lyons
Full Member
Posts: 28
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Post by lyons on Oct 26, 2023 17:22:03 GMT -6
Hello all,
Never really been a forum frequenter but it’s really great to see a forum without all the bickering!
I’m looking for a microphone that has a nice big round bottom end, flat (possibly scooped) mids and nice smooth highs. I’ve been testing out 251s but I am wondering if I’m looking in the right direction. It’s a personal mic for vocals and not for a commercial studio so I know I’ll need to try in my own space.
Just wondering if the 251 fits that description best or even a c12. Have never tried a c12/c12a type microphone but I am led to believe that the high end would be more detailed/etched rather than smooth and round.
I’ve found the one 47 type mic I’ve used to be too pronounced on the mids with a slight metallic sound on top which is not what I’m looking for. I’d also really like something that can take sudden jumps from gentle soft singing to belting
Thanks
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Post by robo on Oct 26, 2023 18:28:32 GMT -6
What’s your budget? It sounds like you’re describing a C12 to me.
Check out Seawell’s video on the BeesNeez C12A.
On the cheap, find a used Stellar CM5 and upgrade the tube.
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Post by knucklehead89 on Oct 26, 2023 18:29:56 GMT -6
Yep you’re on the right track. C12 or a 251.
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Post by schlep on Oct 26, 2023 18:53:52 GMT -6
Hi Lyons -
I must take a moment to go off topic, but it's worth it. You stated "it’s really great to see a forum without all the bickering!". I agree, I've seen little to no bickering here and for that I am thankful... who knew such a place existed???
Craig
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Post by mics on Oct 26, 2023 19:00:27 GMT -6
Hi Lyons - I must take a moment to a moment to go off topic, but it's worth it. You stated "it’s really great to see a forum without all the bickering!". I agree, I've seen little to no bickering here and for that I am thankful... who knew such a place existed??? Craig Pretty Awesome huh!!!!!!! |
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Post by seawell on Oct 26, 2023 19:19:14 GMT -6
What’s your budget? It sounds like you’re describing a C12 to me. Check out Seawell’s video on the BeesNeez C12A. On the cheap, find a used Stellar CM5 and upgrade the tube. Yep, sounds like a BeesNeez C12a(Tube) to me! I haven't had a chance to check out the BC12 yet so maybe mics could let you know how it compares to the BC12a. Based off of the description "nice big round bottom end, flat (possibly scooped) mids and nice smooth highs", knowing how awesome the BeesNeez CK12 capsule is, I bet it would be exactly what you're looking for! |
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 26, 2023 19:20:11 GMT -6
1948 u47
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Post by bgrotto on Oct 26, 2023 20:08:18 GMT -6
C12 and 251 are both very much on the 'bright' side of the spectrum. The 251 in particular can sound somewhat thin on certain sources.
A vintage 47 will get you a bigger low end, though the low mids are also pronounced so it may not be the 'scooped' thing you're looking for. Some recently serviced vintage mics -- and also some modern recreations -- will have a bit more 'zing' in the top; sounds like you're not into that voicing.
The TLM-170 is a bit of a sleeper mic with excellent smooth top end and would be worth a try. Might not be as rich in the low end as you like, though it depends on how your voice interacts with its proximity effect. The midrange is flat and uncolored.
You also might take a look at the Josephson C715. Nice, deep low end, though not at all exaggerated, and a rather muted and unaggressive top.
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Post by niklas1073 on Oct 26, 2023 22:42:30 GMT -6
Not that there aren't plenty of c12 and 251 clones out there in various quality depending on the budget, I would not disregard the telefunken alchemy series which falls into your ballpark. There’s a few different flavors to check out.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2023 10:38:46 GMT -6
Sacrifice some chickens and find a Beyerdynamic MC840.
Or try a Shure KSM44a.
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Post by ironinthepath on Oct 28, 2023 7:55:27 GMT -6
If your room has decent acoustics, consider a ribbon maybe? Super smooth to my ears. Usually low-cut / low-shelf needed to tame proximity effect, and since (most are) figure-8 it can be quite pronounced that you'll want to stay a bit further back from the mic as well.
That point and the bidirectional pattern means you'll capture some more of the room's sonic signature it will be more impactful than a comparable cardioid mic. Although the ribbon may be missing the "air" at the very top of the high-end (16kHz seems to be the bandwidth I recall), general highs can still be quite pleasing and quite enough (at least with Coles 4038).
This example (AEA R44) sounds great to me (and it's apparently just one mic capturing everything):
Also, if I recall correctly, the song "kiss me" by Sixpence None the Richer has lead vocal captured with Coles 4038 into a Gordon mic pre.
Just another suggestion to consider.
-Chris
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Post by drbill on Oct 28, 2023 10:18:11 GMT -6
^^^ Great example with a 44. Perfect.
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Post by chessparov on Oct 28, 2023 13:40:40 GMT -6
Hi Lyons - I must take a moment to go off topic, but it's worth it. You stated "it’s really great to see a forum without all the bickering!". I agree, I've seen little to no bickering here and for that I am thankful... who knew such a place existed??? Craig Then I make a motion to hereby establish a new Forum here... All hail "The Argument Clinic"! The best 5 minutes (6 for Eric or John E.)* you'll ever spend. All the Classics... Is Summing Worth it? Sample Rate? (New York can you HEAR me!) Clones. Real or imagined? Memory loss. (Computers of course  ) Chris *Eric and John E. as Co-Miserators. They certainly won't be Idle. |
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Post by chessparov on Oct 28, 2023 13:43:38 GMT -6
If your room has decent acoustics, consider a ribbon maybe? Super smooth to my ears. Usually low-cut / low-shelf needed to tame proximity effect, and since (most are) figure-8 it can be quite pronounced that you'll want to stay a bit further back from the mic as well. That point and the bidirectional pattern means you'll capture some more of the room's sonic signature it will be more impactful than a comparable cardioid mic. Although the ribbon may be missing the "air" at the very top of the high-end (16kHz seems to be the bandwidth I recall), general highs can still be quite pleasing and quite enough (at least with Coles 4038). This example (AEA R44) sounds great to me (and it's apparently just one mic capturing everything): Also, if I recall correctly, the song "kiss me" by Sixpence None the Richer has lead vocal captured with Coles 4038 into a Gordon mic pre. Just another suggestion to consider. -Chris Yesss it wassss a 4038 for her sibilanssse. Good tsssing I never need it. At a Pre-Pandemic NAMM, Senor Cuniberti was interested in having me participate. So am planning to check with him next year... If it's still a possibility. He liked my Rockabilly singing. Looks fun!  Chris |
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Post by plinker on Oct 28, 2023 22:30:57 GMT -6
You should check-out the Samar TF10. It is like a condenser version of a ribbon mic -- which makes sense, since it's Samar Audio.
The bottom is definitely round, mids flat, and the top is airy but very smooth. It's incredibly natural sounding. It makes all my other mics sound weird by comparison.
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Post by spindrift on Oct 29, 2023 0:28:26 GMT -6
The Sony C-37A is worth a look.
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Post by theglow on Oct 29, 2023 11:11:16 GMT -6
Here to recommend either an AEA R84 or a Tonelux JC37…
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Post by Ward on Oct 30, 2023 10:05:34 GMT -6
Many fine microphones mentioned here
I would suggest also checking out a Neumann U89
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Post by Omicron9 on Oct 30, 2023 10:50:28 GMT -6
The first thing that came to mind when I read the subject is the AKG C-460-B with the CK-61 cap.
-09
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Post by ab101 on Oct 30, 2023 10:55:29 GMT -6
Huge big round bottom (goes down to 10 hz) - Soundelux/Bock 251. (Have no idea about the UA version and I would be cautious about that one.)
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Chris
