Topic: DPA 2012 & 2015

[HealthCov Chris]

I notice folks don't seem to be jumping on these mics.  Is there any particular reason?  I am curious as I am considering a small form factor solid body mic.  I have had the Neumann 184, and would like to find something else in that style.  Considering the Microtech Gefell 300/310; DPA 2012/2015.  I was hoping to hear more examples of the DPA's, but there just aren't many out there.  At that price, what am I missing?

[voltronic]

I would also like to hear more examples of the 2012 and 2015, but I haven't heard any samples with them used as a main pair for acoustic music.

Maybe repost this in Team DPA for more responses?

Gefell is coming out with a new 400 series as well:
https://www.sound-link.co.uk/gefell/small-diaphragm-condenser-microphones/m-400-series/

[jbell]

Mark Terry has been running a stereo pair of the DPA 2012 mics!  If you check the DPA thread I believe he posted links to some Phish shows he recorded.  Here is a Goose show.

https://archive.org/details/goose2023-09-23

[HealthCov Chris]

I would also like to hear more examples of the 2012 and 2015, but I haven't heard any samples with them used as a main pair for acoustic music.

Maybe repost this in Team DPA for more responses?

Gefell is coming out with a new 400 series as well:
https://www.sound-link.co.uk/gefell/small-diaphragm-condenser-microphones/m-400-series/

Wow, I had no idea.  I really like the MG M200 series so these are up my alley.  Just hope they aren’t priced like the Shoeps. 

[voltronic]

I would also like to hear more examples of the 2012 and 2015, but I haven't heard any samples with them used as a main pair for acoustic music.

Maybe repost this in Team DPA for more responses?

Gefell is coming out with a new 400 series as well:
https://www.sound-link.co.uk/gefell/small-diaphragm-condenser-microphones/m-400-series/

Wow, I had no idea.  I really like the MG M200 series so these are up my alley.  Just hope they aren’t priced like the Shoeps.

There's been some discussion about them on Team Microtech Gefell, but no word yet on pricing. They clearly look like a response to the Schoeps CMC 1.

[aaronji]

Which clearly look like a response to the MMP-C...

Honestly, I think these mics are still new enough that you can't expect too many samples as of yet. A lot of people are hesitant to be an early adopter. The reviews will start trickling in as more people give them a shot (and as DPA loans out a bunch to good customers to try); that's pretty much what happened when they first introduced the modular line-up.

[voltronic]

Which clearly look like a response to the MMP-C...

Honestly, I think these mics are still new enough that you can't expect too many samples as of yet. A lot of people are hesitant to be an early adopter. The reviews will start trickling in as more people give them a shot (and as DPA loans out a bunch to good customers to try); that's pretty much what happened when they first introduced the modular line-up.

Right, and the people who record the stuff I do aren't likely to try these mics as mains because they already own the 4000 series, Schoeps, Senn MKH, etc. and assume (perhaps correctly) that these new "stage" DPAs won't be quite as good so they won't bother trying them. Although many of these same people own Line Audio mics which are WAY cheaper...

[Organfreak]

Last year I have been searching for a complementary pair to my DPA 4090 mics and I had both a set of DPA 2012 and a set DPA 2015 home for a few weeks to try. Kindly arranged with the Belgium/Dutch DPA importer (Amptec).
I did some pipe organ recordings with 2x2012 + 2x2015 + 2x4090 all into my F6.
The sound signature of the 2012 and 2015 was very similar, also similar to the 4090. Both 2012 and 2015 are clearly designed for close recording; they work best at a distance where my 4090 still does a good job so for me they were not complementary, rather alternative options.
Compared with some other microphones I tried (KM184, KM140, KM143) they have notable more bass. I found that remarkable for directional microphones.
The DPA 4090 is however still more neutral than both the 2012 and 2015.

Compared with the DPA2015 the KM143 is much brighter and needs to be used quite far from the organ to sound balanced. It has also less bass. For a standalone microphone I would have selected the DPA2015. However, for use together with my DPA4090 (4 mics on one bar), the KM143 is a better addition (for application in huge acoustics or when the organ is too high for my stand).

I had a chance to exchange a pair brand-new pair of KM184 against a pair of KM143. That was what I finally did. I hope this was a good deal.
The KM143's were just used for voice amplification purposes, so they have got a better life now  .
 

[HealthCov Chris]

Last year I have been searching for a complementary pair to my DPA 4090 mics and I had both a set of DPA 2012 and a set DPA 2015 home for a few weeks to try. Kindly arranged with the Belgium/Dutch DPA importer (Amptec).
I did some pipe organ recordings with 2x2012 + 2x2015 + 2x4090 all into my F6.
The sound signature of the 2012 and 2015 was very similar, also similar to the 4090. Both 2012 and 2015 are clearly designed for close recording; they work best at a distance where my 4090 still does a good job so for me they were not complementary, rather alternative options.
Compared with some other microphones I tried (KM184, KM140, KM143) they have notable more bass. I found that remarkable for directional microphones.
The DPA 4090 is however still more neutral than both the 2012 and 2015.

Compared with the DPA2015 the KM143 is much brighter and needs to be used quite far from the organ to sound balanced. It has also less bass. For a standalone microphone I would have selected the DPA2015. However, for use together with my DPA4090 (4 mics on one bar), the KM143 is a better addition (for application in huge acoustics or when the organ is too high for my stand).

I had a chance to exchange a pair brand-new pair of KM184 against a pair of KM143. That was what I finally did. I hope this was a good deal.
The KM143's were just used for voice amplification purposes, so they have got a better life now  .

So, sounds like you feel they may not be ideal for our purposes of field recording at a distance from the stage?

[Organfreak]

Hello Chris, in the pipe organ recording world close distance is ~5 meters while far is ~11 meters. I do not know how that translate to tapering of amplified shows.
If you send me a PM I may send you the complete 6 channel F6 recording file (32 bit, 44,1 kHz) via WeTransfer.
The DPA4090 stereo track can be used as reference to judge and compare the DPA2012 and DPA2015 tracks.
I used several stops when playing the pipe organ; certain stops like Cornet and Trumpet reveal the differences between the mikes more than the round sounding flutes.

[mterry]

At that price, what am I missing?

I run them. What do you want to know.

[mterry]

Last year I have been searching for a complementary pair to my DPA 4090 mics and I had both a set of DPA 2012 and a set DPA 2015 home for a few weeks to try. Kindly arranged with the Belgium/Dutch DPA importer (Amptec).
I did some pipe organ recordings with 2x2012 + 2x2015 + 2x4090 all into my F6.
The sound signature of the 2012 and 2015 was very similar, also similar to the 4090. Both 2012 and 2015 are clearly designed for close recording; they work best at a distance where my 4090 still does a good job so for me they were not complementary, rather alternative options.
Compared with some other microphones I tried (KM184, KM140, KM143) they have notable more bass. I found that remarkable for directional microphones.
The DPA 4090 is however still more neutral than both the 2012 and 2015.

Compared with the DPA2015 the KM143 is much brighter and needs to be used quite far from the organ to sound balanced. It has also less bass. For a standalone microphone I would have selected the DPA2015. However, for use together with my DPA4090 (4 mics on one bar), the KM143 is a better addition (for application in huge acoustics or when the organ is too high for my stand).

I had a chance to exchange a pair brand-new pair of KM184 against a pair of KM143. That was what I finally did. I hope this was a good deal.
The KM143's were just used for voice amplification purposes, so they have got a better life now  .

So, sounds like you feel they may not be ideal for our purposes of field recording at a distance from the stage?

https://archive.org/details/sci2023-07-30/sci2023-07-30_set1t06.flac

This was 160' back from the stage (where they had me set up at soundbaord). ORTF @ 7'

I'd say they handled just peachy at a distance.

[grawk]

So, sounds like you feel they may not be ideal for our purposes of field recording at a distance from the stage?

https://archive.org/details/sci2023-07-30/sci2023-07-30_set1t06.flac

This was 160' back from the stage (where they had me set up at soundbaord). ORTF @ 7'

I'd say they handled just peachy at a distance.

The review of the show is interesting and germaine to this discussion

[mterry]

So, sounds like you feel they may not be ideal for our purposes of field recording at a distance from the stage?

https://archive.org/details/sci2023-07-30/sci2023-07-30_set1t06.flac

This was 160' back from the stage (where they had me set up at soundbaord). ORTF @ 7'

I'd say they handled just peachy at a distance.

The review of the show is interesting and germaine to this discussion

HA!!!! Just saw it was the thread starter. Well how 'bout them apples. 

[HealthCov Chris]

So, sounds like you feel they may not be ideal for our purposes of field recording at a distance from the stage?

https://archive.org/details/sci2023-07-30/sci2023-07-30_set1t06.flac

This was 160' back from the stage (where they had me set up at soundbaord). ORTF @ 7'

I'd say they handled just peachy at a distance.

The review of the show is interesting and germaine to this discussion

HA!!!! Just saw it was the thread starter. Well how 'bout them apples. 

Yes, I really like that SCI show.  Just hoping for more variety before making a commitment.  Plus, you had them running through a MiniMe, which likely adds some flavor.  Just like the 2015's, only used in the same small venues in Nebraska.  I guess they have not caught on in our community much yet.  Coming from nbob active setups, I really like the small form factor of these DPA mics, along with their price (vs. the top line mics).