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Post by rob61 on Jun 22, 2023 16:00:47 GMT -6
4 Tube Mic shoot-out! Neumann vintage M-249 Neumann U-87 with Innertube tube retrofit Heiserman H-47tube Heiserman H251 The big reveal is at the end of the video. You get to hear each microphone through a John Hardy M-2 microphone preamp with NO EQ and NO COMPRESSION. Which mic did you like the best?
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Post by Chad on Jun 22, 2023 16:24:16 GMT -6
Nice!
Which capsule in the H47? The K47 or M7?
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Post by rob61 on Jun 22, 2023 16:41:45 GMT -6
K47
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Post by seawell on Jun 22, 2023 17:06:38 GMT -6
Very cool! I liked Mic 3 the best. Also liked mic 2. I'd be happy to use any of them, not a bad one in the bunch 👍🏼
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Post by wiz on Jun 22, 2023 17:59:46 GMT -6
I liked
1
3
2
4
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Post by hadaja on Jun 22, 2023 18:31:12 GMT -6
I kind of liked 3 the best. I will stick my neck out there say the mids were pushed a bit more so maybe that was not the 251.
1. sounded a little veiled compared to the others, only a fraction.
2 was a lot brighter then 1.
4 was more airy. and a little thinner then 3 .
This was listening through my imac.
update: well looks like it was the h-251 i liked the best. So much for the traditional smiley eq curve of a 251. With my suggestion of mids being pushed a bit this selection 3 mic was not suppose to be a 251. Ha i need to get my ears checked.
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Post by ragan on Jun 22, 2023 22:25:11 GMT -6
I liked 1 the best, by a lot. Then pretty much liked them successively less as they went 2, 3, 4.
Thanks for posting!
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Post by thehightenor on Jun 23, 2023 1:06:31 GMT -6
No disrespect, but gentle low register crooning will not reveal much of a discerning character and capabilities of a LDC.
The differences between LDC’s recording voices starts to reveal when you turn the heat up.
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Post by thehightenor on Jun 23, 2023 1:07:59 GMT -6
No disrespect, but gentle low register crooning will not reveal much of a discerning character and capabilities of a LDC.
Imho, the differences between LDC’s recording voices starts to reveal when you turn the heat up! (so to speak) that’s when vocal tones take on harmonic complexity and then the ability of the mic (mainly the capsule) to resolve that complexity into a musically pleasing signal gets put on show.
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Post by reddirt on Jun 23, 2023 1:44:51 GMT -6
Totally agree with High tenor but on what was happening here they all sounded VG but particularly loved the smooth upper bass/ low mids of the 251 and 49
Cheers, Ross
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Post by daniel on Jun 23, 2023 2:18:51 GMT -6
Thanks for the test. Liked 1 and 2. Didn't like 4, was too sibilant.
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Post by crillemannen on Jun 23, 2023 3:00:57 GMT -6
Heh kind of got it right. They all sounded good except the 87. The 251 sounded very nice and processed, my favorite. This test just makes me want an M49 more! Sounds like a lovechild between the 251 and 47.
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Post by Vincent R. on Jun 23, 2023 7:04:41 GMT -6
3, 2, 1, 4 was my order.
Well, I guessed wrong on most of these. I miss my monitors. Ha Ha. I really enjoyed #2, but couldn't put my finger on why...then I saw what it was.... duh.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Jun 23, 2023 11:41:23 GMT -6
I picked 2 and 4, but 1 was neck and neck with 2, so on another day I might have chosen 1. I guess the Neumann tone is etched in my brain.
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Post by mike on Jun 23, 2023 12:47:04 GMT -6
Very nice and well done, thanks for sharing. I got 3 and 4 right but had 1 and 2 flip flopped for my guess before the reveal listening on headphones. I agree with thehightenor's comments on differences when capsule's are pushed harder (though it was nice to hear crooner material), and also crille's comment that the 87 fell short compared to the other 3 on this source and material.
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Post by ragan on Jun 23, 2023 13:12:54 GMT -6
Worth keeping in mind as we comment that the “87” is a totally different mic than most will be thinking of (with the Innertube mod circuit).
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Post by plinker on Jun 23, 2023 13:34:33 GMT -6
2, 4, 3, 1 -- 2 & 4 were very close for me, and I was surprised by the reveal on those.
I guessed only #3 correctly.
#2 is excellent...unsurprisingly.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107 
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Post by ericn on Jun 23, 2023 13:47:31 GMT -6
No disrespect, but gentle low register crooning will not reveal much of a discerning character and capabilities of a LDC. Imho, the differences between LDC’s recording voices starts to reveal when you turn the heat up! (so to speak) that’s when vocal tones take on harmonic complexity and then the ability of the mic (mainly the capsule) to resolve that complexity into a musically pleasing signal gets put on show. I don’t disagree, but let’s be honest most shoot outs start as “ we need to figure out what’s going to work on this guy.” Then someone has the brute idea that others will find it interesting Fewer and fewer freelancers come up in studios with great mic lockers and while yes this won’t show off a mics overall capabilities it does show what they can do with this type of voice, someone is going to find this useful when they get their first crooner session and this makes them look smarter and more talented than they are. |
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Post by drbill on Jun 23, 2023 15:12:35 GMT -6
Worth keeping in mind as we comment that the “87” is a totally different mic than most will be thinking of (with the Innertube mod circuit). Yup. An innertubed 87 is pretty much nothing like what you expect an 87 to sound like. |
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Post by plinker on Jun 23, 2023 15:46:07 GMT -6
Worth keeping in mind as we comment that the “87” is a totally different mic than most will be thinking of (with the Innertube mod circuit). Yup. An innertubed 87 is pretty much nothing like what you expect an 87 to sound like. Gotta wonder if the Stam tube-87 is close....probably? |
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Post by Chad on Jun 23, 2023 15:52:09 GMT -6
Worth keeping in mind as we comment that the “87” is a totally different mic than most will be thinking of (with the Innertube mod circuit). Yup.  An innertubed 87 is pretty much nothing like what you expect an 87 to sound like. It’s because the circuit in the InnerTUBE leaves out the top end roll-off of the 87 circuitry, and you’re getting the capsule pretty much naked and pushed into a simple tube-based circuit. It’s very minimalist in design compared to the U87 and U87Ai circuits. My dumbed-down explanation (because that’s how I think — I’m a walking dummies guide LOL!). |
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Post by christopher on Jun 23, 2023 15:52:57 GMT -6
Awesome video! Very well done.
I liked the H47 the most, mids had a nice magic, just gorgeous. I also liked the mids of mic4, I had no doubt that was a Neumann87 capsule. Would need some work to tame the spikey highs though.
Mic2 and 3 had a treble thing I associate with more up tempo music, rock and pop etc. all 4 mics sound great.
Excellent work! Now I’m Gassing for the one thing I can afford.. 7506s lol
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Post by paulcheeba on Jun 23, 2023 20:46:40 GMT -6
3, 1, 2, 4 was mine. I guessed them all.
3 Was warmer than I expected the 251 to be really, but it does have the Heiserman sound. I knew it was a bit brighter than the H47 though.
1 was so similar to the H251 they are almost identical in some places. The mellower tone gave it away though.
2 Was a bit sibilant on his voice but had a nice Neumann warmth. Sounded nothing like the others.
4 Was shit. Overrated cack. A straight 87 would sound better.
I really enjoyed the song and his voice.
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Post by Chad on Jun 23, 2023 21:05:11 GMT -6
3, 2, 1, 4 was my order. Well, I guessed wrong on most of these. I miss my monitors. Ha Ha. I really enjoyed #2, but couldn't put my finger on why...then I saw what it was.... duh. Vincent wins the “most honest poster” award, when revealing his self-grading on how he well did at guessing. ;-) |
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Post by mythundreamt on Jun 23, 2023 21:59:40 GMT -6
Thank you for doing this. Beautiful song, beautiful singing, and my ears just sat right up when Mic 3 started. Upon many re-listens, Mic 2 revealed itself to be a tad richer/lovelier. The results were no surprise. The song and voice stayed with me after though, the exact mic choice not so much.
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