as to ask why you are looking for a dull sounding multipatern mic?

pretty much because i dont really like bright ones in general. the general idea of my post might have been a little off... it should just be asking about not-bright mics. mics that are flattish to dark are what im curious about. i cant try all of them out, but i can try some out. id just like to get an idea af which ones i should try to get in.

[~ufo~]

they only one I can think of is that studio projects tube one....

I AB'd it with my GT AM62 once and found it to be a lot warmer to even dull.
I stuck w/ the Groove Tubes because I think it has a more subtle tube character, the SP one just screamed TUBE to me, that might be what you're looking for...

[Saucyjack]

I wouldn't consider the AT 4050 dark by any stretch.

[Ruudman]

Originally posted by Saucyjack
I wouldn't consider the AT 4050 dark by any stretch.

Ditto,
that was the odd guy in the heat.

ruudman

[Exmun]

Originally posted by Saucyjack
I wouldn't consider the AT 4050 dark by any stretch.

Yeah, what he said. Plus, if you don't like bright mics, you OWE it to yourself to check out a ribbon. I personally love vintage RCA ribbons, particularly the 77-DX and 44-BX. Perhaps others can comment on other ribbons.

i have an r84. ill probably get some more ribbons in the future, but the mics i really like are condensers that dont have too much high end in them. the r84 is too dark and not detailed enough for a lot of the things i want.

tube is not necessarily what i want either. i want definition without hype. i have a pair of shoeps mics in the "to buy" list, but it seems that ld condensers in general are often (too) bright (for me).

theres no way ill ever afford a real u47, but it seems like one of the repros might fit my description. does that sound accurate? any experience with the blue cactus anyone?

[Drumsound]

I don't find the 4050 dark. The 4047 is though. I also think the 70s U87 I use is a bit dark in a good way.

[Ruudman]

Originally posted by chikkenguy
..any experience with the blue cactus anyone?

Have it, love it thumbsup

That's what I ended up with after serious shoot-outs
including Microtech UM 92.1 and 990, Soundelux E-47, Brauner Valvet voice etc.

I was, like you, interested in a condenser that had a relaxed top.
The top has to be there, but not in a strident way.
The B7 capsule in Cactus is just marvellous!

I think I've found out that I like mics with a transformer.
It may be style-dependent, but I like it to be "active", always
recording, if you know what I mean..... (I don't)


UM 92.1 and E-47/E-49 are also well worth a try.

ruudman

[DAWgEAR]

The Baby Bottle is a mic that is "not too bright". I have a Blueberry, a Dragonfly, and a Baby Bottle and the Baby Bottlee is my overall favorite for lower range male vocals.

[lucey]

Korby 47

Soundelux iFET7

AEA R84 ribbon or Coles 4038

[NathanEldred]

Soundelux E49 too, very rich.

ive used a few 70s u87s too, and they are one specific example i have in mind when i think what mics are too bright for my taste.

i think that earlier when i said 4050 that i meant 4047... but those are not multi patterns are they?

are there any other contenders that havent been mentioned yet?

thanks for the feedback.

[natpub]

might wanna keep an eye out for the forthcoming Soundelux E250.

[Ruudman]

250 is cardioid only.


ruudman

[ebeam]

MTG UMT800

i had looked at the umt 800. looking at the freq responses it seems like it might be a little bright, especially in figure 8 which i will be using freqently. does it sound bright in use?

[sdelsolray]

Originally posted by chikkenguy
i had looked at the umt 800. looking at the freq responses it seems like it might be a little bright, especially in figure 8 which i will be using freqently. does it sound bright in use?

I don't find the UMT800 as bright or dark. It's really neither. Notwithstanding the graphs, the treble response is subdued, softened perhaps by the PVC M7 capsule.

It has a rather honest, pleasing sound. Versitile and easy to work with.

cool, the umt800 had piqued my interest before... ill have to make sure to try it out.

[ebeam]

I don't have a lot of other high end mics to compare it to, but I've found it to be rather neutral in frequency response. Certainly not a hyped high end to my ears, but not really dark either as the other guy said. Its the first mic I've tried that comes close to replicating how my acoustic guitar sounds to me while playing.

[sdelsolray]

Originally posted by ebeam
I don't have a lot of other high end mics to compare it to, but I've found it to be rather neutral in frequency response. Certainly not a hyped high end to my ears, but not really dark either as the other guy said. Its the first mic I've tried that comes close to replicating how my acoustic guitar sounds to me while playing.

I use the Microtech Gefell UMT800 to record a center channel for solo fingerstyle acoustic guitar, along with a pair of SDs (XY or ORTF). I have three LDs for this center channel purpose, the 800, a CAD VX2 and a Neumann M149. I like the 800 a lot, and even though it's the newest acquisition, I am using it almost exclusively over the other two LDs. It sounds pleasing in almost any placement, yet each placement offers rather different sound interpretations of the guitar. Transient response is rather quick. My ears tell me its a very accurate and honest mic, with a healthy dose of that old Neumann/Gefell magic (again, that's gotta be the PVC M7 capsule).

Highly recommended mic.