AT2020 vs MXL V69 vs Bluebird vs (slightly) modded Apex 460

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mazician

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I just recently got into home recording and been looking for mics and in the process I've collected couple mics. I just did a lil mics comparison and think it might help some one here out, so I decided to share what I got since I've been learning about recording around here so much for the past couple months. All the mics I got are under $200 (some are used). I have the Audio Technica AT2020, MXL V69 (EH 6072A tube), and Bluebird goes directly into my Audiobox 1818 and my modded (couple of caps and 1 resistor changed, and EH 6072A tube) APEX 460 into ISA ONE then into the 1818.

All the files are "RAW" with no effects whatsoever. All the three mics more or less sound comparable but the Apex 460 sound and the waveform looks like I lost the lows and the highs are cut too. At first I thought the signal was too hot but it's not, most likely due to my mod as I have no idea what I'm doing :facepalm: Maybe I don't need a compressor on my Apex 460.

4mics.webp

You have to excuse the language, as I can barely sing in my native tongue. I can't sing in English maybe later but this is it for now.

you can download the files here: mics_rar

Or listen here:

Apex 460 by mazician on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

AT2020 by mazician on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

BlueBird by mazician on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

http://soundcloud.com/mazician/v69
 
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I will listen to these tomorrow. I'm writing this here so I don't forget. :D
 
I think I found out the problem of my Apex 460. Last night I open up the 460 to replace the transformer with a Lundahl LL1538 and found that one of the wire on the old transformer was disconnected at the 9 pin XLR. The soldering works there does not look pretty at all, the wires seem like it able to short out too so I added some electrical tape. But after the transformer change, it seems to be working properly.

Apex460TX.webp

Apex460_Lundahl1538.webp
 
These are all incredibly similar. I noticed a distinction in the V69, but it was small.

How do these sound in a mix?
 
mazician said:
@CrowsofFritz I was just messing around, I didn't mix these.

Now that my Apex 460 (with the LL1538) seem to work properly, I did another recording. This time, all the mics goes directly into my Audiobox.

http://soundcloud.com/mazician/sets/ my-way-raw-no-processing
Click to expand...

Oh I know you didn't mix them.

I'm saying what you should do is put them in with other tracks "unmixed." I say this because all the mics sound incredibly similar. They'll probably sound similar with a mix too, but you should notice more of a distinction when there are other tracks with the mic. How do the mics stack?

If you recorded 15 tracks with the AT2020, and 15 with the Bluebird, will you hear a more distinct difference in sound? I would think so.

I'm only saying this because this wouldn't help me decide to get a mic at all. They all sound similar, so I would probably get the cheapest one of the bunch (which I already have btw :D).
 
Oh I'm sure there are differences among the those mics. But on my voice, in my room, maybe not so much. Just having some fun :)
 
Thanks, I wont be adding any more mics in awhile. I have another 460 that I didn't do anything to it yet, so I'll be doing some more modding but no more purchase... unless I came across a deal too good to pass up :)
 
mazician said:
Thanks, I wont be adding any more mics in awhile. I have another 460 that I didn't do anything to it yet, so I'll be doing some more modding but no more purchase... unless I came across a deal too good to pass up :)
Click to expand...



What this country needs is a good five cent microphone. - Henry Moreau 2012
 
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