ericn
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Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
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Post by ericn on Jan 3, 2018 19:37:07 GMT -6
Nope! You know it’s the year to upgrade the console. Hey I was talking 2019 my freind! You know I think long run!😎
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Post by Vincent R. on Jan 4, 2018 8:59:40 GMT -6
Worth the wait. I let the FleA 49 sit last night and aclimate to the temperature of the studio after traveling in the cold for a week; opening the shipping box after a few hours, the flight case a few hours later, than the wood box a few hours after that. I fired it up this morning. Martin John Butler had mentioned previously that no two mics are the same. I actually believe my mic is a little fuller and more present than the VK demo. I wish I had taken a photo of the frequency response, but it was a tad different than mine. That’s right, they give you the Frequncy plot of your individual microphone when you get it. Very cool FleA. Planning a YouTube video with it. Hopefully I’ll film it sometime in the next few weeks. We’ll see. I’ll be at APAP next weekend and have a ton of Valentine’s concerts with my wife in February. It’s a good busy.
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Post by Vincent R. on Jun 19, 2018 14:05:41 GMT -6
Note to self: the FleA 49 is not the CM49 and requires at least 2ft for a more even sound and to not distort while singing at 115+ dB.
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Post by drbill on Jun 19, 2018 18:25:30 GMT -6
Have any here tried out either the Beezneez tribute 49, or their new clone 49. The clone 49 is incredibly cost effective - even more so with the Aussie dollar.....
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
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Post by ericn on Jun 19, 2018 19:37:07 GMT -6
Have any here tried out either the Beezneez tribute 49, or their new clone 49. The clone 49 is incredibly cost effective - even more so with the Aussie dollar..... Saw those as well you know my quest for a everymans 49😎, so DRBill, prescribe you buy a pair and tell us all if they um, fit the bill😁
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Post by indiehouse on Jun 19, 2018 19:50:03 GMT -6
Have any here tried out either the Beezneez tribute 49, or their new clone 49. The clone 49 is incredibly cost effective - even more so with the Aussie dollar..... And it’s on sale. I was checking that out. Just hadn’t heard much about it.
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Post by yotonic on Jun 19, 2018 20:22:49 GMT -6
From the Beez Neez website: "Like the original Neumann M49 our BM49 shares the same physical size and sonic characteristics of its namesake. Our primary focus in this microphone has been to keep it sonically true to the original M49. The end result has been a smooth and sultry microphone that can tame even the wildest vocalist and help your recording to sound finished even before post processing."
I owned their top of the line Tribute 47. It was a good microphone but nowhere near a real Neumann U47. In my experience nothing beats the vintage Neumanns. I would rather record a vocalist through one of my KM84 than half the 47 clones out there. You get what you pay for with microphones. I've owned LDCs from Andreas Grosser, Telefunken, Flea, Wunder and they are really great mics. But nothing beats a great Neumann in my opinion.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Jun 19, 2018 20:55:31 GMT -6
I know what you mean yotonic. The only thing I've heard that belongs in the same class is the Chandler REDD mic, it's truly the real deal. Simply put, it's so inspiring and clear, you sing better. The Soyuz 0-17 is the only other relatively new mic you might prefer in some situations to a Neumann, but generally, the Neumann just gets it right. I spent $2,300 and two years tweaking a mic, changing capsules, Thiersch Red, Thiersch Blue, transformers Haufe, AMI, and on and on. I got very good quality, definitely something you can make records with, but still, it didn't have the same level mojo the Neumann's have.
I'm getting the Stam SA67 soon. Joshua often gets it more right than any of the other tribute or clone designers, and if he even gets his 67 in the ballpark, I'll be thrilled.
When I tried the M49, it was very nasal compared to the vintage U47 and 67 I tried in the same shootout. Perhaps that just wasn't a great one.
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Post by brenta on Jun 19, 2018 20:56:15 GMT -6
I've got Chris at Barbaric building me a custom M49 clone right now. I'd been shopping for a "budget" M49ish mic for a while and in the end my choices came down to the new Beesneez clone, the Advanced Audio CM49, or having Barbaric build me one. I decided to go for the Barbaric for various reasons.
I don't have the skills or desire to DIY so I thought it was pretty cool that I could source my own capsule, transformer, tube, and body and then have an experienced mic builder put it all together for me.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Jun 19, 2018 20:58:31 GMT -6
Good luck with that brenta, and welcome to the forum!
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
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Post by ericn on Jun 19, 2018 21:16:20 GMT -6
From the Beez Neez website: "Like the original Neumann M49 our BM49 shares the same physical size and sonic characteristics of its namesake. Our primary focus in this microphone has been to keep it sonically true to the original M49. The end result has been a smooth and sultry microphone that can tame even the wildest vocalist and help your recording to sound finished even before post processing." I owned their top of the line Tribute 47. It was a good microphone but nowhere near a real Neumann U47. In my experience nothing beats the vintage Neumanns. I would rather record a vocalist through one of my KM84 than half the 47 clones out there. You get what you pay for with microphones. I've owned LDCs from Andreas Grosser, Telefunken, Flea, Wunder and they are really great mics. But nothing beats a great Neumann in my opinion. Yeah but at that price if and when I bite I figure worse case it ends up in the hands of Shannon Rhoads 😁 In fact I have thought of buying one, seeing if Rick Denhart or Dan Harjunct can track the pair from MusicHead / Sound Summit and can get them in Sinsay’s Hands and say “ I want dat sound “ 😎
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Post by drew571 on Jun 19, 2018 22:05:04 GMT -6
If I recall correctly, Oliver Archutt before he passed converted one or two TM 149s to 49s with very happy customers so it can be done. Cheers, Ross I actually have one that Oliver Archutt and Danny Bouchard or poctop as he is known at group diy put together. I think Danny did the pcb and Oliver did the rest, from scratch. It wasn't a conversion. I've only heard an M49 in recordings but it was enough for me to want one more than other mics I've heard. So I don't know how close it is to the real thing but it sure seems to me to have "that special dust"
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Post by drbill on Jun 19, 2018 22:44:54 GMT -6
Have any here tried out either the Beezneez tribute 49, or their new clone 49. The clone 49 is incredibly cost effective - even more so with the Aussie dollar..... Saw those as well you know my quest for a everymans 49😎, so DRBill, prescribe you buy a pair and tell us all if they um, fit the bill😁 Eh...as much as I'd like to, I'm kind of like yotonic - there are a tons of "good" mics out there. Even some great ones. But the really special ones with the magic fairy dust only seem to have come from Germany, decades ago. I've never encountered the level of magic on a newly manufactured mic that attains that Neumann level of magic. And of course, they don't ALL have it, but the ones that do are all from Germany 40-50+ years ago. As much as I love their mic closet, including their 16+ U67's, there's only ONE mic from Capitol Records studios that I'd pay virtually anything for, and that's their M249. IMO, it SMOKED Frank's U48 that everyone is gaga about. One of my other favorite "this mic is too good to be true" memories was at Conway with a pair of their meticulously maintained M49's out in front of a big band. Those two mics could have held down the entire recording by themselves. Same thing the first time I put up my KM53's. Jaw dropping. These ancient beasts are expensive to maintain though, and it's almost a sacred duty TOO maintain them at the highest level. I think I'm not going to take the bait this time. At least not until the reports are undeniable..... "We don't get fooled again!! No no!!"
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
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Post by ericn on Jun 20, 2018 6:44:46 GMT -6
Saw those as well you know my quest for a everymans 49😎, so DRBill, prescribe you buy a pair and tell us all if they um, fit the bill😁 Eh...as much as I'd like to, I'm kind of like yotonic - there are a tons of "good" mics out there. Even some great ones. But the really special ones with the magic fairy dust only seem to have come from Germany, decades ago. I've never encountered the level of magic on a newly manufactured mic that attains that Neumann level of magic. And of course, they don't ALL have it, but the ones that do are all from Germany 40-50+ years ago. As much as I love their mic closet, including their 16+ U67's, there's only ONE mic from Capitol Records studios that I'd pay virtually anything for, and that's their M249. IMO, it SMOKED Frank's U48 that everyone is gaga about. One of my other favorite "this mic is too good to be true" memories was at Conway with a pair of their meticulously maintained M49's out in front of a big band. Those two mics could have held down the entire recording by themselves. Same thing the first time I put up my KM53's. Jaw dropping. These ancient beasts are expensive to maintain though, and it's almost a sacred duty TOO maintain them at the highest level. I think I'm not going to take the bait this time. At least not until the reports are undeniable..... "We don't get fooled again!! No no!!" Damn I wanted a pair of ears I know and trust to grab one! The thing about the “Frank’s 48”, a couple of guys who were around Chicago in the Universal days always said “Frank didn’t care what you put up as long as it sounded good, that was your job. If he didn’t like it you would hear about it, but he never insisted on any mic.” They always assumed that when Frank walked into Capital for the first time that 48 was up, Frank didn’t say anything so nobody had the guts to try anything else. A great 49 is a mic that while it may not be the perfect match on everything, is pretty much useable on everything. I have always preferred the ones with M7’s over k47’s and yes there is magic in those old German mics, expensive magic these days but magic. I will say Vincent’s Flea comes damn close, not perfect but it’s a mic I would not turn up my nose at it and it gives me hope.
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Post by indiehouse on Jun 20, 2018 7:54:26 GMT -6
Doesn't Tab-Funkenwerk have a 49 kit?
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Post by Martin John Butler on Jun 20, 2018 8:22:04 GMT -6
This holy grail mic search reminds me of how violin makers have tried to recreate the sound of a Stradivarius, They've actually achieved an identical waveform, but can't get that and the volume.
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Post by drbill on Jun 20, 2018 9:28:10 GMT -6
Eh...as much as I'd like to, I'm kind of like yotonic - there are a tons of "good" mics out there. Even some great ones. But the really special ones with the magic fairy dust only seem to have come from Germany, decades ago. I've never encountered the level of magic on a newly manufactured mic that attains that Neumann level of magic. And of course, they don't ALL have it, but the ones that do are all from Germany 40-50+ years ago. As much as I love their mic closet, including their 16+ U67's, there's only ONE mic from Capitol Records studios that I'd pay virtually anything for, and that's their M249. IMO, it SMOKED Frank's U48 that everyone is gaga about. One of my other favorite "this mic is too good to be true" memories was at Conway with a pair of their meticulously maintained M49's out in front of a big band. Those two mics could have held down the entire recording by themselves. Same thing the first time I put up my KM53's. Jaw dropping. These ancient beasts are expensive to maintain though, and it's almost a sacred duty TOO maintain them at the highest level. I think I'm not going to take the bait this time. At least not until the reports are undeniable..... "We don't get fooled again!! No no!!" Damn I wanted a pair of ears I know and trust to grab one! The thing about the “Frank’s 48”, a couple of guys who were around Chicago in the Universal days always said “Frank didn’t care what you put up as long as it sounded good, that was your job. If he didn’t like it you would hear about it, but he never insisted on any mic.” They always assumed that when Frank walked into Capital for the first time that 48 was up, Frank didn’t say anything so nobody had the guts to try anything else. A great 49 is a mic that while it may not be the perfect match on everything, is pretty much useable on everything. I have always preferred the ones with M7’s over k47’s and yes there is magic in those old German mics, expensive magic these days but magic. I will say Vincent’s Flea comes damn close, not perfect but it’s a mic I would not turn up my nose at it and it gives me hope. Certainly Frank used a lot of mics. He's often seen with a 44. Other mics too. But there is one U48 at Capitol that was a favorite of his - or perhaps a favorite of his engineer / producer? At any rate, it's attributed to him liking it. That mic couldn't hold a candle to the 249 IMO. When a mic has the magic, it's not like splitting hairs. It's usually undeniable. I have sworn off the search for these mics. It's a DEEP rabbit hole that you never emerge from. It leaves you hating everything, and always searching. I don't find that practical in making music. Still....every once in a while, I start thinking......hmmm..... LOL
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Post by Martin John Butler on Jun 20, 2018 9:56:18 GMT -6
Or you can just "settle" for a Chandler REDD and worry about owning a holy grail mic unless you make enough money that it becomes affordable.
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Post by Vincent R. on Jun 20, 2018 11:44:15 GMT -6
jeremygillespie 's M49C had some real magic when I tried it. Had a K47 and was a type C. It's funny because so many people reach for the M7 versions and the type B. My FleA 49 is a type B circuit, but I had them put in the K47 instead and it really does sound wonderful. I've only really tried the FleA 49 (3 incarnations; M7 + stock tube, K47 + stock tube, and M7 + NOS AC701K). I really went back and forth on AC701k for a while. All of the people who are my go to for advice had differing opinions. Ultimately I didn't want to fall into the trap of having to find an AC701K down the line and just went with the stock tube. I really love the sound I'm getting from it, especially the American song book stuff or the Mario Lanza stuff I do.
The only other M49 style mic I've used is the CM49 which is a good microphone, but a bit brighter and less beefy than my FleA. It also uses a K47. Shannon has offered to tweak it for me at a fair price, but I've just kind of let it be for now. Hoping to demo aamicrophones ' new CM49LE which should be out in the fall. I enjoy that the CM49 is gain staged almost identically to the FleA 49 making it easy to use them as a pair. I've used them in a blumlien in the room. Yes the CM49 is a bit brighter, but I can even them out with EQ, or use them creatively by aiming the bright mic at the darker source, etc. I'd love to have one that was closer in sonic quality to the FleA, but after that purchase I am strapped for a while and the CM49 is no slouch as an extra mic to have around. It's still my favorite of the AA Mics. Actually I had it next to Jeremy's M49C and sonically it sounded in between the M49C and the M269. It really held it's own in that shoot out. I have to finish that video...
The Beesneez looks cool. It looks like they have two versions, their Clone which is on sale for $1500 at the moment. Looks like that is an edition which allows them to save on construction by keeping the sonic sound, but allowing for different circuitry. They also have the Tribute 4 which is over 4k like other replicas I've seen.
rms also has a full replica and a tribute version. The RMS49 is a full blown replica for $4399 which includes a k47 or an M7 for an additional $100. Then they have the RMS49LE for $2999. It also comes with the K47 stock or the M7 as an upgrade. Both use a NOS 5703 tube, which he feels is sonically close the the AC701k. It works really well in my RMS269. Rob will also make it with however you want. If you grab a Thiersch M7 and want him to install it he will. If you grab a Neumann K47 he would install that for you as well. I've mentioned in passing that I'd like to try his RMS49LE at some point. I'm so busy with performances and my Christmas album there is just no time to film and edit a new video for my channel, so I haven't really pressed the issue. Maybe when AA is ready with their new CM47LE I'll try and get demos of each and make a video comparing all of them and my FleA 49. People can then hear M49 clones at 3 different price points.
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Post by drbill on Jun 20, 2018 12:02:25 GMT -6
Or you can just "settle" for a Chandler REDD and worry about owning a holy grail mic unless you make enough money that it becomes affordable. From what I've heard, and Chandler REDD is nothing like an M49. Other than both being microphones that is.... I've got lots of killer mics. Some are even holy grail mics. No need to buy more contenders to the throne. But that elusive ghost always looms in the back of my mind.....
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Post by Vincent R. on Jun 20, 2018 12:13:36 GMT -6
Or you can just "settle" for a Chandler REDD and worry about owning a holy grail mic unless you make enough money that it becomes affordable. From what I've heard, and Chandler REDD is nothing like an M49. Other than both being microphones that is.... I've got lots of killer mics. Some are even holy grail mics. No need to buy more contenders to the throne. But that elusive ghost always looms in the back of my mind..... No, It's not like an M49, but it is a nice mic.
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Post by drbill on Jun 20, 2018 12:16:46 GMT -6
From what I've heard, and Chandler REDD is nothing like an M49. Other than both being microphones that is.... I've got lots of killer mics. Some are even holy grail mics. No need to buy more contenders to the throne. But that elusive ghost always looms in the back of my mind..... No, It's not like an M49, but it is a nice mic. Yes of course. I might even get a pair at some point. But I thought this was a thread about M49's and not ANY nice mic. I like Coles 4038's too. But I'd never suggest one in a U87 thread....or an M49 thread. No offense. Just sayin'....
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Post by brenta on Jun 20, 2018 14:32:36 GMT -6
I had considered going with an RMS or the guy in Brooklyn building the clones, but they are much more expensive than the Barbaric for similar quality parts as what I chose. The only big difference between the options seems to be who is building it, which of course can make all the difference. But it's hard to quantify if one random mic builder is worth thousands more than another based off a few anecdotes on the internet.
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Post by nudwig on Jun 20, 2018 17:39:32 GMT -6
I'm still very happy with 49c clone Chris at Barbaric built for me. You're in good hands.
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Post by brenta on Jun 20, 2018 19:04:52 GMT -6
I'm still very happy with 49c clone Chris at Barbaric built for me. You're in good hands. That's good to hear. It's definitely a bit of a roll of the dice but I did a lot of research beforehand. What do you have for capsule/tube/transformer in yours?
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