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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 26, 2015 20:21:14 GMT -6
Hey Mark - can you tell us more about the VL37? How it compares to the MF65 and other mics in it's price range? What's the high end like - extended?
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Post by markfouxman on Apr 27, 2015 12:52:24 GMT -6
Hi John,
The whole idea behind designing VL37 was to engineer a mic with the same sound quality as MF65, but make it much more affordable, so budget oriented home and project studios could use them, as well.
Of course, we had to strip a lot of features, like integrated Stainless Steel shock mount, optional Blumlein attachment, fancy solid Maple storage case.
Making the VL37 in-house also greatly helped to reduce production costs.
Both microphones use exactly the same internal parts, including motors and their tuning, upgraded High End our own low loss, low distortion and noise toroidal transformers, specifically tuned to those particular microphones, both models share the same grill construction, with air redirecting mesh to help reduce pops and as an extra protection from air blast.
Soundwise, there are no differences between two and VL37 has the same extended top response which extends at least to 25kHz (+1.23dB). Obviously, it goes higher than that, but the facility we sent the mic had the reference microphone calibrated only to 25kHz, so could not provide data above that frequency.
Both mics are an original and modern design and their motors have multiple custom made Neodymium magnets for the shortest front-to-back signal path ever made in ribbon microphone (one of the main reasons for such an extended top end response).
Both mics designed to have a ruler flat response (-1.61dB @20hz, +0.22dB @10khz) working at the "normal" 1.5KΩ-3.5KΩ input load of modern preamplifiers.
Best, M
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 27, 2015 13:34:02 GMT -6
Damn...I'm in...
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Post by markfouxman on Apr 27, 2015 13:38:58 GMT -6
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Post by EmRR on Apr 28, 2015 7:40:18 GMT -6
I have to admit I'll be somewhat envious of those who can buy four VL37 for what two MF65 cost me. Though the Blumlein mount and individual shocks are great.
: )
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Post by aremos on Apr 30, 2015 19:54:00 GMT -6
Marik,
Great to "see" you here!
I already ordered the VL37 & will be using it for vox. Am concerned about 2 things:
1) suggested distance - specially for strong classical voices.
2) back part of mic - should it be exposed or should it have some type of reflection pad?
I've been using LDC's my entire life & have never used a ribbon.
Should I approach it in a different way, specially since tracking will be done in mainly a "dead" room?
Thanks,
Ariel
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Post by markfouxman on May 1, 2015 10:45:19 GMT -6
Ariel,
Because ribbons have huge proximity effect I always prefer to give them some distance, otherwise they can sound boomy and lifeless. This would be especially important for classical music and voice, where you also want to have some "air" of interaction with the room, so even recording in stereo Blumlein would be totally appropriate. As such, I wouldn't use any pads in a dead room, esp. considering they change response.
Each voice and sound source is different and will need quite a bit of miking/positioning tweaking, but for classical voice I'd give at least 12" and would not be afraid to experiment even with some 2-3 feet away--even with that distance all quiet passages should stay nice, crisp, and natural.
You could also experiment with natural proximity effect of the ribbon--if you need to give say, thin soprano more body you could get a bit closer, or use off axis, tilting the mic in a vertical plane if you need to to round off the top.
Best, M
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Post by markfouxman on Jun 4, 2015 14:38:41 GMT -6
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Post by delcampo on Jun 6, 2015 13:42:42 GMT -6
I have to admit I'll be somewhat envious of those who can buy four VL37 for what two MF65 cost me. Though the Blumlein mount and individual shocks are great. : ) Yep. But know one can convince me that my MF65 doesn't have a specific coolness factor, and an ounce more special sauce in comparison. One could try to convince me I suppose but I'll most likely be humming something like Santos & Johnny in my head …..la la ...la la la la la, la la…. Of course, either mic would shine like a son of gun on pedal or lap steel! |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 24, 2015 21:43:06 GMT -6
I can't wait to try one of these.
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New VL37
Jun 25, 2015 7:52:08 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by lolo on Jun 25, 2015 7:52:08 GMT -6
Interesting. Might have to look at this for acoustic and electric gtrs
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Post by EmRR on Jun 25, 2015 9:00:25 GMT -6
I've never had happier guitarists of either persuasion so consistently.
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Post by lpedrum on Jun 25, 2015 12:27:12 GMT -6
Just ordered a VL37 today.
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Post by aremos on Jun 25, 2015 21:40:55 GMT -6
Have been using it on vocals for a couple of days and the sound is very natural. I'm very impressed!
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Post by Ward on Jun 26, 2015 19:34:40 GMT -6
There are definitely a pair in my future... i may buy more than two.
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Post by markfouxman on Jun 28, 2015 13:22:26 GMT -6
One thing would like to add here. We often receive questions about getting matched pairs and if for an additional fee we can provide matching service. To answer in short--we even don't have that concept of matching... just because... ALL our microphones are matched--you can even take microphones from two different batches and still be able to use them as a matched pair.
That is, we are using a unique mechanism, which allows us to continuously adjust the ribbon's tension and fine tune its resonant frequency (just think of tuning guitar string, or a drum). Also we found our own way of measuring ribbon's resonant frequency, which is by far more precise than usual conventional methods (like impedance, or stroboscope light measurements). Together with very tight manufacturing tolerances it allows us to tune all our ribbons within 1Hz and achieve great uniformity of the response from unit to unit. Any ribbon, which for some reason cannot be tuned within that tolerance gets immediately discarded.
As an additional measure of final quality control we check all the microphones leaving factory for a perfect null cancellation against our reference mic.
Best, M
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 30, 2015 10:51:06 GMT -6
Anybody have any clips?
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Post by markfouxman on Sept 30, 2015 11:11:01 GMT -6
I saw this posted on Gearslutz--recorded with two VL37 and cardioid DPA. The VL37 through AEA TRP and DPA through Millenia. For some reason it did not get any follow up...  Best, M |
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 30, 2015 11:36:23 GMT -6
Wow...that is a really wide frequency range for a ribbon. Sounds fantastic. Gonna post on twitter...
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Post by lpedrum on Sept 30, 2015 11:40:17 GMT -6
I ordered one in June--patiently waiting. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 30, 2015 11:41:29 GMT -6
Yeah - I think that is the reason for the relative quiet...I should have one coming at some point. Definitely gonna put up a review. You too, @ipedrum
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Post by markfouxman on Sept 30, 2015 11:47:10 GMT -6
Sorry for the delay. Because of family matters suddenly had to go out of country, losing two months of work. Got back a couple weeks ago and now the production/assembly goes full speed. Hope to fulfill all the orders soon... plus some new stuff--stop by our booth #551 at the coming AES in NYC to see it  . Best, M |
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 30, 2015 11:55:41 GMT -6
Thanks, Mark! That recording sounds great!
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Post by NoFilterChuck on Sept 30, 2015 11:56:12 GMT -6
Sorry for the delay. Because of family matters suddenly had to go out of country, losing two months of work. Got back a couple weeks ago and now the production/assembly goes full speed. Hope to fulfill all the orders soon... plus some new stuff--stop by our booth #551 at the coming AES in NYC to see it . Best, M see, now i have a reason to stop by AES this year! |
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Post by hadaja on May 15, 2024 16:51:54 GMT -6
So I have wanted a VL37 for such a long time but being in a totally different continent made the purchasing of this a bit prohibited.
Its always a gamble buying a product that you cant readily get or hear in your own country.
I have been seeing people posting there comments on the VL37 over the years with such glowing reports I knew that at some point my time would come.
IT so happened that that time came last month and I received it this week.
ITs taken nearly 9 x years since this original thread to make it happen.
One of my problems with getting a new mic that you like means, for me, another ribbon mic has to leave the mic locker as I cant justify having a collection of stuff I know I am not going to use. I am not a commercial studio.
So how do you go through the process of getting rid of stuff you really like when you want to have it all?
Quick spoken tests reveal a nice smooth sound. It is quiet. Not an over the top huge proximity effect compared to other ribbons which I like. I think the point will be how far away do you want to be on what sources you want to record. That will be interesting.
Some ribbon companies are making certain mic models sound like old mics and some companies are making particular ribbon models sound like condenser mics.
I think Samar has found the in between spot between vintage ribbon mojo and modern hi-end clarity in this VL37 mic.
I think I am really going to like this mic a lot.
The worst part of it was I should have bought 2 x of them while the opportunity was there.
But thanks Mark for your great work.
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