VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

whalewtchr · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:25 pm Post subject: Pearlman TM-1 Take 2

First the disclaimer. I am a NOOB to Tube Mics. The Pearlman TM-1 is the mic of choice for a well known audiobook studio and a couple of well known and successful narrators-I was turned on to the mic by a former engineer from the well known audiobook studio. Heard the mic, granted via an mp3 file which says little, but to my noob ears it did sound worth a try in my recording environment. Dave Pearlman offers to have you try his hand made mics for three days and if you don't like it, send it back, no questions asked. As with most Tubes it comes with its own high voltage external power supply.

Received the microphone today and I immediately set it up.

Mic to Power Supply IN- Power Supply OUT to IN on Symetrix- (no phantom needed). Turn on Power Supply and I hear white noise (about 20db), not only in headphones but also recorded. When I turn off the Power supply you can hear the white noise slowly dissipate.

When I plug into MBox directly I get same result.

Anyone have similar white noise issues with Tube Mics run with external power supply? Thanks in advance for any advice you can lend.
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SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:02 am Post subject:

Tube mics are noisier than solid state, but that sounds like something is faulty. I would contact Dave and send him an mp3 of the noise. It shouldn't be doing that!
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whalewtchr · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:10 am Post subject:

Here's a sound clip

http://snd.sc/xGNfZI
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whalewtchr · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:09 pm Post subject:

Wow. Called Dave Pearlman, he said sounds like a tube gone bad, at times they do, he's sending a new tube overnight to replace...if I still don't like it then OK. Love the personal touch and quick response.
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jonahcummings

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:26 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the delayed response. I've been busy changing over from PC to Mac today. That's great! Nothing beats service like that!!!
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John Weeks Voice Overs
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whalewtchr · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:08 am Post subject:

The TM-1 update. Reluctantly sent the Pearlman back. After swapping out two tubes (which Dave sent), the noise remains, though less noise than the first tube. It could be any number of things, bad caps in the power supply etc but I'll leave all that up to the guy who built the mic. I will say that it sounded awesome on my voice and am grateful that Dave Pearlman allows the time to really give his mic a run through, even longer since I had a deadline on an audiobook project and couldn't get to it within the normal three days-Dave Pearlman has been nothing short of professional and a gentleman. Two of his mics are being used in LA on the Aerosmith sessions. Hopefully he can troubleshoot and solve the issue, if not then it was never meant to be Wink

If nothing else, this was a very valuable learning experience
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jonahcummings

georgethetech · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:55 pm Post subject:

Once you are accustomed to the noise floor of a great FET condensor mic, you'll never be satisfied with a tube mic. That has been my experience...
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SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:34 pm Post subject:

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:35 pm Post subject:

Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Tubes can be just as quiet as good solid state gear. Maybe not as low-noise as the best solid state gear, but still very useable.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Jeff McNeal who is quite a successful VO-er, uses the Pearlman TM-1 as his
main mic, last I heard.

And The Don used a Manley Reference Cardioid, which I believe is tube also.

I'm not disagreeing with Soundgun's statement. I happen to prefer a solid state mic with a tube pre-amp.

whalewtchr · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:06 pm Post subject:

Rob, that may be the direction I am headed. Solid State with a Tube pre.
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