Best matched condenser pair for stereo recording?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mindbuzz
  • Start date Start date
Ok first of all, those MXL 603 sticks look like junk.

Now I've looked at the specs on some of these. For the price, jerfo, you're right on about the Oktava's. The frequency range looks a bit shaky depending on placement, but overall the '012's far surpass the competition. The Oktava omni and cardioid capsules have a closer linear response for the price. The specs say that, although less predictable, they sound better than the Studio Project C4's, according to the graphs. Just that the C4 omni cap is pretty damn linear for $299. If $450 was my magical price limit, I could snap up a pair of Oktava's for less at auction, probably pretty easily. Or get a pair of C4's. They both have advantages.

For some reason, one thing I've been amateurishly concerned about with these SDC microphones is self noise. Not that I thoroughly understand self-noise, I just think it sounds like a bad thing. Self noise on the Oktava is (at 18dB) higher than the C4 (16dB) and about the same as the JM27's (18dB). The C4's win there, but that seems neglegible after a little more research. For comparison, a DPA 4011 with a nearly perfect linear response creates a self noise of 19-25dB depending on the setup.

The Joe Meek JM27's don't actually seem to have mapped out pattern response circles or diagrams, but from what I've read I can safely assume from the specs that these little guys have virtually no low end at all and that the dropoff in the 50 - 300Hz range on the JM27's probably is pretty bad. Of couse a high-end flare could definitely add some flavor to some acoustics... and could very well balance out the lows that bleed from my vocal mic to the guitar.

I know what you're saying though about the neutral response with the Oktava's because I can't add something that isn't there, but I could knock out lows, as long as they're there, with an EQ in mastering... and match a JM27 sound pretty well using a more neutral mic.

) Peluso CEMC 6 stereo pair. I couldn't find any specs. Sorry. I would guess they're pretty nice for that price and from what I've read here on the BBS. I don't know how nice really.... a smooth $565 nice on Ebay --
- http://cgi.ebay.com/PELUSO-CEMC6-ST...ryZ41466QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

... :)
 
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forget about the specs and use your ears. i don't think you can use a company's spec sheets to determine which mic is better. just my two cents.
 
mindbuzz said:
The Joe Meek JM27's don't actually seem to have mapped out pattern response circles or diagrams, but from what I've read I can safely assume from the specs that these little guys have virtually no low end at all and that the dropoff in the 50 - 300Hz range on the JM27's probably is pretty bad.
Click to expand...
Why would that be safe to assume? :confused:

And if the MXL603s is good enough for Harvey Gerst, it's sure as hell good enough for me ... and as such I don't think I'd describe it as junk. :)

Nik
 
This is what I hear: "Just buy a Meek." :cool:

Yeh, so I bought the JM27's. Those were some hard-edged opinions with no substance. I ought to try a pair. And for that price, I could afford to buy two pairs. Aesthetically I like the Joe stereo set better than the MXL's. Not to rip on Harvey because this Meek set is a brand new thing... I bet if he were in my shoes, he might try the Meeks too.

If I want more later I actually really would like to try the Peluso's. :D
 
Haven't heard the Pelusos or the Meeks, so I can't comment on them.
 
The Peluso CEMC6s are sound very balanced, very accurate! I also describe them as very musical on acoustic guitar. I used them to record these samples. These are the matched pair using a Taylor 414 guitar --> Avalon AD2022 Preamp --> E-MU 1212m soundcard:

Sample 1

Sample 2
 
Rick Shepherd said:
The Peluso CEMC6s are sound very balanced, very accurate! I also describe them as very musical on acoustic guitar. I used them to record these samples. These are the matched pair using a Taylor 414 guitar --> Avalon AD2022 Preamp --> E-MU 1212m soundcard:

Sample 1

Sample 2
Click to expand...

Hey Rick, nice to hear someone pickin some Jim Croce - nice job. Curious about the noise though, is that the E-Mu?

-RD
 
mindbuzz said:
Ok first of all, those MXL 603 sticks look like junk.

Now I've looked at the specs on some of these. For the price, jerfo, you're right on about the Oktava's. The frequency range looks a bit shaky depending on placement, but overall the '012's far surpass the competition. The Oktava omni and cardioid capsules have a closer linear response for the price. The specs say that, although less predictable, they sound better than the Studio Project C4's, according to the graphs. Just that the C4 omni cap is pretty damn linear for $299. If $450 was my magical price limit, I could snap up a pair of Oktava's for less at auction, probably pretty easily. Or get a pair of C4's. They both have advantages.

For some reason, one thing I've been amateurishly concerned about with these SDC microphones is self noise. Not that I thoroughly understand self-noise, I just think it sounds like a bad thing. Self noise on the Oktava is (at 18dB) higher than the C4 (16dB) and about the same as the JM27's (18dB). The C4's win there, but that seems neglegible after a little more research. For comparison, a DPA 4011 with a nearly perfect linear response creates a self noise of 19-25dB depending on the setup.

The Joe Meek JM27's don't actually seem to have mapped out pattern response circles or diagrams, but from what I've read I can safely assume from the specs that these little guys have virtually no low end at all and that the dropoff in the 50 - 300Hz range on the JM27's probably is pretty bad. Of couse a high-end flare could definitely add some flavor to some acoustics... and could very well balance out the lows that bleed from my vocal mic to the guitar.

I know what you're saying though about the neutral response with the Oktava's because I can't add something that isn't there, but I could knock out lows, as long as they're there, with an EQ in mastering... and match a JM27 sound pretty well using a more neutral mic.

) Peluso CEMC 6 stereo pair. I couldn't find any specs. Sorry. I would guess they're pretty nice for that price and from what I've read here on the BBS. I don't know how nice really.... a smooth $565 nice on Ebay --
- http://cgi.ebay.com/PELUSO-CEMC6-ST...ryZ41466QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

... :)
Click to expand...

Have you actually listened to any of these mics, or do you just look at the spec sheet? The JM27 and the 603s are the same exact mic, just with a different looking capsule housing. These are OEM'd by one chinese company and packaged under different brands. Anyone who has actually heard these say the 603s sound VERY close to the Oktava MC012's, but a just bit brighter.

You cannot tell what a mic sounds like just by looking at the chart. It just doesn't work that way.
 
CEMC6's

Hi Robert,

These mic were defective, and I sent them back to Peluso. Since that time, they said they corrected the problem, so I am waiting to pick up a new pair soon because I really like the sound quality.
 
just picked up the rode nt5s the other day...used them this weekend. they sounded great. took my drum sound to a whole new level. they are not as bright as i thought they would be..that not being a bad thing.. wanted to try them out on everything this weekend.. ended up using them as OHs..2/4 guitar tracks..and tried them on vocals, but it didnt work out so well on vox.
 
Phil,
Have you actually listened to any of these mics, or do you just look at the spec sheet? The JM27 and the 603s are the same exact mic, just with a different looking capsule housing. These are OEM'd by one chinese company and packaged under different brands. Anyone who has actually heard these say the 603s sound VERY close to the Oktava MC012's, but a just bit brighter.
Click to expand...

Honestly, no. I haven't heard most of these mics. I don't have that kind of money or access to do a side-by-side scientific and/or interpretive analysis on my own. I'm going by what the majority of other people have had to say about these mics and comparing their comments to what I imagine the mic might sound like based on the specs.

From the comment/spec comparison, I hope to piece together in my imagination some esoteric, generalized, stereotypical audio picture of how these microphones sound. So that when it all comes down to buying -- since I have the unfortunate inability to audition each of these microphones a priori -- I can make an educated guess and try to save money in the process.

StarvingEyes,
Yeh, that's been the general concensus on the NT5's -- that they have been not-too-bright (interpreted: a little extra low-end on the EQ, not as neutral as other mics) but very quality mics just the same.

Thanks, Harvey, for reading the thread!

Rick S.,
I read your thread about the Peluso mics. When I have some more money I'd like to try out a pair, based almost solely upon reading your thread... and listening to the samples. :)

For my purposes, I bought myself a stereo JM27PAC set through a distributor, but there's been a delay in shipping. They should arrive within the next week or so. I think it's partially the mystery to them, since I can't seem to find much in the way of a tech spec on them, but they have some good reviews. Same with the Peluso's. Honestly, I like the Meek package deal (comes with a stereo bar for mounting); I like the way they look, externally, in the photos (better than the MXL603's); and I like the price.

When I finally decided, I thought, "Studio Projects?... Joe Meek... Joe Meek... no wait... Oktava... well... no... maybe Peloso..." etc., and then I finally did a sorta eeny-meeny-miny-moe type of thing in my brain, closed my eyes, spun around, and pointed at my computer screen, and my finger landed on the word "the." And then I opened my wallet and looked at the pocket lint inside. That's how I came to my decision.

:)
 
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*ssssssph* *cough* *hack* *hack* Whoa.

Passes the doogee to the left.
 
mindbuzz said:
*ssssssph* *cough* *hack* *hack* Whoa.

Passes the doogee to the left.
Click to expand...


Ok, I'm old...at what point in history did a doobie become a doogee?

Just wanted to know. :D
 
I always thought it was a doobie. Or is it a fatty? Whatever. :D
 
i go for rode

i have been using a matched pair of nt5s for some years now, and they have not let me down. i once looked at the nt4, but i don't like the lack of versatility, though i don't doubt the quality. someone mentioned that the nt5s sound a bit 'darker' in the highs, but i have not found that to be the case (though i might need to question the efficiency of my ears). What i have found is that you can throw them at anything and they will work a treat.
 
Gecko - you're getting off topic. We're talking about the Doogie Brothers. :D

It wasn't too long ago a young chinese co-worker said to me "oops, my bad". I thought he just needed a little more work on his english, but no, I was just out of touch with the latest modern parlance. So I wasn't gonna say squat about doogie.
I may be getting old, but I'll bet I have the longest hair in here. :) Of course, who cares.

-RD
 
When Musical Youth sings that reggae song,

"Pass the ___ on the lef' han' side"

He says, doogee. Or "dutchie" or whatever. :cool:
 
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