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Quicksilver · Been Here Awhile Joined: 29 Oct 2012 Posts: 217

I need to record some tags at home on a 416 to match a spot I recorded at a studio on a U87.

Somewhere here I saw someone (lots of help I know) write a story about Beau Weaver? making some simple EQ adjustments to make a 416 mimic a U87. I know there's more to it than just the mic but I'm trying to get them as close as possible and that's a good starting point.

Anyone remember that thread (I tried searching) or have any tips to try and make the two recordings jive?

Thanks in advance,

DC

Bruce · Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:53 am Post subject:

You're doing this and not an engineer on the other end? The only way to get best results is to have both new and old audio in the same editing software and then do side by side adjustments on the 416 track until you get the sound you want.

Shooting from my arse here, from my observations the 416 doesn't give you as sharp highs, and there's an unnatural bump in the lows somewhere around 100 to 200hz. Of course following this suggestion is like performing surgery without getting to see the patient while you do it.

Bon chance,

B
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I'm certainly no engineer but just to point out the obvious....to my ear, the 416 has more low end and kind of a glossy sheen almost like the TLM 103 (I'm assuming that's somewhere in high mids or in the high end) that the U87 doesn't seem to have......that's where I would start futzing....

Ed Fisher · Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Mic Matching 416 and U87

Chuck Davis · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:09 am Post subject:

Sounds like that could be a tall order simply because the mic's hear the entire room so differently.
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georgethetech · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 9:33 pm Post subject:

I can give it a shot http://VOstudiotech.com/ve-match/
Money back if I fail.
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Frank F · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 11:16 pm Post subject:

If these "tags" are a few seconds away from the main spot (even if not, but the audio is definitely a "tag") then matching the sound really does not matter (except to you and sometimes the producer).

I often hear national spots which have the "Tag" recorded by the same talent but on a different microphone. They are often faster than the original script and usually a totally different tone in order to distinguish between the main spot and the "call to action".

"Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" you will feel a lot better.

Frank F
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Chuck Davis · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 5:30 pm Post subject:

Good point Frank. I missed the tag aspect. Some slight difference in tone certainly isn't unusual in that case.

And…if anyone could match 'em up….it would be George.
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Frank F · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:05 pm Post subject:

No matter what you do with the 416 it will not sound like a Neumann --- period.

And, believe me I have tried both ways. One is compresseed and affected. The other smooth and full bodied while being forward in the mix at the proper frequencies.

I have compressed the heck out of a U87 and found it sounds so much better than a 416 even then, that I would throw away the 416 audio. I have EQ'd the heck out of a 416 and when stacked against a U87 and, I found it -- lacking. No joy here. They are two different microphones used for two distinct purposes.

Record the tags on your 416 and do not stress about it. Next time find a studio with a U87 if you really need to record on a U87.

Frank F
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Ed Fisher · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:38 pm Post subject:

Quicksilver · Been Here Awhile Joined: 29 Oct 2012 Posts: 217

Thanks guys.

I talked to the agency and they basically said it wasn't my problem and they explained it to the client so I just recorded it and shot it off. I think there's a sfx to separate them, likely only audio people will ever hear the difference.

It was a fun problem to thing about solving for a short time though and I was happy to crank them out in 10 minutes at home rather than spend 2 hours at the studio playing angry birds while they put them to video.

Thanks for your suggestions though. I'll post one when the campaign airs.

BenWils · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject:

Any engineer with skills would make quick work of matching the mics. I wouldn't worry about it.

I have both mics (416 and u87) run into a Focusrite Red pre and use a $300 deEsser plug called the Suppressor on the 416 track in ProTools when doing sessions, pulling out (suppressing) 7k to 9k. I can't tell you how many times really skilled engineers ask me if I am on a u87.
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