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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: TNJazz on February 22, 2009, 12:05:57 AM
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So I ran a little mic comp this evening. Totally unscientific, in that I didn't do anything to the files except dither with MBIT+. So there may be volume discrepancies, slight angle variation, etc.
Both mics were running subcard patterns. Both mics were run into the same preamp. Both mics went through the same A/D converters. Both were running approximately the same pattern (DIN-ish) and one set was about 3 inches above the other and about 3 inches forward.
Which of these two do you prefer, and why?
Mics to be named later... >:D
Click on the following link to download the file ---> http://www.bigpurpledog.com/audio/subs_comp.zip
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I like #1 best. #2 is a little too bright for me. #1 has a good overall range and feels more comfortable to listen to.
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Dirk, I can express a preference, but cannot offer an opinion over which is the better mic. #1 has a tilt toward the bottom end and #2 a tilt toward the top end. I found #1 a little dark and #2 a little bright. #1 lacked the highs; #2 lacked the lows. I ran them through foobar2000's ABX comparator so the volumes were set equal.
Cheers
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81 views and only 3 votes??
???
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I find sample two to be too bright.
Sample one sounds fuller, but could use a little more in the highs.
Between the two I prefer sample one.
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number 2 is much brighter than 1 that's the immediate reaction. Switching back and forth the high hat is either more lively or way too much sizzle. With a little more listening, I think 1 is more natural.
a spectrum analysis was interesting...
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a spectrum analysis was interesting...
Any chance you could post that? I'd love to see it.
Thanks!
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#1 has a tilt toward the bottom end and #2 a tilt toward the top end. I found #1 a little dark and #2 a little bright. #1 lacked the highs; #2 lacked the lows.
Edit: I'd listen to #2, EQ some of the higher frequencies down a bit, and turn up the volume a notch.
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agreed. I didn't really like either. I'd probably like 2 if it had a bit more weight in the low end. It just sounded too thin, especially compared to the overly bloated low end of 1. listen for the cymbal decay - nonexistant on 1, sizzles on 2.
#1 has a tilt toward the bottom end and #2 a tilt toward the top end. I found #1 a little dark and #2 a little bright. #1 lacked the highs; #2 lacked the lows.
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#2 is very bright but was an easy decision for me once I did some EQ with my playback system. Ideally I would like a recording which split the difference between the 2 sources. #1 is just too muffled for my taste.
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Is there a chance these are the same mics?
And if I had both tracks on my machine I would mix the two as the previous poster has suggested.
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No, they are not the same mics. I've just found out there may be a problem with the mic pair used in sample 2 though, so this little comp is null and void.
For those of you who are interested:
sample 1 is Neumann U89i
sample 2 is JZ BT-201
Both were run into an AETA Mix2000, then into an Oade CM R44.
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Which pickup pattern was used for the u89's?
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No, they are not the same mics. I've just found out there may be a problem with the mic pair used in sample 2 though, so this little comp is null and void.
For those of you who are interested:
sample 1 is Neumann U89i
sample 2 is JZ BT-201
Both were run into an AETA Mix2000, then into an Oade CM R44.
Dirk, I am happy to hear that the comp was not a good one. I heard your JZ's in an earlier pull and they sounded pretty darned good. They sure did not in this one, though. Try it again, eh.
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Which pickup pattern was used for the u89's?
subcards were used for both mic sets. In hindsight, due to the sound that night and the room I should probably have gone with cards.
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Both are very good mics.
Sample One sounds very natural - as you listen, you can picture yourself actually sitting close to the stage in a smoky bar. In other words, this mic replicates natural ambience perfectly. A live band should sound as 'live' in a recording as it does in real life, anyway. If I were doing the engineering for a live album, this is the mic I would use.
Sample Two is very bright, although it somehow sounds (to my tin ears anyway) cleaner. This would be a good mic to use if recording in a studio, with EQ used to tame the highs a bit and clean up the midrange. The only downside with this mic is that vocals aren't articulated as clearly as with mic one.
If I only had one mic to choose from, I'd go with number one.
Anyway, I'm not a professional engineer, don't play one on TV either and that's my take on things.