VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[GunslingerWriting]

Hello,

We have some very remote field projects upcoming and requiring the lightest, most compact gear possible for the packing-in process. Our voice talent strongly prefers a Shure SM7b and I'd be grateful to hear which preamp(s) of fine quality would best suit our severely limited space to/from the field.

Also, if you have suggestions for a similarly durable alternative to the SM7b for the talent's male, baritone voice (he swears by the Shure but realizes that another mic of equal travel durability and comparable sound-matching for his voice may exist...and might better suit some of the smallest pres available, given the Shure's strict gain requirements...).

Thanks, all, for any advice/guidance you may be able to provide!

Greg Germaine

[georgethetech]

Usbpre2, uncompromising, designed for field use
Micport Pro plus Cloudlifter, not as durable
_________________
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

[heyguido]

+1 for the USBPre2....clean and quiet, and built like a tank.
_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

[GunslingerWriting]

Thank you, Soundgun and heyguido, for the USBPre2 endorsement. Am I correct that the lofty gain needs of the SM7b are well met by this preamp?

I checked online and couldn't find a definitive gain db spec/rating; would you happen to know?

Greg

[Bob Stevens]

+1 Listen to George.

80 db. Spec is in the manual close to the last page. It is online. Google it.
_________________
"Dialog is the painting on a canvas of silence"

[GunslingerWriting]

Thanks, Bob; I didn't think to look for the manual and, instead, checked some online reviews...where nobody seemed to have anything specific.

80 db is great.

Greg

[jsgilbert]

I have a USBPre 2 and I've run an RCA vintage 77 ribbon mic through it and got it peak at the -4db limiters. I'd recommend this puppy to anybody just for the limiters alone.

Another recommendation would be to get a Zoom recorder like H4N. It has 4 channels for recording, including XLR inputs and phantom power and it can be used standalone or as a USB interface.
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

[jsgilbert]

Also, my favorite travel microphone is the Oktava MK 219 - Built like a tank, rejects room tone and noise, and oddly enough even without the optional Mike Jolly modification, has a sound that is quite reminiscent of a vintage Neumann.

here's a link to Mike Jolly's site and rest assured I don't get any kickbacks or finders fees.

http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=30

The unmodded mics run around $175 on eBay (or less)

The modded ones are $300, sometimes a little cheaper from Oktavamod.
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

[Jason Huggins]

Hey JS, have you demoed the Michael Joly NT1a vs the MK 219?

[jsgilbert]

I have one of the modded Rode NT1A's which along with 37 other microphones will probably be going up for sale in the next year or so.

The mic is fine and it's actually very hard to hear any difference between it and my Neumann U87AI. I have several mics that have similar sounds, including a Telefunken AK47 and a Telefunken Copperhead and a Groove Tubes GT-67 with an NOS Seimens tube.

They all have very similar sounds, differing in mid range bumps, etc.

But the big difference with these microphones is that they pick up everything; mouth noise, room tone, etc.

Which is why I mention the Oktava 219 as being a solid choice for a road microphone. It actually sounds very similar to all of these mics, but for whatever reason, less room pickup , mouth noise, etc.

The thing these days is that there are a ton of microphones that can and do deliver on the "Neumanesque" promise at almost all price points. Some requiring a little eq'ing and others may have slightly higher self-noise, etc.

Perhaps the problem is that we have too many choices these days.
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

[Jason Huggins]

You can say that again! I have been looking for a mic for audiobook narration, as my modded NT1a really picks up mouth noise, and seems a hair harsh for long-form narration. I also wanted to find something that was in the same neighborhood as the NT1a as far as self noise goes.

[vkuehn]

[Jason Huggins]

I'm tellin' ya. The Propellerhead Balance rocks. It's nice and clean and relatively low in the color department, has no driver issues, has a great physical interface, and works on Mac and PC. I picked one up for $245. I've seen them recently sell on eBay for $175.

There is always the Scarlett 2i2 (as mentioned) or the MicPort Pro.

If you just want a backup though, you could just get a Lexicon Alpha. I know a certain pro who makes a killer living, and has used that interface for years professionally. You would, however, need a preamp with that one, as it's preamp is massively weak and the unit doesn't supply phantom power.

[Bob Stevens]

Ref; Vk threadjack... lol

I use a Motu Microbook II. Quality pre, a hint of color. Very small and portable. Built like a brick. Also one of the few in this price range that has a quality dedicated line in for outboard preamps.

Bob
_________________
"Dialog is the painting on a canvas of silence"

[vkuehn]