VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[markt]

Has anyone had a go with the 102, and if so, what did you think?

[Mike Sommer]

The only thing I've heard from it was highly compressed.

I can't say anything good or bad about it. But when I first heard about it, all I could think was why?
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The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

[Billy James]

Mark:

I just did a head-to-head on the 102 and the U87 the other day. They were run directly into the two inputs of an Apogee Duet, so the audio chains were as similar and uncolored as possible.

My purely subjective two cents:

The U87 has its famous well-balanced sound, while the 102 sounds more "tweaked" to me. Almost like a U87 that's been EQed with the "hi-fi smiley" -- IOW, fllatter in the middle and boosted on both the high and low ends, like a smiley face. The low end seemed to pick up more rumble than the its big brother. (Of course, the U87 was in its official Neumann spider shockmount, while the 102 was screwed into that low-rent black plastic thngy that comes with it.)

The 102's overall sound felt a bit darker than the U87 for me. As a "my first Neumann" it's not bad exactly, and it's less than a third of the price of its big brother. But to my less-than-expert ear, there are probably better values out there.

Hope this helps.

Billy

[Dan-O]

...

[Tom Test]

So Dan-O, mind sharing with us what the other mics were in your shoot-out, and what the results were? Pretty please, with sugar on top?
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Dan-O]

...

[todd ellis]

i, personally, am a big fan of the AT4050
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Dan-O]

...

[Tom Test]

Thanks Dan-O!!

About the best I have ever heard me sound was when I used a Microtech Gefell (M.G) M930 at a Chicago studio - the same company that makes your UMT70s.

Also, I was recorded with an AT4050 through a UA 610 about a year ago and liked it a lot. They are on sale at 25% off (see my post above).

I used to own a Heil PR40, but did not like it for VO and sold it. So far, I have yet to find a dynamic mic that I am happy with for VO (and I've owned and sold the RE-20, SM-7B, and Sennheiser e935). My current "go-to" mics are a Studio Projects CS5 (thanks to Lance Blair for that suggestion!), and a modded Rode NTK with NOS 1961 Amperex tube upgrade.

I might be getting ready for another mic shootout - I've got the gear-itis, you know...
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Mike Sommer]

If you guys want a real Neuman mic, get a Gefell.

"Neumann Gefell is the world's only manufacturer of metal diaphragm microphones namely the M-294, M-295 and M-296.Some of the more famous Neumann Berlin metal diaphragm microphone models have included the KM-54, KM-56, SM-2 and SM-23.

Gefell condenser microphones are manufactured using the original techniques and exclusive processes developed by Georg Neumann (while the Neumann microphones are made by Sennheiser). The products Gefell manufactures include the world's most accurate measurement microphone capsules, the world's only metal diaphragm microphones, and the venerable "M-7" capsule which saw it's rise to fame in Neumann Berlin manufactured models like the U-47, U-48 and M-49. " Mercenary Audio
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The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

[todd ellis]

[Zak Miller]

The best mic is the mic that makes your voice sound as normal to the outside ear as possible. Each mic picks up a different nuance of the voice. I have heard talent sound really good on a 102 and good on a u87. It goes both ways.
I would suggest that when you are looking for a mic, demo a few and find other ears to tell you which sounds the best for your voice.


Then fix everything in post.

[Rob Ellis]

[Mike Sommer]

There really is no wrong or right or Best microphone. There is only a better microphone. Better for what it can do and better for the "flavor" it can bring to the mix. Each mic I have serves a special purpose, because it can bring to the table nuances without cheesy effects, or overly processing the audio file.

Once in the mix, and the audio is contoured, one would be hard pressed to say what mic was used. But not impossible. I know a few people can do this, I can too a certain extent, I can not keep up with the new mics- though I try- and most are just a not worth keeping up with.

If you want the sound of a U87 get a vintage U87, just as if a producer wants Morgan Freeman-- get Morgan Freeman.

I've heard guys say they don't sound good on a U87, that's just a lot of bull. It's there self-esteem talking or lack thereof. I've never heard anyone not sound good on a U87. The problem is they just don't like the sound that's coming out of the speakers, because it's not the sound they have in their head. So the search in vain to find a mic that makes the sound like the Don. Sorry guys. Get a grip. If you sound thin and nasally, then maybe you're just thin and nasally. And the reason you're not booking is not because of the microphone your using, it's because you're trying to be something your not, and thusly you come off sounding fake.

Don't get caught up in the hype of a Flavor Of the Week microphone. Remember the TLM 103?? How many of you have moved on? To me the Neumann Badge and the new releases under the parent company Sennheiser mean nothing to me these days.

My 2¢
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

[SkinnyJohnny]