I was just kidding of course. And you still had yours at very good value for money! But if you ever need another 3U Audio mic, you know what to do.

I've got a pair of the original CM1 Teals that I'm willing to sell. They're pretty much unused. Hit me up if you're interested.

Edit.... Sold one. I have one more available at $120.

Gguhh

Experimenting tonight, I think I learned that the CM1 Teal SE picks up more room sound than the standard Black model. Has anyone else noticed this please? Am I mistaken? Is it to be expected?

Thanks, Gavin

The CM1's really deserve a thread of their own. I have a Teal SE and just got in a Black SE yesterday
3U Audio CM1's

Rumor has it a THIRD model is coming out, blending the best parts of the both the SE Black and SE Teal...

Behold the all new (& Old) 3U Audio "STeal".

Chris

Is it true that they are making changes to the internals of the microphones for newer models? If so, has anyone tested any differences?

So, based on what I'm reading the consensus for best affordable cardioid is the CM1 Teal SE? Looking for something for male vocals and acoustic guitar.

For a Baritone the CM1 Black SE might be better. I didn't have mine yet when I last recorded and a Behringer B2 Pro beat out the 3U CM1 Teal SE for the Baritone vocalist I was recording - I suspect the Black sounds like the B2 Pro - they might even been originally designed by the same guy - the B2 Pro was originally a Rode N2 re-labeled, built in the Chinese factory where the 3U Audio guy worked back then. FWIW the innards of the Black are MUCH nicer looking than the B2 Pro .
Acoustic Guitar doesn't seem to be as demanding for the mic - I've used many different SDC and MDC as well as LDC successfully.

I'd concur. My conclusions are here: 3U Audio CM1's

Check my YouTube account for example recordings with various mics including the CM1s.

https://www.youtube.com/c/GavinAtkin

Gavin

Maybe, maybe not.

whats your youtube channel?

Guys, I'm looking for good quality brightish mic similar to a u87ai. would you guys go with a Miktek C7e or a Warbler MKVID?

Jim

(Progger's post is more accurate than my original one here)...
Chris

Miktek makes very good stuff, and I'm sure the C7e is a great contender. I haven't gotten to use one, but I respect everything that company does at the moment.

The Warbler MKI is modeled after the pre-AI u87, so I think you're right to go for the MKVI if you're looking for a brighter K67-style sound. Even on its brightest settings, my MKID is still reasonably dark. It takes EQ really well so I can boost the top-end very easily whenever I need to, and it really sounds excellent in pretty much application, but the MKVI will probably be brighter from the get-go, so if that's what you're looking for, it's a good bet.

You can always email Guosheng ([email protected]) about specifically the kind of sound you're going for and he'll make some good recommendations. That's my favorite thing about 3U, you can just talk to the guy who designs the mics -- and he really knows what he's talking about -- and he'll steer you in the right direction. And he'll make you a deal that's very, very hard to turn down!

My hunch is the Miktek guys are probably similarly approachable, I've just never talked to them or bought anything from them directly.

I've got a Warbler MKIID I'm thinking of parting with. Used once on a vocal. P.M. me

So how would a Warbler Mkvid compare to a more expensive clone like say a Peluso P-87 or Stam audio SA-87? Would it be on par with those or would those give better audio quality?

I'm trying to decide whether I should save and go with the warbler or just pay the $1000+ for one of those if its gonna be noticeably better.

Jim

The MKI is good quality brightish mic similar to a U87Ai. The MKVI is similar to the really bright Sony C800g. At the higher end I would choose Stam over Peluso.

I’ve had a MKI for quite some time and I wouldn’t call it bright by any means. It’s really smooth up top and takes EQ well, as it was mentioned. It also has a nice vintage mid forward-ness. From what I read here, the MKID could be a tad brighter. Also, it was said here that the third dullest voicing of the MKVI equals the response of voice 1 of the MKI.

musicfiend said “brightish mic similar to a U87ai” and that is how many here find the MKI - but your mileage may vary. I agree with you that it is smooth up top and that it takes EQ well. According to Klaus Heyne, Neumann accept up to a 4dB variance in frequency response between K87 capsules so some U87s sound brighter than others. If you accept the published frequency response graph (it is smoothed out) then it shows the U87 is flat up to 5 kHz and then it rises. That rise is “brightness”. The U87 and the MK1 have that. Their frequency responses are not flat.

The MKV is flat (“dark” if you like).

The MKVI is intended to be similar to a C800g (which is very bright).

I also agree that the third dullest voicing of the MKVI is similar to the response of voice 1 of the MK1.

That “smooth up top” that you hear with the MK1 is above 10 kHz and is due to the specific (Guosheng designed) transformers in the Warblers. That’s what turned Kidvybes onto these mics in 2015. It’s a “vintage” sound. But you can hear what the capsules sound like without that top end transformer attenuation when you listen to a Black or Teal CM1. The “all FET” CM series are essentially neutral circuits so you can hear the capsules (nothing else is added).

Miktek guys are cool too. Good vibe talking with them, at their Booth.
Chris

I haven't used the Peluso or Stam. I know Stam's stuff is "on point," to quote an engineer friend of mine who uses tons of his gear, but there's always a wait. Another buddy of mine has a Peluso 47 that he loves, but I don't know about the 87. I've heard mixed reviews, but no first-hand experience.

I've had the privilege of recording on some of the best microphones on earth, and I was utterly shocked when I received my Warbler -- which I really just bought on kind of a whim since it was so affordable and I'd heard such intriguing things -- I couldn't believe how close it came to the best sounds I'd ever gotten in high-end studios on vintage Neumanns. It honestly doesn't make sense. They're incredibly good. I generally agree with the "buy nice, don't buy twice" philosophy, but I'll be keeping this Warbler forever, no matter how many more expensive mics I get. It's a gem.

I got lucky I believe, on my AKG P120's capsule.
But I still think of it like a 3U CM-1, with more self noise.

Any of the 3U Audio vocal microphones, are more than capable of recording "Hit Vocals". (remember those?)
Chris

Wanted to post a follow up here after owning my Warbler MKI for a while (probably around half a year+ at this point).

Best mic I've ever owned, and one of the best mics I've ever used. I'm planning on getting their small diaphragm condensers (127 flat) when the time is right.

There's just a certain mojo on the mics and it has a very smooth yet detailed sound. I went to a friend's studio and used their vintage U87 to compare- didn't do any shoot outs, but the 3U compared very favorably. It has a very airy, smooth quality that gets in the ballpark but it has its own vibe going on. Def not a clone, but a really nice almost 67ish microphone that takes EQ anywhere in the spectrum very well.

I believe Ragan used the term "muscular" when describing the mic and that sums it up nicely. It anchors the sound in while still being a very detailed and high quality microphone. Couldn't be more happy with my purchase and I'll likely never sell it.

Here's a track where I used the Warbler on vocals in my modest home studio

To any people considering if the 3U stuff is the real deal, it is. Can't wait to grab their SDCs.

I completely agree with all this. My MKID has seen more mileage in the last year since I got it than any other mic. I have a new u87 ai on the way and I look forward to doing shootouts with the Warbler. I imagine there will be things I prefer about each.

Be sure and report back

Hi folks. I’m helping my friend with a vocal mic purchase right now; he’s a great guitar player and singer and I’m thinking a Warbler would be great. Problem is there’s so many different models. Attached is a sound clip of him singing and playing guitar on a quick sketch we did many years back - opinions on the model of Warbler that might suit his voice best?

Well Placed Arrow

A couple of years ago I read this entire thread (however long it was at the time), and bought an MKI. After receiving it and using it, I immediately bought another one.

But now I'm curious about the GZ67 tube mic. Did anyone in this thread say they bought one and/or posted clips?

Also, are the headbaskets still the angled ones, or did they switch back to round ones? (I received angled ones, which I like better).

@ kerryg – For that kind of voice, I'd probably want to make sure the mic has some air on top and isn't too dull. I bet the MKI (modeled after the u87i), MKIV (modeled after the AKG CK12 family), or MKVI (modeled loosely after the C800G and u87ai, I think) would all work well. The MKII would probably be too dark.
@ andrewh – As far as I know, the MKI and MKVI have the angled head basket (to be reminiscent of the u67/87) and the others have the cylindrical design (to look more like a u47, c12, 251). So if it's modeled after a K67 capsule, it'll be angled.

I bought a matched pair of the Warbler MKVID a couple of years back, great mics. Has mostly been used on drum OH, drum Room and vocals. Pretty much almost in voicing 2.
Im now on the hunt for a new FOK mic, have been using a RED type B but I'm now looking for something with more heft and a more solid low end, FET47 territory.

Anybody here use the Warbler mkII or GZ47fet(V) in this position? The United UT Fet47 also looks interesting...