Topic: DPA 4061 vs. AT853 (831?)RX

[willndmb]

i feel the 853 have a lot of bass compaired to many other mics, might just be my ears
but the 4061 are smallllll and easy to hide

[§†∑∫åµÞ≥¥]

I've really been enjoying my AT933 (w/ 853 caps) a lot more since I got the p48 mod done. There's much more bass and overall color to the recordings.

[George]

I think that omni's and the crowd noise issue is overblown.  I was running at853 omni's at a local club a few months ago and this girl (a hottie by the way) was sitting next to me screaming at the top of her lungs.  When i listened to the tape it sounded like she was a good 10 feet away and all the chatter was barely recognizable on tape, so i think we all have a tendency to overreact, unless someone screams right into your mics.  But that's not to say omni's don't pickup more chatter than cards do...

[zowie]

Among other things, it depends on the volume of the performance.  My attempts to record classical music from the audience with omnis have been very dissatisfying as a result of the obtrusiveness of program rustling, squirming, candy unwrapping, etc.  The performers sounded great but I couldn't tolerate all the accompanying noises.  Noticeably better with cards.

[setboy]

I think that omni's and the crowd noise issue is overblown. 

QFT

[Unitmonster]

the other issue for me is where you plan to locate yourself.  If you intend to put the legwork into getting into the sweet spot for every show, then that's one thing, if you might want to hang back a bit and find a spot with more breathing room (and less noise) that's different.

For example, I've started to enjoy taping from the front row of balconies rather than the sweet spot on the floor from time to time.  Lets me sit down, be a lot more still, and still have a very nice recording. However, from that distance the omnis are less than ideal.

[Aaron41]

the other issue for me is where you plan to locate yourself.  If you intend to put the legwork into getting into the sweet spot for every show, then that's one thing, if you might want to hang back a bit and find a spot with more breathing room (and less noise) that's different.

For example, I've started to enjoy taping from the front row of balconies rather than the sweet spot on the floor from time to time.  Lets me sit down, be a lot more still, and still have a very nice recording. However, from that distance the omnis are less than ideal.

I'm much more into taping in the sweet spot. Maybe I've just put being uncomfortable and taping a good show together too many times. heh

I almost always just hang out FOB. I've yet to go looking for the sweet spot. Maybe I should...

[Evil Taper]

my favorite tapes are the ones i had to fight for.  it's more exciting taping in a mosh pit with moshing 2 feet in front of you than standing in the back calmly, but the air is non-existant sometimes!

[pfife]

For example, I've started to enjoy taping from the front row of balconies rather than the sweet spot on the floor from time to time.  Lets me sit down, be a lot more still, and still have a very nice recording. However, from that distance the omnis are less than ideal.

I enjoy taping from the front row of the balcony, and I think its a great spot for omnis.  I love getting the reverb sound of a great sounding room.  The front row of the balcony is my favorite spot to be.

[fuzn]

For example, I've started to enjoy taping from the front row of balconies rather than the sweet spot on the floor from time to time.  Lets me sit down, be a lot more still, and still have a very nice recording. However, from that distance the omnis are less than ideal.

I enjoy taping from the front row of the balcony, and I think its a great spot for omnis.  I love getting the reverb sound of a great sounding room.  The front row of the balcony is my favorite spot to be.

Same here. That's what I had for my last tape. Except, the balcony was actually like only like 15 feet above. It was insanely perfect... best tape I could wish for.

These mics are great in the sweet spot, but they do become muddy sounding when far away. Other than that, they are awesome.

[Aaron41]

Ok guys... after listening to the Death Cab tape mentioned earlier and some of Bubba's stuff as well... I NEED a pair of DPA 4061s for my next stealth shows.

A few questions though:

1. Is there anyway to buy a pair of DPA 4061s that will be able to just plug into my SP bat box and be ready to go? I keep reading about needing to solder stuff and I really don't want to have to do all that extra stuff or pay extra if I can just buy what I need out of the box.

2. Is there any reason to keep my AT831s now? lol. I love a few tapes I'm made (acoustic stuff) but will shows like this sound better with the 4061s. Is there any situation where you all think the 831s should be run instead of the 4061s

Any help would be great. Thanks to everyone for pointing me in the right direction.

[cybermansrev]

1. Is there anyway to buy a pair of DPA 4061s that will be able to just plug into my SP bat box and be ready to go? I keep reading about needing to solder stuff and I really don't want to have to do all that extra stuff or pay extra if I can just buy what I need out of the box.

1. E-Bay theres a seller vol71 (I think, no affiliation) who's been offering used 4061's with 1/8 jacks on ready to go (although none are listed today). No idea what condition they're in but look reasonable in the picture. Seller won't do business outside US (which ruled me out) or to people with <5 positive feedbacks.
Or try an ISO in the Yardsale section.

2. Is there any reason to keep my AT831s now? lol. I love a few tapes I'm made (acoustic stuff) but will shows like this sound better with the 4061s. Is there any situation where you all think the 831s should be run instead of the 4061s

2. I'm waiting on a pair I got from the yard sale so can't comment with experience but i think i'll be keeping my AT853's for their cardioid pattern at larger venues, if i'm seated and unable to get to the "stacks" or the "sweet spot". In fact since both mics are so small I'm thinking of taking both to run comparisons during support bands.

[nardo]

2. Is there any reason to keep my AT831s now? lol. I love a few tapes I'm made (acoustic stuff) but will shows like this sound better with the 4061s. Is there any situation where you all think the 831s should be run instead of the 4061s

I would keep them for stadium shows as well as venues with 'muddy' sound and no option to setup close to the stacks (unless you always want a replication of what it sounded like to be at the show in which case the DPAs would be the better choice). Pretty much what cybermansrev said.

If 'super-stealth' is required then I would always run the DPAs, the AT831s are quite big in my opinion (at least 3-4 times the size of my Sanken COS-11s in diameter which are about the size of DPAs).

[divamum]

Question:  does NOBODY use the SPBMC10 mics?  I jsut wonder because they're listed as "comparable to the DPA 406x series" yet I never hear anybody mention them.

I was going to try them in the summer when I had to replace my CMC8s, but they were out of stock and I needed something fast and thus simply replaced what I had.  Interestingly, Chris himself recc'd the 8's over the 10's for my needs, but I still wonder... what's the deal with those mics? Who IS using them, and for what?  They're certainly an attractive price (as are the 8's - how come the price on those has come down so much suddenly?)


As for DPA 4060, well, the day I win the lottery or get a very VERY big gig, those are the first things on my shoppping list.  Yeah, audience noise is a pain, but having used cards (831s in fact) and my CMC8 omnis, I can say that for the recording I do (or should I say the recording I get my stealth bag carriers out in the house to do)  I can't always rely on the mics being positioned properly. Good omnis seem to be more forgiving about that, even if I then have to deal with the TB ward sound fx....

[setboy]

(as are the 8's - how come the price on those has come down so much suddenly?)

i think it is a X mass sale