Wow....TLM 102

[Reem703]

I went to Guitar Center today and happen to try out this mic against a 414 and U87. My voice is deep and i was recommended the mic from a guy with a deeper voice than me(voice over artist)........I was blown away to be honest that a mic that small could sound like that. It sounded very natural and clean to my ears. I compared it to my SM7B while i was there....and yea TLM 102 was the victor. I had to order it though so I can't wait for it to get here. Im going to be using it with my SE Reflexion filter which should produce some great vocals! Any one else have any experience with this mic?

[weezul]

Originally Posted by Reemdog23

I went to Guitar Center today and happen to try out this mic against a 414 and U87. My voice is deep and i was recommended the mic from a guy with a deeper voice than me(voice over artist)........I was blown away to be honest that a mic that small could sound like that. It sounded very natural and clean to my ears. I compared it to my SM7B while i was there....and yea TLM 102 was the victor. I had to order it though so I can't wait for it to get here. Im going to be using it with my SE Reflexion filter which should produce some great vocals! Any one else have any experience with this mic?

It's my favourite mic (and my most expensive, so take that with a pinch of salt haha). Love it, use it on damn near everything. Best investment I have made so far

[Reem703]

I bet. I was just like wow amazing! I wish it was bigger though but the sound is great for my voice. I know this is going to be a keeper. I have went from a Rode Nt1A,Sm7b, and now i have reached Neumann land lol

[Shannon Adkins]

I've had much experience with both the tlm102 and sm7. Initially, when I got the 102, I never thought I would pick up the sm7 again....and even went through a period where I thought about selling it. But as time has gone on I've been going back to it more and more. The 102 is much cleaner and the fidelity is great....but (on my voice, a tenor) the body on the sm7 is much better and fuller....and I can always dial in the high end. The 102 always seems to sit above and apart from the rest of the mix....which I think works well on some songs. The sm7 seems to fit into the mix better and also seems to translate better on a wider range of listening environments.
This is just my experience with these 2 great mics on MY voice.
I can see where the 102 could really fit well with a deep voice.

[Reem703]

Yea because my voice is deep and naturally full so the tlm 102 is a better fit

[press tone]

Originally Posted by Shannon Adkins

I've had much experience with both the tlm102 and sm7. Initially, when I got the 102, I never thought I would pick up the sm7 again....and even went through a period where I thought about selling it. But as time has gone on I've been going back to it more and more. The 102 is much cleaner and the fidelity is great....but (on my voice, a tenor) the body on the sm7 is much better and fuller....and I can always dial in the high end. The 102 always seems to sit above and apart from the rest of the mix....which I think works well on some songs. The sm7 seems to fit into the mix better and also seems to translate better on a wider range of listening environments.
This is just my experience with these 2 great mics on MY voice.
I can see where the 102 could really fit well with a deep voice.

I had similar results w/ my voice also (tenor). There's a slight dip around the 5k mark that just took too much life out of my singing, but I can see it being a great mic for other vocalists. The top end is very smooth.

[Shannon Adkins]

Originally Posted by press tone

I had similar results w/ my voice also (tenor). There's a slight dip around the 5k mark that just took too much life out of my singing, but I can see it being a great mic for other vocalists. The top end is very smooth.

Yeah, that dip at 5k is the very thing that led me to the 102....since I almost always cut my vocal about 2-3 db's there anyway. The highs on it are sweet and smooth too, just as you say.
I just thought the sm7 filled out better in the lows and mids.
I also tried using proximity effect to get the 102 to fill out, but compared to the sm7 and AT4047 it just couldn't compete at those frequencies (again, on my own voice).
It is a great mic though.

[Reem703]

Yea I've tried to work with the sm7b but my voice is deep and it makes it's kind of darker but it's a great mic for the right voice to sound full

[Shannon Adkins]

Originally Posted by Reemdog23

Yea I've tried to work with the sm7b but my voice is deep and it makes it's kind of darker but it's a great mic for the right voice to sound full

I'm curious...did you ever try engaging the high pass filter on it or backing off 2-3 inches? Also, it gets a much more airy quality with the foam windscreen off.
I usually take the windscreen off and use a nylon pop filter.
But I definitely agree with you that it's all about finding the right mic for your voice.

[Reem703]

Yea i did but the filter was a little too powerful I'm just used to condensers so that would also be the case. Also I like to mix itb. So I don't really like to do anything while tracking

[jordanvoth]

I think the 102 is an absolutely astonishing mic. I still like the U87 a bit more for certain pop vocals but I love the 102 on a lot of stuff. With it's size and SPL handling I can use them as close mics on drums. I want 4 so I have a pair for OH and tom duties. Can't argue with the price either.

[bigbone]

I use the TLM 102 on OH'S and love it.

[Reem703]

Not to mention I used it with a reflexion booth. So it sounded real cleannnnn

[chessparov]

I prefer 102 and TLM 67 (doesn't get much love on GS) on me over an unEQ-d U87ai. Didn't like the brighter 103 near as much.

IMHO the 102 is Neumann's "bang for the buck" mic hands down.

Chris

[Reem703]

Same thing I thought to myself. This one guy got offended because I said in my opinion that the tlm 102 is not to far off from the u87. I liked the tlm 102 on my voice better compared to the u87. Just kind of pissed me off how some one could get in their feelings like that. All mics don't fit everybody

[guitarwolle]

Love the 102 aswell - selecting the correct distance to the singer is important to me as it has a strong proximity effect. Love it as a room mic too.

[olliejohn]

The best drum sound I've ever got was with 102s, and I've used a LOT of nice mics on drums.

Most of the music I record is soul and blues, for which my go-to drum mic set up is a TLM102 on its own, sometimes with a kick mic if it's really needed (but its usually not)

[guitarwolle]

Originally Posted by olliejohn

The best drum sound I've ever got was with 102s, and I've used a LOT of nice mics on drums.

Most of the music I record is soul and blues, for which my go-to drum mic set up is a TLM102 on its own, sometimes with a kick mic if it's really needed (but its usually not)

+1 - had the same experience for a bluesy sound, started with one TLM102 as a room mic not too far away, acrually placed app. 45° forward of the drummer in a door opening - we got a very balanced drumsound which didnt need anything else. Ok, the room sounds very nice and balanced, and we very often use that particular doorway to place a room mic.

For Rock we obviously use close micing.

[Reem703]

You guys like the tlm 102 on your vocal cuts?

[Reem703]

It seems to give a nice wide sound on the vocals for such a little mic. How would your compare this to the tlm 103.

[guitarwolle]

I very much prefer the 102, the TLM 103 is too bright for my taste.

I reallly love the TLM 102 with the mic pres of my ADT console driven really hard

[olliejohn]

Originally Posted by guitarwolle

I very much prefer the 102, the TLM 103 is too bright for my taste.

+1. I just can't understand why the 103 is so much more expensive than the 102. The 102 i just so much more useable - I've NEVER put it infront of a single source and not loved the result.

[Reem703]

I think it would be because of the size difference that's why it would cost that much but yea even the guy at the store with the deep voice said he likes the tlm 102 better!

[sonic dogg]

One of my purchases this year will be a pair for overheads. A GREAT little mic.

[olliejohn]

Originally Posted by Reemdog23

I think it would be because of the size difference that's why it would cost that much but yea even the guy at the store with the deep voice said he likes the tlm 102 better!

Yeah, I get that - but to be honest, I'd happily pay 103 prices for a 102, but I wouldn't even pay 102 prices for a 103; I'd have a 102 instead

[daez]

Love this mic as well. It doesn't look as tiny with the shockmount though. Really a great first pair for any studio's starting out and a great addition to any other...

[Reem703]

Does it matter what shock mount you use? Could I use the Samson USB mic shock mount for it?

[Shannon Adkins]

It fit into my AKG shockmount nicely (H-100 I think). But honestly, I rarely ever used a shockmount with it....just once, actually. Really, I think they're useless unless your on a stage or somewhere else where the ground can vibrate. And they take up more room and are less forgiving and more awkward with placement.
I think the screw-on mount that it comes with is rather nice.

[olliejohn]

Originally Posted by Shannon Adkins

I think the screw-on mount that it comes with is rather nice.

+1. It's certainly never let me down

[thelead]

I wasn't much of a fan... guess it just wasn't my taste.