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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: bonghitwillie on March 24, 2011, 09:49:21 PM

Title: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: bonghitwillie on March 24, 2011, 09:49:21 PM
i have a pair i sold for too cheap and now i wish i kept therm.  i use dpa4061s.  i have been doing some crazy placement at crazy shows and the 4061s are kind of fragile.  i have have just destroyed another one.  can i wire the B6's and use them with the HEB power supply?  how is the tonal quality?  i hear they can take a beating.  thx for any repsonses in advance.
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: setboy on March 25, 2011, 12:13:10 AM
If I remember right, i was told that they sound good but can over load easy. do some searches, i know they have been talked about in the last 1 or 2 years.
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: acidjack on March 25, 2011, 09:39:47 AM
It seems the B3 is more popular around here.

I'd also recommend ditching the Coresound box.  I had Chris Church rewire my 4061s so they can run off any 9v BB or a 9v preamp like the CA-9200.  It'll give you more flexibility, better sound for quieter shows with cleaner gain from the pre, and not be subject to the wiring in the CS box getting messed up.  I liked the fact that it had a locking connector and was hard metal, but it made them much less flexible for use.  For example, with the setup I'm describing, you could run mics>extension cable>pre and not have to be right by the mics when you're rolling.  With the CS setup the box is pretty close to the mics, only what, 3-4ft?  Much harder to do unusual placements that way since you have to tape that box somewhere.
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: Chuck on March 25, 2011, 12:46:42 PM
illconditioned here is a strong advocate for the Countryman mics.
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: setboy on March 25, 2011, 03:46:05 PM
I love my B3s!
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: rastasean on March 25, 2011, 06:35:43 PM
How did you have the b3s terminated?
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: setboy on March 25, 2011, 10:06:33 PM
How did you have the b3s terminated?

I had mini xlr's put on them. they came with some kind of odd 4 pin mini xlrs but switched them to the 3 pins. I also have a xlr to mini plug made for them that I have never used since my battery box died. I run them through some phantom adapters i had for my at933
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: aysvideo on April 11, 2011, 01:36:50 AM
I used to record with B6s and was always very happy with the results...that is, until a friend of mine started giving me recordings that he had done with on-stage Schoeps mics, and since we'd attend a lot of the same shows, I stopped sneaking around and relied on him.  I also had the same problem with the B6s overloading, but I spoke with the folks at Countryman, and they had me send them in for a modification that allowed them to handle higher SPLs.  After that, they worked great. 
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: rastasean on April 11, 2011, 04:25:40 PM
I used to record with B6s and was always very happy with the results...that is, until a friend of mine started giving me recordings that he had done with on-stage Schoeps mics, and since we'd attend a lot of the same shows, I stopped sneaking around and relied on him.  I also had the same problem with the B6s overloading, but I spoke with the folks at Countryman, and they had me send them in for a modification that allowed them to handle higher SPLs.  After that, they worked great.

I assume the B6s were probably worn on your person, right? I don't think there is a direct compassion between the b6 and on stage schoeps, but it is great to hear the mod made a difference afterward.

Since I've discovered the b3/b6 and other tiny size omni mics I wonder how many are used on movie and tv sets since I doubt it is possible to always use a mic on a boom.
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: aysvideo on April 11, 2011, 07:00:19 PM
I assume the B6s were probably worn on your person, right? I don't think there is a direct compassion between the b6 and on stage schoeps, but it is great to hear the mod made a difference afterward.

I used to wear them on a hat, and the recordings sounded very nice, but you're right...there is no comparison to on-stage Schoeps.  I wasn't actually trying to compare them.  My point was that once I got a taste of my friend's Schoeps, I stopped using the B6s and let him give me a feed, because if the artists were OK with taping anyway, there was no point in getting an inferior recording. 
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: George on April 13, 2011, 03:43:17 PM
How did you have the b3s terminated?

I had mini xlr's put on them. they came with some kind of odd 4 pin mini xlrs but switched them to the 3 pins. I also have a xlr to mini plug made for them that I have never used since my battery box died. I run them through some phantom adapters i had for my at933

Who modded your B3's?  I'm looking to buy a pair, but would like them terminated to something useable, like mini xlr's. 
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: setboy on April 13, 2011, 03:54:51 PM
How did you have the b3s terminated?

I had mini xlr's put on them. they came with some kind of odd 4 pin mini xlrs but switched them to the 3 pins. I also have a xlr to mini plug made for them that I have never used since my battery box died. I run them through some phantom adapters i had for my at933

Who modded your B3's?  I'm looking to buy a pair, but would like them terminated to something useable, like mini xlr's.

I believe I had Darktrain do it. Not sure if he would do it again.
Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: rastasean on April 13, 2011, 04:03:14 PM
Ted is terminating mine to 1/8" I wanted this because I can plug into the m10 or use Naiant's PFA to connect to XLR like littlebox or directly into recorders. I also know sound pros does mods on mics.

Title: Re: Anyone Countryman B6 mics?
Post by: George on April 14, 2011, 10:37:30 AM
Thanks peeps!