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Post by deehope on Apr 6, 2015 16:55:12 GMT -6
What's the flatest sounding mic you own or have used? The first mic I owned was an older akg 414 b-uls and thinking back the reason I think I didn't like it, was because it was pretty darn flat with no enhancement of the source. I wonder if Jim Williams mod made it even more true/clean/flat sounding. I'd really like to have something like that in my tool box.
Anything other then a schoeps that's going to get me there?
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 6, 2015 16:56:39 GMT -6
This KM84 seems flat as hell...
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Post by deehope on Apr 6, 2015 17:09:04 GMT -6
Is it sad that I've never tried the clone on a vocal? Lol This KM84 seems flat as hell... |
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Post by Martin John Butler on Apr 6, 2015 17:33:35 GMT -6
The SM7 sounds flat to me, the low end seems light, but I haven't used one myself, so I'm only going by recordings I've heard.
I find the KM84 has a sound of its own, a great sound, but a definite, recognizable sound. In all the shootouts against the clones, the 84 always wins, full bottom, but a little nasally, which is where the SDC magic is, I guess. It's my favorite instrument mic.
The RE-20 is damn flat, but I think my vote would be the U47 FET. I've used them, and they're flat sounding. But, if you mean really really straight line flat, I imagine there's a piezo mic that does that trick, but I hate that sound.
In a way, flat is dull. What kind of situation are you looking to use a very flat mic for?
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 6, 2015 18:24:39 GMT -6
I've never used one, but i think Earthworks are supposed to be insanely flat? i'd imagine whatever it is would have to be omni in it's polar pattern? how about this? www.core-sound.com/TetraMic/1.php |
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Apr 6, 2015 18:44:22 GMT -6
Almost any omni SDC Sm81 or c451 or 460 as well.
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 6, 2015 20:19:36 GMT -6
timcampbell - I've never used a TLM 170, but I've heard great things about them. Don't they use the same capsule as a U89? I had one last year and liked it - ended up selling it, but it was a good mic.
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Post by gouge on Apr 7, 2015 6:35:29 GMT -6
isn't the flattest sounding mic actually not flat on the test bench. it should ideally have a boost in the low end and the top end.
doesn't it also depend on how close to the source it is. wasn't the u47 designed to sound flat as a distance mic?
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Post by Ward on Apr 7, 2015 8:19:35 GMT -6
TLM170 (if I ever get it back from our favorite microphone man) U89 - virtually as flat but has the slight color of the transformer (better, to my ears) and like timcampbell said... the Sennheiser MKH series. The old MKH104 omni in particular! |
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Post by bradd on Apr 7, 2015 10:41:31 GMT -6
Of the mics I own, I think the 414 B-ULS, the KM84 and the RE20 all seem as flat as I would want to hear.
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Post by Ward on Apr 7, 2015 12:46:42 GMT -6
RE20 flat?
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Post by gouge on Apr 7, 2015 18:07:07 GMT -6
surprised no one has mentioned schoeps ccm 2 or line audio om1
in my mic locker it's akg d202 |
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Post by peteje on Apr 7, 2015 18:15:38 GMT -6
Agree with the TLM170 - it is what we used to grab on scoring stage for least coloration and high clarity. Not flat in a boring way, just most like it is not there.
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Post by unit7 on Apr 7, 2015 23:24:52 GMT -6
Of my LDCs, the Flea 49 is the flattest. Doesn't have the U47 5k thing, and no hype at the very top end. And yes, Schoeps.
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Post by bradd on Apr 9, 2015 15:55:32 GMT -6
I think it's pretty flat. It may have a bit of a presence peak in the 5-8k range, but it's the flattest of the major dynamics (although I've never used a 441). |
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Post by Bob Olhsson on Apr 9, 2015 17:42:20 GMT -6
In practice the pattern determines how neutral a mike sounds. The km84 usually wins.
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Post by carymiller on Apr 9, 2015 18:25:56 GMT -6
Wouldn't the new Slate Virtual mic actually be the flattest? It's designed to be completely flat in response so you can apply modeling to after the fact or while tracking.
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Post by Bob Olhsson on Apr 10, 2015 10:49:55 GMT -6
Surely you gest!
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Post by Bob Olhsson on Apr 10, 2015 21:23:05 GMT -6
Or is it spelled jest? My wife is a recovering copy editor...
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Post by carymiller on Apr 10, 2015 22:23:34 GMT -6
Well yes and no! LOL...I mean he claims it's the flattest mic in the world...which is why it can take the modeling so effectively. But unlike most of his products I wasn't too impressed with his video / sound files, etc. I love Steven's stuff...but it'll be a cold day in hell before I let go of my e49. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Apr 10, 2015 23:00:35 GMT -6
But unlike most of his products I wasn't too impressed with his video / sound files, etc. +1 |
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Post by Bob Olhsson on Apr 11, 2015 9:07:36 GMT -6
My problem is that I know way too much about the physics of microphones and the nature of measurements. Room "tuning" is also a crock of pseudoscientific b.s.
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Post by swurveman on Apr 13, 2015 9:42:46 GMT -6
Here's a couple of isolated stereo track snippets that were miced with my Schoeps CMC64's. I'm putting them up because the mic is supposed to be flat and not many people have heard it. The drummer is Brian Fahey, who plays for the Paladains and does a lot of session work. The guitar was bought for $50 by the guitarist who's a blues purist. The song is a Charley Patton cover. https%3A//soundcloud.com/songflowerrecording/schoeps-cmc64drumshttps%3A//soundcloud.com/songflowerrecording/schoeps-cmc54-git |
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Post by micdaddy on Jul 25, 2015 7:56:59 GMT -6
+1 for Tim Campbell equipped AKG 414 eb. It's the most neutral microphone I have, and by neutral I mean it sounds real.
A stock 414xls measured very flat.
RE55 is the flattest dynamic I've ever measured. RE20 not so much.
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Post by M57 on Jul 25, 2015 8:54:19 GMT -6
I see RE-20 and SM7 on this list.. These are popular with male vocalists and voiceover types, right? - at least in their price range. Any particular reason why? I'm assuming flatness has something to do with that? Strangely enough, I do not think of them as flat mics when I see videos of them in action with name artists. I was thinking about picking up (or perhaps borrowing) one of these to see how it works with my voice. The Warbler thread also has my attention. I've listened to most of the reference recordings that someone carefully made for us, and I'm intrigued by the flexibility of the voicing switches - the I and the IV both brought something to the table for me - but those mics are anything but flat, right?
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