VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

Jason Huggins · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 5:39 am Post subject:

Hopefully it's a U87ai and you are going to do a shootout with the D87 Smile

sdaeley17 · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 6:59 am Post subject:

You just gave me an idea, Jason: "Attack of the clones!" A shoot out of 4-5 "u87 alternatives" versus the u87ai. Someone get recording hacks on the line and make it happen!
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Jason Huggins · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 7:33 am Post subject:

Cha! In a very voice over specific way though. Maybe they'll mail me a bunch of mics and I'll test them out Smile

DenaliDave · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:41 am Post subject:

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

DenaliDave · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 10:26 am Post subject:

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

Dave, you may be privy to information or a buying source that I'm not aware of, but having purchased 3 used U87ais in the last 7 years, I've never seen a U87/U87ai in good condition go for less than $2200. And if their resale value has dropped 50% recently I wasn't aware of it.

But if you can find a good one at that price and it's in your budget and the seller is legit, IMO you should grab it.

DenaliDave · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 11:39 am Post subject:

Jason Huggins · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 12:43 pm Post subject:

DenaliDave · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 1:09 pm Post subject:

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

You know you CAN EQ any high quality, neutral mic to sound like just about anything.

I used a U87 for years in a studio where I worked. It's a mid forward sounding mic that works on most people, but it was never a mic that made me go wow.

Once the patents went out of date, many manufacturers were able to use some of Neumann's tech to make better sounding mics for much less money.

Dave, if you don't have one, by a 416 and EQ for the project.
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DenaliDave · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 9:33 am Post subject:

The 416 is on my list next, mainly because I want my work to be able to be dropped in and compatible with other people's work who use a 416. Also, sound engineers know how how to work the EQ on stuff recorded with a 416.

You're right about EQ. In the 4-way shootout I went back and EQ'ed 3 out of the 4 mics, and got them all to sound pretty close to #2 (Neumann TLM-102).

Comparing the frequency response graph from the manufacturer, combined with watching a live spectrum waveform as it plays helps immensley. A little +5db high shelf EQ at 10k, -5db bell at 300 to cut some mud ect, ect.
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
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sdaeley17 · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 9:06 pm Post subject:

Ready for the big reveal, Dave? I've been waitin' all week!
_________________
"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

DenaliDave · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:36 am Post subject:

Okay

The mystery mic is something I had to think long and hard about. I took a listen to a LOT of my own stuff and noted siilarities and differences between the mics I've used, and compared how I sounded on them to how they were "known" to sound, and what their respective frequency range/response was.

When I use a de-esser, I have to target right around 7-8k. Most mics seem to add a positive db boost in this area.

Some mics had negative dips on that frequency range. I looked at the TLM-49 and 103. In the end, however, I decided that these mics had a bit "to much" character. I didn't want what happened with the TLM-102 to happen again. I didn't want to get stuck with a mic that sounded factory EQ'ed.

So...the big reveal is:

TLM-67!

I haven't seem much, or heard much about anyone using this microphone for VO or...well, really anything.

One of the things that made me decide to give it a try was how flat it supposedly was going to sound:

So far I'm pleased with the sound. There's a lot of detail without it sounding overly "crisp". I don't hear that pronounced presence boost that the 102 gives my voice. People have said it sounded like the e100s and the D87 clone, and that's about right. The e100s is also a pretty flat mic, and the D87 is a clone of a vintage 1970's U87, which doesn't have the shirll/harsh top end the U87ai has been criticized for by a few.

If I do a high bell EQ starting at about 5k, peaking +4db at 9k and then dropping off, it sounds really good.

It doesn't seem to really need it though. I have a bit more time to evaluate it before time runs out to return it.

So far, I'm happy with it! I haven't really gotten any thumbs up or down on just the mystery mic vs. my others, but I do know I'll be putting the 102 up for sale. I do want to hold onto the clone since it was custom built for me (I picked the colors, powder coating texture and options). The e100s I may trade away to someone that wants to play around to see if it can be fixed. I don't need so many mics. A good LDC and a backup LDC (the D87 clone) and good quality dynamic (my RE-20) should serve me well.

Well, that is until I get around to a 416...
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com