VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Ulf Bjorklund · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 3:06 pm Post subject: Ye ol' mic

Hi guys,

Been doing the lurking thing for awhile, but with about 2 years of VO experience, I guess its about time I step out in the light. I am at present in the middle of VO coaching with Nancy W. (actually Jeff Freeman - highly recommended!) and I am stoked!

I am very happy with my SP C1 (apart from those pesky high frequencies) and I'm guessing perhaps an unusual guy in that I am not that gear happy. Still, I came across a Sterling Audio ST55 in a pawn shop. It appeared in top shape, but I haven't actually tested.

Anyone have experience with this one? I DID do a search for previous mentions, but couldn't find anything specific.

Thanks guys!
_________________
Ulf Bjorklund
www.ulfvo.com

Find out who you are and be that.

BenC · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject:

Hey Ulf,

The ST 55 was my first LDC mic purchase and I still own it. It worked well on my voice and I've always viewed it as a solid, workhorse type mic. I like it. I've since switched to a shotgun due to a less than ideal recording environment but that's not the mic's fault. I don't know that it would be that much different than your C-1 as they're in pretty much the same price range but I imagine there are others here who can be more specific about that. I do know that the ST-55 is based on the old Groove Tubes GT-55 design which, from what I've been able to dig up, was viewed as a decent mic for it's price point. The Sterling Audio name was just a rebranding after Groove Tubes was bought by Guitar Center.
_________________
"Be grateful, be happy, work a little harder."

Frank F · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 4:26 pm Post subject:

The Sterling Audio ST55 is a fairly nice mic for the price. The C1 and the ST55 are similar sounding overall.

The negative is the ST55 seems to pick up noise and has a high noise floor. It is clearer than an MD421 (Sennheiser) and less cost but seems to boost low mids which make the ST55 almost muddy when used for some VO's.

The Sterling Audio ST55 is a mic which may be used for female and tenor or high baritone voices. It's warmth does not translate well for basses or low baritones.

Just my $0.02 USD worth of thoughts.

Frank F
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

Ulf Bjorklund · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys. Sounds like I should pass for now. I'm really in no hurry to get a new mic, yet. I should probably get a dynamic though. Have a cheap one I bought long time ago, but the sound is like talking while being covered in yaks in some castle dungeon.
_________________
Ulf Bjorklund
www.ulfvo.com

Find out who you are and be that.