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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 31, 2020 19:57:24 GMT -6
I've got a couple vids I'll line up and put up...but here's a little session I built. Just X-or and flip through them... F = Female M = Male C = Cardioid 8 = Figure of Eight Blackbird is the Blackbird Vintage 251 used on some of Kacey Musgraves albums Dolly is Steiger's Dolly Parton (don't forget Porter) vintage 251 My Upton 251 with a vintage Mullard 12AT7 Dave Wheeler's Proto 251 Korby Kat 251 Advanced Audio 251 Warm 251 drive.google.com/file/d/1bnuSXiXfzVinl7R3dsrSCBqUPNjJHWTM/view?usp=sharing |
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Post by Vincent R. on Aug 31, 2020 20:09:29 GMT -6
For some reason the audio files weren't in the folder.
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Post by indiehouse on Aug 31, 2020 20:20:09 GMT -6
I've got a couple vids I'll line up and put up...but here's a little session I built. Just X-or and flip through them... F = Female M = Male C = Cardioid 8 = Figure of Eight Blackbird is the Blackbird Vintage 251 used on some of Kacey Musgraves albums Dolly is Steiger's Dolly Parton (don't forget Porter) vintage 251 My Upton 251 with a vintage Mullard 12AT7 Dave Wheeler's Proto 251 Korby Kat 251 Advanced Audio 251 Warm 251 drive.google.com/file/d/1Sp37GtB9a3bG3JCtndE6oPRhwQRA4Qc-/view?usp=sharingDoes your Upton still have Shannon’s capsule in it? |
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 31, 2020 20:27:02 GMT -6
For some reason the audio files weren't in the folder. Hmmm |
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 31, 2020 20:34:47 GMT -6
For some reason the audio files weren't in the folder. Try it now...I dragged them into pro tools like a dumbass and we all know the allocation gets squirrelly when you do that...wtf. So, you might get a missing files thing, but if all the files show up, you're golden. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 31, 2020 20:35:29 GMT -6
I've got a couple vids I'll line up and put up...but here's a little session I built. Just X-or and flip through them... F = Female M = Male C = Cardioid 8 = Figure of Eight Blackbird is the Blackbird Vintage 251 used on some of Kacey Musgraves albums Dolly is Steiger's Dolly Parton (don't forget Porter) vintage 251 My Upton 251 with a vintage Mullard 12AT7 Dave Wheeler's Proto 251 Korby Kat 251 Advanced Audio 251 Warm 251 drive.google.com/file/d/1Sp37GtB9a3bG3JCtndE6oPRhwQRA4Qc-/view?usp=sharingDoes your Upton still have Shannon’s capsule in it? No, this is stock...I did ask him to make it a little less bright than he usually makes them. I actually sold that one and then an artist I was working with got one...and I was shocked at how different it sounded. So I bought a new one...and I've been blown away. That one I had was like number 8, so just like everything else, you get better the more you do something. |
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Post by gwlee7 on Aug 31, 2020 20:36:05 GMT -6
For some reason the audio files weren't in the folder. Your comment matches your avatar about as well as I have ever seen.  |
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Post by Vincent R. on Aug 31, 2020 20:43:01 GMT -6
Working.
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Post by Vincent R. on Aug 31, 2020 21:14:12 GMT -6
This is a nice shoot out. I purchased the AA CM251 after I had used the Korby 251 on my wife in a local studio. So I have a nice reference point for these. I actually still like the Korby in these samples, even though it’s a bit harmonically cleaner than your Upton or Dave Wheeler’s prototype. The one I used on my wife had a Mullard in it that added some nice harmonic content. That Blackbird 251.. omg.
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 31, 2020 21:26:02 GMT -6
This is a nice shoot out. I purchased the AA CM251 after I had used the Korby 251 on my wife in a local studio. So I have a nice reference point for these. I actually still like the Korby in these samples, even though it’s a bit harmonically cleaner than your Upton or Dave Wheeler’s prototype. The one I used on my wife had a Mullard in it that added some nice harmonic content. That Blackbird 251.. omg. See I thought the Bb 251 was brighter than the others - obviously not bad - but not my preference. But we are totally splitting hairs. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Sept 1, 2020 5:08:58 GMT -6
What preamp did you run all of these through?
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 1, 2020 7:50:19 GMT -6
What preamp did you run all of these through? Bae 1073 500 |
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Post by nomatic on Sept 1, 2020 8:29:08 GMT -6
i think the Upton is hanging with Dolly....
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 1, 2020 8:38:08 GMT -6
i think the Upton is hanging with Dolly.... There are spots where it’s almost indistinguishable in cardioid. You guys might need to volume match some of these a little more. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Sept 1, 2020 9:17:47 GMT -6
The 251 is the last big mic I'd like to get in my studio, at least for a little bit to get a handle on my thoughts on it. I loved the Korby 251 on my wife's voice on a session she we did a few years back. I didn't really feel the AA CM251 lived up to it when I had it, and frankly I preferred the U87ai over the CM251 on her voice at our place. I'm not sure is I prefer the Warm or the AA CM251, but they both sound right for their price points.
The Upton sounds really nice here, darker per your preference. Still it's a lot like the Dolly mic. Dave Wheeler's felt slightly more present, but still harmonically rich. I like what the Korby does, but it lacks some of the harmonic qualities of the others. Still, having used the Korby with a few different heads I'm still always debating grabbing a used one with all the main heads... I have a thing for the mic systems. I wish you had access for a Bock 251 for this. I always tend to like that sound of that mic, although it's a bit brighter with a bigger low end than a typical 251.
Glad you used a BAE since all my preamps are now Neve based it gives me a good reference for how the mics sound.
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Post by sozocaps on Sept 1, 2020 10:19:45 GMT -6
I like the Steiger and the Upton. If I had the Upton I would look for a rich smooth darker Mullard tube to match it closer to the Steiger if you wanted or just leave it as its soo good now.
John
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107 
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Post by ericn on Sept 1, 2020 10:43:34 GMT -6
Dolly is well Dolly, that mic is a legend for a reason.
The Korby always leaves me feeling like they tried to add more of the expected personality than the real thing, but when looked at as its own thing rather than a 251 it’s a damn impressive mic. That’s the problem with modular systems, when it comes to a C12 head VS a 251 your really talking tweaking the capsule.
Dave’s 251, sounds like most good 251’s nothing any of us wouldn’t want in our closets.
Honestly all the above are damn good mics I could live with very happily and with some work could track you with any day of the week.
The Upton, on almost anybody who I would want a 251 on I would call it dark for a 251, but on you it always shines. It’s that dream situation where you put it up point and shoot, on you it makes the AE sound like he has the Midas touch. I think a big part of this is your comfort with the thing and how it doesn’t drive you crazy like almost every other mic you have owned or tried. With the right EQ Compression could one get the other 3 to do what the Upton does? Hell yes but that would mean time and frustration vs put it up and go.
The other 2 show the difference between A league and the big league, sure it’s the same game it’s just not played at the same pace or as pretty.
Once again If you get the itch and yeah my friend I know you do from time to time, don’t let the Upton go. I’ll talk you off that ledge any time.
I don’t think Dave or Jeff will ever let either of their mics go nor should they.
In many ways the Korby makes me sad, the thing shows how talented both Tracey and Shannon are and always makes you wonder what could have been.
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Post by jsteiger on Sept 1, 2020 11:37:44 GMT -6
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Post by Ward on Sept 1, 2020 11:42:55 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 1, 2020 12:06:28 GMT -6
Yeah - no doubt the Heiserman 251 will be killer. I know he is talking about a 1:1 inside and out. That comes with a price tag, of course.
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Post by indiehouse on Sept 1, 2020 12:20:04 GMT -6
Was Tim's capsule in any of these?
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 1, 2020 12:34:22 GMT -6
No
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 1, 2020 12:34:39 GMT -6
all stock capsules the mics came with...actually, I think wave might have mentioned he tweaked the Korby? |
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Post by sozocaps on Sept 1, 2020 13:33:37 GMT -6
I would like to compare my Tim Campbell capsule 251 to these.... !
@johnkenn you verymuch liked it that brief moment you tried it.
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Post by Ward on Sept 1, 2020 16:04:19 GMT -6
Well then, after I picked my jaw up off my chest, I listened again a couple more times.
Blackbird. Well, I have heard this mic before and it sounds exactly as I remember. Nearly perfect
Dolly. Yeah, this might be the most perfect mic ever made.
Upton. Extremely close to both the above but a lot darker. I was surprised at how much darker it was than expected. But amazingly smooth!!
Wavey. Honestly, made my ears pop and eyes bug out, to double-check which I was listening to.
Korby. Well, I wouldn't buy it. It is a nice mic, but doesn't really work like a 251. JMHO
AA. Was this microphone broken?
Warm. Not as complete a disaster as I was expecting, maybe even usable in cardioid.
There are some others that could have been in on this . . . but this was certainly extremely helpful, and I have to wait and see how production units of Dave Wheeler/Eric Heiserman's collaboration turn out!
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