Topic: Advantages and Disadvantages of running a Tube Mic??????

[Bdifr78]

Pretty much what the title says.  I have been intrigued by the Studio Projects T3.  Discuss...

[TNJazz]

Pretty much what the title says.  I have been intrigued by the Studio Projects T3.  Discuss...

No real advantages unless you like the sound of the mic combined with your preamp (there is no such thing as a "tube" mic sound of course).

Disadvantages:  power supply (although there are a couple tubes out there that run on P48) and fragility.  You can drop a KM140 and it will still work pretty much the same.  Can't really say the same for most tube mics.

[Brian]

there is no such thing as a "tube" mic sound of course.

IMHO there definitely is.  although it might not make much difference for rock concert "taping" purposes.  there are timbres and sounds you just can't with any other microphones than with a tube microphone.  For example on anything acoustic like a piano, voice, acoustic guitar, cello, if you "push the tubes" in the microphone, the slight even harmonic distortion can be quite pleasant and nice sounding to the human ear.  So many classic rock vocals are solely because of LD tube microphones.  Of course different tube microphones have different sounds but that same "tube feel" is there.

same thing with microphones that have transformers and those without them.  Ribbon microphones even have a distinct sound to them as well. 

[CHURCH-AUDIO]

I agree 100% listen to the AKG C12, Elam 251 or the Telefunken U47, if thats not a tube sound what is? Also with these mics the tubes are actually built into the mics. Not into the external power supply, that just sends the plate and heater voltage to the tube and carries the audio signal out and controls the bias of the capsule to change directionality.

there is no such thing as a "tube" mic sound of course.

IMHO there definitely is.  although it might not make much difference for rock concert "taping" purposes.  there are timbres and sounds you just can't with any other microphones than with a tube microphone.  For example on anything acoustic like a piano, voice, acoustic guitar, cello, if you "push the tubes" in the microphone, the slight even harmonic distortion can be quite pleasant and nice sounding to the human ear.  So many classic rock vocals are solely because of LD tube microphones.  Of course different tube microphones have different sounds but that same "tube feel" is there.

same thing with microphones that have transformers and those without them.  Ribbon microphones even have a distinct sound to them as well. 

[Sparge Master]

There are spome really nice tube mics but the biggest problem would be how fragile they could be. Keep that in mind if some crazy wook thinks its a good idea to fall onto your stand