Bassman Brad
New member
Hi gang,
I'm in the process of putting together a small, PC-based recording set-up, and will need some more mics, particularly LDC's. I've been very interested in the Shure KSM series (i.e. the KSM-27, KSM-33, & KSM-44).
I've listened to the 3D Audio Mic test CD, which compares several mics on a male and female vocalist. Everything from a vintage Telefunken 251 (and a couple of modern copies of that mic) to a Royer 121 to an SM-57 to vintage AKG & Neumann mics. Very educational. (I also have some on-hands studio experience with a few of these mics, although the studio that I worked in [long ago] couldn't afford any of the real high end mics that are on this CD.) I like the KSM series, since it seems to be a very neutral sounding mic, which would be a good complement to so many of the other LDC's out there that seem to exaggerate the high frequencies.
My questions relate to the differences between the three mics in the series. It looks like these mics use the same diaphragm and are, basically, three variations of the same mic. The KSM-27 has one diaphram, The KSM-33 uses a dual diaphram, and the KSM-44 (which also uses two) gives you a choice of multiple polar patterns.
It seems to me that, since both the KSM-33 and the KSM-44 both use dual diaphrams (and the same design, too), they should sound identical when the KSM-44 is set to cardiod mode to match the KSM-33 (which is the only pattern available on the KSM-33). The only difference should come when you switch to a different pattern. Doesn't that make sense? And yet, when you do an A/B comparison between the mics, using the sampler CD (I have a very accurate playback system) they do sound identical on the female voice, but sound very different on the male voice. Not only does the KSM-44 have a bit more bass, but the high frequencies seem more pronounced, as well. Why would this be true?
Do these two mics, in fact, use different capsules, despite the fact that they seem identical on paper? And what about the KSM-27? How would using only one diaphragm, instead of two, change the sound, compared to the KSM-33? (Unfortunately, the KSM-27 is not included on the Mic CD.)
Finally, it is my understanding that Shure does not sell these in matched sets for stereo recording. It seems like I read that somewhere in a recording magazine that did a review of these mics. Instead, Shure maintains such high quality control that, if you want a matched set, you just buy two of them. I seem to recall that the reviewer for that article took two identical mics from different production batches and put them on the bench and found that they DID, in fact, match. (Which impressed the heck out of the reviewer!) Can anybody confirm this? I'm considering a pair of KSM-27's (or KSM-33's), and would like to have them match.
Thanks for your input.
Brad
I'm in the process of putting together a small, PC-based recording set-up, and will need some more mics, particularly LDC's. I've been very interested in the Shure KSM series (i.e. the KSM-27, KSM-33, & KSM-44).
I've listened to the 3D Audio Mic test CD, which compares several mics on a male and female vocalist. Everything from a vintage Telefunken 251 (and a couple of modern copies of that mic) to a Royer 121 to an SM-57 to vintage AKG & Neumann mics. Very educational. (I also have some on-hands studio experience with a few of these mics, although the studio that I worked in [long ago] couldn't afford any of the real high end mics that are on this CD.) I like the KSM series, since it seems to be a very neutral sounding mic, which would be a good complement to so many of the other LDC's out there that seem to exaggerate the high frequencies.
My questions relate to the differences between the three mics in the series. It looks like these mics use the same diaphragm and are, basically, three variations of the same mic. The KSM-27 has one diaphram, The KSM-33 uses a dual diaphram, and the KSM-44 (which also uses two) gives you a choice of multiple polar patterns.
It seems to me that, since both the KSM-33 and the KSM-44 both use dual diaphrams (and the same design, too), they should sound identical when the KSM-44 is set to cardiod mode to match the KSM-33 (which is the only pattern available on the KSM-33). The only difference should come when you switch to a different pattern. Doesn't that make sense? And yet, when you do an A/B comparison between the mics, using the sampler CD (I have a very accurate playback system) they do sound identical on the female voice, but sound very different on the male voice. Not only does the KSM-44 have a bit more bass, but the high frequencies seem more pronounced, as well. Why would this be true?
Do these two mics, in fact, use different capsules, despite the fact that they seem identical on paper? And what about the KSM-27? How would using only one diaphragm, instead of two, change the sound, compared to the KSM-33? (Unfortunately, the KSM-27 is not included on the Mic CD.)Finally, it is my understanding that Shure does not sell these in matched sets for stereo recording. It seems like I read that somewhere in a recording magazine that did a review of these mics. Instead, Shure maintains such high quality control that, if you want a matched set, you just buy two of them. I seem to recall that the reviewer for that article took two identical mics from different production batches and put them on the bench and found that they DID, in fact, match. (Which impressed the heck out of the reviewer!) Can anybody confirm this? I'm considering a pair of KSM-27's (or KSM-33's), and would like to have them match.
Thanks for your input.
Brad
