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Post by recordingengineer on Apr 28, 2021 23:55:22 GMT -6
The C800G capsule and inspired-by capsules are modified versions of the K67... Not what I was thinking, but cool if you might have found the direction you’re looking for! Have heard great things about the AA version, but haven’t heard it. Barbaric Amplification has an inspired-by version too. I still haven’t heard it. Eventually, I’ll just pick one up though.
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Post by chessparov on Apr 28, 2021 23:57:57 GMT -6
Paul G. thinks highly of the CM800T. IIRC he has two.
And sold one (of his two) original Sony's. I trust Paul's judgment on them.
If I was younger and into Modern R&B or Pop/Rap/Hip Hop... The CM800T would be a no brainer for me.
Paul's posted shootout recordings with one, on another website, that rhymes with "hear space". Chris
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2021 9:30:37 GMT -6
The C800G capsule and inspired-by capsules are modified versions of the K67... Not what I was thinking, but cool if you might have found the direction you’re looking for! Have heard great things about the AA version, but haven’t heard it. Barbaric Amplification has an inspired-by version too. I still haven’t heard it. Eventually, I’ll just pick one up though. Seems I have a thing for the K67 capsule, ISK 2B / U67 / M269 / C800 / Blue bottle B6.. The penny dropped when you said the C800 was another K67, really appreciate everyone's responses. Having a specific capsule in mind does narrow down the choices quite a bit..
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Post by chessparov on Apr 29, 2021 10:06:24 GMT -6
Time for a Ribbon then! (I keed I keed) Chris
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Post by theshea on Apr 30, 2021 5:47:56 GMT -6
As for the Violet/JZ or however they identify these days I really have no opinion because I've never even seen one in person. Not in a store, not in a pro studio, not in a home studio, not in a remote fly pack... which as a lifetime freelancer kinda says a lot. Not that I'm saying anything, but I'm just saying... from what i understand jz microphones (ex violet design) are still made in latvia and have no real distribution. they have the onlineshop and i think thats about it as they produce small amounts of mics. i contacted them personally via email and got my amethyst vintage directly from them. they have 50% sales several times a year. so i guess thats largely resonsable for not seeing them around. i am very very satisfied with my amethyst vintage. it gives me record quality tracks and i use it for a lot of stuff: vicals, ac&el guitar, drum rooms/oh. almost never have problems with sibilance and it seems to give me a slightly compressed sound with smooth/classy highs and good defined bass and lower mids, never wolly or muddy.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2021 18:16:55 GMT -6
I've finally decided, I'm going try out Sontronic's flagship mic the Mercury. Bit more than my budget originally defined but that's nothing new, the Aria / Mercury was in my top three the last time around. I guess production samples of another tube mic won even though the Mercury is probably the better mic. Also the other mic cost $800.00 less ..
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Post by Vincent R. on May 1, 2021 7:16:17 GMT -6
I don’t know enough about the Sontronics mics. Best of luck with it and please share your thoughts and some clips after you get it.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2021 9:24:32 GMT -6
I don’t know enough about the Sontronics mics. Best of luck with it and please canary your thoughts and some clips after you get it. Will do Vincent.. Yeah, not many know much about Sontronics and when someone does they're usually referring to their budget LDC's. The Mercury is essentially a dual diaphragm continuously variable valve / tube mic, from Sound on Sound and variable other sources it's not a mic built to a budget (which is good). Ron Fair seems to be an advocate of the Mercury.. The Sontronics Aria is meant to be a high quality vocal mic but it seems the Mercury was designed with the intention of being a bit of a "desert island mic". It's more along the lines of a Sony C-800 than it is a U67, it can be somewhat bright but not harsh as such. The U67 when it works, it simply works and IMO you wouldn't want to replace it with anything but on a voice that suits a more modern / full range / Hi-Fi sound then there are better options. Then again that could be said about any mic ever created, it really depends on the source. What pulled me in the Mercury's direction is, the ISK 2B is brighter than a 67 and a little more "Hi-Fi".. It's like a modern take on the 67 and whist it's far from perfect due to dips in the mids it's ultimately a very pleasant sounding mic. Hopefully the Mercury can take that basis, fix the issues (due to its flatter response curve) and be my new "go to".. Mic's of these types / flavour are rare and especially in the lower end (and above) section can often be highly stringent with unpleasant distortion or dull as dishwater. This is going to be interesting.. www.soundonsound.com/reviews/sontronics-mercury
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2021 17:37:18 GMT -6
Okay, it will be here Tuesday.. I've moved locations and it's pointless recording a condenser without any treatment (which is also on its way), although I can test it out at least. Just a quick note, I ordered a different (limited) version of the Mercury called the "vintage edition". I can tell you now this mic is heavily affected by its tubes, this version comes with a NOS Mullard M8162 and fortunately it was on offer. Usually the price seems to be around the $2K mark but I picked it up for just shy of 1.8K.
Looking forward to testing it out..
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Post by Vincent R. on May 1, 2021 17:49:04 GMT -6
Mullards provide great harmonic content. They tend to roll off a bit of top end, but on brighter mics that can be a good thing,
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Post by chessparov on May 1, 2021 19:15:57 GMT -6
The Mercury and Sigma 2 Ribbon, were my two Sontronics faves. Chris
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2021 11:42:07 GMT -6
Well that's a shame, I did make a thread about it but ultimately the purpose was to concentrate on the mic not the initial complaint (I was just hoping to get a new one and continue the thread). I knew the retailer would sort me out quickly, I've bought a metric ton of equipment from them and their service is always spectacular.
So the Sontronics Mercury is going back for a full refund as they can't find stock, I bought it new and it arrived in less than ideal condition. These things happen but what now?! I either try to procure one from another retailer or just buy something else completely.
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Post by chessparov on May 6, 2021 18:14:18 GMT -6
What were the other two, of your top three?
Not tube based, but IMHO the MicroTech Gefells FET's, in your price range, are worthy of a short list too. Another TLM 67 fan here too BTW. Chris
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Post by Vincent R. on May 6, 2021 20:26:08 GMT -6
I’d take another look at that RMS 269.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2021 16:00:11 GMT -6
Really do appreciate it and TBH Vincent when we've sorted out whatever trade / import issues we're having I would probably buy the RMS269 irrelevant of owning another. Just need to save the pennies..
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Post by thehightenor on May 8, 2021 2:06:30 GMT -6
I owned a Blue Bottle with the three vocal caps B6,7 and 0 and never got on with it, there was something kinda oddly gritty/grainy in the presentation I put it down to the EF86/transformer combination that just didn't work for my ear.
I sold the Bottle and caps and bought a Wunder CM7 which has been great for me.
But I missed that "modern" vocal sound that Blue do so well, so I bought a KIWI recently and it's fantastic I way prefer it to the Bottle - the B6 on the KIWI just works so well without the tube and transformer of the Bottle, that B6 cap just doesn't need the extra colouration.
I got my KIWI second hand for 750 - it was absolutely mint condition.
If money is tight and you want something in my humble opinion better than the Bottle get a second hand KIWI - it's an absolutely first class mic in every respect.
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Post by chessparov on May 8, 2021 11:35:16 GMT -6
Unfortunately, due to my sibilance, the Kiwi is out. The U87ai is tough enough. I think Vincent is right also regarding the "nasal thing" on the U87 AI. I remember the Kiwi seemed to do better, on the nasal issue. Chris
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Post by Vincent R. on May 8, 2021 17:56:49 GMT -6
Grab a Kiwi and a Demeter VTMP and never look back!
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Post by thehightenor on May 9, 2021 5:28:44 GMT -6
Grab a Kiwi and a Demeter VTMP and never look back! A lot of Stings vocals on his records have been recorded with a Demeter VTMP - it's a very underrated pre-amp! I think it's a great pre - perfect with a Kiwi.
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Post by Vincent R. on May 9, 2021 7:34:42 GMT -6
Grab a Kiwi and a Demeter VTMP and never look back! A lot of Stings vocals on his records have been recorded with a Demeter VTMP - it's a very underrated pre-amp! I think it's a great pre - perfect with a Kiwi. Yeah, I had one for a while. Debating grabbing one again, especially to use with my U87ai. I’m itching to grab a Kiwi of my own at some point. I actually like using the combo of the U87ai and Kiwi for duets and such.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2021 16:00:30 GMT -6
Well I am still searching for that "elusive mic" to replace my ISK 2B, again I have to be able to buy it off the shelf so I can't import it into the EU due the crazy taxes thing going on or covid restrictions.
Anyway, tonight I pulled out my entire mic locker and the winners were SDC's weirdly. The MD441 sounds good on my voice but it's a lot of work, for some reason I have to push harder to get it sound right and it starts to strain my voice. The Schoeps won, I'd just stop there but they are whatever goes in comes out kinda mic's. There's no euphoric embellishments like you get with a decent tube..
I obviously sound better on something rather neutral though, vintage (U47 style) really do not work. I did send a message to Kris at ISK to see if I could get hold of the gen 2 ISK 2B but I doubt it, they're out of stock and they won't be shipping for many months (plus it probably won't get out of customs for a long while).
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Post by plinker on May 26, 2021 17:11:56 GMT -6
There's a studio near me that is selling a Bottle with a few caps. Please let me know if you're interested and I'll connect you.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2021 18:49:03 GMT -6
Really appreciate the offer plinker but I'd guess you're in the US which would make it difficult on import. Edit: I think I was waxing a little poetic last night, still the ISK 2B really works for me and if something does then it's worth re-buying. I think that's my solution, use what I have for now and see if I can get my hands on one.
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