buying a TLM-103

  • Thread starter Thread starter audiofreak
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Michael Jones said:
OK, CJ, with all of your infinate wisdom, bestow upon us, the unenlightened, your idea of a "truly good mic".

(and I'll see if I concur) :)
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unfortunately, I am not of infinite wisdom. I only know that I have heard good mics and would never want to use the tlm103 ever.

To me, good mics are the U87 and the u47. Everything else I've heard right now either falls under "useable" or "Forget about it"
 
Mics

The TLM 103 sucks.

The NTK stinks.

The U87 and U47 suck and blow, respectively (or maybe it's the other way around).

The SM57 craps out.

The Oktava Mk012 bites.

The MXL603s grows on you, but not in a good way, more like mold or something.

The AKG 1000 hurts you.

The KM184 is nice, but you tell it to get lost because it is so insipid it makes you feel queasy.

The Behringer ECM8000 makes a mess and refuses to clean it up.

The AT 4033 asks you for money, and tries to take it when your back is turned.

The Sennheiser 421 uses your computer and changes a bunch of settings so things don't ever work right afterwards.

The RCA DX77 accuses you of being insensitive.
 
I know what you mean. The RE20 won't return my calls.
-kent
 
CyanJaguar said:


unfortunately, I am not of infinite wisdom. I only know that I have heard good mics and would never want to use the tlm103 ever.

To me, good mics are the U87 and the u47. Everything else I've heard right now either falls under "useable" or "Forget about it"
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Really?
huh?
Well, what'd ya know? OK maybe "infiinate" was a bit strong, but I'll respect your opinion.
You could do worse than a TLM-103, I suppose. You could be using an AKG C-1000s, the door mat of microphones. :p
 
CJ - Still curious, what exactly is it that you think "Stinks"about a TLM-103? I understand preferring a U87 or U47. I don't understand telling someone who probably couldn't possibly afford those mic's, but is aspiring to buy a real Neuman instead of a Chinese wanna be mic, that his aspirations are crap. So, if you have some useful dialog about the way the TLM-103 "stinks", I'd love to hear it. What I don't like to hear is gear snobbery at someone else's expense.
RD
 
Kent -
Must be you. I went out with the RE20 recently after she called me back. And, I would have gotten lucky only she forgot her diaphragm
 
Robert D,

I dont mean to be snobby. There was a time that I thought that the tlm103 was good too, but I was just starting out and I did not have much to compare to. I have heard sm57s that sound better than the 103.

I describe the tlm103s sound (on vocals) as edgy, harsh, and instant coffee. the initial reaction is to be wowed by it, because it seemingly does everything better, but once one listens for a good amount of time, one find that it adds a very unnatural harshness to the voice. The u47 on the other hand add a super smooth creaminess.

Every mic has its own characteristics. One just has to find a good match for one's tastes. For instance, the c414b/uls has been called strident(which it can be with the wrong pre) but put it against a tlm103 and its actually better than the 103 IMHO. The 4033 has been called nasal, which it also is, but it has a certain realism that is really hard to find anywhere else in that price range.
 
CJ:

Everyone's entitled to their opinion. But on most vocals i find i prefer my TLM 103 to either my 4033 or my 414b/uls. Perhaps you just had one that was a "dog". Or perhaps that just makes me a brainless buffoon.

I have a Lawson L47mp that I think blows away the U87. That doens't mean that the U87 sucks.And it doesn't mean that I think you are a moron for liking only two mics, one of which I think is somewhat over-rated.

It just means that you are incredibly opinionated or else haven't tried very many other quality mics. To cavalierly dismiss the C12, the various Brauners, Soundelux's, BLUE's, Coles, Royers, RCA's, Manley, Lawson, Earthworks, Schoeps, DPA (B&K), and even the U67 shows a remarkable narrow-mindedness.

It's kind of like saying the only foods worth eating are steak and ice cream. Everything else is just a poor substitute for one or the other.

Nothing wrong with having steak and ice cream as your favorite foods. But how boring to never want to eat anything else.
 
CJ - Thank's for elaborating. Yes, of course those mic's sound better, as they should for the money they sell for. Like all mics, there are times when the 103 would be the best choice on a track, even with an 87 and a 47 sitting there. But the bottom line is often the bottom line, and for a lot of home recorders (you are aware that you're on a HOME RECORDING forum, aren't you?) those mic's are out of the question. So the question of TLM-103 versus U87/U47 is moot, and a snippet like "what are you buying that mic for, it stinks" is just pissing in someone's cheereo's.
Now if you had offered some advice on what you consider to be a better choice of microphone, in the same price range, then I wouldn't be up here on my soapbox.
Regards, RD
 
littledog,

nobody on earth has heard all the mics on earth. So it can be assumed that my preferences are based on the few mics that I have heard. My liking the u47/u87 does not mean I might not prefer a different mic for vox somewhere down the line(I doubt it though).

I have heard the c12 and u67 on numerous occasions and I would not like to smear(IMHO) my recordings with either mic. As I said, its just personal preference-not narrow-mindedness.

I have also heard most of the blues and even have one. THey are just OK. Nothing to really write home about. THe earthworks qtc1 is really good and can work if I need a crystal clear sound, but again, everything is Personal Opinion.

my reference is a few larger than life vocals that I have heard on various CDs. THe u87/u47 sound the closest to that(duh! many of them were u47s) anything else would be a departure from that.
 
CyanJaguar said:


my reference is a few larger than life vocals that I have heard on various CDs. THe u87/u47 sound the closest to that(duh! many of them were u47s) anything else would be a departure from that.
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I must have missed the part about your opinion referring to vocals only. (And can I assume you mean male vocals? Because some of those "larger than life" female vocals may have been done on a U67.) I just remember you saying something like: "I would never want to use the TLM 103, ever." Followed by your "there are only two mics..." quote. I think all those "nevers" and "evers" gave me the impression you were talking about recording in general, not just male vocals.

While i still wouldn't agree, at least your statements make slightly more sense in that context. Even if you hated all the recordings of vocals that I have made with the TLM103, I would be surprised if you hated all of the acoustic bass tracks or drum room tracks I have made with that mic.
 
CyanJaguar said:
why are you buying a tlm 103? that mic stinks
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This is some funny stuff. I was just searching the archives . . . trying to get some opinions on the CAD E-350 (something I've heard some positive things about lately -- Why have people stopped talking about this one?) . . . and I came across THIS:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=12379&highlight=cad+e350

:D :D :D Man, I'm sorry, Cyan. I couldn't help it. It was just sitting there, kind of like that old embarassing baby picture you don't want your friends to see.

Enjoy!
 
Sorry chessrock, but I think CJ already covered his ass on that one.

CyanJaguar said:
Robert D,

I dont mean to be snobby. There was a time that I thought that the tlm103 was good too, but I was just starting out and I did not have much to compare to.
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Damn, that's one fat ugly baby in that picture too. Looks like he's getting caught with his pants down too. Oh Lordy, the shame, the shame.


Cheers,

Bryan
 
thanks Tdukex. At that time, the tlm103 was IT.

There might come a time when I dont like the u87 or u47 anymore but I dont see it right now. Myopic vision I guess.

Right now, I would be happy to do any recording with nothing but Neumann mics. Km54s, u47s, u87s, km184s etc
 
CyanJaguar said:

Right now, I would be happy to do any recording with nothing but Neumann mics. Km54s, u47s, u87s, km184s etc
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Me too.:D

Actually I'm happy using a 797 Audio CR998, a Marshall MXL 603s, a Behringer ECM 8000, and two Shure 545s.:p
 
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