|
|
Post by chunger on Nov 20, 2014 15:42:59 GMT -6
The kit is SUPER fun to build and one of the best layouts I've seen. I have a studio session lined up for tomorrow where I will get a first peek at how it performs with the Heiserman HK67 and Amperex EF86. I am looking forward to testing different configurations in later sessions but i need to get hands on Telefunken EF86 and Neumann capsule to establish a "baseline" for comparison.
|
|
|
|
Post by mdmitch2 on Nov 20, 2014 16:01:56 GMT -6
The kit is SUPER fun to build and one of the best layouts I've seen. I have a studio session lined up for tomorrow where I will get a first peek at how it performs with the Heiserman HK67 and Amperex EF86. I am looking forward to testing different configurations in later sessions but i need to get hands on Telefunken EF86 and Neumann capsule to establish a "baseline" for comparison. Sweet! Let us know your impressions when you get a chance. |
|
|
|
Post by chunger on Nov 22, 2014 0:27:34 GMT -6
OK . . . initial impressions are very solid on vocals. I am still organizing and trying to figure out where and how to post full results from todays test but. . . Love MP3
Love WAV
Summertime MP3Summertime WAV
Margo Leduc was a studio client who was kind enough to let us use some of her session tracks for test samples. We thought of her when looking for talent to help us with mic testing as she is very consistent and has good range and character in her voice to press the mics a bit. So, we hired her to come in and do a pure testing session to gather some data for mic development. The U67 is tertiary to the test, but the main goal in throwing it in the mix was just a very general confirmation of the "pedigree" of the kit and ascertain the current state of Eric Heiserman's HK67 capsule development. We know on paper that this MK67 kit is the finest currently available, but in the end, I need to hear it with my own ears. For our U67 clone, this is just an initial function check. For now, "Hello World!" Mic Specs: - MK67 kit - Eric Heiserman HK67 capsule - Amperex EF86 tube - SYT-5 gen 2 body Signal Chain: - Great River ME-1NV preamp - MCI JH-630 line input - Apogee Rosetta (24 bit 48K) - RME interface - Logic Studio Pro 9 - Note: No EQ on vocal. . . slight compression and minimal reverb. |
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Nov 22, 2014 5:05:05 GMT -6
sounded really good here; very balanced, nice tone and air as well, very controlled ie no sibilance issues; forgive the x drummer in me; loved the drums in summertime and the bass groove was that you  ? |
|
|
|
Post by category5 on Nov 22, 2014 10:00:44 GMT -6
Interesting Samples Chunger. Definitely the famous condenser sizzle, in contrast with both the C12 and U47 builds. Curious how the Neumann capsule will sound. I expect it will be a little less hyped, but this sounds really good still. I've been trying to dig up a TLM67 for a donor mic for this but finding them a little high priced even used. I've seen them go for $1300-$1400 before but currently they are holding steady at $1800 which is too much for a donor considering the capsule is available from Sennheiser.
Keep in mind a new Neumann capsule is preferable to re-skinned simply because the two side of the capsule will be exactly matched, something very difficult to achieve in a reskin (maybe not possible). Shouldn't affect cardioid much but Fig-8 and omni will benefit from the matched halves.
This project looks killer, and given the quality of the copy (even aestetically identical to a real 67) and the quality of Max's transformer I do not think the price is high at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Nov 22, 2014 10:23:03 GMT -6
"This project looks killer, and given the quality of the copy (even aestetically identical to a real 67) and the quality of Max's transformer I do not think the price is high at all."
^^this^^
|
|
|
|
Post by tonycamphd on Nov 22, 2014 11:42:51 GMT -6
Interesting Samples Chunger. Definitely the famous condenser sizzle, in contrast with both the C12 and U47 builds. Curious how the Neumann capsule will sound. I expect it will be a little less hyped, but this sounds really good still. I've been trying to dig up a TLM67 for a donor mic for this but finding them a little high priced even used. I've seen them go for $1300-$1400 before but currently they are holding steady at $1800 which is too much for a donor considering the capsule is available from Sennheiser. Keep in mind a new Neumann capsule is preferable to re-skinned simply because the two side of the capsule will be exactly matched, something very difficult to achieve in a reskin (maybe not possible). Shouldn't affect cardioid much but Fig-8 and omni will benefit from the matched halves. This project looks killer, and given the quality of the copy (even aestetically identical to a real 67) and the quality of Max's transformer I do not think the price is high at all. Shane! howz it man, Curious to what Neumann is doing that others cannot? |
|
|
|
Post by tonycamphd on Nov 22, 2014 11:59:08 GMT -6
nice, thanx Chung! this mic sounds like it would be amazing on a barry voice, has a fiery higher mid to my ears(not in a louder way, but in a "corvette red" way), sets it apart from the other builds for sure. Nice work as usual. T |
|
|
|
Post by category5 on Nov 22, 2014 16:39:49 GMT -6
Interesting Samples Chunger. Definitely the famous condenser sizzle, in contrast with both the C12 and U47 builds. Curious how the Neumann capsule will sound. I expect it will be a little less hyped, but this sounds really good still. I've been trying to dig up a TLM67 for a donor mic for this but finding them a little high priced even used. I've seen them go for $1300-$1400 before but currently they are holding steady at $1800 which is too much for a donor considering the capsule is available from Sennheiser. Keep in mind a new Neumann capsule is preferable to re-skinned simply because the two side of the capsule will be exactly matched, something very difficult to achieve in a reskin (maybe not possible). Shouldn't affect cardioid much but Fig-8 and omni will benefit from the matched halves. This project looks killer, and given the quality of the copy (even aestetically identical to a real 67) and the quality of Max's transformer I do not think the price is high at all. Shane! howz it man, Curious to what Neumann is doing that others cannot? Well, it's not that "others can not" just that once the halves are together it's really difficult to get an exact match front to back. in fact, I haven't ever tried a capsule I thought was a perfect match. The key is that the K67 is two half capsules joined together (hence the dual backplate design). Neumann manufactures the halves in quantity and within a certain tolerance. Then after the halves are matched, they are measured and mated to other halves that match exactly (or as close as is possible). It is only because they are able to measure and match these halves that the front and rear diaphragms can match so closely. Re-skinning one leaves you with two halves that are within spec but likely can't match if only even due to variations in the membrane material as well as variations in the process. This is why Tim tells us to try both sides and pick our favorite, and why Thiersch labels one side BACK (the sode further out of tolerance). I believe the reason Neumann moved from the M7 to the K47 to teh K67 was to improve consistency from capsule to capsule. I imagine variations in the glued M7 capsules were quite high. Of course, someone like Heiserman can still make his halves and match them like Neumann, but he has the disadvantage of smaller quantity thus will likely carry variation between the sides still. Had to write this with two toddlers hanging on each shoulder so forgive any grammar and spelling errors. lol |
|
|
|
Post by ben on Nov 22, 2014 18:36:17 GMT -6
Interesting Samples Chunger. Definitely the famous condenser sizzle, in contrast with both the C12 and U47 builds. Curious how the Neumann capsule will sound. I expect it will be a little less hyped, but this sounds really good still. I've been trying to dig up a TLM67 for a donor mic for this but finding them a little high priced even used. I've seen them go for $1300-$1400 before but currently they are holding steady at $1800 which is too much for a donor considering the capsule is available from Sennheiser. Keep in mind a new Neumann capsule is preferable to re-skinned simply because the two side of the capsule will be exactly matched, something very difficult to achieve in a reskin (maybe not possible). Shouldn't affect cardioid much but Fig-8 and omni will benefit from the matched halves. This project looks killer, and given the quality of the copy (even aestetically identical to a real 67) and the quality of Max's transformer I do not think the price is high at all. I'm all for authenticity, but I have to say that Chunger's u87/u67 mic body is a really good substitute IMHO. It's a good size and weight and comes with a nice shockmount, and looks similar enough to its muse to make me happy. I had contemplated the TLM67 body as well, but it's hard to justify the $800+ (cost - capsule) premium. Then again, Max's build is so close to the original that you could probably fool a lot of people with it in an original body. That may be worth the price of admission. |
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Nov 23, 2014 10:32:43 GMT -6
Interesting Samples Chunger. Definitely the famous condenser sizzle, in contrast with both the C12 and U47 builds. Curious how the Neumann capsule will sound. I expect it will be a little less hyped, but this sounds really good still. I've been trying to dig up a TLM67 for a donor mic for this but finding them a little high priced even used. I've seen them go for $1300-$1400 before but currently they are holding steady at $1800 which is too much for a donor considering the capsule is available from Sennheiser. Keep in mind a new Neumann capsule is preferable to re-skinned simply because the two side of the capsule will be exactly matched, something very difficult to achieve in a reskin (maybe not possible). Shouldn't affect cardioid much but Fig-8 and omni will benefit from the matched halves. This project looks killer, and given the quality of the copy (even aestetically identical to a real 67) and the quality of Max's transformer I do not think the price is high at all. Bit closer with this one, maybe they'll negotiate a bit... m.guitarcenter.com/Neumann-Used-Neumann-2012-TLM67-Silver-Condenser-Microphone-110694167-i4047473.gc |
|
|
|
Post by deehope on Nov 23, 2014 16:14:33 GMT -6
I've seen them go as low as $1200 on gs. If I can get that deal I'm going with the tlm for sure. It becomes a $500 to $600 upgrade.
|
|
|
|
Post by watchtower on Dec 2, 2014 18:06:07 GMT -6
This is my next build. The TLM67 body would be nice, but it's not worth the price hike IMHO
|
|
|
|
Post by category5 on Dec 3, 2014 19:58:15 GMT -6
This is my next build. The TLM67 body would be nice, but it's not worth the price hike IMHO If it weren't for that stupid Neumann Coin on the body I'd totally do it, but I'd have to replace the sleeve too so for now it's the generic body for me. A retrofit into an 87ai or tlm67 would be like having the real deal though. |
|
|
|
Post by watchtower on Dec 3, 2014 20:46:16 GMT -6
This is my next build. The TLM67 body would be nice, but it's not worth the price hike IMHO If it weren't for that stupid Neumann Coin on the body I'd totally do it, but I'd have to replace the sleeve too so for now it's the generic body for me. A retrofit into an 87ai or tlm67 would be like having the real deal though. Sure, but I'm borderline poor, so I'd rather have a world-class mic in a chinese body haha. At least the donor has the right general shape/size |
|
|
|
Post by chunger on Dec 4, 2014 4:16:37 GMT -6
Build docs are mostly complete. I need to circle back to the PSU because there is a more direct way to skin it with a 1M pot but it all works as pictured. . . I also tested and it does trim out for E80F tube as well. My yield on E80F tubes via posted sources has been very low. . . 1 quiet tube out of 3 so far, so at $20 per try, it is adding up to $60 per useable tube so far. Still less than half of a known good Telefunken manufactured EF86 though. I needed a good baseline reference for testing, so I went with Neumann K870 capsule and Christian Whitmore sourced Sonotone (Telefunken manufacture) EF86 tube.   |
|
|
|
Post by category5 on Dec 5, 2014 10:23:13 GMT -6
It's beautiful Chunger. Where's that mount from?
|
|
|
|
Post by ben on Dec 5, 2014 10:33:47 GMT -6
It's beautiful Chunger. Where's that mount from? The mount comes with the mic body and he had a the round white spacer made for this build. I just ordered materials from Chunger to build 2 U67's, and I'm going to use nylon standoffs to get the same height. 2 K67 caps from Sennheiser just arrived as well. Can't wait to dig into this one. |
|
?
