Topic: Beyerdynamic TG I53c, first look and audio samples

[Massive Dynamic]

These mics were first mentioned in this thread, and I decided to take a chance and buy a pair. I had generally liked the recordings I made with the Beyerdynamic mc930, another fixed cap cardioid mic, but had wished they had been a bit brighter. The TG I53c promised to be just that. Here is the Beyerdynamic page. Spec sheet pdf

They seem to have been available in Europe for almost a year, but they are still special order items from Full Compass or B&H. Full Compass quoted a price under $250/pair, and they come with a mic clip and carrying pouch, but no windscreen. For this price, my expectations weren't very high, but I did want to make some comparison recordings against my other mics.

The TG I53c (TG=Touring Gear; I=Instrument; c=condenser) mics are rather small, less than 4" in length, and very lightweight. They are described as having carbon-fiber reinforced bodies, but I am not sure the mic bodies are metal at all. I picked up some inexpensive shocks, and set up a vert bar to hold them. I also ran some comparative recording tests in my living room. At 6.8mV/Pa, the I53c is 4db less sensitive than my LSD2, and 7db less sensitive than my 4.7k modded Countryman B3.

Closeup photos




I had two opportunities this past week to do some live recording. The first was at a venue that really doesn't have great sound. I mostly wanted to compare the low end response of the I53c versus the B3. The I53c is rated 20-20k when close micing, but only 35-20k from a distance. I set up the I53c in DIN at head height about 20' from the stage, and the B3s were glasses mounted. The difference in low end response is noticeable, as is the sonic signature of the I53c.

24-bit sample tracks are downloadable here.
Countryman B3 > Naiant LB (0 gain) > Sony M10 @ 4 > Sample Manager (peak normalized to -0.1db, 6.7 db gain added) > xACT (flac 8 )
http://www.sendspace.com/file/rrhvu8

Beyerdynamic TG I53c (DIN) > Fostex FR-2le (mic trim @ 11:00, gain @ 3:00) > Sample Manager (peak normalized to -0.1db, 6.9 db gain added) > xACT (flac 8 )
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qiec18

Based on the sound, I was ready to pass on these. However, the shows on Friday changed my mind...

The second show was at a venue where I've recorded several times and generally has a good mix. The I53c were again mounted in DIN about 8' high on the same stand as my LSD2 (cards, XY, 90º). Stand was right next to the board, and only about 10' from the front of the stage. I thought about mounting the I53c in XY like the LSD2, but that wasn't how I'd probably ever run them, and wanted to compare the sound of the mics the way I would use them in the field. I also swapped up the back end between sets. One rig was the Naiant LB > M10 and the other was a stock Fostex FR-2le.

I didn't shoot a photo of the rig at the venue, but this is how they were set up.


With a cheap pair of Windtech 1200 windscreens.



24-bit sample tracks are downloadable here.
UME
LSD2 (cards, XY, 90º) > Naiant LB (gain at 9:00) > Sony M10 @ 4 > Sample Manager (peak normalized to -0.1db, 9.1 db gain added) > xACT (flac 8 )
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ts3xc7

TG I53c (DIN) > Fostex FR-2le (mic trim @ 12:00, gain at 2:00) > Sample Manager (peak normalized to -0.1db, 12.8 db gain added) > xACT (flac 8 )
http://www.sendspace.com/file/mtcyy7

Cursive
LSD2 (cards, XY, 90º) > Fostex FR-2le (mic trim @ 12:00, gain @ 2:00) > Sample Manager (peak normalized to -0.1db, 4.7 db gain added) > xACT (flac 8 )
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kvj090

TG I53c (DIN) > Naiant LB (gain @ 10:30) > Sony M10 @ 4 > Sample Manager (peak normalized to -0.1db, 7.6 db gain added) > xACT (flac 8 )
http://www.sendspace.com/file/aydqa8

[Massive Dynamic]

Anyone have an opinion on any of the samples? Maybe there just isn't really any interest in another budget mic? 

When I first listened to the Cursive shows on my stereo, I thought the TG I53c and the LSD2 were fairly similar; a rolled-off low end for the card setting and a hyped high end. Unfortunately I had a battery failure running the FR-2le, so my LSD2 source was incomplete. When I went to patch it with the TG I53c source, the differences seemed more pronounced. Here is a clip with the patch. It's pretty obvious where the patch was made, both due to the sound differences and the pops I wasn't able to remove. 

Cursive: A Gentleman Caller>The Cat and Mouse>Retreat!
LSD2>TG I53c > LSD2
http://www.sendspace.com/file/rmjtb8

[newplanet7]

Just took a listen to the patch file.
The patch is pretty obvious around 2:40.
The stereo image changes and gets a ton more bright/harsh.
The harshness is in the cymbals and the vocals with his "s" words.
It's grating on the ears with headphones.

What do you think?

[page]

Just took a listen to the patch file.
The patch is pretty obvious around 2:40.
The stereo image changes and gets a ton more bright/harsh.
The harshness is in the cymbals and the vocals with his "s" words.
It's grating on the ears with headphones.

What do you think?

I used the same EQ curve on the original files. A transformer would be nice, or something else to soften it maybe.

You can tell they are from the beyer family, the same top end is sort of soft, not the same as other mics in the family, but similar. There is just a ton of it is the biggest difference. Thanks for the post!

[Massive Dynamic]

Just took a listen to the patch file.
The patch is pretty obvious around 2:40.
The stereo image changes and gets a ton more bright/harsh.
The harshness is in the cymbals and the vocals with his "s" words.
It's grating on the ears with headphones.

What do you think?

Yes, the patch starts about the 2:40 mark, and then switches back at the 8:20 mark. The Beyer does have a hyped HF response, and the vocals don't benefit from it, but I think the cymbals are fine. For casual listening in my living room, I think I may prefer the Beyer. The LSD2 sounds too warm, but the Beyer is too bright. Still need to find a mic that is just right  .

At the beginning of the third song on the patch file, Retreat, you can hear the restrained low-end response of the TG I53c, and then you can hear the signature warm LF response of the LSD2 after the 8:20 mark. I also find the low-end response of the TG I53c on the initial TGI53cCursive flac file more pleasing than the LSD2. It also sounds generally thinner than the LSD2, but then many other mics would, too. I have made many recordings with the LSD2, but I am starting to re-evaluate what sound I am really looking for. At the very least, I need to experiment with some EQ to see if I can tame the HF boost of the Beyer to soften things up.

After all of this, I went back and listened to several recordings I made years ago with the T.H.E. KA-04 / KR-2C cards, and I think I may have talked myself into buying a pair.

[OOK]

I would be very interested to hear what those mics sound like.......

After all of this, I went back and listened to several recordings I made years ago with the T.H.E. KA-04 / KR-2C cards, and I think I may have talked myself into buying a pair.