Topic: ideas to improve my taping gear / sound please

[acidjack]

I would choose HYPERS if I had to choose 1 option

If you're talking about hypers like Schoeps Mk41s, I think that's a defensible position, but not for sub-miniature mics like the AT853 and the various Church products (where there is no hyper, and probably for good reason).  What few hypers there are in that category sound, IMO, utterly horrible.  I think the worst tapes I have made were with the 853 hypers.  And I loved many of my pulls with those mics with other patterns.

[F.O.Bean]

Yeah I agree with you. You have to spend BIG BUCKS to get HQ hypers Whereas a cheap omni/card arent that hard to manufacture

[Brian E.]

definitely go with the CA-14 package.  I have both cards and omnis.  I use the cards 90% of the time, but sometimes a room sounds so good and has a good crowd so I'll try omnis.

[Javier Cinakowski]

Yeah I agree with you. You have to spend BIG BUCKS to get HQ hypers Whereas a cheap omni/card arent that hard to manufacture

I agree with that, perhaps with 1 or two exceptions.  The audix hyper m1280h, is quite impressive and likely the best hyper electret I have ever heard.  Another strong contender is the Studio Projects C4 hyper cap.  They can be run on the Rode bodies.  The Rode NT6 or NT55 with SP's hyper cap is a damn fine inexpensive hyper setup.  It might not be as good as 483, but damn close.   

I agree with the previous comments about the 853 hypers, they are about as light in the low end as it gets. 

[acidjack]

^^ Do you like the Audix hypers more than the cards?  I notice that the frequency response plot for the hypers is actually flatter than the for the cards.  I've considered getting the hypers to use as a stealth rig when I can't get close, but I've been curious if the performance would be worth doing that.

[adrianf74]

^^ Do you like the Audix hypers more than the cards?  I notice that the frequency response plot for the hypers is actually flatter than the for the cards.  I've considered getting the hypers to use as a stealth rig when I can't get close, but I've been curious if the performance would be worth doing that.

Interesting.  I know that Chris also offers a tighter card configuration (apparently closer to being in line with hypers) and I'm almost tempted to go that route for the pair I just bought for the exact same reason.  If I can get close enough, I usually got with my 4061's but if I'm stuck by the board in a club (or in an arena/amphitheatre, etc.), I'd like to have something that might help me a bit more.

[F.O.Bean]

^^ Do you like the Audix hypers more than the cards?  I notice that the frequency response plot for the hypers is actually flatter than the for the cards.  I've considered getting the hypers to use as a stealth rig when I can't get close, but I've been curious if the performance would be worth doing that.

Interesting.  I know that Chris also offers a tighter card configuration (apparently closer to being in line with hypers) and I'm almost tempted to go that route for the pair I just bought for the exact same reason.  If I can get close enough, I usually got with my 4061's but if I'm stuck by the board in a club (or in an arena/amphitheatre, etc.), I'd like to have something that might help me a bit more.

Its DEF worth a try

[trevtdogg]

so my mic's and box (ca14 omnis + cards and box) finally arrived!  have tried testing them a bit, but hopefully a quick question....

how do i tell the omnis apart form the cards? they look almost identical, although one has a small red ring around the cords near the 3.5mm plug, and one has just a black ring.  is this a hint?

also, how do you tell L from R? does it matter?  i think on one pair at least one mic is slightly longer than the other, is this a hint?

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

To tell left from right I just make a noise close to one. Whatever channel it turns up as on the recorder is what side it is.

I'm under the impression that it's best not to blow on them or tap them to test them. Snapping your fingers works well.

[TimeBandit]

after testing what L/R just mark one side with a bit red tape - usually what i did.

[F.O.Bean]

Red means Omni, right?

[Soling]

Yes

[Brian E.]

after testing what L/R just mark one side with a bit red tape - usually what i did.

I wrote on mine with silver marker - L/R

[trevtdogg]

i realise the L + R question was a bit dumb, as yes i can just make a noise at look at the meters.

but for cards V omnis: red = omni huh? thanks!

[trevtdogg]

ok first recording with the new mics is up, be interested to see if you guys can hear much of a difference or have further advice?

http://www.archive.org/details/charm2012-01-19.ca14o.flac16

was using the omnis i'm pretty sure, up near the lighting rig about 5 metres back from middle of stage and about 2 metres off the ground, mics were about 1-2 feet apart.

we'd never played this room before though so have nothing else similar to compare it to.