Do you notice it?

[drBill]

Do you guys ever notice a different "vibe", aesthetic, musicianship/vocalist change, "rise to the occasion" attitude - whatever you want to call it - when you put up :

1.) a classic, well balanced, solidly built, classically designed older (probably German) mic

VERSUS -

2.) an equally good sounding (important), newer (probably Chinese), kinda cheap looking, lightweight, flimsy, mass produced, mass marketed mic that every musician has seen/bought at GC - even if it's modded, tweaked, etc.?


Interesting stuff. And a fascinating phenomenon to me.

In my experience, when a musician/vocalist has used or owned one of the mics you put up, they tend (again, in my experience) to be kind of blase about the whole experience, but put up an older mic that they've never seen, or one that they have only heard abot that is widely touted as a "classic", and they are more "at attention", respectful, and "bring it" moreso than when you are using something they are familiar with.

Was wondering if you guys have the same reaction from musicians.

bp

[Brad McGowan]

Totally!

I have a number of mics that sound really good. Some are Chinese, some are Russian, some are U.S. made. Some are even modified with upgraded electronics and tubes.

But the reaction I've gotten from vocalists when I put up my U67 is completely different. There's an immediate sense of "I'm making a real record now". It's not so much that the mic sounds $5k better than other mics. But it does elicit performances that are certainly worthy of being recorded. I'm not sure what it is, but everyone ends up happy in the end and I look like a genius.

Brad

[Heimel]

As a singer I can say that I've done that myself many times. Put me in front of a vintage 47 and I am thinking I'm Frank Sinatra. When I am singing in front of my Mojave (a very good mic for my voice) I keep thinking "I wish this was a 47".

[Nick_Mags]

it is quite a psychological phenomenon... i have some run of the mill mics and then i have some great sounding ones. Whenever i put up one of my more classic ones, you can see it in their eyes..

I'm guilty of it myself, yesterday i went to record some tracks of me playing pedal steel on a production i'm currently working on and i was like "Let me pull out one of my ribbons cause i haven't used it recently.." and instantly when i saw it and heard it i got totally stoked to play my part on the song....

its just funny how it works... nice vintage gear makes someone feel like they've accomplished something by getting in front of it, thus making their performance even better.... or on the contrary could make them feel intimidated.

but i've mostly seen the artist get excited.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

I'm not sure what it is, but everyone ends up happy in the end and I look like a genius.

Brad

and Brad, you KNOW that I'm all about making the engineer look like a genius!!


PS - putting up a vintage KM84 with a UM70 in fig8 firing sideways for M-S acoustic Guitar OD's today. I KNOW that will get em playing......

[demel]

Having some complimentary bevies on hand for the sessions can sometimes have the same effect.

Some artists really seem to be able to "rise to the occasion" after some liquid courage.

[Ernest Buckley]

Originally Posted by drBill

Do you guys ever notice a different "vibe", aesthetic, musicianship/vocalist change, "rise to the occasion" attitude - whatever you want to call it - when you put up :

1.) a classic, well balanced, solidly built, classically designed older (probably German) mic

VERSUS -

2.) an equally good sounding (important), newer (probably Chinese), kinda cheap looking, lightweight, flimsy, mass produced, mass marketed mic that every musician has seen/bought at GC - even if it's modded, tweaked, etc.?


Interesting stuff. And a fascinating phenomenon to me.

In my experience, when a musician/vocalist has used or owned one of the mics you put up, they tend (again, in my experience) to be kind of blase about the whole experience, but put up an older mic that they've never seen, or one that they have only heard abot that is widely touted as a "classic", and they are more "at attention", respectful, and "bring it" moreso than when you are using something they are familiar with.

Was wondering if you guys have the same reaction from musicians.

bp

Yeah, this happened to me the first couple of times I had a Neuman in front of me but then I realized, I sounded better with the $150 mic. Oh well...

I do find it funny when a singer walks into the studio and they see my Avalon 737s... "Whoa, I`m going to sound awesome" they`ll say... then I realize they sound better with an Aphex 104... another oh well... :D

We tend to be more engaged with gear (and women), when they look the part, whatever that may be, but its often the innocent "girl next door" ones in the corner that um... turn us on.

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by drBill

Do you guys ever notice a different "vibe", aesthetic, musicianship/vocalist change, "rise to the occasion" attitude - whatever you want to call it - when you put up :

1.) a classic, well balanced, solidly built, classically designed older (probably German) mic

VERSUS -

2.) an equally good sounding (important), newer (probably Chinese), kinda cheap looking, lightweight, flimsy, mass produced, mass marketed mic that every musician has seen/bought at GC - even if it's modded, tweaked, etc.?


Interesting stuff. And a fascinating phenomenon to me.

In my experience, when a musician/vocalist has used or owned one of the mics you put up, they tend (again, in my experience) to be kind of blase about the whole experience, but put up an older mic that they've never seen, or one that they have only heard abot that is widely touted as a "classic", and they are more "at attention", respectful, and "bring it" moreso than when you are using something they are familiar with.

Was wondering if you guys have the same reaction from musicians.

bp

Not possible. The flimsy Chinese mic can't be "equally goode sounding" to the classic German mic. The mechanical construction of the body makes a big difference in the tone of the mic. Ask Michael Joly.

[LeMauce]

Aaaahhhh.....The well know "Placebo" slut mic effect with musicians in the studio thinking that "tha german" mic is the best out there?
I notice it yeah.... thats why I made my own "Neumann" sticker/print and putt it on "a other" mic.
Did a test between a brauner phantera, behringer b2 pro (no mods) and a U47.. all with the "neumann" brand forwards. The singer was thinking having 3 neumann's in front of him and pointing out that after 4hours of singing and re-lissen that the brauner was the best then the u47 and close call the b2 pro. Then I showed him my trick and he was like...what tha hell.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

Not possible.

lol TOTALLY possible. And in fact, done it, proved it.

Don't buy it? Then :

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

Ask Michael Joly.

He'll tell you.



Still, there's something intrinsically satisfying about putting up a well designed sturdy mic.

[larry b]

I've noticed it. For sure.

thumbsupthumbsup