VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

Not mentioned too much in the discussions about travel mics is the Small Diaphragm condensers.. coupled with a Mic Port Pro, it doesn't get much more compact.. most of these pencil mics are no more than 6" long.. Most are used for overhead mics for instruments, but I've gotten some very surprising results from one these mics..

Here's a shootout of some of the more popular..

http://www.charteroakacoustics.com/pressDocs/TapeOp72_SDCshootout.pdf

one of the standouts in the shootout is the MXL 67N... if you don't mind a forest green mic, I've seen these for $100 or less..

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

Cool stuff. I liked using a Sennheiser ME64 with the K6 power module, together you can get it for $400 and it sounds like a thinner (but nice) version of the MKH 50. I would use it for talking head interviews all the time when I worked in video production and we didn't want to bring the pricey mics.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:46 am Post subject:

Just looking at the dense pdf makes my head hurt. Since this is electronic, why not open the dern document up a bit with some white space fer goodness sake.
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

Here's the gist of the article.. a recap of all the SDC's from 0$ - $500... since I don't plan on spending more than $500 for a travel mic, I didn't read further.

$300 or less – AKG C 1000 S;
Audio-Technica Pro 37R
AT4021, AT4041, and ATM450;
Avantone CK-1 Avenson STO-2
CAD GXL1200;
Kel Audio HM-1; (smallest condenser mic I've ever seen)
MXL 604 and V67N;
Naiant X-M with and without transformer option;
Oktava MK-012;
RØDE NT5
Samson CO2
SE Electronics SE1 and SE3;
Shure SM137;
Studio Projects C4

The standouts were the MXL V67N ($129), the Naiant X-M omni with transformer ($69), and the surprising AT4021 ($249). It was not only competitive with the 4051a, the noise specs were some of the best of any mic in any price class.

$300 to $500 – AKG Blueline 391/393 set
Audio-Technica AT4051a
Beyerdynamic MC 930
Crown CM-700;
Josephson C42 (Viator);
JZ BT-201;
Peluso CEMC6;
Sennheiser e 914;
Shure SM81 and KSM141;
Viiolet Design Goldfinger

The Gold-Finger ($325) was a standout in this category, with a clear, vibrant high end, and I liked the KSM141 ($399) as well as the AT4051a ($499), while the MC 930 ($499) sounds sweet . I’ll also give honorable mention to the e 914 ($399), an unusual- sounding mic with a rich and full-bodied sound, as well as the SM81 ($350), a very familiar-sounding mic - almost nostalgic. One note about the new AT4051b - according to the folks at Audio-Technica, it sounds sonically identical to the AT4051a.

Jason Huggins · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 7:20 pm Post subject:

Cool article! I really enjoy my Apogee MiC for travel.

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

I have an MXL 991 (similiar to an MXL 604, its the mic that sells as a package with the MXL 990)... Picked up on Ebay for $20...

Decided to give it a whirl one day into an MBox 3 and then a MicPort Pro, Eq'd a bit, and blew out a few auditions and surprisingly have been booking with it..

I've actually done a couple of gigs with it and no complaints at all..

Prone to pops, using a windscreen and and pop filter, sort of angled down like you would a Senn 416.... It sounds markedly better than my old RODE Ntg - 1

Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:12 am Post subject:

Influenced, in part, by this discussion and by the fact that my Harlan Hogan mic (which I like) is made by MXL, I bought an MXL V67N to use as a travel mic. It arrived today and, although I haven't really had a chance to test it out to any great extent, so far I'm pretty pleased with it.
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graemespicer · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 7:09 am Post subject:

Lee - looking forward to an update after you've had a chance to play with the new toy.
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georgethetech · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:41 am Post subject:

I've got a pair of the Octavas, ought to give them a test. They are a bit beat up from a lot of field use. I have omni, cardioid, and hypercardioid capsules for them. Also soon to test the Rode headset mic, stolen on ebay for $100.
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:33 am Post subject:

I still haven't played with it much, but here's a little comparison I knocked together between part of a VO I recorded using my normal setup and the same script recorded in the same room but with the new mic and the laptop I take on the road.

Lee's MXL A-B Comparison
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I like B. The biggest difference is I'm hearing more of the room in A.
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heyguido · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:08 pm Post subject:

B as well, though, there seems to be a little more sibilance there.
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

"B" does tend to get a little sibilant, but on the upside its crisper and more detailed, and would cut through a bit better

jordanreynolds · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 10:44 am Post subject:

Sorry for bringing back an old thread but Lee never revealed the mic's from his test! Please share Lee? Smile

I also agree B is better with a lot less room reflection pickup but a tad bit more sibilant.

*sits back and waits*
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:13 pm Post subject:

Geez. After all this time, I can't even remember. Embarrassed

I'll have to look and see if I made a note of it somewhere.
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