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Post by jeromemason on Jan 9, 2015 23:26:13 GMT -6
Hey guys, well we'd been talking about this for a few months now and finally with enough R&D and TLC Shannon has created an all new (***patent pending***) microphone capsule. I had been hinting a lot that what we were working on would blow the doors off the industry, in at least our opinions that is and after months of design Shannon has certainly done that. We can't get into specifics on the details of the capsule right now, the patent is pending but when all is settled I believe you all will truly understand Shannon's brilliance, and I know he's modest and would tell me not to say that, but, he is, Shannon is brilliant, and I'm proud to of worked on this with him and to call him a very good and close friend of mine. To give you a run down here of what this exactly is: The circuit is the basic C12 Matachung kit that has been converted into a true Ela M 251 circuit. I chose the internals and values regarding the conversion, tweaking and swapping until I felt the circuit was as close as I could get it for Shannon to do his magic. There was much trial and error and trips for me to and from Nashville until we felt it was good enough to go over to Slack Key Studio and have one of the best engineers in Nashville sit in on the final steps to dialing this in. We all couldn't believe our ears that night and I believe it will be very much the same for you. This is a small sampling, it's all voice as we just didn't have enough time to get around to instruments, but after you hear the detail and character I'm sure those out there will be able to drool over what this mic will sound like on any source. Technical Details: The files were all tracked at 24/96 in Slack Key's most dead iso booth. They were amped with the RTZ 9762 500 preamp. There is no processing on any mic, and conversion was handled by Apogee. The files are matched by ear and meter to be as close as we could get them, and all mics were tracked with the exact same preamp settings and i/o gains, the only adjustment came from within Cubase. So, these are as dry and boring (in terms of saturation of the pre I mean  ) as we could get. The output gain was 100%, while the input was set to provide a level free of any distortions. From me personally: Shannon, thanks man, thank you for not thinking I was crazy when I called you and said that I wanted to do something totally different, something that could change how capsules in general are put together. To my delight, Shannon was ALL over that one Randge, Buddy, having your amazing studio and ear to help get us across the finish line was where the rubber met the road on this idea and I, and I'm sure I speak for Shannon when I say we couldn't had ever done this without you, you're just a great guy and one of the most talented people I've ever met. It was a fun journey, and I'm looking forward to many, many more with Shannon in the very near future. I hope you guys enjoy these and please provide as detailed of feedback as possible. We have chosen to label the files and not go with some sort of shootout guessing game because we all felt most of us on here can separate bias with pure sound. The files are in the Drop Box link below, enjoy and let us know your thought. Shannon, Randy and Jerome FILES: Shannons new capsule design |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 10, 2015 0:42:21 GMT -6
I motion for this thread to be closed before I get a chance to listen.
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Post by drbill on Jan 10, 2015 2:27:48 GMT -6
Sweet! Congrats.
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Post by lpedrum on Jan 10, 2015 10:32:07 GMT -6
So....what will eventually hit the market here? Capsule only? Mic kit? Fully built mic? Is this the same capsule that was intended for use with the Miktek?
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Post by kidvybes on Jan 10, 2015 11:25:50 GMT -6
From my conversations with Shannon, he will not sell any of his capsule variations individually, and for good reason...unlike the other "boutique capsule" builders, Shannon believes the only way to get the best performance from his capsule work is to match the capsule to the specific circuit and build of the mic that will be employing it...makes perfect sense!...like building a custom engine for an automobile without knowing the transmission, differential, suspension, etc of the chassis that will house it...each capsule is specifically tuned to best compliment the circuit, transformer, tube, PSU of the donor microphone...so you must send him the mic and power-supply in order to take proper advantage of his capsule-building skills...
Considering the vast array of tube and FET circuits, mods (both implemented properly and otherwise), PSU designs, etc, how could he assure performance at this level of quality simply by mailing you a standard-voiced capsule, and assume it will sound as he intended?...he can't...
when you consider what's involved, you can better appreciate the value of his unique service...believe me, I was a skeptic when he announced his initial Miktek-mod...but now, with a much better understanding of his approach and philosophy, I'm preparing to send him one of my C12 clones for his services...I want to personally thank Shannon for spending the time with me on the phone to share his knowledge and expertise...and a hell of a nice guy as well!
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Post by wiz on Jan 10, 2015 16:00:20 GMT -6
i listened to the Randy Vox one....
Impressive.
Very... imprressive.
What was the control mic?
you know the whole dancing about architecture thing?
Well, I can only compare the sound of the 3 mics against each other, on that one source. I would chose either the ELAM or your mic.. depending on the stuff behind the vocal.
Your mic seems really transparent (sometime interpreted negatively, I don't mean it like that..)
Given the unobtanium nature of 251's in a fiscal sense, I think you have a winner here. ...
But WAAAAAY more important than that is the technical achievement. ... If you guys have come up with something new, thats sounds so great and is in the reach of some of us.. I really mean this... CONGRATS
great work fellas!!!
cheers
Wiz
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 10, 2015 16:27:21 GMT -6
What was the control mic? Your mic seems really transparent (sometime interpreted negatively, I don't mean it like that..) great work fellas!!! cheers Wiz Hey Wiz! The control mic, well we don't want to name names and that's why it's called that haha. I will tell you that it is a very respectable mic, very, and is by no means one to be considered mediocre, that's why we used it, so that we knew we were slaying the dragon so to speak The transparent remark is one I'm thinking we will start getting a lot. I had Randy send me those files unmarked so I couldn't know what was what, that way no subconscious bias, and I kept saying the same to myself. The best way I could describe it was that our mic had the 251 vibe and character, but it was like you could reach in and grab the singer from ours. Just seems very detailed, and open, almost like there is a wood plank behind the other mics and when you hear ours someone takes it away, if that makes any sense at all. Also, the sibilance, you'll notice the S' just sort of go through it, and that is all Shannon's brilliance with keeping a microphone balanced but reducing the resonant distortion of the capsule. It's F'ing brilliant. No other way to put that. |
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t3
Junior Member
I'm in the hi-fidelity first class travelling set.
Posts: 54
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Post by t3 on Jan 10, 2015 17:26:45 GMT -6
Wow, that's really nice. Clearer, with better dynamics, yet noticeably reducing sibilance. Doesn't have that "comfy blanket" quality of the 251, but is much more realistic. Great, great job guys. The model # of that control mic doesn't happen to end in "Ai", does it?  |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 10, 2015 17:34:40 GMT -6
Think it might be one named for a mythical island.
Annnnyway...I haven't listened on my monitors, but it sounds great on the laptop. I noticed the Blue Line (which I am having Tony put in my 47) seemed to be very detailed sounding too. I wonder if it's just somewhat a characteristic of a capsule being vintage - that it just kind've settles in and loses some of that detail?
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 10, 2015 17:35:40 GMT -6
So - I didn't see - are you guys offering it as a full mic?
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Jan 10, 2015 18:31:52 GMT -6
Natural compression on the 251 when Randy goes into "The deed was done". Like John says, I just think it's age that does that. Don't know if that can be replicated. The other 251 does sound wonderful though. Crystal clear which is what a good tube mic should sound like. AND, sounds like it handles SPL better than most new mics I've heard. You guys defiantly got a winner on your hands.
I actually preferred your mic on the female vocal.
BTW, the control mic is no slouch. I'd take any of them.
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Post by Shannon on Jan 10, 2015 18:41:10 GMT -6
who is that dumb soma a beech saying all that BS....kinda kewl althuogh im sure everybody is mofo'ing me by the 2nd or 1st listen ....Is that all he can say? is that all his big words in one sentence?....... "Mom check this out,,, opps they must have sampled me mom honest they must have auto tuned it lol " As far as a kit it is offered as a full build and would like to keep that way until further R&D on other mics and setup is finished. The build was very nice and clean good. The Chunger Matachung worked great.Im sure that in future it will be offered for all or most others. The price is..... not sure yet.. to be continued.... feeback is kewl its not meant to be clone. kinda tribute to one of our favorite Mics but even cooler and affordable sounding . that it stacked up well for less than half price.. |
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 10, 2015 20:11:01 GMT -6
Natural compression on the 251 when Randy goes into "The deed was done". Like John says, I just think it's age that does that. Don't know if that can be replicated. The other 251 does sound wonderful though. Crystal clear which is what a good tube mic should sound like. AND, sounds like it handles SPL better than most new mics I've heard. You guys defiantly got a winner on your hands. I actually preferred your mic on the female vocal. BTW, the control mic is no slouch. I'd take any of them. Good observation as always Herb! And you're correct, that control is def no slouch, just a different color Ferrari. |
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Post by sopwith on Jan 10, 2015 20:18:10 GMT -6
Sounds amazing, kudos all around. Gonna have to start planning for my second Mic Rehab purchase!
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Post by Randge on Jan 10, 2015 20:36:45 GMT -6
I think the Jerhoads mic sounded better on the female than either of the other mics personally. That is my wife, Ashley singing btw. She mostly is a harmony singer (I can rarely get her to sing lead) but I am glad she did this sample for us. Coincidentally, her great uncle co-wrote "You Are My Sunshine" with Jimmy Davis and that is why she picked that ole song. That and she knows every chorus under the sun but few verses! Ha! Thanks and love ya honey!
R
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Post by porkyman on Jan 10, 2015 23:20:00 GMT -6
that control mic is super noisy on the female voc. that cant be normal... i would love to hear these two capsules in the same circuit. i wonder how much of that vintage sound is the old tube/trafo/caps etc. seems like the new one sounds more modern because it is more modern. circuit wise i mean. i would also love to hear both the new cap in the old circuit and the old cap in the new one. just throwing it out there in case you guys get bored one day.
thanks for doing this BTW.
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Post by kidvybes on Jan 11, 2015 9:57:39 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 11, 2015 19:29:22 GMT -6
Listened on the monitors...Yeah - I thought the new mic sounded better on the female vocals. I thought the 251 still had a little more body in the male examples. Anyway, it's really close and the difference in the prices (I'm sure this mic will be a tad bit less than $17K) is insane. No way I would put that much money in a vintage mic...
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Jan 11, 2015 20:37:24 GMT -6
Listened on the monitors...Yeah - I thought the new mic sounded better on the female vocals. I thought the 251 still had a little more body in the male examples. Anyway, it's really close and the difference in the prices (I'm sure this mic will be a tad bit less than $17K) is insane. No way I would put that much money in a vintage mic... I might if I could find one. I look all the time for 251's and they never seem to come up. McBride probably has over half of them at Blackbird! |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 11, 2015 21:14:37 GMT -6
Ask Shannon, I bet he would have a bead on one.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 12, 2015 0:04:38 GMT -6
Just to point out, the beauty of this new mic is that you can specify certain characteristics you want and it can be done as the build is done. Most of what is being said can be done with just the circuit, the heft you're talking about is easily attainable, we just chose to have our model to be open and transparent, but a little cloudiness is easy to add. I can say this with confidence because I've heard it, it's just we pushed through that and beyond to what you're hearing. You want a little grit, some color, no problem gents. |
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Post by Randge on Jan 12, 2015 0:33:55 GMT -6
He is dead on correct. It had a little more puffy bottom before Shannon's final tweak to the capsule. Shannon asked me what I would like to hear to improve it and I told him I would want it clearer than how that particular 251 records. I fully believe he surpassed that 251 with the "in the room with the singer and no veil sound" as I like to call it. At this point, it is simply preference tweaks to make a particular vocal shine and diming the capsule to that particular voice, on site, in a studio environment, to really hear what the tweaks are doing for the singer. They have made history to my ears and this mic sure isn't going to cost what you'd have to spend on a vintage 251.
R
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Post by tonycamphd on Jan 12, 2015 12:25:36 GMT -6
Can't believe I completely missed this thread... Seriously?  I'll check these clips out in a bit, congrats J and S! |
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Post by Shannon on Jan 12, 2015 15:26:56 GMT -6
Listened on the monitors...Yeah - I thought the new mic sounded better on the female vocals. I thought the 251 still had a little more body in the male examples. Anyway, it's really close and the difference in the prices (I'm sure this mic will be a tad bit less than $17K) is insane. No way I would put that much money in a vintage mic... I might if I could find one. I look all the time for 251's and they never seem to come up. McBride probably has over half of them at Blackbird! Just so happens that we have 4 in house, One of them is for sale.. 3 are Johns and 1 local. i can ask if anyone is interested in this one that is for sale.......... ? |
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Jan 12, 2015 17:58:42 GMT -6
I might if I could find one. I look all the time for 251's and they never seem to come up. McBride probably has over half of them at Blackbird! Just so happens that we have 4 in house, One of them is for sale.. 3 are Johns and 1 local. i can ask if anyone is interested in this one that is for sale.......... ? Yeah see what they want for it Shannon. Thanks. |
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) as we could get. The output gain was 100%, while the input was set to provide a level free of any distortions. 
I'll check these clips out in a bit, congrats J and S!