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Post by Omicron9 on Sept 20, 2021 10:03:22 GMT -6
I've had a TLM-103 for probably 15 years. I never track vocals, so keep that in mind as you read the following. I really dig the 103 as an instrument mic. I've used it on various instruments; some as esoteric as baroque lute and I like it very much. Like all mics, it's not going to work on everything, but I have had success with it on most things.
It can be bright, but I've not found it to be harsh or brittle. It's bright done correctly, if that makes sense.
In my opinion, and remember I don't use it on vocals, it's a great mic for the right application.
-09
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Post by drsax on Sept 20, 2021 11:02:59 GMT -6
My 2 cents: TLM170 is a gorgeous mic. TLM67 sounds pretty good. TLM103 and 102 = no thank you. Bright and accentuated wrong places IMO on most sources.
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Post by bgrotto on Sept 20, 2021 11:25:02 GMT -6
TLM 170 is the hands-down best mic neumann still makes. IMHO, of course  |
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Post by ab101 on Sept 20, 2021 11:27:21 GMT -6
I did have a pair of TLM 170s in the 80s, that I had to sell back then and have regretted it ever since.
I understand that the TLM 193 has similar characteristics. Same capsule? But perhaps other differences. (This may be in this thread already.)
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Post by Vincent R. on Sept 20, 2021 13:52:17 GMT -6
My 2 cents: TLM170 is a gorgeous mic. TLM67 sounds pretty good. TLM103 and 102 = no thank you. Bright and accentuated wrong places IMO on most sources. I really liked the TLM67, particularly on my voice. Preferred my U87ai on Emily's voice. The TLM170 was not my favorite on my voice. I felt it was really dark and I wasn't sure what to do with it. I wish I had tried it on more sources before I sold it. I have a feeling it would have worked ok on Emily's voice and I really wanted to hear clarinet or sax on it. Just didn't get the chance. Still, I flipped it for more than I spent on it and it helped fund my second FleA 49. |
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Post by ab101 on Sept 21, 2021 10:10:17 GMT -6
I should add that when I had the pair of TLM 170s, I mainly used them on a Yamaha grand piano which is a fairly bright piano. The 170s tamed it nicely. And when I sold the tlm 170s, I sold them to a studio in Portland, Or. that used them as overheads and reported to me great results. Then I began recording on a Steinway piano which was darker than the Yamaha. I found DPAs to work really well in that situation. The 170s would not have worked in that situation as the last thing I needed was the piano to be any darker, so to speak. And I probably should not say this, but I now find that the Vienna software pianos are really good. So now I do not have to spend half my time tuning the piano, and the other half playing out of tune. |
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Post by Martin John Butler on Sept 21, 2021 20:56:18 GMT -6
U67 on the female voice. The 102 is pretty good, but when I did a quick listen on headphones to a 102 and then a 103, the 103 had so much more gain it had that familiar Neumann honk. But on my voice the 102 was dull.
I'd take the Vintage U67 of all those mics. The U47 didn't work very well on either of them.
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Post by chessparov on Sept 21, 2021 21:03:00 GMT -6
While I love the U67 and Vintage 87.. The Primo U47/48 is Thee King for me! Chris |
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Post by Mister Chase on Sept 21, 2021 21:06:42 GMT -6
I did have a pair of TLM 170s in the 80s, that I had to sell back then and have regretted it ever since. I understand that the TLM 193 has similar characteristics. Same capsule? But perhaps other differences. (This may be in this thread already.) So good on piano.
Messages like these reinforce my resolve to not sell my pair. I think I'd let every other piece of gear go first. |
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Post by chessparov on Sept 21, 2021 23:25:23 GMT -6
The TLM 170's sure sounded great on Tears For Fears "Songs From The Big Chair" vocals! |
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Post by Mister Chase on Sept 22, 2021 8:29:34 GMT -6
The TLM 170's sure sounded great on Tears For Fears "Songs From The Big Chair" vocals! They sure did. There were some other great vox done on a 170 as well.
When I got my low-ish serial pair and found they were 1985... I thought... maybe there was some spit flyin into one of these "Everybody, wants to rule the world"
:-O
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Post by Vincent R. on Sept 22, 2021 21:36:13 GMT -6
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Post by nick8801 on Sept 23, 2021 4:19:53 GMT -6
I’m liking the TLM49 so far. It’s got a lot of what I love about my FleA 49, but cleaner. Time to start running it through it’s paces. http://instagr.am/p/CUJf5D9twlc I’d love to hear a comparison Vincent. Flea 49 is on my shortlist of tube mics. Be cool if the Tlm gets in the ballpark. Side note, have you ever tried the flea on horns? |
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Post by Vincent R. on Sept 23, 2021 4:43:04 GMT -6
I’m liking the TLM49 so far. It’s got a lot of what I love about my FleA 49, but cleaner. Time to start running it through it’s paces. I’d love to hear a comparison Vincent. Flea 49 is on my shortlist of tube mics. Be cool if the Tlm gets in the ballpark. Side note, have you ever tried the flea on horns? Hey Nick, I’ll try to post something in a day or two. The FleA is more mellow than the TLM for sure. My voice being as warm as it is actually seems to like the TLM for being a touch less mellow. In my FleA 47 vs FleA 49 video you can hear both on a brass instrument I cannot name, due to its similarity with the name of a politican… lmao. I’ve typed it a few times and keep getting *no politics*ets. More recently, I had a saxophone session at my place for one of Emily’s tracks on our Christmas Album. I threw up the FleA 49, U67, and BLUE Woodpecker. The FleA 49 sounded huge and probably better suited for a solo sax track. We actually went back and forth on the Woodpecker and the U67. The woodpecker had that Ribbon feel to it, a touch mellow with some deep warmth. The U67 just had a touch more clarity than the the other two. Not as bright and in your face as the FleA 49 and maybe a touch more aggressive. We chose the U67. I’m hoping to make this into a video down the road when we get closer to the release next year. |
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Post by Ward on Sept 23, 2021 7:33:17 GMT -6
I'm also very curious to hear Vincent's results with the TLM49. I had one for a trial-period and wasn't keen on it. It sounded like a great voice-over microphone but seemed to suck the resonance out of singing voices.
I would be thrilled to be proven wrong!
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Post by Vincent R. on Sept 23, 2021 12:51:35 GMT -6
I'm also very curious to hear Vincent's results with the TLM49. I had one for a trial-period and wasn't keen on it. It sounded like a great voice-over microphone but seemed to suck the resonance out of singing voices. I would be thrilled to be proven wrong! I'll be happy to share some stuff soon. Admittedly, I was just reminded by an engineer friend of mine that my voice records well on most mics. |
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Post by Ward on Sept 23, 2021 13:09:27 GMT -6
I'm also very curious to hear Vincent's results with the TLM49. I had one for a trial-period and wasn't keen on it. It sounded like a great voice-over microphone but seemed to suck the resonance out of singing voices. I would be thrilled to be proven wrong! I'll be happy to share some stuff soon. Admittedly, I was just reminded by an engineer friend of mine that my voice records well on most mics. That's a great complaint to have! |
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Post by enlav on Sept 23, 2021 13:15:23 GMT -6
I'm also very curious to hear Vincent's results with the TLM49. I had one for a trial-period and wasn't keen on it. It sounded like a great voice-over microphone but seemed to suck the resonance out of singing voices. I would be thrilled to be proven wrong! I'll be happy to share some stuff soon. Admittedly, I was just reminded by an engineer friend of mine that my voice records well on most mics. Meanwhile my voice sounds equally bad on an MXL 990 and U87AI. Ward's statement on the TLM49 is basically the best way I could describe the TLM103. Back at the college studio, we had a handful of transformerless Neumanns - a single TLM127, a pair of TLM103's and a pair of KM184s. I never really put time into the 127, since there was also a U87AI which usually took up the duties of a single LDC. The TLM103's were always on stands, so we would almost always audition them on whatever instruments and sources came in, but I usually ended up putting up the P48 era 414's that were in the locker, which felt right most of the time (and when I wanted something brighter, I generally grabbed the KM184s). More than ten years later, I ended up picking up a TLM103 as an alternative to an RE20/MKH416/SM7B for voice-over options. I went ahead and cut some scratch takes on an acoustic guitar with it just because it was handy. Without dissecting "why," it just feels like it's able to emphasize the tonal aspect of the instrument less than any other mic in the locker. (Again, I think it's -fine- for VO, and has the "badge" for clients that are into that sort of thing.)
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Post by Vincent R. on Sept 24, 2021 6:37:37 GMT -6
Quick test from the other night, warts and all. You can hear the FleA 49 next to the TLM 49 on the same take. The photo below shows the position of both mics with capsules roughly in the same position vertically and me singing into them from 12" or so away. For good measure I also threw in a similar take with the TLM67, although I'm singing a different verse, lol. FleA 49 and TLM 49 were recorded through my Neve 1073 DPX with the EQ out into my Avid Carbon. TLM 67 through my Dan Alexander 1272 and into my Apollo (both pre and converter are admittedly a touch more vibey). All of these are going through the UAD Neve 88R. The FleA 49 and TLM67 have small cuts in the low end around 250-300hz. All are rolled off around 70hz. The FleA 49 and TLM 49 have small boosts at a round 3K. They then run through the UAD Pultec EQP1A giving a little air. The FleA and 67 both have a 2db boost at 8k. The TLM49 one a 1db boost at 8K. All are using the Arturia STA Level plug for some compression (I would usually run them out into my V-Comp, but I did this kind of quick). I've included a raw file with no processing what so ever and the quick mix detailed above. I'll go back and do a crooning sample and maybe a pop/rock sample when I have some time. www.dropbox.com/sh/kpkfkm9am2wru43/AACcJk0geQz4K4oxgwfe8vX5a?dl=0http://instagr.am/p/CUJf5D9twlc |
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Post by skav on Sept 24, 2021 8:44:52 GMT -6
Lovely voice. Get a sm58 and leave it Vincent 😉
Joked aside. Interested to hear your thoughts on the this TLM mic!
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Post by Martin John Butler on Sept 24, 2021 9:30:12 GMT -6
I don't know why you're even bothering with other mics, the FLEA is perfect for you  . The TLM seems to be just fine, but I had a feeling of irritation. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Sept 24, 2021 9:35:59 GMT -6
I don't know why you're even bothering with other mics, the FLEA is perfect for you . The TLM seems to be just fine, but I had a feeling of irritation. Don't worry. The FleA isn't going anywhere. Just looking to have some non tube mics around. |
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Post by tkaitkai on Sept 24, 2021 9:59:19 GMT -6
Quick test from the other night, warts and all. I'm jealous. I could never get the TLM 49 to sound anywhere near that good on my singing! It sounds fantastic for you. I do like the Flea more, but only by a small margin. I can hear the same qualities that I disliked about the TLM on my voice, but those same qualities actually work in your favor. Definitely a keeper, IMO. |
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Post by chessparov on Sept 24, 2021 11:29:38 GMT -6
Hmm... I'd like to try some Classic Rock singing, on the TLM 49 sometime. Chris |
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phil
Full Member
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Post by phil on Sept 24, 2021 13:22:57 GMT -6
Wow. Amazing voice! I'm surprised how the 1073 Dpx was able to handle such powerful vocals without distortion, especially considering the hot output of the TLM microphones. Don't really prefer transformerless microphones, but in my opinion the K47 capsule in the tlm49 suits your voice very well.
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