Ribbon Shootout tonight....

[r0ck1r0ck2]

well i've never done a proper shootout....if in fact that is possible....

here's the idea.....

4 mics....
Shure 300
Beyer m160n
Nady RSM-2
some weirdo ribbon mic from australia...a Torpedo!!!

gonna run them threw the pres on my DDA D-Series console into the AD of my Alesis AI-3
we're thinking
Drum Overheads...
Guitar Cabs
Maybe a BariSax
Maybe some vocals..

now i'd like to track them all at the same time at the same distance from the sources...
but i was wondering about phase.....

how close can i get these buggers together before we got problems..?
anyone wanna help me out....

i'm doing this for the kids....

[warhead]

You're just doing mic comparisons? I would measure distances from things and be prepared to do immediate swap outs when you're done tracking a source.

On electric guitars though, use a re-amp track so that you constantly get the same source. Measure the distance and point the mics at the speaker in the same fashion every time.

Drum overheads I think you can at least compare 2 mics at a time side by side, same distance from the kit.

I love mic shootouts...have fun!

War

[mig27]

Hey - looking foward to your results (I'm currently in the market for another ribbon mic... )

Cheers.


Michael

[r0ck1r0ck2]

well warren....
i got your message toooo late...

got the mics about 1/2" to 1" apart.....a considerable distance from the source....
lets say the overhead was about 31/2' to 4' off the hat/snare

the guitar amp was a 62' gibson skylark (crestline) turned all the way up
mexitele and a yamaha sc-300t
the mics were 12" off the grill

and the bass amp was a '78? traynor yba-1a Not turned all the way up...
cruize shortscale with flatwounds..
about 14" off the grill

say Mr.Dent should i normalize these tracks?
is there anything else i sould do to the recorded tracks...did i blow it by recording them that close to each other...?
anyone?

[r0ck1r0ck2]

Ok....Here's some .mp3s from the shootout...
now now the playing sucks....as we were loaded on whiskey....
so you can just keep those "You can't even play BatMan" comments to yourself...

that aside.....
4 mics....recorded at the same time threw DDA D Series console....
direct out to digi 001 channels 3 to 6

the seperate tracks were normalized then converted to mp3s in iTunes....
Hi-Fi....not so much so...but take a listen and let me know what you think....
the first set will be the drum overheads...
the mics were about 4 ft from the HiHat...

[r0ck1r0ck2]

Here's the Mexican Tele threw a early 60's Gibson Skylark.(Crestline)
The amps on 10 and the mics were about 6" or 12" from the speaker....i forget...

[r0ck1r0ck2]

And finally here's BATMAN
a 80's yamaha SC-300t threw the Skylark....on 10 fool.....
maybe 6 inches out front of the speaker...maybe 12" i forget...whiskey you understand...

[Alexi]

horrible drumming for sure.but thanks for the shootout

[r0ck1r0ck2]

crap guitar playing too thumbsup

but i think the mics show themselves....hard to say...hopefully someone will get some use out of these...

now if i could only learn to play "BatMan"

[s00p3rm4n]

Originally Posted by r0ck1r0ck2

crap guitar playing too thumbsup

but i think the mics show themselves....hard to say...hopefully someone will get some use out of these...

now if i could only learn to play "BatMan"

Skyyyyyyyylarrrrrrrrkkkkk...... love of my life.

[MadGuitrst]

As for how to compare mics, I respectfully disagree with putting the mics in the same exact place because every mic has it's own sweet spot.
However, I do understand the point of it and unless someone has a reason to go all out and find how each mic fairs in it's own optimal placement, I guess it's the only way to go.
In any case, although I love shootouts, including this one, it's the achilles heel of shootouts.

Anyway, here's what I heard:
__________________________________________________________________

Overheads:

1. most natural...........................................................rank 2
2. nice depth, most like what I'd expect from a ribbon.......rank 1
3. very forward, too much mid honk for me.....................rank 4
4. WAY big, too big........too boxy.................................rank 3
__________________________________________________________________

Tele:

1. still tele-ish, gently rolled, a bit of a honk...................rank 3
2. muffled, way too muffled to be of use........................rank 4
3. captured the tele nicely. this isonly one that..............rank 1
could be used alone
4. what I'd expect from a decent ribbon. would be.........rank 2
a the best complimentary mic to a dynamic on
the grill
___________________________________________________________________

Batman:

1. the only one I'd used solo, not ribbonish though..........rank 1 - for usefulness
2. muffled, too much so to be of use............................rank 4
3. too jangly, might compliment 2 or 4 okay though...........rank 3
4. the best ribbon representation, best complimentar..y......rank 2
sound, big lows, smooth highs, light mids
______________________________________________________________________

Well, that's what I heard through my PC speakers.
Thanks a lot for the clips!
They revealed very distinct differences.

Now all I need is the answer to which mics were what!

[warhead]

Is each mic the same in regards to 1, 2, 3 and 4 in each scenario? For example the #2 tele track seems way quiet in regards to the others.

War

[ekimeno]

1st impressions in order of preference and for no particular reason other than enjoyment of the recordings:

Batman - 4, 3, 1, 2

Overheads - 2, 1, 3, 4

Tele - 1, 3, 4, 2

Thanks for the shootout, r0ck1r0ck2

[lowswing]

overhead 1,2,3,4
tele 3,4,1,2

[r0ck1r0ck2]

thanks for taking the time to listen gents.......

so i'm on the fence about revealling my terrible secret....
wait for more to weigh in?...

aw hell....
answers tomorrow
coo?
check back...
and yes they're all in the same order....
meaning that 1 will always be the same mic threw the different bits...
thanks again for your comments..

[r0ck1r0ck2]

Oh and here are the mics

[IMG]torpedo.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]nadyrsm2platinum.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]300a.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]0feab37de5.jpg[/IMG]

[rodabod]

Good stuff.

I think your Shure 300 needs re-ribboned. There is a distinct lack of bass.

The Torpedo mic was made by Steanes Sound Systems. Very rare, very cool. I liked the sound - is it cardioid?

The Nady showed the classic large ribbon sound with the big thick low end and smooth highes.

The M160 is nice - it has that slightly scooped sound with a sloid bass and open top.

Good stuff!

[r0ck1r0ck2]

no no that's not the order....
that's just a list of the mics with the corresponding photos....
but you might be right about the shure...
i'll do another check tonight...

and to answer your qusestions about the Steanes..(well it's not mine...so i'll try).
its a figure 8 with a strange band on the body that covers the rear entry to the ribbon....maybe that's suppoed to make it more cardioid.....but she's got a lot of sound on that side as well...sooo

[rodabod]

Originally Posted by r0ck1r0ck2

no no that's not the order....

Ahhh.

Well, forget what I said then.

My guess now is -

1. Torpedo - thick but with a slightly bright top end
2. Shure 300 - slightly boomy lows, soft highs
3. M160 - this is the one I assumed was the 300... It seems bright
4. TBone - I thought this was a little scooped

I agree that no. 3 was not great on the drums - it lacked low end.

[r0ck1r0ck2]

MOOOHOOOHAHAHA HAH!!!
and so tomorrow it is....

suspence you dig...

[Jonk]

C'mon Rock,

Give us the friggin answers already!

[Jonk]

If I guess right, can I have them all?

My guess:

1. Nady
2. Shure
3. Torpedo
4. Beyer

I like 4 the best overall. . . .

[lowswing]

if 4 is beyer than it broken or was placed wrong or my computer speakers here are shit .
I'm using m160 years now for drums overhead and never got a boxy sound like overhead file 4 sound like...

[rodabod]

Give us the bloody answers!

[MadGuitrst]

Here's my guesses:

1. Shure
2. Australian thingy
3. Beyer
4. Nady

Oooohhhh........I'm getting all tingly waiting for the results!!!!

[r0ck1r0ck2]

sorry about that....felt mighty crappy yesterday....

here we go...

1. Beyer m160n
2. Nady RSM-2
3. Shure 300
4 Steanes Torpedo...

thanks again for the responses...

[rodabod]

Haha. I got it completely wrong...

I'm really surprised by the Steanes Torpedo Mic! I should pick one up.

Like I said before I changed my mind, I think your Shure 300 could do with a re-ribbon.

[r0ck1r0ck2]

well it is christmas....
time for ribbons and bows...
sank? the other guy?
oh crud....what's the other guys name?
anyone got a place to send a Shure 300?

and yes....that torpedo is fugging nice...nice....

[bobby_z]

The Torpedo sounds awesome! Great playing on Batman btw.

[C/G]

Originally Posted by r0ck1r0ck2

well it is christmas....
time for ribbons and bows...
sank? the other guy?
oh crud....what's the other guys name?
anyone got a place to send a Shure 300?

and yes....that torpedo is fugging nice...nice....

Contact Clarence kane @ www.enakmic.com

Enak Microphone Repair
420 Carew Ave.
Pitman NJ 08071

856-589-6186

I am sending him some old Oktava ribbons after X-mas when the postal frenzy dies off.

Rock on r0ck1r0ck2.