What mics were popular in the early 60's?

soupking · 17th December 2006, 06:31 AM

During the 60's, there was an amazing transition of microphone philosophy, technique, and overall science.

It started out ribbons and came out dynamic did it not?

Like now we have mics like the sm57 and small condenser mics etc.

When did these utility and dynamic mics start to creep into studios?

You hear gobs about the origin of large condensers, but utility mic history is a bit of a muffled blur. Anybody know? I'm doing an impressionist project from the 60's and trying to find out what kind of butterfly nets were available at the time, mostly early 60's

Kiwiburger · 17th December 2006, 09:47 AM

Nothing much has changed - except maybe the connectors (to XLR). The classic mic's of that time are still highly prized, and modern clones are basically trying to recreate them. A bit like Stradivarius to violins.

I suppose a few modern materials, like stronger neodynium magnets, have made for hotter dynamic mics - but hotter is not necessarily better.

Affordibility, by cutting some corners, and mass manufacturing techniques (surface mount components etc) has increased, but at the expense of real quality.

The whole chinese mic's thing has lowered everbodies expectatons of what a condensor mic should sound like. I guess the current move back to ribbons is because of all the harsh sounding cheap shit that is out there.

soupking · 17th December 2006, 10:47 AM

Studying the early days of recording is a trip.

It's like there was just a mic and a tape deck.

Asking about a preamp would be like asking about a re-run. I imagine they had preamps but I bet they didn't call them that cuz back then amplification was probably all relative.

Heck, compression was just born right around then.

RadioMoo · 17th December 2006, 01:27 PM

Check Bob Ohlsson's posts; he covered this really well just in the past month or so.

soupking · 18th December 2006, 05:40 PM

Cool, thanks RadioMoo!

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17th December 2006, 06:31 AM	#1
soupking Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,343	What mics were popular in the early 60's? During the 60's, there was an amazing transition of microphone philosophy, technique, and overall science. It started out ribbons and came out dynamic did it not? Like now we have mics like the sm57 and small condenser mics etc. When did these utility and dynamic mics start to creep into studios? You hear gobs about the origin of large condensers, but utility mic history is a bit of a muffled blur. Anybody know? I'm doing an impressionist project from the 60's and trying to find out what kind of butterfly nets were available at the time, mostly early 60's

17th December 2006, 09:47 AM	#2
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,675	Nothing much has changed - except maybe the connectors (to XLR). The classic mic's of that time are still highly prized, and modern clones are basically trying to recreate them. A bit like Stradivarius to violins. I suppose a few modern materials, like stronger neodynium magnets, have made for hotter dynamic mics - but hotter is not necessarily better. Affordibility, by cutting some corners, and mass manufacturing techniques (surface mount components etc) has increased, but at the expense of real quality. The whole chinese mic's thing has lowered everbodies expectatons of what a condensor mic should sound like. I guess the current move back to ribbons is because of all the harsh sounding cheap shit that is out there. __________________ Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way he'll be a mile away, and you'll have his shoes.

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17th December 2006, 10:47 AM	#3
soupking Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,343	Studying the early days of recording is a trip. It's like there was just a mic and a tape deck. Asking about a preamp would be like asking about a re-run. I imagine they had preamps but I bet they didn't call them that cuz back then amplification was probably all relative. Heck, compression was just born right around then.

17th December 2006, 01:27 PM	#4
RadioMoo Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 526	Check Bob Ohlsson's posts; he covered this really well just in the past month or so.

18th December 2006, 05:40 PM	#5
soupking Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,343	Cool, thanks RadioMoo!