sE Electronics ICIS/Gemini Microphones for Vocals?

[uncle duncan]

Tried a Gemini on male vocal, but it seemed a little too bright without enough body. But that might be good in a more rock & roll mix. I was doing an alt country thing and the vibe just wasn't right. But I know a high dollar rock & roll studio here in town and the Gemini is his main vocal mic. Never tried the icis.

[TonyBelmont]

I really did NOT like the Gemini on vocals... The Z5600a was better on vocals from the SE line.

[JDunkley]

Ive just used the SEZ5600a on a scarey female vocal with the reflection filter and Im really happy with the sound

[asagaai]

Hi, I was at that Limstone shootout in Sydney, and I was very impressed with the Isis-out of all the mikes I heard. I did not think it was that outa range from the Wagner/Pealrman/Peluso u47 clones. In actual fact, it was pretty smooth-I got the Pearlman, and I am thinking of picking up the Icis as a second.

After the wagner/peluso/pearlman, the Icis was my next pick-I preferred it to the brauner they had which was too bright and hard. For the money I think it is a real sleeper-I have also heard it is better than the Gemini.

GJ
Newcastle/OZ

[Koed]

Love the Icis myself on female vocals. Drier than the Z6500a and less tubey than the Gemini.
Again, for the price, it's a no brainer.
Lovely Jeff Buckleyesque quality there.

[jdjustice]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

I really did NOT like the Gemini on vocals... The Z5600a was better on vocals from the SE line.

yes, since posting this thread i have done more research and from what i can tell, the Z5600a seems to be described as being less "hyped" and more neutral than the ICIS....
thanks for letting me know how you felt about the Gemini; i will avoid that one.

i am really concerned about putting my money into a Chinese-made microphone.....

but i am thinking now about going ahead and trying out the Z5600a on a 7-day trial period (sE Electronics lets you demo these mics for seven days with no obligation; good thing IMO).

if the microphone doesn't impress me i will just have to go ahead and invest in something a bit more expensive, however, i am hoping i like it since the price is right!

Originally Posted by JDunkley

Ive just used the SEZ5600a on a scarey female vocal with the reflection filter and Im really happy with the sound

thanks for letting me know!

the Reflexion Filter looks like a cool thing to get for acoustical treatment when you have none. good price point too. i predict this thing will be a big seller.


thanks for the comments so far!!


cheers,
~j.d.

[daily planet]

As soon as I heard the Z5600, I bought two. In a male vocal shootout at my place, it killed everything else in my locker- of course that was that place, that time, that guy.

It is very colored to my ears.

Mark

U87ai, AKG414XLS/EBx2/D112, AT4050/4033x2, RE20x2/468/408x3, Senn416T,SM58x4/57x4,SE5600ax2/SE3x2

[JOHN]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

I really did NOT like the Gemini on vocals... The Z5600a was better on vocals from the SE line.

Hi tony

Can you describe the difference in sound you heard from the Gemini to the Z5600a why you preferred the Z5600a

Cheers

[RicardoWheelock]

had the ICIS once, loved the thing on Female vocalists; it blew out of the water my other mics (AT4060; Solidtube)

And lend it to friend for some weeks and gave me the thing back almost destroyed so I made my friend pay for it; after 10 months I missed the thing
so much I got one on eBay for 300 eur, couldn't be happier.

I recently did a shoot out with a female vocalist between a Neumann U89 a Rode K2 (lame
quality control by the way) and the ICIS; the ICIS won hands down...

[dxavier]

I have the Z5600a II but I also have two Z3300a and this mic is brilliant for vocals. It hardly gets a mention around here though. They are going cheap these days too. I am using one at the moment with a 1960's Germanium pre and the combination is open, natural but with smooth tamed top end and detailed low end. Ok, might have something to do with that, but this mic sounds fantastic to me. SE are good about you trying out mics, so I think there is little risk on your part, trying one out.

As for the Rode K2, I have heard some people criticise their quality control, but I have had no issues with the K2 and they come with long guarantees, so no stress.