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Post by aremos on Oct 29, 2017 20:37:23 GMT -6
Listening on iPad speakers & comes through really nice, big & clear. Why would you return that mic? It fits your vox perfectly. And the guitar comes out well also.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 29, 2017 22:01:11 GMT -6
Thanks aremos, it is a perfect fit, I agree. It's only because I'm not able to afford it now. I had some big medical bills recently, and sold what I could to cover them. I would have sold a few of those expendable things to buy the Chandler if I still had them.
At least I know about it now first hand, and I'll work toward getting one when I can. I sold my amazing one of a kind Martin D-41 Turbo, so I'm using a Doyle Deluxe Taylor right now, it's a very good guitar, but not a great one, and it still sounds great through the REDD mic. I can only imagine what a primo Martin would sound like. The acoustic guitar sound with the REDD is exactly what I've been searching for.
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Post by thehightenor on Oct 30, 2017 5:37:26 GMT -6
I had some big medical bills recently, and sold what I could to cover them. Crikey that's really tough - I'm sorry to hear that Martin. Here in the UK it seems to have become a British pass time to complain about our National Health Service. Frankly when I read about my USA friends - it reminds me to make sure I'm grateful for the excellent free health care we receive here in the UK! I hope you do manage to save up for that REDD mic - I thought it sounded absolutely fantastic on your voice - best I've ever heard your voice sound - and you do have a great voice!
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Post by Ward on Oct 30, 2017 5:42:10 GMT -6
Stop making me like your songs and voice so much, Martin John Butler. This definitely sounds like the song Tom Waits forgot to write.
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Oct 30, 2017 6:36:40 GMT -6
Martin sounds great as usual now just figure out what kidney you can part withand buy that mic!
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Post by adamjbrass on Oct 30, 2017 6:45:51 GMT -6
If I were engineering your record I would sell gear and buy the chandler mic, just for your project.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 30, 2017 8:06:59 GMT -6
Thanks so much guys, your support matters more than you know. If the Chandler had been available 1-2 years ago, I'd have gotten it in a heartbeat. I had $2,200 invested in a good vocal mic, and with selling some other things too, I could have managed the REDD. It's still a blessing to know it exists, and that it's a perfect fit for me. Somehow down the road, I'll find a way.
I've rushed these recordings so that if I like the songs after a little while, I can put some instrumentation around them and have the REDD on those tracks. One reason I've posted these rough tracks is to return the favors of so many members here who've been so generous with their knowledge and help.
Mic quality and construction details are always a hot topic. Everyone who's recording their own music or engineered for others are all trying to have a well chose mic collection, but the great vintage mics are scarce and usually way too expensive for most of us. So we struggle to get things like the ioAudio U67, offshore mics with good parts we can mod, capsules changed or tweaked, mic builds and on and on, all to get close to the sound we'd get if we could afford the originals.
The Chandler, though expensive, actually solves the problem in my experience. We've compared its sound quality to classic mics because that helps us understand it better, even though it really sounds like itself. What's obvious when you actually use one is it's every bit as great as the holy grail mics that cost three times as much. So now pros have an important option they didn't have a year ago. It doesn't diminish the great quality of the classic mics either, but it proves it can still be done with todays materials.
Me, I've used three U47's, used two vintage C12's, tried an M49, three U67's, used a U87 every day for a dozen years, but I've only heard the 251 in action, not used one. I've also spent a lot of time buying and selling and demoing a lot of the more affordable mics, including The Blackspade UM 17B & R, a few Avantone's, Roswell, and the lovely Soyuz mics. I used all of them for my next album, so their quality was high, and I was grateful to have them.
My benchmark vocal sound was Lyle Lovette's "Road to Ensenada" and a few others, like Beck's "Sea Change". Even though the Soyuz 0-17 won in shootouts I attended, the vintage U67 was the best fit for me before I got to try the REDD. I still would love to have a U67 or the Soyuz 0-17, but if I was buying one mic today and had a $5,000 budget, I'd buy the Chandler. It has the huge quality I liked about the 67, a better low end IMO than any of the 3 U47's I've used, it handles hard hits better than any mic I've ever heard and naturally compresses when you need it to. The high end is there like a C12 or 251, but it's smooth, not brittle, and better balanced I think.
This mic is not "bright" at all, it's just perfectly balanced, so all the highs are there, but so is the huge low end, and put together, I'd take it over any other mic if I could. Of course, that's what works for me. I have a lot of experience, but it pales in comparison to some of the guys here who've had a lifetime of experience with the mics we've been discussing.
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Post by kcatthedog on Oct 30, 2017 8:17:15 GMT -6
Stop making me like your songs and voice so much, Martin John Butler . This definitely sounds like the song Tom Waits forgot to write. or wasn't man enuff to: Waits is such a woose !
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Post by Guitar on Oct 30, 2017 8:32:41 GMT -6
That's a great vocal sound! So smooth and 3D. Yeah I'm starting to really get the appeal of the platinum quality lead vocal chain. It's just such a satisfying sonic element.
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Post by Ward on Oct 30, 2017 8:35:25 GMT -6
That's a great vocal sound! So smooth and 3D. Yeah I'm starting to really get the appeal of the platinum quality lead vocal chain. It's just such a satisfying sonic element. It's definitely one of those 99% microphones/preamps! The preamp is just a bonus. A HUGE bonus nonetheless. Any chance we might see one without the preamp someday, spock?
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 30, 2017 8:43:04 GMT -6
That's an interesting question Ward.
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Post by adamjbrass on Oct 30, 2017 8:45:21 GMT -6
That's a great vocal sound! So smooth and 3D. Yeah I'm starting to really get the appeal of the platinum quality lead vocal chain. It's just such a satisfying sonic element. It's definitely one of those 99% microphones/preamps! The preamp is just a bonus. A HUGE bonus nonetheless. Any chance we might see one without the preamp someday, spock ? The amplifier inside it seems to be responsible for much of the mojo. The cap -> directly into the REDD tube sound. If you turn the amplifier down this mic puts out mic level like any microphone with a tube in it.
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Post by spock on Oct 30, 2017 8:54:55 GMT -6
That's a great vocal sound! So smooth and 3D. Yeah I'm starting to really get the appeal of the platinum quality lead vocal chain. It's just such a satisfying sonic element. It's definitely one of those 99% microphones/preamps! The preamp is just a bonus. A HUGE bonus nonetheless. Any chance we might see one without the preamp someday, spock? Hi Ward the mic is the preamp, the preamp is the mic, they are one.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Oct 30, 2017 9:52:41 GMT -6
It's definitely one of those 99% microphones/preamps! The preamp is just a bonus. A HUGE bonus nonetheless. Any chance we might see one without the preamp someday, spock ? Hi Ward the mic is the preamp, the preamp is the mic, they are one.
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Post by spock on Oct 30, 2017 10:26:16 GMT -6
jcoutu1 ROFL... hahahahaha; I think I pee'd myself a little.
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Post by c0rtland on Oct 30, 2017 14:38:21 GMT -6
the REDD microphone can be expressed using the equation
p=mc²
Chandler being the constant
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Post by Ward on Oct 31, 2017 5:47:00 GMT -6
It's definitely one of those 99% microphones/preamps! The preamp is just a bonus. A HUGE bonus nonetheless. Any chance we might see one without the preamp someday, spock? Hi Ward the mic is the preamp, the preamp is the mic, they are one. So spock . . . Forever indivisible? United they stand, divided they fall? So should we refer to a 'redd mic' as 'they' or 'them' ? And Adam J Brass, I understand what you said about turning it down to line level, but thanks for mentioning it as being an essential part of the sound as it stands right now.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 31, 2017 8:13:47 GMT -6
I'd say the preamp adds an energy that's palpable. There's a kind of liveliness to the sound that allows the vocal to feel live. It feels like the vocalist is singing to you. The Soyuz 0-17 and the vintage U67 did that too, but I'm loving the REDD even more than those wonderful mics.
Those are all very high end mics though. No one's created a less expensive mic that gets that intangible thing happening that i've heard yet. The Roswell is good, the Warm Audio 87 is very good, the Stam's are excellent from what I've heard. Maybe the Stam 47 will hit it, he does some really good things. My SA73 preamp is really hanging in there, I've had no desire to think of a using different one since I got it.
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Post by Guitar on Oct 31, 2017 10:06:18 GMT -6
I think you are right Martin. As they say in the UFC, "There are levels to this stuff." I think you've been lucky to try some next-level mics, that frankly quite a few of us are unfamiliar with.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 31, 2017 11:13:48 GMT -6
That's one reason I've been posting mxx, I've been given so many helpful tips, great advice and exposed to things I wouldn't have found otherwise, I try to give something back. When I bought my Blackspade UM-17, it was after listening to a bunch of different mic files online. It sounded exactly like the files I'd listened to, and I was very happy. So now, I pay it forward if I can.
I just did an acoustic guitar overdub, I had played a solo part slightly differently than the way I really I wanted to, so I tried to get it right. The Chandler seems more consistent than my other mics in the sense that the overdub doesn't sound completely different, even though it's a different day. Maybe that has something to do with the way it still sounds balanced from a distance. I of course try to set the mic at the same spot, same height, but you guys all know, even an inch can make it sound different.
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Post by donr on Nov 1, 2017 23:30:05 GMT -6
Well, I bought one. Based on the demo Martin posted. I've heard Martin's voice through several various mics over the years and the Chandler I thought was outstanding. I don't own any of the coveted vintage LDC vocal microphones and probably won't at this point. Yes it was expensive, I figure if I want to re-sell the REDD it would hold its value due to the unanimous reviews. Got it today. Put it up and recorded Allen Lanier's "In Thee" live, voice and Gibson B-25 acoustic guitar. Mic slightly higher than mouth high. Sang about 6" away, slightly off axis, no pop filter. Guitar was totally off axis, under the mic and about a foot+ from it. The mic sounds good in the phones when you get anywhere near it. Standard setting (not drive) cardioid, line level into MH ULN-8 with about 3dB MH Channelstrip comp at 2:1 ratio on peaks. In DP, it's bare except for Slate Trident on channel and mixbus, a little bit of Slate 480 plate and Pro-L limiter and dither. Geez, this is easily the best mic I own. It sounds like what you put in front of it, and gives it to you in a polished package. I'm keeping it. soundcloud.com/buck_dharma/chandler-redd-inthee
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 15,014
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Post by ericn on Nov 2, 2017 0:04:30 GMT -6
View AttachmentWell, I bought one. Based on the demo Martin posted. I've heard Martin's voice through several various mics over the years and the Chandler I thought was outstanding. I don't own any of the coveted vintage LDC vocal microphones and probable won't at this point. Yes it was expensive, I figure if I want to re-sell the REDD it would hold its value due to the unanimous reviews. Got it today. Put it up and recorded Allen Lanier's "In Thee" live, voice and Gibson B-25 acoustic guitar. Mic slightly higher than mouth high. Sang about 6" away, slightly off axis, no pop filter. Guitar was totally off axis, under the mic and about a foot+ from it. The mic sounds good in the phones when you get anywhere near it. Standard setting (not drive) cardioid, line level into MH ULN-8 with about 3dB MH Channelstrip comp at 2:1 ratio on peaks. In DP, it's bare except for Slate Trident on channel and mixbus, a little bit of Slate 480 plate and Pro-L limiter and dither. Geez, this is easily the best mic I own. It sounds like what you put in front of it, and gives it to you in a polished package. I'm keeping it. soundcloud.com/buck_dharma/chandler-redd-inthee Congratulations my friend, if it needs a home when your on the road you know where to find me!
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Post by spock on Nov 2, 2017 0:12:29 GMT -6
View AttachmentWell, I bought one. Based on the demo Martin posted. I've heard Martin's voice through several various mics over the years and the Chandler I thought was outstanding. I don't own any of the coveted vintage LDC vocal microphones and probable won't at this point. Yes it was expensive, I figure if I want to re-sell the REDD it would hold its value due to the unanimous reviews. Got it today. Put it up and recorded Allen Lanier's "In Thee" live, voice and Gibson B-25 acoustic guitar. Mic slightly higher than mouth high. Sang about 6" away, slightly off axis, no pop filter. Guitar was totally off axis, under the mic and about a foot+ from it. The mic sounds good in the phones when you get anywhere near it. Standard setting (not drive) cardioid, line level into MH ULN-8 with about 3dB MH Channelstrip comp at 2:1 ratio on peaks. In DP, it's bare except for Slate Trident on channel and mixbus, a little bit of Slate 480 plate and Pro-L limiter and dither. Geez, this is easily the best mic I own. It sounds like what you put in front of it, and gives it to you in a polished package. I'm keeping it. soundcloud.com/buck_dharma/chandler-redd-inthee PM me if you’d like the notes I send out. But I think you’ve figured it out. It does enjoy distance 1-3’ out too.
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Post by wiz on Nov 2, 2017 0:23:08 GMT -6
Well, I bought one. Based on the demo Martin posted. I've heard Martin's voice through several various mics over the years and the Chandler I thought was outstanding. I don't own any of the coveted vintage LDC vocal microphones and probably won't at this point. Yes it was expensive, I figure if I want to re-sell the REDD it would hold its value due to the unanimous reviews. Got it today. Put it up and recorded Allen Lanier's "In Thee" live, voice and Gibson B-25 acoustic guitar. Mic slightly higher than mouth high. Sang about 6" away, slightly off axis, no pop filter. Guitar was totally off axis, under the mic and about a foot+ from it. The mic sounds good in the phones when you get anywhere near it. Standard setting (not drive) cardioid, line level into MH ULN-8 with about 3dB MH Channelstrip comp at 2:1 ratio on peaks. In DP, it's bare except for Slate Trident on channel and mixbus, a little bit of Slate 480 plate and Pro-L limiter and dither. Geez, this is easily the best mic I own. It sounds like what you put in front of it, and gives it to you in a polished package. I'm keeping it. soundcloud.com/buck_dharma/chandler-redd-inthee congrats, sounds really cool.. making me covet thy neighbours mic 8) cheers Wiz
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Post by Martin John Butler on Nov 2, 2017 7:59:13 GMT -6
Hey Don, that's great news! Congratulations my friend :-) This mic just keeps on giving. I tried the drive setting for the first time yesterday, and that was a completely different experience from the standard setting, giving me some seriously useful options. Typically, I'm not a fan of various settings on mics. The Bock I had, and the Lauten Audio Atlantis I tried had settings that to me were useless.
I had the gain set too high for the Drive mode, but discovered you can get that old time distortion like a Moby vocal track if you want, only it's cleaner and more versatile. I'll try to use it again today at a better setting before sending it back. Unfortunately, the honeymoon's over, and I've got to let it go now :-(
When I returned to the standard cardioid setting, it was clear how classically great the sound is, but the drive settings is so seductive, you may want to keep it there. What a great and useful thing Chandler included in what was already a stellar design.
Cowboycoalminer said it "sounded like I was in the room" with him. It does, but not in the way some mics sound so real they have no charm left. The REDD has all the charm the classics have and more. The sound is both enhancing, big and intimate. The preamp in the mic is just brilliant once you get used to the effect it has.
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