What ever came of the Stephen Paul productions mic?

[tubedude]

Still dying to see and hear it...

[Ruphus]

Yep, I have asked here twice about that. The makers seem absent. :O(

Ruphus

[Teacher]

i think i remember reading there was an obscene wait list....like a year or something

[Screws]

I believe that Alan Hyatt, the head of PMI Audio/Studio Projects (they also distribute JoeMeek and Toft Audio) made a promise to Stephen before he passed away that the mic would be manufactured to his exacting and almost unrealistic tolerances. In addition, the mic evidently has some innovations that required very special machining and amplifier designs.

As a result, Alan's original plan to have some of it made in China (fast and cheap) was abandoned for the whole thing to be made here (slower and $$$$).

Disclaimer: I don't work for PMI. I have garnered these facts from reading many posts on the subject in various forums, because I am on the list too. Part of me is hoping they'll hurry up but mostly I want them to do it right, which is what Alan has said he intends.

Stephen deserves it done well.

[Ruphus]

Alan told us like that on GS.
Still, would be interesting if he let us know a bit about how it´s going. As long as he wouldn´t reveal critical details nobody would get hurt, but curious sluts had some interesting read.

Ruphus

[The MPCist]

Passed away? Who did?

[Ruphus]

Stephen Paul

[Screws]

Stephen Paul passed away last December (2003). Evidently, the strong painkillers he was taking to help him endure his very painful arthritic condition masked the onset of cancer which spread to his liver.

[PMIReid]

Originally posted by Screws
I believe that Alan Hyatt, the head of PMI Audio/Studio Projects (they also distribute JoeMeek and Toft Audio) made a promise to Stephen before he passed away that the mic would be manufactured to his exacting and almost unrealistic tolerances. In addition, the mic evidently has some innovations that required very special machining and amplifier designs.

As a result, Alan's original plan to have some of it made in China (fast and cheap) was abandoned for the whole thing to be made here (slower and $$$$).

Disclaimer: I don't work for PMI. I have garnered these facts from reading many posts on the subject in various forums, because I am on the list too. Part of me is hoping they'll hurry up but mostly I want them to do it right, which is what Alan has said he intends.

Stephen deserves it done well.

Here's the inside "scoop". Screws is correct in stating that the original concept of manufacturing some components of the Stephen Paul microphone in China has been abandoned. We are going to build the mic entirely in the US, and YES it will cost more, but it allows us MUCH more control.

Guys, this mic has been a long time coming, and it's going to be awhile longer. I can tell you this, though. We are pressing forward, and progress IS being made - slowly but surely. Our goal in making this mic remains that it will be something that Stephen would have been proud to have his name on. We're not going to compromise on it.

And for the record: I DO work for PMI.

[De chromium cob]

Originally posted by PMIReid
Our goal in making this mic remains that it will be something that Stephen would have been proud to have his name on. We're not going to compromise on it.

And for the record: I DO work for PMI.

I've been on the waiting list since last October- Any idea what 'awhile longer' will be? Ballpark figures are fine- I'd rather have great mic later then a good mic sooner....
Thanks!

[PRuthenburg]

I had heard they might be previewing it at AES at the end of the
month.

Pete

[PMIReid]

Originally posted by De chromium cob


I've been on the waiting list since last October- Any idea what 'awhile longer' will be? Ballpark figures are fine- I'd rather have great mic later then a good mic sooner....
Thanks!

We no longer give estimated ship dates on products that have not been released. Some time ago Alan did that on a Studio Projects product that we were working on - and then the product got held up in production for a long time. Alan got absolutely blasted on the message boards.

We've found that it's better just to keep working diligently on the new stuff we're developing. When it's ready we'll release it. And in the case of this mic, it's going to be exactly what Stephen would have built, were he with us today. If you knew him, then you know that those are very, very high standards to live up to.

[NIGHT'SCHILD]

cAN WE EXPECT TO SEE THE NEW sTEPHEN pAUL MIC AT THE AES SHOW THIS YEAR?

[Screws]

No need to yell, brother.

[Paul David]

Originally posted by PMIReid
Here's the inside "scoop". Screws is correct in stating that the original concept of manufacturing some components of the Stephen Paul microphone in China has been abandoned. We are going to build the mic entirely in the US, and YES it will cost more, but it allows us MUCH more control.

Guys, this mic has been a long time coming, and it's going to be awhile longer. I can tell you this, though. We are pressing forward, and progress IS being made - slowly but surely. Our goal in making this mic remains that it will be something that Stephen would have been proud to have his name on. We're not going to compromise on it.

And for the record: I DO work for PMI.

I think that's very noble of you. If the mic sux it would put a dark shroud over Stephen's legacy. I can wait for an uncompromised mic.

FTR: I'm not on the waiting list, but I am on the watching list.

[waltrubus]

without Steven being around to verify and check everthing out I am very doubtfull that the PMI lab will be up to the fine standards the the Stephen Paul Lab was at.
I hope this is just not an opportunity for PMI to cash in on SPs name. SP stand for Steven Paul not sudio projects also distributed by PMI.
I know an important goal SP had was to put a great mic into everyones hands at a low price. around $1500-
Now that SP is not around all the talk is about how expensive this is going to be to make.
Walt Rubus.

[Duardo]

without Steven being around to verify and check everthing out I am very doubtfull that the PMI lab will be up to the fine standards the the Stephen Paul Lab was at.

Why? I'll wait until the microphone comes out to make that judgment.

I know an important goal SP had was to put a great mic into everyones hands at a low price. around $1500-
Now that SP is not around all the talk is about how expensive this is going to be to make.

There was talk about the cost going up on the microphone long before SP died.

-Duardo

[Brent Casey]

Originally posted by waltrubus
without Steven being around to verify and check everthing out I am very doubtfull that the PMI lab will be up to the fine standards the the Stephen Paul Lab was at.
I hope this is just not an opportunity for PMI to cash in on SPs name. SP stand for Steven Paul not sudio projects also distributed by PMI.
I know an important goal SP had was to put a great mic into everyones hands at a low price. around $1500-
Now that SP is not around all the talk is about how expensive this is going to be to make.
Walt Rubus.

The Stephen Paul mic is conceived of and designed by Stephen Paul who was my friend. We are building that microphone. It will cost whatever it costs to make - not a penny more. Any talk about how expensive the mic is to make stops at my desk. If as a potential customer, you have particular questions about manufacturing costs, etc. feel free to call or email me. I can be found here in the morning Pacific time, or at the Stephen Paul lab in the afternoon. Alternatively, Tony Merrill, proprietor of Stephen Paul Audio can be contacted at 818-905-9952.

Sincerely,

Brent Casey
PMI Audio Group
877-563-6335

[PMIReid]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by waltrubus
[B]without Steven being around to verify and check everthing out I am very doubtfull that the PMI lab will be up to the fine standards the the Stephen Paul Lab was at.
I hope this is just not an opportunity for PMI to cash in on SPs name. SP stand for Steven Paul not sudio projects also distributed by PMI.

I absolutely guarantee that the mic will be to the standards Stephen has set. Why do you think it's taken so long? Tony and Brent, equally well versed in mic technology (and especially in Stephen's technology) are 100% dedicated to this project - and to fulfilling Stephen's legacy. Your cheap shot on us not being up to holding the standards is just that - a cheap shot.

[David Herbert]

If PMI/SPA were going to release a substandard mic I think they would have done it already. Regarding whether or not the mic will live up to Stephen's standards: ultimately the mic will have to be judged on it's own merits, as it should be, as unfortunately Stephen has passed away and won't be able to tell us himself. I think Stephen's design is in good hands, as these guys were his friends.
David

[Markd102]

Yeah, lay off Walrus
You are complaining about something that as yet doesn't even exist in a completed package. Totally senseless and idiotic IMO.

[Jay Kahrs]

Originally posted by Brent Casey
The Stephen Paul mic is conceived of and designed by Stephen Paul who was my friend. We are building that microphone. It will cost whatever it costs to make - not a penny more. Any talk about how expensive the mic is to make stops at my desk. If as a potential customer, you have particular questions about manufacturing costs, etc. feel free to call or email me. I can be found here in the morning Pacific time, or at the Stephen Paul lab in the afternoon. Alternatively, Tony Merrill, proprietor of Stephen Paul Audio can be contacted at 818-905-9952.

That's good to hear. Just don't put the mic out under the Studio Projects name ok?

[David Herbert]

Jay,
If I remember correctly the mic is being released under Stephen Paul Audio. David

[PMIReid]

Originally posted by David Herbert
Jay,
If I remember correctly the mic is being released under Stephen Paul Audio. David

That is correct.

[PMIReid]

Guys,

Just wanted those of you who didn't make it here to AES to not feel left out.

The two guys in the one photo are Brent Casey (from PMI) and Tony Merrill (from Stephen Paul Labs)

As you might imagine, we're really excited to be showing this, the result of an ungodly amount of work. Big, big thanks to to these two, and of course to Stephen.

[PMIReid]

You didn't think I was going to give you a closer look?

[Jules]

I saw it today!

Didn't listen,

I was rushing around...

[Ruphus]

Please, guys, give us some first impressions.
Can´t wait to hear some!

Me likes that it looks so humble from outside, hopefully the wolf under a sheep skin.

[Bowisc]

It's a beauty.

[e-cue]

So, how deep is the waiting list these days??? I got on over 2 years ago and was happy to be in the double digits with a pair.