Odd winners of mic shoot-outs?

[Jules]

OK

These frequently win round here.... on lead vocals

Beyer 201
AKG 251

Over out Neumann M149 / SM57 etc

What surprises YOU when you have done gear shoot-outs?

[imacgreg]

It sometimes surprises me how much our SM7 sounds like our Tele U47 when we do a side by side comparison on vocals. Definately a difference, but pretty subtle and sometimes hard to pick which one we like better.

Ian

[Magnus]

AKG 251

Jules,

what does the AKG 251 look like. Is it a common mic?

Cheers,
Magnus

It sometimes surprises me how much our SM7 sounds like our Tele U47

Gotta try an SM7 someday soon.

[dtobocman]

Originally posted by imacgreg
It sometimes surprises me how much our SM7 sounds like our Tele U47 when we do a side by side comparison on vocals. Definately a difference, but pretty subtle and sometimes hard to pick which one we like better.

Ian

Same experience here, but with my SM7B and my Soundelux U195. The designs couldn't be more different, but they sure do sound in the same ballpark (more so than the 414, 414TLII, 4033, Rode NT1, TLM103 -- against the U195).

[Frost]

My beyer m88 wins on so much stuff it isnt funny. Its the only bass cabinet mic I use anymore, great on toms, great on electric, even won a few vocals. I also just did a harmonica session and a cartoon VO gig, both times the Stedman N90 won.

Frost

[imacgreg]

Originally posted by Frost
My beyer m88 wins on so much stuff it isnt funny. Its the only bass cabinet mic I use anymore, great on toms, great on electric, even won a few vocals. I also just did a harmonica session and a cartoon VO gig, both times the Stedman N90 won.

Frost

I really want to try one of those M88's. They are ribbons right? But cardoid tho?

ian

[pounce]

no, m88's are dynamics. used often in kick drum, and used by folks like phil collins on live vox. many other uses as well. a great all around go to dynamic.

[VotaIdiota]

The SM7 still surprises me sometimes. Sometimes I really can't get over how great this mic sounds for male rock vocals. Run it through a vipre, mess around with some knobs, and BAM!

[faeflora]

Originally posted by imacgreg
It sometimes surprises me how much our SM7 sounds like our Tele U47 when we do a side by side comparison on vocals. Definately a difference, but pretty subtle and sometimes hard to pick which one we like better.

Ian

Has your U47 been cleaned, overhauled, modded, refurbed etc, or is it 100% vintage, spit and dust, everything?

[imacgreg]

I dunno, I'm pretty sure its straight up vintage, but it is a fantastic vocal mic. Being used on all sorts of rock stuff. The difference is definately in the hi-end. The 47 is a little clearer, maybe a little too crisp sometimes.

Ian

[kwhatx]

The Groove Tubes MD1A keeps surprising me. Does a great job of smoothing out the high end on female vocalists. Also works well on guitar cabs, acoustic guitars, violins, etc.

And the Stedman N90 that was mentioned earlier is another fav that works well in any 57/421 situation.

[Jules]

All very interesting.... indeed!

[bloodstone]

It never ceases to amaze me how many times the Oktava 219 or 319 win out on voice over mics that have a street price 4-5 times higher.

[7rojo7]

Stedman N90 me too. kik, takes a good wacking and sounds pretty true, not scooped like a kik mic. surprise it's the shit for salsa or rock/fusion flute, I want a couple more, I've had less luck with vocals or percussion, the reason I bought it in the first place.
AT4031 over B&K 4011 we put them side by side over a kit and the engineer who brought them in was astonished, he used the B&K anyway for superstition (11 years ago) I wish the 4031s had a built in pad though. It depends on so many things though. I like honky ribbons on tpt and flugel horn and some players can't stand that sound

[toledo3]

The one mic that frequently surprises me is the 69 dollar mxl 990. It is different than the majority of chinese import mics- nice top end, but not too much. And it is clearer in the mids than most chinese LDC's. I have had some vocalists where nothing sounds as good as the 990 on them. Actually, the one thing I really love the 990 on is kick.

Also, PZM's can be a good choice on vocal. It can be very intimate and three dimensional.

One thing that was odd was when I had a particularly raspy vocalist, and the best choice was a C1000- not really that great of a mic. The only things I typically find a C1000 to be useful on are electric guitar and snare. Never use the adapter caps for extended highs or hypercardiod! I would never have them if I hadn't traded a couple hours of studio time for them.

Shure 545's are great on vocals, as a low cost choice.