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Post by Bob Olhsson on Sept 28, 2024 15:29:11 GMT -6
I can add that it's owned by the Neumann family again. Neumann Berlin had gone bankrupt behind the end of vinyl tools and Sennheiser bought the remains of the microphone division.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Sept 28, 2024 15:40:20 GMT -6
I can add that it's owned by the Neumann family again. Neumann Berlin had gone bankrupt behind the end of vinyl tools and Sennheiser bought the remains of the microphone division. I had heard rumors to that effect, but never got confirmation. As always Bob knows all!
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Post by drbill on Sept 28, 2024 15:46:06 GMT -6
Those appear to be mid-90's vintage. The best of the best IMO. Congrats.
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Sept 28, 2024 15:51:21 GMT -6
Those appear to be mid-90's vintage. The best of the best IMO. Congrats. I know that at least 3 of the others Ian had were about 94-96.
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Post by andersmv on Sept 28, 2024 15:55:23 GMT -6
Those appear to be mid-90's vintage. The best of the best IMO. Congrats. I know that at least 3 of the others Ian had were about 94-96. The other ones Ian had were transformerless (UMT), which confirms that there were some weird things and crossovers happening in the mid 90’s. Based off of things I’ve heard and read from other people, it seems like Gefell was making them UM/T-70s with and without transformers for a period of time, at the same time.
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Post by gwlee7 on Sept 28, 2024 16:00:51 GMT -6
This thread start date is about a year before I joined here. I have a UM70 because of all the Gefell praise from when you guys told me what to consider when I wanted t o buy a classic all rounder. I cut all my demo parts with it and often those tracks end up being keepers. Vocals, acoustics, amps…. No matter. This mic kicks ass.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Sept 28, 2024 16:13:22 GMT -6
I know that at least 3 of the others Ian had were about 94-96. The other ones Ian had were transformerless (UMT), which confirms that there were some weird things and crossovers happening in the mid 90’s. Based off of things I’ve heard and read from other people, it seems like Gefell was making them UM/T-70s with and without transformers for a period of time, at the same time. At the time they made both, only made more complicated by the fact that there were silver and & Black plus lower noise “s” versions. You had to have a cheat sheet it was a pain in the ass.
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Post by andersmv on Sept 28, 2024 16:25:46 GMT -6
The other ones Ian had were transformerless (UMT), which confirms that there were some weird things and crossovers happening in the mid 90’s. Based off of things I’ve heard and read from other people, it seems like Gefell was making them UM/T-70s with and without transformers for a period of time, at the same time. At the time they made both, only made more complicated by the fact that there were silver and & Black plus lower noise “s” versions. You had to have a cheat sheet it was a pain in the ass. Ya, my black ones are the “K” version. The output on them is slightly lower than a lot of modern mics, but they’re incredibly quiet with almost no self noise. Makes me wonder what got up Gefells butt to try and make them quieter. I guess the classical music crowd complained. I can’t imagine them being noisier than a good vintage M49.
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Post by copperx on Sept 28, 2024 16:40:56 GMT -6
The podcastage guy has a great review on the transformerless. I'd love to hear the transformer version.
I've adored my UMT71S for a year now. Even though I chose it originally over the U87ai, and I think it is a better rounded mic than it (there's nothing it won't record beautifully), I still crave that signature U87ai top end crispness. Looks like I'll have to add the U87ai to my collection, much to my wallet's dismay.
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Post by notneeson on Sept 28, 2024 16:46:53 GMT -6
Used a pair on overheads recently to good effect!
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Post by drbill on Sept 28, 2024 17:20:45 GMT -6
Used a pair on overheads recently to good effect! UM70's or M71S's (card only) are my go-to OH mics!! All I wish for in my room is just a little more "top" which I can get easily with the SBmk2 AIR EQ or the Miad's or Avalon's.....
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Post by andersmv on Sept 28, 2024 21:12:45 GMT -6
I’m talking to ADK mics, it sounds like they’re open to sending me a pair of their new Munich 7 microphones to throw in for my video. They seem like a really amazing option if you’ve been eyeing something similar to the Gefells. ADK is doing their own M7 capsule, the Munich is transformer based and the circuit is FET but designed to give more of a tube flavor. I’m also surprised by the price on the Munich 7’s, with the Gefell price hikes you can get a pair of the ADK’s for cheaper than a single new transformerless UMT-70.
I’ve got high hopes for the ADK’s, they’re obviously going to sound different but on paper they seem like they’re shooting for the same sonic area. I told Miles over at ADK that I would have seriously just sent him the money for a pair of the Munichs if I hadn’t have just gotten these Gefells. I can’t really think of anything out there that’s new and comparable to the Munich 7’s.
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Post by markfouxman on Sept 28, 2024 21:32:48 GMT -6
I very much prefer the UM70 with transformer over transformerless version where the limitations of the M7 are much more obvious. That is, the M7 to my taste is too much mid forward with quite shy low end response. The transformer coupled circuits (ideally, the tube) do help with fuller sonics at the bottom end. I don't believe the original UM70 was the best M7 based mic. For some unexplainable reason they put into the circuit made in house chip, while the simple KM84 style of the circuit there with its single jFet driving stock transformer would be a simple, elegant, and sonically superior solution. Also, the original version made in GDR was full of poor quality Soviet parts with very broad tolerances. We even made a mod bypassing that chip, and replacing some critical parts in signal path, which considerably lowered noise and greatly improved sonics. Mike Jasper of Tape Op was extremely enthusiastic about this mod. Best, M
P.S. After re-reading, to make it clear--I am not pimping our mod--we stopped modding most of the mics long time ago, concentrating on our current production. Just put my $0.02 to balance out opinions:)
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Post by plinker on Sept 28, 2024 22:37:30 GMT -6
I very much prefer the UM70 with transformer over transformerless version where the limitations of the M7 are much more obvious. That is, the M7 to my taste is too much mid forward with quite shy low end response. The transformer coupled circuits (ideally, the tube) do help with fuller sonics at the bottom end. I don't believe the original UM70 was the best M7 based mic. For some unexplainable reason they put into the circuit made in house chip, while the simple KM84 style of the circuit there with its single jFet driving stock transformer would be a simple, elegant, and sonically superior solution. Also, the original version made in GDR was full of poor quality Soviet parts with very broad tolerances. We even made a mod bypassing that chip, and replacing some critical parts in signal path, which considerably lowered noise and greatly improved sonics. Mike Jasper of Tape Op was extremely enthusiastic about this mod. Best, M
P.S. After re-reading, to make it clear--I am not pimping our mod--we stopped modding most of the mics long time ago, concentrating on our current production. Just put my $0.02 to balance out opinions:)
I'm just curious -- sonically, is your TF10 in the same ballpark as the UM70? I realize they are very different capsules...
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Post by drbill on Sept 28, 2024 23:09:07 GMT -6
I like the unique idiocrancies (problems) with the UM70's. . I think that may be why they are so beloved.
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Post by christophert on Sept 29, 2024 3:52:20 GMT -6
I’m talking to ADK mics, it sounds like they’re open to sending me a pair of their new Munich 7 microphones to throw in for my video. They seem like a really amazing option if you’ve been eyeing something similar to the Gefells. ADK is doing their own M7 capsule, the Munich is transformer based and the circuit is FET but designed to give more of a tube flavor. I’m also surprised by the price on the Munich 7’s, with the Gefell price hikes you can get a pair of the ADK’s for cheaper than a single new transformerless UMT-70. I’ve got high hopes for the ADK’s, they’re obviously going to sound different but on paper they seem like they’re shooting for the same sonic area. I told Miles over at ADK that I would have seriously just sent him the money for a pair of the Munichs if I hadn’t have just gotten these Gefells. I can’t really think of anything out there that’s new and comparable to the Munich 7’s. I'm keen to hear what you think about these.
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Post by Hudsonic on Sept 29, 2024 4:18:47 GMT -6
Here we run some M71s cardioid only Gefells. Bought around 1994 or so when the mics were imported by Gotham Audio and sold as a "Glasnost" microphone. These have the transformers and sound fabulous.
Later I added some modern (2015) Gefell M71s mics--by this time it is a transformerless mic. Still quite good but not nearly as good a sound as the earlier transformer version.
Gefell--a unique and very high quality mikrophon house.
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vazka
New Member
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Post by vazka on Sept 29, 2024 10:26:30 GMT -6
I'm going to bring this thread back from the dead. I just got two UM-70's, I'm planning on doing a video on them because: A: There's not a whole lot of info out there on them, which is surprising considering it's one of the best mics ever made B: They're sentimental to me (belong to my mentor from the first studio I worked in), and I want to do a song with them. Even the newer UMT transformerless versions amazing. I have two of those Black UM70 as well....fantastic microphones, probably the mics I use the most. They work on so many sources
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Post by markfouxman on Sept 29, 2024 11:02:43 GMT -6
I very much prefer the UM70 with transformer over transformerless version where the limitations of the M7 are much more obvious. That is, the M7 to my taste is too much mid forward with quite shy low end response. The transformer coupled circuits (ideally, the tube) do help with fuller sonics at the bottom end. I don't believe the original UM70 was the best M7 based mic. For some unexplainable reason they put into the circuit made in house chip, while the simple KM84 style of the circuit there with its single jFet driving stock transformer would be a simple, elegant, and sonically superior solution. Also, the original version made in GDR was full of poor quality Soviet parts with very broad tolerances. We even made a mod bypassing that chip, and replacing some critical parts in signal path, which considerably lowered noise and greatly improved sonics. Mike Jasper of Tape Op was extremely enthusiastic about this mod. Best, M P.S. After re-reading, to make it clear--I am not pimping our mod--we stopped modding most of the mics long time ago, concentrating on our current production. Just put my $0.02 to balance out opinions:)
I'm just curious -- sonically, is your TF10 in the same ballpark as the UM70? I realize they are very different capsules... Those two are not even close. The differencese are in the capsules and circuits. The M7 has more midforward qualities, while capsule in TF10 much more linear and balanced, with very authorative low end and smooth top. Also, the TF10 circuit is transformerless, while (original) UM70 is transformer coupled with steel lamination.
We are looking at the using the M7 and/or K47 (perhaps modded) in our future LDC mics.
Best, M
I like the unique idiocrancies (problems) with the UM70's. . I think that may be why they are so beloved. I think they are beloved rather despite their idiosyncrasies
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Post by chessparov on Sept 29, 2024 13:10:45 GMT -6
I must be somehow related to them too then. Just ask my Ex’s! (Who are almost all in California) Not in Texas. Chris
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Post by andersmv on Sept 29, 2024 14:30:05 GMT -6
For everyone that has this style of box from Gefell: Have you had issues with the foam degrading? I was planning on getting some sort of nice case to house these two mics because I assumed the foam was going to be brittle and breaking down. I wasn't sure how much use these mic had gotten the last 10 years and was expecting the foam to be a mess. Surprisingly, it seem absolutely fine so I'll probably just keep them in their boxes. Gefell must have used some sort of asbestos infused uranium coating on this stuff . Shouldn't this type of foam should have been toast by now?
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 15,940
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Post by ericn on Sept 29, 2024 15:16:42 GMT -6
For everyone that has this style of box from Gefell: Have you had issues with the foam degrading? I was planning on getting some sort of nice case to house these two mics because I assumed the foam was going to be brittle and breaking down. I wasn't sure how much use these mic had gotten the last 10 years and was expecting the foam to be a mess. Surprisingly, it seem absolutely fine so I'll probably just keep them in their boxes. Gefell must have used some sort of asbestos infused uranium coating on this stuff . Shouldn't this type of foam should have been toast by now? I was going to PM after the game but so far it sucks, put those boxes away and buy either a Pelican, Seahorse or Harbor Freight Apache. First the boxes offer zero protection, second the foam sucks. Always keep them in ziplocs with moisture absorbing packets. Use real Ziploc or Hefty generic bags don’t seal as well. Hard shell cases with diced foam will also have room for mounts etc & more mics.
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Post by drbill on Sept 29, 2024 22:54:12 GMT -6
I like the unique idiocrancies (problems) with the UM70's. . I think that may be why they are so beloved. I think they are beloved rather despite their idiosyncrasies Maybe. Jim Williams told me to either sell mine to unsuspecting Ebay buyers or toss em in the trash when they developed an RFI problem that was easily solved by disconnecting pin 1 and tying it to the shield of the XLR shell. How shortsighted that was. Some of my most beloved mics. Saved from the trash can at $0.00 cost and a half hour of my time. When "the experts" told me they were junk.
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Post by drbill on Sept 29, 2024 22:55:28 GMT -6
For everyone that has this style of box from Gefell: Have you had issues with the foam degrading? Nope. All of my mid-90's boxes foam is still fine.
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vazka
New Member
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Post by vazka on Sept 30, 2024 0:09:23 GMT -6
For everyone that has this style of box from Gefell: Have you had issues with the foam degrading? Nope. All of my mid-90's boxes foam is still fine. Same here
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