VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

G.A.S. = Gear Acquisition Syndrome

I love talking gear, though my technical knowledge is quite limited. After all the discussion about the ISA One and the MXL V88 and the CAD e100s lately, I decided to do a shoot-out of sorts.

I must tell you a little background about this first though. While I have a custom-made booth which works pretty well, I’ve noticed that a certain a/c compressor nearby (can’t locate it, frustratingly) creates quite a low rumble din on my booth on hot days. I’m really quite worried about this, and am afraid to reach out to more big agencies and production companies until I can get it solved. My first approach was to try and see how different mics handled the low frequency noise. (I welcome suggestions for what to do about this issue – wish Mike Sommers was still with us… sigh…).

So what I have here are 3 different mics – the Gefell M930, my go-to mic (similar to the TLM-103), the AT2050, and the CAD e100S (which has gotten a lot of positive notice lately) - all through an ISA 110 solid state preamp at various impedance settings; plus another file of the MXL V88 through the MicPortPro.

I had two goals – to see how each of the first 3 mics sounded at various impedance settings on the ISA 110, and also to see how each of them handled the low rumble. (On the other hand, the V88 test was done 3 years ago and was entirely different – it was to test my travel rig, and you can hear the sounds of my netbook fan in the background. I have since upgraded to a new fanless Dell Mini that is totally silent with an SSD drive).

When you listen to the files of the first 3 mics, most of the time that pesky a/c rumble is present, but not always. Keep in mind that there may be a few stretches of 5-10 seconds of just room tone. The files are MP3 @ 128 kbps mono, normalized @ -1.55 db, no EQ or compression, the low pass filter on the ISA 110 was engaged. The links will take you to my box.com site, where you can download (or you *should* also be able to stream).

Here is a link to the Gefell M930 – ISA 110:
https://www.box.com/s/15b2e95c61aceb827285

Here is a link to the AT2050 – ISA 110 (the -2050 is basically the same as the -2035, but had an omni pattern setting – I used carioid - and a little lower output):
https://www.box.com/s/58875087e2355b6174da

Here is a link to the CAD e100S – ISA 110:
https://www.box.com/s/a23a364b936e28de33f3

Here is a link to the MXL V88 – MicPort Pro:
https://www.box.com/s/6eb457546423cbd33d5a
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

Bish · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that Tom. They didn't seem to want to stream, but that was no problem as I wanted to load them up and switch back'n'forth anyway!

I don't know if it's me, but I've just never met an AT mic that I've got along with. When I've used them, they've always seemed harsh and will pop as soon as I look at them. To me, the 2050 sounds a little thin when compared with the others. The Gefell really shows well (as it should) and is the clear winner, but that e100s sounds pretty nice to me.

Rats. I feel an attack of GAS coming on.
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Thanks for listening, Bish! I completely agree with your assessment of the 3 mics. I don't like my AT2050, I'll only keep it for interviews. The e100s is too bulky for a travel mic. The V88 is really small, but comes in a big aluminum case (the AT-2050 is amazingly compact).

I found that the e100S is less sensitive to the low rumble than the other mics. My question is whether it is "good enough" for TV voice-over. I think it is, but I'd like to hear from others who know more than I do.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

georgethetech · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:57 pm Post subject:

930, e100s, V88, then 2050
A 60hz parametric EQ with a very narrow Q takes care of the HVAC hum, piece of cake. Then again, HPF at 80Hz takes care of it as well...
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

Hey Tom!

Only the V88 sounds good to me in this test. The others are boxy and nasally.
What kind of space were you in?
_________________
www.asapaudio.com

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Thanks for your comments, Bill. I'm a middle-aged guy who used tolisten to loud progressive rock on headphones in my college days, so I don't totally trust my ears.

The V88 was recorded outside my booth, right on my desk. To my ear, it sounds reasonably rich and full, though a little lacking in crispness. The other 3 were recorded in my 4x4 booth. My booth has two small bookshelves alongside me to give some reflective surfaces, and has a few Auralex bass traps.

Actually, I normally record my M930 through a Safesound Audio Tracking Toolbox rather than the ISA One. I think it sounds better through the Safesound, frankly, I'm not thrilled with my ISA One (for my voice, in my booth), though I'm still getting used to the ISA One.

I'm about to head out of town for the weekend, but when I return next week, perhaps I'll post some samples of these mics through the Safesound (and maybe my Summit 2BA-221 with Mullard NOS tube as well). But then again, I'm booked pretty solidly early next week...
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

My experience with small booths has not been that good. A larger room with some anti reflection stuff works better. But, it won't drown out the jets on approach or fix your Humble Pie/ early Genesis issues.

I like that V88 sound! It's easy for a producer to brighten things up, if need be.
_________________
www.asapaudio.com

BruceG · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:05 pm Post subject:

I recently snagged a CAD M177 via eBay and it sounds similar to your CAD e100S. The only drawback is that the XLR pins fit REALLY tight on my cables so I don't use it much. Mello

_________________
"What was that? An exhibition? We need emotional content." - Bruce Lee, Enter The Dragon

georgethetech · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 12:00 pm Post subject:

OT: There are NO reflective surfaces that will be of any help in a 4x4 room, much too close to the mic.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Just unwrapped the e100s. LOVE IT!!!

Here's a snippet, processed with AA3 Light Noise Reduction and Light Compander (2:1, -50db Threshold Expander). My voice is shot right now from a cold, so it can only get better! Wink

http://lanceblair.net/sharing/LanceBlair_E100S_Welcome.mp3

This is about 7" away with the ISA One on Medium (2.4k Ohms). 15x12 room with lots of panels, AC on full blast.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Bish · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:33 pm Post subject:

I must admit I rather liked how that sounded on your voice. I'd heard that this mic had a tendency to pop easily due to the open basket design... did you use a filter, talk off-axis, or just straight at it with good technique? Smile

_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Thanks! I can imagine it not working as well with some people - it's always the way with mics, isn't it? I had a suspicion that this mic would fit the bill for me, and listening to some raw narration I've done with it the mic just sounds like me straight up.

As for the popping, I had heard that was an issue with this microphone and it makes sense since the diaphragm is so close to the grill - however, I haven't had any issues with it at all, even with close miking. I must have good technique or something... Wink

_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Bish · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:29 am Post subject:

Right... that's it! I need to put you guys on my own personal "no-fly" list... block you or something. I just pulled the pin on the CAD e100s. By the time I'd found the best price on line, and then got another 10% off, I couldn't not do it Smile

I've never really had an issue with excessive popping, so I may be OK straight off. If I do start making untoward noises, then I'll look closely at mic placement etc.
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Bish · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:59 am Post subject:

OK... the CAD e100s arrived. Here's a quick test straight out of the box...

http://soundcloud.com/peterbishopvo/peter-bishop-cad-e100s-test
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Hey you sound even more fantastic on that. Nice! Congrats on your purchase.

So far, two repeat clients have come back to me with comments thinking I sound terrific. They haven't said anything like that in a while...just thanks, great job etc. Nothing about the sound. I didn't tell them that anything was different.

FWIW, I found it worked better for me underslung rather than from uptop pointing down. YMMV!
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!