Avantone BV-12 Shootout with a 5k mic.

The BV-12 never quite took off in popularity as the brighter CV-12. Is that the REDD?

"Better" means "Different".

I don't always agree that "different" is actually better.

Generally speaking, of course.

The original CV12 was nearly part for part identical to the TNC ACM1200. I had two of those TNC mics at one point. Had Advanced Audio modify one into their CM12 and the other into their CM251. I thought the AA mods were nice and better sounding over all than the TNC stock mics, but I also made a couple of really nice recordings with the ACM-1200 stock mic. There is a reason Taylor Swift used the CV12 on her early albums, it's a solid mic if you're going for a bright yet intimate sound. The TNC won a few shootouts over my U87ai. I'm curious about the new revamp of it, but there are probably better mics out there.

Ha ha Martin. Fine. Personally, I don't really think the BV12 compares well with the 5k mic. I think if I heard it on its own I might not mind it, but next to the other mic I really think it sounds cheap.

I think the BV-12 was interesting, but a bit sibilant and needed more clean gain. With the upgrades Avantone have done with the new CV-12BLA, it probably addresses those issues and may actually be one of the best deals under 1k. So I'll see if I can get one to try out. I'm friendly with the guys at Avantone. They were a great help when I chose the Avantone Abbey's as monitors. Unfortunately I needed to sell them to pay bills.

Part of my reasoning for putting up that video was to remind those with less mic experience than many of us have to look around. The latest flavor of mic may not necessarily be their best choice. When I eventually have a real tracking room and can mic a band, I'll look around to see if there's any instrument the BV-12 just happens to be a good fit for. With Black Lion Audio involved now, I expect the newer model could be noteworthy.

I'm always interested in hearing as many new mics as I can. I keep an inventory in my head for future needs. There's a cool little $50 ISK mic that I like on acoustic bass for instance. I'd take the Lewitt 640 over any 414 I've heard except maybe the early ones with the original capsule. I would love to have a pair of Soyuz 0-13 FET's as overheads.

I'm beginning to appreciate FET's more than I used to. Plug and play, no power supply and all the accompanying cables to power and connect it.

Yep! I wouldn't mind an SM7B in my stable too, just for those moments that it's the only choice, if you know what I mean.

You don't think the Avantone is about 4-5db louder in the mix?

I did a huge shootout on GS in 2009 with the 1200, a K H 47, an M49, an MJ 47, U87, UM71S, MJ 319 and a few others I think.  I forget.  I kind of posed it as "contenders vs classics" both FET and Tube.  For quite awhile the 1200 was doing REALLY well in the polls.

The U87 dominated the FET's, with the MJ modded 319 coming in 2nd.  The Gefell did poorly, because it really needs the vocalist close, and I did all mics up at once for the FET's and Tubes - 1 take for FET's, one for Tubes.

On the Tubes, the MJ modded 460 (same essentially as the 1200) won the most votes.  M49 second, stock TNC1200 close behind in 3rd, and the K H U47 in last.  LOL  K H did say that that mic had not been in for service in years, but the rental company I rented it from said it was a favorite of many clients.

You CAN do a lot with a little it seems.....