Cheaper alternative to Shure SM7 / EV RE20 ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dickiefunk
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dickiefunk said:
I found some EV RE10's for $120.
.... What's the difference between the EV RE10 and the RE16?
Click to expand...


That's a bit much for the RE-10.

The RE10 is basically an RE-15 that didn't pass manufacturer specs.

In some cases, this might not mean a whole lot, but in others it might (there's a slim possibility it could sound funny or otherwise have some sort of minor defect).
 
Daisy said:
The RE-16 is more extended, and has a presence boost in the upper registers that gives it a little extra something on vocals. The RE-15 is almost completely flat and drops off like a cliff somewhere between 12-15K.

For general purposes and particularly guitar amp, the RE-15 is a workhorse, but if you're talking strictly vocals, the 16 is really something. The trick is getting these things in good condition. As durable as they are for the most part, it's still pretty easy to get one in pretty rough shape. :D
Click to expand...

I know they sound different and I'm not disputing that on vocals an RE-16 may indeed sound preferable to many, but according to EV, it's the same mic as the RE15, but with a bigger wind screen. I'm interpreting "like the RE15" to mean the "same as the RE15". The wind screen does certainly change the sound of the mic.

From the EV web site PDF for the RE16:

General Description:
The Electro-Voice® RE16 is a Variable-D® dynamic
supercardioid microphone designed for the most exacting
professional use. It is like the RE15, except that it uses a
unique blast filter. The blast filter, an integral part of the RE16,
permits handheld and outdoor use without “P-pops” or
excessive wind noise.

In any event, people ought to check these mics out for themselves and see which configuration they like. I've had pretty decent luck buying these off e-bay although you are quite correct that some of the mics offered are in pretty rough shape. I've got a pair of RE10s that sound just fine and as far as I can tell just the same as my RE15 - although the RE10s apparently didn't pass spec to be RE15s. Go figure?:D
 
dickiefunk said:
Hi. Thanks for the replies. I've tried to check out all the mics suggested. One problem I've found is I can't most of these mics in the UK. Also, some of the eBay dealers don't ship to the UK.

I found some EV RE10's for $120.
Also found the Heil PR20 for $150
The SM57 Tabfunkenwerk mod costs $185

I've never heard of the Peavey 520i or Heil PR20.
Can't find a Beyer Soundstar mk2 anywhere.

What's the difference between the EV RE10 and the RE16?
Click to expand...

The SM-57 mod for $185 is for a fully modded mic which includes an SM-57. You can buy just the transformer from Mercenary and do the mod yourself for less.
 
pohaku said:
... according to EV, it's the same mic as the RE15, but with a bigger wind screen. I'm interpreting "like the RE15" to mean the "same as the RE15". The wind screen does certainly change the sound of the mic. "
Click to expand...


Well, considering that the re-16 has a deliberate bump in the high end to accomodate for the pop filter (as well as to help vocals cut a little better) ... I would assume by "like the RE15" to mean that it's merely a similar mic.

If you look at the published frequency specs, you'll see the graphs pretty much bare out the differences (note the bump in the 6-10K region evident in the 16's graph)

http://www.electrovoice.com/download_document.php?doc=1013

http://archives.telex.com/archives/EV/Microphones/EDS/RE15 EDS.pdf
 
Thanks for the info again. It looks like the only mics I can get shipped to the UK are:-

Sennheiser MD421
Heil PR20

What would the typical second hand price for one of these cost?

Anyone know where I can get a Beyer Soundstar mk2 or EV RE16 shipped to the UK or in the UK?

Thanks
 
Daisy said:
Well, considering that the re-16 has a deliberate bump in the high end to accomodate for the pop filter (as well as to help vocals cut a little better) ... I would assume by "like the RE15" to mean that it's merely a similar mic.

If you look at the published frequency specs, you'll see the graphs pretty much bare out the differences (note the bump in the 6-10K region evident in the 16's graph)

http://www.electrovoice.com/download_document.php?doc=1013

http://archives.telex.com/archives/EV/Microphones/EDS/RE15 EDS.pdf
Click to expand...

Oooh. Good digging! Yup, definitely a bump there compared to the RE15.
 
I've been using an RE16 (borrowed) all over this album I'm currently working on, for a female alto. It's an awesome recording mic. It loses a smidge of detail compared to a condenser, but it brings ALL the dynamic goodness. For all the rock tracks where her voice has to cut through a wall of guitars and drums, the RE16 has been the mic of choice. Another nice thing about it is the rear rejection is good enough that we've been able to cut vocals in front of the control room monitors rather than on headphones, which definitely makes for better performances.

And last night, we were tracking acoustic guitar with live drums, and I stuck the RE16 at the 12th fret and got a completely usable guitar track with VERY little bleed.

(You might notice I'm not at all anal about mic bleed! It's just ambience in my book, so long as there aren't any sour notes mixed in)

At any rate, I'll be looking for an RE16 for myself soon, since I don't think my friend would be willing to let either of his $10 scores go...
 
try a kel audio hm-2d

its a condencer mic that sells for $150 that is designed to sound like a dynamic mic. Ive heard it on their website compared to an sm7 and i like the sound better. but apart from that ive never had any experience with eaither of them.
 
Ebayers must be reading this thread - the asking price for anything in the RE series is sky high & defeats the original premise of this thread.
 
Yeah, that's a hazard of mentioning undervalued or unknown but cool items in any forum. All of a sudden they are no longer unknown (Doh!) and their new found popularity is quickly reflected by E-Bay.

So, the morale of the story is to buy yours first -- then talk about it on Homerecording:D
 
Ok. It looks like what is available to me are:-

Sennheiser MD421
KEL HM-2D
Heil PR-20
Shure SM57 with Tabfunkenwerk mod
Sennheiser E840
T.Bone MB 85 beta

Apparently both of the Sennheiser's have quite an exaggerated high end compared to the flatter sound of the SM7?
I would prefer a flatter sounding mic without the boosted high end.

What you recommend out of the mics I can get hold of?
 
there's a pro engineer over at homerecording.be who claims if he could only keep one mic it would be his modded '57.

both bono and mick jagger record with stock '57/58's.
 
dickiefunk said:
Thanks for the info again. It looks like the only mics I can get shipped to the UK are:-

Sennheiser MD421
Heil PR20

What would the typical second hand price for one of these cost?
Click to expand...

Used MD421 are sold between 200 - 450 EUR depending on the status.
 
try an sm57 with a towel or a shirt wrapped around it a couple times.

i know. reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally ghetto...but sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do. it can work well.

Mike
 
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