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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2013 18:03:09 GMT -6
New Miktek CV4 Mod So - a couple weeks ago I went over to a studio here in Nashville to hear a mic mod in the making on the CV4...The owner of the studio is a fellow songwriter and we both have CV4's...I have to say - I've been really pleased with the CV4 - I really feel like it's a fantastic value and should probably retail for more than it does...I really love gear that is well priced and earns your respect. All that being said, it's not a 60's era 251... The original goal was a mod to the CV4 that could make a really good sounding mic sound even better...They settled on trying to replicate a certain 251 that they were in love with...I know the owner of the 251 and I've sung through it - awesome mic...Just thick creamy mids, not a hint of sibilance to be found and round on top. Not brite at all. Long story short, since that night I've heard some comparison files (before the final revision) that were really, really close...Close enough that there was no doubt I was gonna get it done...Apparently, the final revision has gotten scary close...So - I'm saving up for it right now. The guy that's doing this mod has been around for a while, been in the trenches in two very successful mic companies, has been re-skinning Neumanns, AKG's and Teles for the biggest local studios and done a bunch of custom projects for the local Country Music royalty...so he didn't just pop out of nowhere... I'm posting this here because I was so impressed - and I really feel like a mod on the CV4 could be hugely popular...I know a ton of people have the CV4 and this really can take it to another level. All the chinese zing - gone...This is just checking the pulse to see if anybody even is interested, so if you are, PM me and I'll put you in touch. BTW - I don't have any stake in this whatsoever. I make no money from this...All I know is that I'm gonna get it and if someone else is interested, I can put you in touch. UPDATE: My finished MOD compared to STOCK - realgear.freeforums.net/post/2036
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Post by wiz on Jul 21, 2013 22:48:56 GMT -6
I demo'd a CV4.
I thought it was a very fine microphone, especially at its price point.
Would love to hear some more information about what the mod is, what it does and how much it costs.....
Cheers
Wiz
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2013 22:52:33 GMT -6
Hey Wiz - email Shannon at Shannon <at> micrehab <dot> com Or call him at 615-944-2378
He can tell you all about it...
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Post by wiz on Jul 21, 2013 22:55:36 GMT -6
Thanks, will do.
Any chance of inviting him to post in this thread?
Cheers
Wiz
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2013 22:57:16 GMT -6
Sure - will do...
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Post by category5 on Jul 22, 2013 7:31:15 GMT -6
What I've heard of the CV4 sounds great but I think the capsule is Chinese and likely one of the limiting factors in the mic (Chinese capsules can be excellent too, BTW). I've not seen the guts, but knowing it comes with a premium NOS tube leads me to believe they didn't skimp elsewhere WRT parts. There are a lot of sources for great capsules and that would be an easy upgrade a lot of folks could do on their own. I haven't really heard any of the Chinese fizz on Herbie's trax but that doesn't mean it isn't there to start. That usually happens when the mfgr mates a k67 or k87 style capsule with a generally flat response circuit. These capsules need HF roll-off designed into the circuit.
Anyway, even vintage glory mics get modded to have smoother response and lower self noise, etc. so i'm sure there's plenty that can be done to the CV4 to make it even better. Does anyone happen to know if they are running as a cathode follower or plate follower (or CDDA like the notorious Alctron platform)? You may be able to tailor the mic somewhat by speaking to Christian Whitmore about a custom hand picked tube. Even most NOS tubes don't come close to his hand picked cherries.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2013 7:37:07 GMT -6
I do believe the mod includes a new capsule. It comes stock with an AMI transformer, so good there. I think the problem does lie with the capsule.
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Post by allbuttonmode on Jul 22, 2013 7:44:40 GMT -6
I am the lucky owner of a CV4. I love it as it is, obviously, but if it can get better, I'm all for it. Depending on the price tag, I am interested.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2013 14:16:07 GMT -6
I facebooked Shannon to get him to post here...
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 23, 2013 5:58:22 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 23, 2013 9:24:18 GMT -6
I'm taking my mic in today...I'll post some before and afters...
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Post by subhumanrecords on Jul 23, 2013 14:29:16 GMT -6
Hey Wiz - email Shannon at Shannon <at> micrehab <dot> com Or call him at 615-944-2378 He can tell you all about it... Shannon is the mic man, that's for sure. Plus he is a great guy and friend.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 23, 2013 15:26:50 GMT -6
I dropped off my mic...Great conversation with Shannon. Obviously, there's a bunch of proprietary stuff he can't - and shouldn't divulge, but he told me a little about what he's doing. He's basically replacing the capsule with his own mylar creation...and I believe there are other tweaks on the mic. It's already a pretty good shell with the AMI transformer and the EF800 tube. He told me all kinds of scientific shit that I pretended like I understood - All I know is that I can be into a mic and mod for under $2000 that sounds like the vintage mics I've used. Personally, I'm less concerned with whether it sounds like Jeff's 251 (it did, I was there and heard it) than I am about the following: A) The top end - how it handles sibilance and transients B) The mids - how it handles my problem range of 1-4khz - and how "buttery" it is in the 400-1khz area (Don't actl like you've never use buttery before) C) The bottom - is it solid? Is it defined? D) Does it stay consistent no matter the dynamics of the source? ie, does it pinch when you lay into it. That's what is important to me. Here are a few pics I took... This is one of the new MOD caps Ela M 251 serial #328 (It was in the 300's - I think that was it...) The gold sputtering doohickey
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Post by wiz on Jul 23, 2013 15:48:07 GMT -6
I am really interested in hearing the before and after. The cv4 I demod was really good.
Cheers
Wiz
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Post by lolo on Jul 23, 2013 19:54:11 GMT -6
Darn. Think I need to move to the U.S. Wouldnt want to ship my CV4 back from Australia. This does sound promosing. Love my CV4
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Post by tastliketape on Jul 23, 2013 20:57:34 GMT -6
was told that was my mod in the pics can't wait but my studio partner in nashville is gonna put it to use for a month working on his album bas888d better send samples lol
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 23, 2013 21:00:28 GMT -6
Sweet!
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Post by lolo on Jul 23, 2013 21:09:57 GMT -6
Saw a black CV4 on his website. Nice
any idea on price for the mod?
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 23, 2013 22:09:52 GMT -6
I believe that's the CV3...Cardioid only...
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 24, 2013 10:57:55 GMT -6
Here are two files that were done before the final revision. This mic was the guinea pig to try and dial in the mod. They would do some adjustments, sing some stuff, sit on it, then do more adjustments. These are two files before the last adjustment. The top end sounds pretty close to me, 251 still sounds better/bigger on the bottom. Apparently, that has now been adjusted and they're so close you can't really tell them apart... Here's a stream: Vintage Telefunken Ela M 251 E - snd.sc/14HZTgVMiktek CV4 with MOD - snd.sc/12LICyfAnd download: Vintage Telefunken Ela M 251 E - app.box.com/s/uvb390nut8hx50lnu81hMiktek CV4 with MOD - app.box.com/s/nge77gkz7xv74gxnvkmw
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2013 11:31:57 GMT -6
Any chance you can get clips of the final revision? I'm not a fan of "Apparently"-type statements for mods that cost $800.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 24, 2013 12:29:58 GMT -6
Like I said, I'm going to post some A/B of stock vs. mod...when mine gets back...maybe this weekend.
The question shouldn't be whether it sounds exactly like a 251, it should be whether it sounds better than your stock CV4. That's subjective, but we will see.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2013 12:33:32 GMT -6
yeah, definitely source dependent. how long was the turn-around time for the mod?
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 24, 2013 12:35:35 GMT -6
I'm here in Nashville, so it will be quicker for me ...but I would think it just depends on him...definitely a question to ask Shannon.
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Post by matt on Jul 24, 2013 12:43:45 GMT -6
Here are two files that were done before the final revision. This mic was the guinea pig to try and dial in the mod. They would do some adjustments, sing some stuff, sit on it, then do more adjustments. These are two files before the last adjustment. The top end sounds pretty close to me, 251 still sounds better/bigger on the bottom. Apparently, that has now been adjusted and they're so close you can't really tell them apart... Here's a stream: Vintage Telefunken Ela M 251 E - snd.sc/14HZTgVMiktek CV4 with MOD - snd.sc/12LICyfAnd download: Vintage Telefunken Ela M 251 E - app.box.com/s/uvb390nut8hx50lnu81hMiktek CV4 with MOD - app.box.com/s/nge77gkz7xv74gxnvkmwShit. Both sound great, but damn the 251! Even through my workplace monitoring system (PC soundcard/LE earbuds), the 251 imparts more body/depth on the vocal, IMHO. The CV4 sounds a tad smaller to me. But it's close tonality-wise, with the 251 maybe being a little sweeter, and the difference in price is big big big. I may be gear-crazy, but coughing the $$$$ for a vintage 251 or even a reissue/clone is a tough call I haven't been able to make. I'll be A/B-ing the files all day. So much for productivity - I do have priorities.
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