snare mic shootout ... kinda

sheltersoton · 18th July 2006, 06:00 PM

ok before we bigin a disclaimer:

i know overheads, room mics etc make up a huge part of the "snare sound" however, i just bought an I5 cheap on ebay so tracked some snare hits through it and 5 of its peers to see which mic gave the "nicest" snare sound straight out of the box..

ok details:

snare = Mapex Black Panther 14x6.5 brass with somewhat worn ambassador coated head. It wasn't in any well tuned state its just as is with 1/2 a moon gel next to the rim.

signal chain = snare > Mic > OSA MP1L > Motu 24/io @ 44.1/24 then normalised and mixed out at 44.1/16 wav

the mic capsule was the same distance each time and pointed dead at the centre (4inches)

the mics: The Audix I5
Shure SM57
Shure SM57 w/o xformer
Beyer M201N
Senheiser Md421
Shure SM7 (eq flat)

so which one sounds the "nicest"
poll away

sheltersoton · 18th July 2006, 06:02 PM

heres wav.6

cheers!!

Lyle Caldwell · 18th July 2006, 07:20 PM

Just based on that, I would give the nod to Mics 2 and 5, though which one would work best in context, and how much hat bleeds in would be huge factors.

I've done similar comparisons, and using the same position for each mic, while seemingly fair practice, can lead to really great mics sounding kinda bad. If each mic is positioned so that it sounds its individual best, the results can be dramatically different.

sheltersoton · 18th July 2006, 07:32 PM

hey, yeah thats all true, this was only really as a general test to hear the individual "sound" of each mic in the same situation... i actually forgot which mic was which on the lst when i voted, went back and checked which one i had voted for and was suprised (not shocked, su[prised!)

cheers

I-Quality · 18th July 2006, 09:06 PM

it's really dificult to say as the hits are so unconsistent...so I guess i'm more voting for the best hits (:
seems as no2 and 5 are the airiest and with most top end...as this is what I'm allways adding a lot i'd chose these....
no3 is so "closed", maybe too much proximity effect..

John Peacock · 18th July 2006, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Quality

it's really dificult to say as the hits are so unconsistent...

Uh-huh.

I like the last hit on number 4... Six and one have something that I king of like. But clearly these mics are sort of scooping out some "konk" on the drum. And I don't like "konk." But if the drum was tuned differently, I might like the others better. I guess the other angle would be that 2, 3 and 5 are accentuating the konk. In which case I am guessing 2, 3 and 5 are 57's.

-Jp

sheltersoton · 18th July 2006, 10:10 PM

re hits: i tried to get a decent sweet spot hit, a rim, a rim shot on each one ... sorry if theyre a bit lame ;)

Rob King · 18th July 2006, 10:27 PM

I liked 2 & 6. Nice overall tone to those. Am I the only one that hates mic 5?

waffle waitress · 18th July 2006, 11:25 PM

Cool test. I like the 421 but I think it's the way it was hit...maybe it would be a more solid test if you set up all the mics at the same time so the hits would not vary at all. #3 sounds really dark but I think the hits were softer on that one.

Chris Parsons · 18th July 2006, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob King

Am I the only one that hates mic 5?

nope

sheltersoton · 18th July 2006, 11:49 PM

which one is the 421

??

Alexi · 19th July 2006, 12:19 AM

first of all, thank you sheltersoton for putting this poll ogether, i love threads like this.

my favourite would prolly' be mic 1 and 2 but i find it really hard to judge the mics when i don't hear them together with the other mics on the kit..........you know what i mean?

The mic i dislike the most might sound really great in context with the others....

so which is which?

cheers

sheltersoton · 20th July 2006, 09:26 AM

ok this seems to have dies a death

when i get to the studio ill list which is which

neil

sheltersoton · 20th July 2006, 03:13 PM

ok

mic 1: Audix I5
Mic 2: beyer M201n
Mic 3: Dhure SM7
Mic 4: Shure SM57
Mic 5: Senn MD421
Mic 5: Shure SM57 xformless

interesting to any one?

cheers guys!

Lyle Caldwell · 20th July 2006, 03:31 PM

Out of curiousity, what was the high pass filter on the 421 set to?

Aerophone · 20th July 2006, 03:48 PM

Yup... 421 rules.

OVERNIGHT · 20th July 2006, 04:00 PM

No 441? My personal favorite.

chetatkinsdiet · 20th July 2006, 04:02 PM

2 & 5 are typically what I look for out of a close snare mic. Although, I'd have that drummer take another pass and get some consistent hits.

The other mics might work well depending on what OH situation you're using and about a zillion other factors.

later,
m

AdamJay · 20th July 2006, 04:13 PM

nice. the two mics i liked the most turn out to be the only 2 i ever use on snare.

Beyer M201 and SM57

that transformerless 57 sounds good too.

sheltersoton · 20th July 2006, 05:44 PM

yeah yeah alright i hit like a monkey and am as consistant as my local football team!!

no 441 as a ican t afford one at mo, but i have just sourced a senn 509 blackfire and a Heil pr-40 so maybe ill do another one with some condensors too

im doing my bands album this month so we'll prob get a set up with the overheads we're going to use (aea r-88) and then track the same beat (with my drummer who is WAY better than me

) swapping snare and kick mics to see which ones we like best... the only difference being that i will look for the sweep spot for each mic... so if you all fancy ill post the responses!

btw if any one wants to loan me a 441

ben_allison · 20th July 2006, 08:50 PM

2 won for me overall, with 3 just slightly behind. I loved 5, and would fit well in a sing where a tighter crack was desired.

4 sounded pretty dead...not horrible really, but the worst of the lot for me.

1 and six were fairly similar. They'd probably work in a lesser energy track, where not as much snap was needed.

ADDENDUM:

I've just read the key. Seems like the i5 and the transformerless 57 are really close! Interesting...

Look's like I'll be needing 2 SM7's now (for kick and snare)!

Elof · 27th August 2006, 10:43 PM

No 2 for me, I ordered one today. I don´t like no 5 at all...

brad347 · 27th August 2006, 11:01 PM

interesting that the only one I really hated turned out to be the stock 57. Popular mic for snare (goes without saying) but I've never gotten along with it. I guess it's just a personal preference.

TheSweetener · 28th August 2006, 09:26 AM

Yes, I was also shocked how honky the SM57 sounds.

My favourites are the Audix and the SM7.
The Audix D1 is another great snare mic by the way, but I'll definately check out the I5!
Thanks for this poll!

SMC Productions · 28th August 2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSweetener

Yes, I was also shocked how honky the SM57 sounds.

Thanks for this poll!

They have always sounded 'honky' to me, without lots of EQ, exact placement, premium Pre, etc.

Never cared for them.

joachime · 30th November 2006, 01:40 AM

I prefered no. 2, 3 and 5 (in that order). Interesting shootout, especially since I own 3 of the mics!

But it would be interesting to compare these with a Shure 545 or any similar unidirectional dynamic microphone!

keithfreund · 30th November 2006, 03:38 PM

I liked 2 best. Didn't like 4 or 5.

Mr Skills · 30th November 2006, 07:10 PM

Is an M201n the same sonically as an M201 or M201TG?
.

.

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View Poll Results: which one you like huh? huh?
mic 1	6	16.22%
mic 2	16	43.24%
mic 3	1	2.70%
mic 4	2	5.41%
mic 5	8	21.62%
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Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll

18th July 2006, 09:06 PM	#5
I-Quality Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Helvetia Posts: 52	it's really dificult to say as the hits are so unconsistent...so I guess i'm more voting for the best hits (: seems as no2 and 5 are the airiest and with most top end...as this is what I'm allways adding a lot i'd chose these.... no3 is so "closed", maybe too much proximity effect.. __________________ Crevardcore makes the law

18th July 2006, 10:27 PM	#8
Rob King Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 754	I liked 2 & 6. Nice overall tone to those. Am I the only one that hates mic 5? __________________ Rob King Green Street Studios http://www.greenstreetstudios.com http://www.myspace.com/greenstreetstudios

19th July 2006, 12:19 AM	#12
Alexi Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hamburg Posts: 1,064	first of all, thank you sheltersoton for putting this poll ogether, i love threads like this. my favourite would prolly' be mic 1 and 2 but i find it really hard to judge the mics when i don't hear them together with the other mics on the kit..........you know what i mean? The mic i dislike the most might sound really great in context with the others.... so which is which? cheers __________________ Vintage 19th and 20th century physics is fun! Karl

18th July 2006, 07:20 PM	#3
Lyle Caldwell Gear Head Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 65	Just based on that, I would give the nod to Mics 2 and 5, though which one would work best in context, and how much hat bleeds in would be huge factors. I've done similar comparisons, and using the same position for each mic, while seemingly fair practice, can lead to really great mics sounding kinda bad. If each mic is positioned so that it sounds its individual best, the results can be dramatically different. __________________ -Lyle Caldwell psionicaudio.com

18th July 2006, 07:32 PM	#4
sheltersoton Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 394	hey, yeah thats all true, this was only really as a general test to hear the individual "sound" of each mic in the same situation... i actually forgot which mic was which on the lst when i voted, went back and checked which one i had voted for and was suprised (not shocked, su[prised!) cheers

18th July 2006, 10:10 PM	#7
sheltersoton Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 394	re hits: i tried to get a decent sweet spot hit, a rim, a rim shot on each one ... sorry if theyre a bit lame ;)

18th July 2006, 11:25 PM	#9
waffle waitress Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin Posts: 547	Cool test. I like the 421 but I think it's the way it was hit...maybe it would be a more solid test if you set up all the mics at the same time so the hits would not vary at all. #3 sounds really dark but I think the hits were softer on that one.

18th July 2006, 11:49 PM	#11
sheltersoton Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 394	which one is the 421 ??

20th July 2006, 09:26 AM	#13
sheltersoton Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 394	ok this seems to have dies a death when i get to the studio ill list which is which neil

20th July 2006, 03:13 PM	#14
sheltersoton Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 394	ok mic 1: Audix I5 Mic 2: beyer M201n Mic 3: Dhure SM7 Mic 4: Shure SM57 Mic 5: Senn MD421 Mic 5: Shure SM57 xformless interesting to any one? cheers guys!

20th July 2006, 03:31 PM	#15
Lyle Caldwell Gear Head Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 65	Out of curiousity, what was the high pass filter on the 421 set to? __________________ -Lyle Caldwell psionicaudio.com

20th July 2006, 03:48 PM	#16
Aerophone Gear Head Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 36	Yup... 421 rules.

20th July 2006, 04:00 PM	#17
OVERNIGHT Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 319	No 441? My personal favorite. __________________ For hand puppets, fisting is a life force.

20th July 2006, 04:02 PM	#18
chetatkinsdiet Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,473	2 & 5 are typically what I look for out of a close snare mic. Although, I'd have that drummer take another pass and get some consistent hits. The other mics might work well depending on what OH situation you're using and about a zillion other factors. later, m

20th July 2006, 04:13 PM	#19
AdamJay Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,368	nice. the two mics i liked the most turn out to be the only 2 i ever use on snare. Beyer M201 and SM57 that transformerless 57 sounds good too.

20th July 2006, 05:44 PM	#20
sheltersoton Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 394	yeah yeah alright i hit like a monkey and am as consistant as my local football team!! no 441 as a ican t afford one at mo, but i have just sourced a senn 509 blackfire and a Heil pr-40 so maybe ill do another one with some condensors too im doing my bands album this month so we'll prob get a set up with the overheads we're going to use (aea r-88) and then track the same beat (with my drummer who is WAY better than me ) swapping snare and kick mics to see which ones we like best... the only difference being that i will look for the sweep spot for each mic... so if you all fancy ill post the responses! btw if any one wants to loan me a 441

20th July 2006, 08:50 PM	#21
ben_allison Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 261	2 won for me overall, with 3 just slightly behind. I loved 5, and would fit well in a sing where a tighter crack was desired. 4 sounded pretty dead...not horrible really, but the worst of the lot for me. 1 and six were fairly similar. They'd probably work in a lesser energy track, where not as much snap was needed. ADDENDUM: I've just read the key. Seems like the i5 and the transformerless 57 are really close! Interesting... Look's like I'll be needing 2 SM7's now (for kick and snare)! __________________ Benjamin Allison http://b2p.roestudios.com http://www.myspace.com/betweentwopoints

27th August 2006, 10:43 PM	#22
Elof Gear nut Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 133	No 2 for me, I ordered one today. I don´t like no 5 at all...

27th August 2006, 11:01 PM	#23
brad347 Gear Head Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 38	interesting that the only one I really hated turned out to be the stock 57. Popular mic for snare (goes without saying) but I've never gotten along with it. I guess it's just a personal preference.

28th August 2006, 09:26 AM	#24
TheSweetener Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany / Frankfurt Posts: 969	Yes, I was also shocked how honky the SM57 sounds. My favourites are the Audix and the SM7. The Audix D1 is another great snare mic by the way, but I'll definately check out the I5! Thanks for this poll!

30th November 2006, 01:40 AM	#26
joachime Gear interested Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sweden, EU Posts: 4	I prefered no. 2, 3 and 5 (in that order). Interesting shootout, especially since I own 3 of the mics! But it would be interesting to compare these with a Shure 545 or any similar unidirectional dynamic microphone! Last edited by joachime; 30th November 2006 at 09:52 AM.. Reason: ...

30th November 2006, 03:38 PM	#27
keithfreund Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 24	I liked 2 best. Didn't like 4 or 5.

30th November 2006, 07:10 PM	#28
Mr Skills Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 40	Is an M201n the same sonically as an M201 or M201TG? . .

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