A vocal recording with my new mic...

[justharold]

Recently, I ran a mic test that I did as I was in search of a new mic. I posted the test on this forum (thank you all again for your suggestions...)

Anyway, I am currently doing a recording for a group who is doing their Christmas album. The instrumentation has been pre-recorded, so all I have to do is the vocals.

Here is a link to one of the songs that we did yesterday. It should give you a pretty good idea of how my new Nuemann TLM103 sounds in action (well...as best as you can tell with an mp3.)

http://theburrellfamily.homestead.com/music.html

Let me know what you think...

Harold

 

[Big Kenny]

Sounds great Harold, Nice mix, nice voice. See if you can get him to sing
" How beautiful heaven must be"

 

[sile2001]

Sounds great Harold, Nice mix, nice voice. See if you can get him to sing
" How beautiful heaven must be"

I think that IS Harold singing...

But seriously Harold, you should record all of "How beautiful heaven must be." That would be really cool...

You have a darn nice voice man! What kind of vocal training have you had?

 

[warble]

Nice sound on vox. Great voice too! Some of the vocal phrasing seems weird to me - but that's because I'm addicted to the Capitol Nat King Cole arrangement. Listen to that Christmas CD about 1000 times every holiday season!

The arrangement you are using here reminds me of the NKC one - sounds great.

Best wishes on the Christmas CD.

 

[mikey@thecave]

that mic sounds great i wonderwhat my T3 would sound like side by side

 

[justharold]

Thanks guys. And...just to let you know...that is not me singing. It is actually my son-in-law, Dave Needham. He sings with his family, "the Needhams" (pretty clever name for a group, huh?)

As far as the phrasing is concerned, well...I'll mention it to him. However, don't get your hopes up. I mean, he never does what I say (he did marry my daughter, remember...)

Seriously, I thought he did pretty well. Considering he had never really sung the song before.

I'll, also, ask him about singing "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be" for you...

 

[Big Kenny]

They should change their name to the "NeedHims"

 

[warble]

They should change their name to the "NeedHims"

That's cool Kenny

 

[warble]

As far as the phrasing is concerned, well...I'll mention it to him. However, don't get your hopes up. I mean, he never does what I say (he did marry my daughter, remember...)

Seriously, I thought he did pretty well. Considering he had never really sung the song before.

LOL. He did do a great job - hope I didn't come off funny about it. I'd be interesting in hearing the CD when it's done. Make sure you come back to the boards and post about that!

 

[Flatpicker]

Amazing! I really hate to admit this, but that (cough!) TLM103 sounds tremendous on his voice in that mix! Did you record straight into the D1600?

One thing – I know you didn’t do the track, but if it’s a midi file that you can edit, I’d kill the strings, or at least soften them up (knock off some high-end and add more verb) and turn them down. They’re somewhat distracting, especially during the singing. That of course is just MHO, so take it for what it’s worth.

 

[justharold]

Amazing! I really hate to admit this, but that (cough!) TLM103 sounds tremendous on his voice in that mix! Did you record straight into the D1600?

One thing – I know you didn’t do the track, but if it’s a midi file that you can edit, I’d kill the strings, or at least soften them up (knock off some high-end and add more verb) and turn them down. They’re somewhat distracting, especially during the singing. That of course is just MHO, so take it for what it’s worth.

No, I didn't record it on my D1600. I recorded it on my D16XD (via my Focusrite VoiceMaster).

Also, I agree with you regarding the track. Unfortunately, it's not midi and there's not much I could do to it (anymore than I did). The whole album will be done to pre-recorded music. The good news is, though, that that one is far and away the worst of the bunch. I probably would work with it more (that is, try a bit more eq or verb or...something), however the "customer" (aka. my son-in-law) likes it the way it is.

So be it. Easier for me.

 

[alanhyatt]

that mic sounds great i wonderwhat my T3 would sound like side by side

Well, it may sound better, and it could sound worse. It all depends. This is why there are so many mikes out there. I still consider the TLM103 one of the worst mikes Neumann makes, but I have always said, any mic can be better than any other mic based on the talent, conditions, room and engineer.

In this case, the 103 did what it was supposed to do. As for the T3, well unless he has one and has the singer do another take, you will just not know. Tony Lindsay, Santana's lead singer is doing a new CD using the T3 exclusively, so I am sure that his new CD will have amazing vocal tracks. Again, any mic that does the job, is a good one, and any mic is as good as any, if it gets the job done.

 

[Han]

With all due respect, but that voice sound pretty good Alan. The TLM103 may be not the best sounding mic Neumann makes, but to say it's one of the the worst is besides the truth. There's no such thing as a bad Neumann.

"but I have always said, any mic can be better than any other mic based on the talent, conditions, room and engineer".

This is also besides the truth, a $20 superlux mic will never sound better than a hi end mic, not under any condition.

"Tony Lindsay, Santana's lead singer is doing a new CD using the T3 exclusively, so I am sure that his new CD will have amazing vocal tracks".

I wonder why you always come up with some celebrities here, it's just not relevant. It's on the edge of spam as well.

 

[chessparov]

No bad Neumann's, only bad owners.

Actually, the little I've tried the TLM it seemed to be easier than a U87ai as far as needing less EQing. IMHO the U87ai is overpriced compared to other choices (not just T3). The musicians who call recording studios generally don't know any better, so the studios can feel intimidated into buying them.

Certainly respect, however, the many AE's who routinely
get great sound out of U87 's and genuinely favor them.

BTW Han, Alan's just being a proud "daddy".

If anyone of us make a good microphone, CD, whatever, it can seem SPAM-like due to natural enthusiasm when we talk about it.
"Any mic' can reasonably be interpreted to something above a Mr. Microphone. In that context, Alan's quote is rhetorical.

Also, Neumann didn't start the TLM series out of the kindness of their hearts.
With Studio Projects, Audio-Technica, and Rode snapping at their heals it forced them to be more competitive value-wise to compete in the home recording/project studio arena.

Anyway, well known pop singers generally have distinctive voices so it all comes back to "try before you buy", or finding a liberal dealer return policy.

Although as "punishment", Alan could send us FREE copies of that CD and/or
extended loan of a T3-purely for comparison purposes. :> (just kidding!)

Chris

P.S. Wasn't "Edge of SPAM" that skit where the Monty Python troupe joined
U2 to create a super-group?

 

[Gidge]

BTW Han, Alan's just being a proud "daddy".

And how many daddy's are gonna admit someone else's kid is cuter than theirs?.......

i think that was an inappropriate place for Alan to comment.....and it fell over "the edge of spam" as far as im concerned......

but the Moderators dont care so spam on, brutha.....

 

[chessparov]

That knocks Gidge out of that "CD/T3" comparison offer.

Will make a point of listening to Harold's stuff tonight, despite it being recorded on a ...Neumann.

Apologies in advance for straying back on topic.

Chris

 

[Big Kenny]

IMHO
Alan just commented on the guys question, he didn't say the T3 would sound better did he? Then he goes on to say more about the mic in question.
I grabbed a C3 this week and have found it to be very nice on my voice and some others ( very different others). It seems to "fit" on a lot of stuff.
Oh yeah, try the eggs, eggs, eggs and spam, there's not much spam in that
P.S. Still think your Neumann sounds great Harold. Merry Christmas

 

[Han]

Everybody knows Alan makes some very decent mics, considering the prices the mics are great.

But the guy who started this thread (Harold) just bought a TLM103 and he's obviously proud of owning a genuine Neumann mic, which he happily anounces here.

There comes Alan who says the TLM103 is one of the worst Neumann mics and comes to tell us there's coming some great Santana vocal tracks with a T3.

And that my dear friends (and I consider Alan as one of you too) is annoying me quite a bit.

I am a studio owner/engineer/producer who has recorded hundreds of albums with bands. Some of them are famous and real celebrities now, but you won't hear me mention any of them. I don't mention any of them on my website.

Next week I'm going to record a famous band too. The thing is I do the best I can for any band, orchestra and musician. The unknown guy is just as important as the celebrity, believe it or not, but that's my philosophy.

Oh and Alan has the right to be proud of his babies, he should, but it's not what you do, it's the way you do it.

 

[mikey@thecave]

Geez you guys ease up on Alan.The only reason i brought the T3 up is because these two mics are nearest in price,and the T3 is the one im singing on and have expierence with. The 103 is the bottom of neumann choices is'nt it.Next step up is the U87.I told harold it sounded great
Being that as it may --my best friend just can't get over the vocal i did on the T3 thru the joe meek vc1qcs with a little reverb Alan I think i've got another guythat likes that T3

 

[chessparov]

Will keep trying to hear the song again tonight.
Must be one of those streaming MP3 "thingamajings".
(not too computer/MP3 literate here)
For whatever reason, couldn't hear it through headphones due to pilot error.

There are some pro AE's, like Scott Dorsey, who prefer the TLM over the U87ai for general vocal use. IIRC when Fletcher was carrying them
at Mercenary, he regarded them as quite a nice sounding vocal microphone.

Certainly wouldn't kick it out of of my vocal track "bed".

Chris