Rhythmschism
New member
It seems that the most common reason people come to this forum to is to find information relating to what mic is best, what would best fit their situation, what preamp would sound best with what mic, what mic sounds good for vocals and acoustic guitar, and how a mic sounds compared to another mic, the list goes on. The most common response is several individual's own opinion and personal experience with a particular mic/preamp/whatever. But ultimately, what matters most, is the actual sound that is produced. In this regard, I've personally found actual sound samples and audio applications to give me the best idea of how a mic behaves and sounds on various sources. I realize there are a gazillion variables that contribute to the sound of a particular recording other than the mic/preamp used, but nonethless I find it valuable to have some idea how a mic or preamps functions and the sound it is capable of producing.
So, what I am proposing, is that either in this thread or another thread, that everyone submit any and all audio clips where any microphones/preamps/relating gear is being used. A B comparisons, competing mic shootouts, preamp comparisons, nylon string acoustic vs steel string acoustic with the same mic, Behringer vs everything it copies, etc etc etc. Submit links to either one's own recordings, or other samples one has come across. The idea is to have as much audio reference material as possible in one thread.
Give as much information as possible. All gear used, signal chain, source, the room it was recorded in, and anything else you think is important. Even if you have the same mic that’s been posted 5 different times, post your recording/comparison anyway! Also, be sure to give credit for other's recordings.
What I have come across so far:
"The Listening Sessions"
http://www.thelisteningsessions.com/sessions.htm
Produced by Dan Richards and Rob Gainer
Engineered by Rob Gainer, Bruce Bailey, Dan Richards
Recorded and Edited at Sea Note Recording Studios
Sponsored by Digital Pro Sound
Mics used
ADK A-51
ADK S
ADK A-51sLE
ADK SC-T
ADK SL
ADK TL
ADK TC
ADK TT
AEA R84
AKG C414B TLII
AKG C414EB
AKG C414B-ULS
AKG C451E
AKG C451B
AKG C12VR
AKG SolidTube
AKG C 1000
AKG C-2000
AKG C 3000
AKG D 12
AKG D 112
Audio-Technica AT3031
Audio-Technica AT3032
Audio-Technica AT4041
Audio-Technica AT4047
Audio-Technica AT4050
Audio-Technica AT4040
Audio-Technica Pro25
Audix SCX-One
Avenson Audio STO-2 ( Stapes )
Avenson Audio Tube Cardioid
Behringer ECM8000
Behringer B1
Beyer M-160
Blue Baby Bottle
Blue Blueberry
Blue Dragonfly
Blue Mouse
Bridge Microphones BM1050 cardioid
Bridge Microphones BM1003 omni
Brauner Phantom C
Brauner Valet
CAD E-100
CAD M179
Crown 6-LPB PZM
Crown CM700
DPA 4011 (3511 Stereo Kit)
DPA 4061
DPA 3530A - 2 X 4006
DPA 3521 w/ 4021's
DPA 3552 w/ 4052's
Earthworks QTC1
Earthworks SR77
Earthworks SRO
EV RE-27
Groove Tubes GT 33
Groove Tubes GT 44
Josephson C-42MP
MBHO MBP 680
Mojave Audio MA100
MXL 990
MXL 603S
MXL V69 Mogami Edition
MXL V67
MXL 2001
MXL 2003
MXL 1006
Microtech Gefell M300
Microtech Gefell M295
Neumann TLM103
Neumann KM184
Oktava MC012
Oktava MK-319
Pearl CC22
Pearl CO22
RCA R77
Red5 Audio RV15
Red5 Audio RV10
Red5 Audio RV8
Red5 Audio RV4
Red5 Audio RVK7
Red5 Audio RVD1
Royer R-121
Røde NTK
Røde NT1000
Røde NT4
Røde NT5
Røde NT1-A
Røde NT3
Schoeps CMC64 MK4 ST
Schoeps CMC62S MK2 S
SE Electronics Z5600
SE Electronics Z3300
SE Electronics SE3600
SE Electronics SE1
Sennheiser MD-421 II
Sennheiser MD-504
Shure SM57
Shure SM58
Shure KSM141/SL ST
Shure KSM137/SL ST
Shure SM81
Shure KSM32
Soundelux U195
Sound Performance Lab 2275 Nugget
Stephen Paul mic
Studio Projects C1
Studio Projects C3
Studio Projects T3
Studio Projects B1
Studio Projects B3
Studio Projects TB-1
Studio Projects C4
Studio Projects LSD-2
Superlux CM-H8K/U/H/O
Superlux ECM-999
T.H.E. KA-04
T.H.E. TT-3M
Wagner U47
Preamps used
A Designs MP-1
AMS Neve 1073
AMS Neve 1081
Aphex Tube Essence
API 512C
API 212L
API 3124
API 528C
Aurora Audio GTQ2
Avalon VT-737-SP
Behringer UltraGain Pro Mic2200
Behringer Tube Ultragain T1953
Benchmark Media 420
Brent Averill 1272
Buzz Audio MA-2.2
Buzz Audio SA-1.1
DACS Clarity MicAmp
Dan Alexander Dual Class A
D.W. Fearn VT-1
Demeter HXM-1
Drawmer 1969
Drawmer MX60
Drawmer Tube Station
Earthworks 1022
ELBERG MP8
Focusrite ISA 428
Focusrite Voicemaster Pro
FMR Audio RNP 8380
Grace 101
Grace Lunatec V3
Great River MP-1NV
Great River MP-2
Groove Tubes Vipre
Groove Tubes Ditto
HHB Radius 40
Joe Meek MQ3
Joe Meek VC1QCS
Joe Meek VC6Q British Channel
Joe Meek VCTwinQcs
Joe Meek JM828
John Hardy M-1
Mackie VLZ
Manley SLAM!
Martech MSS-10
M-Audio Audio Buddy
M-Audio DMP3
M-Audio Tampa
MCI 500
MCI 600
Millennia HV-3D
Millennia M-2B
Neve 33122 - Brent Averill version
Neve 1272 - Brent Averill version
Oram MWS
Phoenix Audio (UK) DRS-2
Presonus Eureka
Rane MS 1b
Requisite Audio PAL Plus
Requisite Audio Y7 MkIV
Sebatron vmp-2000e
Sound Performance Lab 9844 GoldMike
Speck MicPre 5.0
Studio Projects VTB-1
Studio Projects VTB-2
Summit Audio 2BA-221
Summit Audio TD-100
Sytek MXP-4Aii
TC Electronic Gold Channel
TL Audio 5051 Ivory 2
TL Audio C1
TL Audio PA-1
Tube Tech MP-1A
Vintech Dual 72
Ward-Beck Pod4
Sources used
Acoustic Guitar
Female Vocals
Fender Deluxe Amp/'52 Goldtop Les Paul
Lakeland Bass
Male Vocals
-
"Red5 Audio - RVK7 Drum kit mic set samples"
http://www.dancetech.com/aa_dt_new/hardware/ITEM.CFM?threadid=2640&lang=0
Dancetech.com
Mics used
Red5 Audio - RVK7 Drum kit mic set
AKG Drum mic set
See link for other info
-
"Russian Microphone Sampler"
http://www.microphones.ru/downloads.htm
Michael Vladimirsky, www.microphones.ru
Mics used
LOMO 19A18
LOMO 19A19
MKL-101
MKL-202
Oktava MC-102
Oktava ML-11M
Oktava MK-13M
Oktava MC-16
Sources used (that I could determine)
Chorus
Classical Guitar
Folk Ensemble
Harpsichord
Jazz Group
Orchestra
Piano
String Ensemble
-
"small budget microphone shootout"
http://www.stack.nl/~erwint/MicShootout.html
Erwin Timmerman
Mics used
AKG C3000
Behringer XM2000S
LOMO M1 head
Oktava 012 cardioid
Sennheiser MD421N
Sennheiser MD421U4
Mics compared
Oktava 012 cardioid vs AKG C3000
Oktava 012 cardioid vs LOMO M1 head
Oktava 012 cardioid vs Sennheiser MD421N
Sennheiser MD421N vs Sennheiser MD421U4
Sennheiser MD421N vs Behringer XM2000S
Signal Chain
Takamine EN20 acoustic guitar -> Mics -> Behringer MX802A -> Pulsar card
-
“D.M. Gremlin Productions”
http://forums.dm-gremlin.com/viewforum.php?f=4
D.M. Gremlin
Mics Used
AKG D112
Audix D6
Audix Micro-D
Blue K.I.W.I.
MXL 2001
MXL 603S
MXL 990
MXL V67G
MXL V69
Neumann KM84
Neumann M149
Neumann U87
Shure SM57
Mic Comparisons
AKG D112 vs Audix D6
MXL 2001 vs Neumann U87 (Acoustic Guitar, Female Vocals)
MXL 603S vs Neumann KM84 (Acoustic Guitar)
MXL 990 vs Blue K.I.W.I. (Male Vocals)
MXL V69 vs Neumann M149 (Acoustic Guitar)
Shure SM57 vs Audix Micro-D
Preamp Comparison
Audio Buddy (MXL V67G)
Mackie XDR (MXL V67G)
TubePRE (MXL V67G)
-
“Microphone Preamps”
http://www.polyblendstudios.com/micpre.php
Polyblend Studios
Signal Chain
Gibson ES-335 -> MXR DynaComp pedal -> Fender VibroKing -> Royer R-121-> mic preamp -> Apogee PSX-100 sampling at 24bit / 96 kHz-> Masterlink.
Preamps used
API 3124+: gain set @12:30 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Avalon AD2022: gain set @ 42, impedance set to 'MIC' 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Avalon AD2022: gain set @ 46, impedance set to '600' 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Avalon 737sp: gain set at 35 + high gain switch enabled 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
PreSonus MP20: gain set @ 3:30, IDSS off 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
TAC Matchless console mic pre: mic gain @ 52 dB, fader @ +2.5 dB 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2108: gain 50, impedance 1K, output gain 7.2 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2108: gain 45, impedance 1K, output gain 8.8 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2108: gain 45, impedance 4K, output gain 10 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2-610: gain +10, impedance 500, output gain 6.5 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2-610: gain 0, impedance 500, output gain 8.8 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2-610: gain 0, impedance 2K, output gain 10 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
-
“Testing Mics Again”
http://www.jeffoestreichmusic.com/mictest.htm
Jeff Oestreich
Signal Chain
microphone->Grace 101 preamp -> Akai DPS16 24-bit recording THEN inserted -> RNC Compressor -> TC Electronics M-One XL Reverb Processor -> digital back in to Akai
Mics used
Studio Projects C1
MXL V69
-
“Acoustic Mic Tests”
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=113466
taylorguitarman
Signal Chain
Lowden O25 Acoustic Guitar -> M-Audio DMP3 -> Yamaha AW16G
Mics used
AT3035
SM57
Studio Projects B1
Oktava MK012
MXL 603S
MXL V67G
-
[Piano Comparisons]
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1656&alid=-1
Michael Jones
Mics used
SM57
SM81
MXL 603S
Preamps used
API 312 (Jensen Transformers)
Audix 35102
Source used
Piano
-
“Okay then, listen to the B1 on jazz guitar”
Han
Mic used
Studio Projects B1
Source used
Swing Band
-
“Recording better vocals”
http://gearslutz.com/board/attachment.php3?postid=145570
PersonalJesus
Mic used
AKG C-414 B-ULS
Preamp Used
M-audio Firewire 410
Source used
Male vocals
Room
8x10x12 bedroom with carpet floors
-
“Mic shootout”
http://www.nowhereradio.com/bergen/singles
Bergen
Mic used
BLUE KIWI
MXL 990
Studio Projects C1
Source used
Male vocals
-
“A Simple Mic Comparison”
http://www.fxguidry.com/mictest1/
Lynn & Fran
Mic used
AKG 535
Behringer ECM8000
Countryman EM-101
Oktava MC012 Cardioid
Oktava MC012 Hypercardioid
Oktava MC012 Omni
Neumann KM-184
Neumann TLM103
Shure SM81
Shure KSM44 Carioid
Shure KSM44 Omni
Shure SM58
Shure SM57
Preamps used
M-Audio DMP-3
OMNI I/O
Source used
Martin OM-18V Acoustic Guitar
So, what I am proposing, is that either in this thread or another thread, that everyone submit any and all audio clips where any microphones/preamps/relating gear is being used. A B comparisons, competing mic shootouts, preamp comparisons, nylon string acoustic vs steel string acoustic with the same mic, Behringer vs everything it copies, etc etc etc. Submit links to either one's own recordings, or other samples one has come across. The idea is to have as much audio reference material as possible in one thread.
Give as much information as possible. All gear used, signal chain, source, the room it was recorded in, and anything else you think is important. Even if you have the same mic that’s been posted 5 different times, post your recording/comparison anyway! Also, be sure to give credit for other's recordings.
What I have come across so far:
"The Listening Sessions"
http://www.thelisteningsessions.com/sessions.htm
Produced by Dan Richards and Rob Gainer
Engineered by Rob Gainer, Bruce Bailey, Dan Richards
Recorded and Edited at Sea Note Recording Studios
Sponsored by Digital Pro Sound
Mics used
ADK A-51
ADK S
ADK A-51sLE
ADK SC-T
ADK SL
ADK TL
ADK TC
ADK TT
AEA R84
AKG C414B TLII
AKG C414EB
AKG C414B-ULS
AKG C451E
AKG C451B
AKG C12VR
AKG SolidTube
AKG C 1000
AKG C-2000
AKG C 3000
AKG D 12
AKG D 112
Audio-Technica AT3031
Audio-Technica AT3032
Audio-Technica AT4041
Audio-Technica AT4047
Audio-Technica AT4050
Audio-Technica AT4040
Audio-Technica Pro25
Audix SCX-One
Avenson Audio STO-2 ( Stapes )
Avenson Audio Tube Cardioid
Behringer ECM8000
Behringer B1
Beyer M-160
Blue Baby Bottle
Blue Blueberry
Blue Dragonfly
Blue Mouse
Bridge Microphones BM1050 cardioid
Bridge Microphones BM1003 omni
Brauner Phantom C
Brauner Valet
CAD E-100
CAD M179
Crown 6-LPB PZM
Crown CM700
DPA 4011 (3511 Stereo Kit)
DPA 4061
DPA 3530A - 2 X 4006
DPA 3521 w/ 4021's
DPA 3552 w/ 4052's
Earthworks QTC1
Earthworks SR77
Earthworks SRO
EV RE-27
Groove Tubes GT 33
Groove Tubes GT 44
Josephson C-42MP
MBHO MBP 680
Mojave Audio MA100
MXL 990
MXL 603S
MXL V69 Mogami Edition
MXL V67
MXL 2001
MXL 2003
MXL 1006
Microtech Gefell M300
Microtech Gefell M295
Neumann TLM103
Neumann KM184
Oktava MC012
Oktava MK-319
Pearl CC22
Pearl CO22
RCA R77
Red5 Audio RV15
Red5 Audio RV10
Red5 Audio RV8
Red5 Audio RV4
Red5 Audio RVK7
Red5 Audio RVD1
Royer R-121
Røde NTK
Røde NT1000
Røde NT4
Røde NT5
Røde NT1-A
Røde NT3
Schoeps CMC64 MK4 ST
Schoeps CMC62S MK2 S
SE Electronics Z5600
SE Electronics Z3300
SE Electronics SE3600
SE Electronics SE1
Sennheiser MD-421 II
Sennheiser MD-504
Shure SM57
Shure SM58
Shure KSM141/SL ST
Shure KSM137/SL ST
Shure SM81
Shure KSM32
Soundelux U195
Sound Performance Lab 2275 Nugget
Stephen Paul mic
Studio Projects C1
Studio Projects C3
Studio Projects T3
Studio Projects B1
Studio Projects B3
Studio Projects TB-1
Studio Projects C4
Studio Projects LSD-2
Superlux CM-H8K/U/H/O
Superlux ECM-999
T.H.E. KA-04
T.H.E. TT-3M
Wagner U47
Preamps used
A Designs MP-1
AMS Neve 1073
AMS Neve 1081
Aphex Tube Essence
API 512C
API 212L
API 3124
API 528C
Aurora Audio GTQ2
Avalon VT-737-SP
Behringer UltraGain Pro Mic2200
Behringer Tube Ultragain T1953
Benchmark Media 420
Brent Averill 1272
Buzz Audio MA-2.2
Buzz Audio SA-1.1
DACS Clarity MicAmp
Dan Alexander Dual Class A
D.W. Fearn VT-1
Demeter HXM-1
Drawmer 1969
Drawmer MX60
Drawmer Tube Station
Earthworks 1022
ELBERG MP8
Focusrite ISA 428
Focusrite Voicemaster Pro
FMR Audio RNP 8380
Grace 101
Grace Lunatec V3
Great River MP-1NV
Great River MP-2
Groove Tubes Vipre
Groove Tubes Ditto
HHB Radius 40
Joe Meek MQ3
Joe Meek VC1QCS
Joe Meek VC6Q British Channel
Joe Meek VCTwinQcs
Joe Meek JM828
John Hardy M-1
Mackie VLZ
Manley SLAM!
Martech MSS-10
M-Audio Audio Buddy
M-Audio DMP3
M-Audio Tampa
MCI 500
MCI 600
Millennia HV-3D
Millennia M-2B
Neve 33122 - Brent Averill version
Neve 1272 - Brent Averill version
Oram MWS
Phoenix Audio (UK) DRS-2
Presonus Eureka
Rane MS 1b
Requisite Audio PAL Plus
Requisite Audio Y7 MkIV
Sebatron vmp-2000e
Sound Performance Lab 9844 GoldMike
Speck MicPre 5.0
Studio Projects VTB-1
Studio Projects VTB-2
Summit Audio 2BA-221
Summit Audio TD-100
Sytek MXP-4Aii
TC Electronic Gold Channel
TL Audio 5051 Ivory 2
TL Audio C1
TL Audio PA-1
Tube Tech MP-1A
Vintech Dual 72
Ward-Beck Pod4
Sources used
Acoustic Guitar
Female Vocals
Fender Deluxe Amp/'52 Goldtop Les Paul
Lakeland Bass
Male Vocals
-
"Red5 Audio - RVK7 Drum kit mic set samples"
http://www.dancetech.com/aa_dt_new/hardware/ITEM.CFM?threadid=2640&lang=0
Dancetech.com
Mics used
Red5 Audio - RVK7 Drum kit mic set
AKG Drum mic set
See link for other info
-
"Russian Microphone Sampler"
http://www.microphones.ru/downloads.htm
Michael Vladimirsky, www.microphones.ru
Mics used
LOMO 19A18
LOMO 19A19
MKL-101
MKL-202
Oktava MC-102
Oktava ML-11M
Oktava MK-13M
Oktava MC-16
Sources used (that I could determine)
Chorus
Classical Guitar
Folk Ensemble
Harpsichord
Jazz Group
Orchestra
Piano
String Ensemble
-
"small budget microphone shootout"
http://www.stack.nl/~erwint/MicShootout.html
Erwin Timmerman
Mics used
AKG C3000
Behringer XM2000S
LOMO M1 head
Oktava 012 cardioid
Sennheiser MD421N
Sennheiser MD421U4
Mics compared
Oktava 012 cardioid vs AKG C3000
Oktava 012 cardioid vs LOMO M1 head
Oktava 012 cardioid vs Sennheiser MD421N
Sennheiser MD421N vs Sennheiser MD421U4
Sennheiser MD421N vs Behringer XM2000S
Signal Chain
Takamine EN20 acoustic guitar -> Mics -> Behringer MX802A -> Pulsar card
-
“D.M. Gremlin Productions”
http://forums.dm-gremlin.com/viewforum.php?f=4
D.M. Gremlin
Mics Used
AKG D112
Audix D6
Audix Micro-D
Blue K.I.W.I.
MXL 2001
MXL 603S
MXL 990
MXL V67G
MXL V69
Neumann KM84
Neumann M149
Neumann U87
Shure SM57
Mic Comparisons
AKG D112 vs Audix D6
MXL 2001 vs Neumann U87 (Acoustic Guitar, Female Vocals)
MXL 603S vs Neumann KM84 (Acoustic Guitar)
MXL 990 vs Blue K.I.W.I. (Male Vocals)
MXL V69 vs Neumann M149 (Acoustic Guitar)
Shure SM57 vs Audix Micro-D
Preamp Comparison
Audio Buddy (MXL V67G)
Mackie XDR (MXL V67G)
TubePRE (MXL V67G)
-
“Microphone Preamps”
http://www.polyblendstudios.com/micpre.php
Polyblend Studios
Signal Chain
Gibson ES-335 -> MXR DynaComp pedal -> Fender VibroKing -> Royer R-121-> mic preamp -> Apogee PSX-100 sampling at 24bit / 96 kHz-> Masterlink.
Preamps used
API 3124+: gain set @12:30 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Avalon AD2022: gain set @ 42, impedance set to 'MIC' 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Avalon AD2022: gain set @ 46, impedance set to '600' 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Avalon 737sp: gain set at 35 + high gain switch enabled 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
PreSonus MP20: gain set @ 3:30, IDSS off 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
TAC Matchless console mic pre: mic gain @ 52 dB, fader @ +2.5 dB 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2108: gain 50, impedance 1K, output gain 7.2 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2108: gain 45, impedance 1K, output gain 8.8 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2108: gain 45, impedance 4K, output gain 10 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2-610: gain +10, impedance 500, output gain 6.5 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2-610: gain 0, impedance 500, output gain 8.8 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
Universal Audio 2-610: gain 0, impedance 2K, output gain 10 24/96 AIF 320 kbps MP3
-
“Testing Mics Again”
http://www.jeffoestreichmusic.com/mictest.htm
Jeff Oestreich
Signal Chain
microphone->Grace 101 preamp -> Akai DPS16 24-bit recording THEN inserted -> RNC Compressor -> TC Electronics M-One XL Reverb Processor -> digital back in to Akai
Mics used
Studio Projects C1
MXL V69
-
“Acoustic Mic Tests”
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=113466
taylorguitarman
Signal Chain
Lowden O25 Acoustic Guitar -> M-Audio DMP3 -> Yamaha AW16G
Mics used
AT3035
SM57
Studio Projects B1
Oktava MK012
MXL 603S
MXL V67G
-
[Piano Comparisons]
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1656&alid=-1
Michael Jones
Mics used
SM57
SM81
MXL 603S
Preamps used
API 312 (Jensen Transformers)
Audix 35102
Source used
Piano
-
“Okay then, listen to the B1 on jazz guitar”
Han
Mic used
Studio Projects B1
Source used
Swing Band
-
“Recording better vocals”
http://gearslutz.com/board/attachment.php3?postid=145570
PersonalJesus
Mic used
AKG C-414 B-ULS
Preamp Used
M-audio Firewire 410
Source used
Male vocals
Room
8x10x12 bedroom with carpet floors
-
“Mic shootout”
http://www.nowhereradio.com/bergen/singles
Bergen
Mic used
BLUE KIWI
MXL 990
Studio Projects C1
Source used
Male vocals
-
“A Simple Mic Comparison”
http://www.fxguidry.com/mictest1/
Lynn & Fran
Mic used
AKG 535
Behringer ECM8000
Countryman EM-101
Oktava MC012 Cardioid
Oktava MC012 Hypercardioid
Oktava MC012 Omni
Neumann KM-184
Neumann TLM103
Shure SM81
Shure KSM44 Carioid
Shure KSM44 Omni
Shure SM58
Shure SM57
Preamps used
M-Audio DMP-3
OMNI I/O
Source used
Martin OM-18V Acoustic Guitar