Bright Coloration - A List of Mics

[Dot]

Have a look - I've modified the graph. I took out "neutral". Now, there's just a continumm for transparent to color. I think it probably makes for a cleaner presentation.

http://www.thelisteningsessions.com/images/mic-graph1.jpg

Dan Richards
The Listening Sessions
The Project Studio Handbook

 

[Dot]

I know there's a certain subjectivity to the color vs. transparent thing, but what's unusual is that from what I hear, I would agree with most things I see on the graph, exept... My Studio Projects C-4's are a little brighter, and waaaay less colored than my Oktava MC012's, which are pleasantly colored. In fact, my C-4's are rather similar in sound to my C414! The question is, are we looking at a difference between my mics and the ones Dot tested, or a difference in ears? It's funny that we would basically agree on a mess of mics, and totally disagree on one case only. What are your thoughts, Dot?

Richard, maybe we should each send each other one of our C4's, because the ones I have are no where near as bright or neutral as a C414. And the C4's we have are much more colored than the MC012's we have.

Note: As I work on this graph, there are obviously going to be some discrepancies from some people. And I'm actually looking for input! When I have this a little more worked out I'm going to post a link in some of the pro forums and request input from people - and ask them to check and see if what I have matches what they think.

There will obviously be a little sliding around of some of the positions as I work on this graph. I know I'm not totally off base - and there's no way that DPA would wind up over on the colored sides. But little tweaks and adjustments are definitely going to be needed. At the moment that most challenging sector are the bright/colored mics.

Nothing written in stone on this - and I just started doing it - and am making little readjustments all the time on the graph.

Dan Richards
The Listening Sessions
The Project Studio Handbook

 

[Richard Monroe]

Well, I'll tell you what, Dot. Right now I'm using these mics, but- the next upgrade comes around March, when I'm adding a pair of C-42's. Once I do that, you can have my C-4's for a couple of weeks to play with. I'm just as interested as you are. If our opinions were all over the place, I'd be guessing we just hear things differently, but this one case is an anomaly. I remember back when you first made the statement that the C-4's were very colored, I remember thinking, "No, they're not." I suspect we may have a real difference between the pairs. I kid you not, and my ears aren't the only ones that have suggested a similarity between my C-4's and my C414B-ULS, which BTW, I like very much.-Richie

 

[mixsit]

How about some of the 'flater' ribbions (R-84, Royers maybe)? Not as flat as the DPA's and Earthworks but very 'natural' sounding. In the Dark-Tranparent corner I'd guess?
Wayne