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You favorite microphone?


temnov

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I mostly record live, so for me good pre-amps and good mikes are very important. I have pretty good collection of Russian-made microphoines - Oktavas and LOMO (Nevaton), as well as Royers, Eartworks, Cascades.

 

Question - what mike do you like the best and why? What are you using it for?

 

For example - I love Royer SF12 for overhead drums or for live classical vocal recording. Very natural and rounded sound.

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I like all microphones. IMO, there are no bad microphones - just microphones that are waiting for the right application. :)

 

To me, mikes are similar to a photographer's lenses. It's what an audio engineer "sees the world" through, and like lenses, it's hard to pick a favorite. Do you prefer a telephoto over a wide angle lens? It probably depends on what you're trying to shoot... :idea:

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To me, mikes are similar to a photographer's lenses. It's what an audio engineer "sees the world" through, and like lenses, it's hard to pick a favorite. Do you prefer a telephoto over a wide angle lens? It probably depends on what you're trying to shoot...
:idea:

 

I have a favorite lens, an 18-200mm zoom which I call a "walkabout" lens, which is great for the travel photography that I do. It's not ideal for everyone, as there are tradeoffs and other considerations. For other applications, I use another lens or, in some cases, another camera altogether.

 

For mics, I have many different kinds for different reasons, but I probably use the Lawson L251 the most often. Almost everything seems to sound good through this mic, so this is my favorite one. For other applications, I have a Heil mic, AT4060, Avenson omnis, SM 57s, 421s, and small diaphragm condensers.

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Of the microphones i have used and heard, the most special ones are

AEA R84/88

U47/48

Km56's/SM2

Coles 4038

Those are special sounds that i love.

Everything else is just representation of the source with a little of this that.

I am yet to experience a good C12 though.

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Of the microphones i have used and heard, the most special ones are

AEA R84/88

U47/48

Km56's/SM2

Coles 4038

Those are special sounds that i love.

Everything else is just representation of the source with a little of this that.

I am yet to experience a good C12 though.

 

 

 

All are excellent mikes IMHO. A C-12 or ELA M 251 is something you have to hear sometime. Great mikes. Definitely different than the U47, but in that same sonic quality league IMO.

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Ken, I checked out Lawson L251 specification, it looks like Nevaton MC416 in freq response.

 

http://www.lawsonmicrophones.com/l251specs.html

 

Nevaton sounds really velvety and warm with very smooth top. Is it like you will characterize the Lawson?

 

It costs twice less in Russia, too.

 

ELA M 251 and C-12 are these I'd like to use one day, not today :(

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Ken, I checked out Lawson L251 specification, it looks like Nevaton MC416 in freq response.


http://www.lawsonmicrophones.com/l251specs.html


Nevaton sounds really velvety and warm with very smooth top. Is it like you will characterize the Lawson?


It costs twice less in Russia, too.


ELA M 251 and C-12 are these I'd like to use one day, not today
:(

 

Yes, how you describe the Nevaton is how I would describe the Lawson. Smooth top, airy and breathy on top. Occasionally, with screamers, there's a little too much top end...hence, this thread. Not every mic is perfect in every application. But for most vocals, it rules. But it's freakin' amaaaaazing with low-key or breathy vocals.

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Most of my faves are ones I've never owned, but...

 

I've really taken to loving my sm7b on my singing voice, and I am NOT a screamer.

 

My ADK TL with the GK67 custom shop capsule is my best mic, and my only multi pattern LDC. It's a real nice mic on a lot of sources.

 

Just did some sessions elsewhere with a big ass Peluso tube mic and was really impressed.

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a lot of love for tube mics around here...

 

i only have old mics, most dynamics. i use them for theatre and some to go directly into loopers and other effect pedals.

 

for general applications (live voices, effects, instruments..) so far i have used a Revox M3500 (basicly a beyer M201) EV model 630 and Sennheiser MD408 the most.

 

for special stuff i allways go back to some old Riem contact mics (sound great on anything that vibrates :p) and Aiwa DM-14 (great small mic to go directly into guitar effects).

 

just for fun, my mic locker:

2x Sennheiser MD408N

3x Sennheiser MD21N

Sennheiser MD441N

Sennheiser MD421-2

Sennheiser MD412K

Electro-Voice Model 630

Aiwa DM-14

Turner U9S

Grundig GDM15

Geloso M68

Bouyer 709

Peiker PM4

Philips EL6011

Beyer M81

Beyer M60

Dynacord DY (Shure 545S)

Revox M3500 (Beyer M201)

Melodium 133M

AKG DX11

AKG C451 CK3

HI-MIKE DM-201

HI-MIKE UDM-1

Telefunken TD24

Sony F-99M

5x RIEM contactmic

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Almost forget the other half of the answer.


I use it on everything from vocals to acoustic guitar to piano. It's a true all-around if I have to choose only one.

 

 

Good Microphone. I like the transient response, great on drums/percussion.

has a sort of darker flavour i find, not bright like some seem to think, soft even.

I find it slightly closed sounding for vocals. Great room mike, great for outdoor remote recording, good for electric and acoustic gtrs, awesome on OH's and toms especially, cool mic.

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Good Microphone. I like the transient response, great on drums/percussion.

has a sort of darker flavour i find, not bright like some seem to think, soft even.

I find it slightly closed sounding for vocals. Great room mike, great for outdoor remote recording, good for electric and acoustic gtrs, awesome on OH's and toms especially, cool mic.

 

I know 414s are one of those mics that are great for applications, but I've often had the impression that they were forward/aggressive sounding, only to hear recordings in which they were definitely NOT that. And I wonder whether there are many different sounding kinds of 414s or whether my memory is even more faulty than what I was hoping for. :D

 

I don't own one, but I keep hearing really great recordings made with them.

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I answered based on what I have, although I suppose if I had to answer, I might still go along with the same family of mics and say something like a C-12/E-LAM 251.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

In my studio, I've been using the Heils a lot for everything. Great on mic cabinets, bass cabinets, drums, even overheads, so I guess this would be my second favorite after the Lawson if it just goes by what I own.

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And I wonder whether there are many different sounding kinds of 414s or whether my memory is even more faulty than what I was hoping for

 

No, it's not just you - there have been a bunch of different 414 versions over the years. In general, the older ones (pre 1982 or so) are considered the most desirable models by many engineers, due to their use of the original CK12 capsule. The capsule in later models is also called a CK12, but the design is significantly changed...

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