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Post by drbill on Mar 24, 2021 13:25:55 GMT -6
I haven’t used an 89, but personally, I would get a pair of Serrano 87s and call it a day. At this point, if you need a new mic and are on a budget, but still need great sound - the Serrano's would definitely make the list. I'd also check out the new Heiserman's, and if there was a TAD bit more budget and you can deal with used.....the Gefell UM70's would be near the top of the list for me.
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Post by ab101 on Mar 24, 2021 13:48:50 GMT -6
I like the Gefell UM70 mics! Very versatile!
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Post by drumsound on Mar 24, 2021 15:48:10 GMT -6
For not a ton of money a pair of AT4050 or sE T2 will get you there. Probably AA FET mics would be good too.
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Post by gwlee7 on Mar 24, 2021 18:41:29 GMT -6
I just wanted to f/u on this post. How is the u89 as an overhead? I'm looking for a mic that has less high end than my Tele TF11 but maintains the depth and dimension of that mic. I've got a B-uls on it's way. If that doesn't do the trick I'm strongly considering the u89. I usually use 2-4 mics on the kit and mostly record rock n roll, punk rock or old school soul and whatever might fall in bewteen. Any feedback and opinions appreciated. Thanks I haven’t used an 89, but personally, I would get a pair of Serrano 87s and call it a day. I am probably going to unload a bunch of “didn't wait and get what I really wanted/should have got” mics and get a couple of the Serranos. They have really wowed me.
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Post by the other mark williams on Mar 24, 2021 19:31:38 GMT -6
I haven’t used an 89, but personally, I would get a pair of Serrano 87s and call it a day. I am probably going to unload a bunch of “didn't wait and get what I really wanted/should have got” mics and get a couple of the Serranos. They have really wowed me. I finally had a chance to run mine through my Weight Tank WT-72 preamp a couple days ago, and wowie zowie... It was a very good mic with my flat/clinical pres, but it’s up an entire level with my WT-72. Very, VERY nice.
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Post by drumsound on Mar 25, 2021 7:41:24 GMT -6
I am probably going to unload a bunch of “didn't wait and get what I really wanted/should have got” mics and get a couple of the Serranos. They have really wowed me. I finally had a chance to run mine through my Weight Tank WT-72 preamp a couple days ago, and wowie zowie... It was a very good mic with my flat/clinical pres, but it’s up an entire level with my WT-72. Very, VERY nice. I've found with my '77 U87 that tube pres are what really make it sound its best. I have a friend with a 70s U87 who says the same about his.
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Post by Omicron9 on Mar 25, 2021 7:50:18 GMT -6
The usual places to look would be Shure KSM32, KSM44, AT4050, AT4040, AT4033A, things like that but I haven't tried all of them. One question would be, do you need patterns or is cardioid only OK. ....snip.... My gut instinct would be to go with the Shure mics, for a little more money. Since I know the KSM137 and KSM141. Audio Technica doesn't always blow me away, but they do work. Late to the party, but here's my .02: I have a pair of KSM32s. I love those, and have yet to find something on which they don't work. And work well. Cardioid-only, but really versatile. KSM44: Have had one for many years and dig it. Multi-pattern; quite flexible, and very low self-noise. The 32 has a mid-size diaphragm; the 44 is a large. Hence, the 32 is not merely a cardioid-only version of the 44. They're entirely different, but both wonderful. I have a pair of the KSM141 that get used on many things and I always love those. Cardioid/omni. Good luck in your search! -09 PS: Looks like I did post this previously. Doh. Note to self: no more posting before coffee.
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Post by the other mark williams on Mar 25, 2021 11:07:24 GMT -6
I finally had a chance to run mine through my Weight Tank WT-72 preamp a couple days ago, and wowie zowie... It was a very good mic with my flat/clinical pres, but it’s up an entire level with my WT-72. Very, VERY nice. I've found with my '77 U87 that tube pres are what really make it sound its best. I have a friend with a 70s U87 who says the same about his. I remember you saying this at some point in one of the U87 threads, Tony, and I can totally understand why now. I would've eventually gotten around to trying the Serrano with the WT-72 anyway, but your posts had heightened my curiosity for sure. Thanks for mentioning your experiences. I think you said you used a Voxbox with your U87 for a long time?
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Post by drumsound on Mar 25, 2021 12:21:45 GMT -6
I've found with my '77 U87 that tube pres are what really make it sound its best. I have a friend with a 70s U87 who says the same about his. I remember you saying this at some point in one of the U87 threads, Tony, and I can totally understand why now. I would've eventually gotten around to trying the Serrano with the WT-72 anyway, but your posts had heightened my curiosity for sure. Thanks for mentioning your experiences. I think you said you used a Voxbox with your U87 for a long time? I did use the Vox Box for the 87 for years. Now I have a Useful Arts SFP-60. After the VB was gone, I realized I missed having tubes on input.
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Post by mcirish on Mar 25, 2021 14:22:09 GMT -6
I have a pair of AT4050 mics. (Fixed a typo) Good all-arounder. Maybe not great but never bad. Just a workhorse that can cover a lot of things. I use the pair on overheads and sometimes piano. I've heard a few people think they are great on kick, but I have not tried that.
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Post by ab101 on Mar 25, 2021 16:53:07 GMT -6
I have a pair of AT5050 mics. Good all-arounder. Maybe not great but never bad. Just a workhorse that can cover a lot of things. I use the pair on overheads and sometimes piano. I've heard a few people think they are great on kick, but I have not tried that. Are you referring to the AT4050 ?
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Post by chessparov on Mar 25, 2021 17:21:18 GMT -6
There's at least a 5050 chance. Chris
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Post by mcirish on Mar 25, 2021 17:57:27 GMT -6
I have a pair of AT5050 mics. Good all-arounder. Maybe not great but never bad. Just a workhorse that can cover a lot of things. I use the pair on overheads and sometimes piano. I've heard a few people think they are great on kick, but I have not tried that. Are you referring to the AT4050 ? Sorry. 4050. Typing on a phone isn't always the most accurate. Ha. I will edit my post
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Post by ab101 on Mar 25, 2021 18:34:54 GMT -6
No problem. Yes - the 4050 is a good workhorse microphone. It has been out for so long, I am wondering what other AT mic may be better than it now? I find that AT mics, in general, offer great values.
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Post by chessparov on Mar 25, 2021 19:10:28 GMT -6
That and the AT4060, are my two faves, over the 4033/4040/4047 condensers. I think the 4080 is a fine Ribbon too. Chris
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Post by ab101 on Mar 25, 2021 20:32:31 GMT -6
And there is the AT4060a - but I have not heard much about it! If anyone has experience with it, I am curious.
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Post by Vincent R. on Mar 25, 2021 20:45:36 GMT -6
I love the U87 through a good tube preamp. I used it a lot for male vocals through a Tab Funkenwerk V78M (V72 style preamp). I recorded my first album with a U87 through a Summit MPC-100. The Demeter VTMP is magic with FET mics like the U87 or Blue Kiwi. It’s just a fantastic sound. I sold off the both tube preamps and have been using my U87 through my Neve 1272 and 1073s and that is also a really nice sound. The U87 is a bit of a chameleon. Run it through a clean preamp, it’s pretty neutral. Run it through a pre with some vibe and it really adopts the character.
Ah, the KSM44. That was my first mic. It’s a bit cleaner sounding than the U87. A little bit more open too. The U87 seems to have a little more weight to it. That said I recorded everything with it; guitars, viola, all kinds of vocals, rooms. It was really gorgeous on cello. These days it wouldn’t be my first choice, but it’s what I learned with. It also benefits from a good tube preamp.
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Post by guitfiddler on Mar 25, 2021 20:55:45 GMT -6
I’ll have to try my U87 through some of my vibey preamps. I almost forgot I had it in my mic locker because I have 3 other mics I like much better, however this thread is making me get it back out of the locker.
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Post by woofhead on Mar 26, 2021 10:14:30 GMT -6
I wanted to mention on the At tip that there's a multi pattern at4047mp as well. Never tried one but have been keeping a semi evil eye open for used one. The at4047 was my 1st "better" mic and I really like it.Ive read the 4047mp is a little less grainy than the 4047, perhaps somewhere between the clarity of the 4050 and the 4047. The 4047,s are both transformer mics. Beyrdynamic mc740 could be interesting as well if you can find one, but not sure if parts would be easy to find any more
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Post by drumsound on Mar 26, 2021 12:54:27 GMT -6
I’ll have to try my U87 through some of my vibey preamps. I almost forgot I had it in my mic locker because I have 3 other mics I like much better, however this thread is making me get it back out of the locker. That's part of the fun of forums like this. They remind you of things you've done, and things you own but haven't used in a while. I think I'm going to set up my 4050s for room mics when I get to the studio, just because of this thread.
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Post by guitfiddler on Mar 26, 2021 13:08:28 GMT -6
Sometimes it reminds of things I don’t want to remember though...lol
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Post by drumsound on Mar 27, 2021 9:21:12 GMT -6
I’ll have to try my U87 through some of my vibey preamps. I almost forgot I had it in my mic locker because I have 3 other mics I like much better, however this thread is making me get it back out of the locker. That's part of the fun of forums like this. They remind you of things you've done, and things you own but haven't used in a while. I think I'm going to set up my 4050s for room mics when I get to the studio, just because of this thread. I pulled the 4050s out yesterday in preparation for today's tracking session. It turns out I need new elastics for one of the shockmounts... Not a big deal. I've got them on short stands and I used a butterfly clip and some gaff tape. I have them a little over knee hight, not that far out and they still sound great. For shits and giggles while I was timing picking up dinner, I started playing with compression and got something really cool with an original ART VLA. Sometimes it reminds of things I don’t want to remember though...lol Yin and Yang. You can't have good without bad.
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Post by timcampbell on Mar 27, 2021 14:53:48 GMT -6
Well sometimes just upgrading a mic you already own can be eye opening. I don't know how many countless chinese and australian fet mics I have changed just the capsule in that have gone from unusable to stellar. Most of the amplifiers are a basic Scheops circuit with a decent transformer. Just yesterday a friend asked if I had a mic laying around that he could use for some recordings. I had a disused Superlux CM-H8 cardiod fet mic in a box and one of my CT67 capsules that had a slight blemish on one membrane which means it would have to be rebuilt. I installed that capsule in that mic and turned up the fader and was shocked. I think it sounded better than either of my U87's. I don't mean this as an adverstisement for my work because currently I am not selling that capsule direct. I just mean that there are plenty of capsules like this out there for sale in 250 USD and under range and the installation is simple and take minutes. If I was out there today trying to build a decent studio on a budget I would probably buy a bunch of these and mod them along with buying a few Oktava 012's
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Post by chessparov on Mar 27, 2021 16:17:42 GMT -6
I have a (McKay Era) Oktava 219, that I'll probably have Sitler mod (if he's still doing that-at that time.
IIRC Scott Dorsey prefers leaving the Resonator Disk alone. It's a little sibilant though!! (Well I've got something to do with that) Chris
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Post by timcampbell on Mar 27, 2021 16:32:22 GMT -6
Chris just throw a 3U audio m7 of their less bright k67 capsule in it. Done.
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