Recording Website Forum Archive

In Reply to: A mic test posted by Logan Murray on December 31, 2000 at 11:44:15 AM:

Your test will be biased toward the mic's that are
a help to the digital format....if you are recording
and then listening to the digital recording. Which
is only what you should do IF you define yourself
as "digital only
"...meaning not live..., and not analog.
Your test will be biased to mic's that put warmth
where warmth was NOT. If he is looking for a live
mic, he should probably use something other that
the daw. A large format analog at 30 ips would
give him the more accurate viewpoint...if HE insists
on hearing the mic secondhand.

We all know that highly accurate monitors, combined
with a very accurate pre, listened to "live" and not
second hand, will give you the more accurate
representation of the mic itself, and not all the
gobldiegook that comes with the recording medium.

We also know that, given a choice, a singer will
usually NOT pick the mic that is the most accurate
representation of his voice, but rather choose one
that is the most forgiving to his voice. While
we know a U67 is more accurate than a U47, a lot
of dudes will pick a U47,..(practially everything
beyond 12 or 13K is missing because of the thicker
diaphram. I guess.)

One more thing, We were in a control room about12 years ago,
and were judging mics much like you are (but the ATs
were, for the most part, not around). In front of
us on the other side of the glass, was a singer, and
in front of him was an AKG C12 (may have been a tele.. but
I think it was a C12), modified U47, and
a bunch of other really hi-end mics. WE had a VERY
VERY hard time telling the difference. With one exception,..
the one exception was that the AKG "Tube" had a darker
sound than the others in about any arrangement.

Anyway, I don't think it's wise to let the dude use
digital filters to take a bunch of his warmth away,
and then choose his favorite mic, UNLESS THAT IS
THE TYPE OF USE HE IS BUYING IT FOR.

Follow Ups:

• Re: You MAY have a flawed test there. Logan Murray 01:08:25 AM 1/01/0 (0)