Comparable to RE20?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheRockDoc
  • Start date Start date
TheRockDoc

TheRockDoc

New member
I will be doing some voice work on my home studio and prepping some professional quality voice work (spoken,not singing). Any broadcast studio uses RE20's, and I am not seeing new ones for much less than $400. Is there anything comparable, in your experiences, that would be an adequate substitute, or am I going to have to cough up the $$?
 
I just got an ElectroVoice 635a off of eBay for $46, the PL5(same as the 635) usually goes for about $20. You should try one of those, they're easy to resale and make %100 of your money back if you don't like it.
 
The EV RE20, Shure SM7, and Sennheiser MD421 are all well regarded broadcast, voiceover, and recording mics (all $350-$400, new). I scored a used RE20 off ebay for about $250. The Sennheisers are frequently sold on ebay for less than $200 and might be a good one to check out. Don't rule out a condenser for voice work, either. They can be lovely on spoken stuff.
 
Yea, I'd go used.

See if you can score a (Electrovoice) PL-20, RE-15, or RE-16.

Any one of those will get you in the ballpark. And a PL-20 will get you what amounts to be a cheaper RE-20 with the model number being the biggest difference between the two.
 
I would go with either the suggestion for a used RE20 or a used SM7B. The latter is just as common, if not moreso, in radio stations. Beyond that stay on the dynamic side of technology and get the best you can afford. The MD421 would not be bad but while I have seen them in voiceover studios I have not seen them in radio stations themselves.
 
I remember someone over at prorec.com recommending a Peavey PVM 520i as a lesser expensive alternative. I have not use the EV RE20s, but I have used the Peavey 520i and it sounds pretty darned good to me.
 
Innovations said:
I would go with either the suggestion for a used RE20 or a used SM7B. The latter is just as common, if not moreso, in radio stations. Beyond that stay on the dynamic side of technology and get the best you can afford. The MD421 would not be bad but while I have seen them in voiceover studios I have not seen them in radio stations themselves.
Click to expand...
Ive seen MD421s on remote location broadcasts.
 
All good suggestions...

Thanks- I am really enjoying this site and the people on it.

I remember something about a variable EQ or filter that the RE 20 has- something that I think would work like a variable and self adjusting attenuator that helps with pops and variations in 'technique' when speaking. Do the other mics suggested have that or do they just have similar pickup patterns?
 
TheRockDoc said:
Thanks- I am really enjoying this site and the people on it.

I remember something about a variable EQ or filter that the RE 20 has- something that I think would work like a variable and self adjusting attenuator that helps with pops and variations in 'technique' when speaking. Do the other mics suggested have that or do they just have similar pickup patterns?
Click to expand...

The Shure SM7 has variable EQ by means of high pass and low pass filter switches - I'm not sure exactly how many combinations, but it has a built-in eq system of sorts that goes beyond what your garden variety high pass rumble cut switch does. I'm not sure what it does for proximity effect.

The RE-20 has what's called a "variable D" pickup pattern, which is a fancy way of saying it's a cardioid mic with very little proximity effect, which is kind of unusual. The variable D is an EV designed and patented thing. It also has a garden variety high pass filter switch. I don't know of any attenuators.



sl
 
additional question about the re20,
if i'm correct the re27 is the "newer, better,faster" version,
the specs seem a bit 'upgraded' but i haven't compared the two,
so any guys that know the REAL difference between the new and old version,
is it (once again:) 'stick to the old version, the new isnt as good' ?
and whats the price difference, cause i have no idea,

thanks

for broadcast voices, i kinda got the same thing to say,
a shure sm7, or sennheiser 421, or even 21 if you're gonna record on the streets :)
 
flatpicker...on that peavey mic.
well my goodnesss ive used that same peavey mic.
and i was quite impressed. but kept it to myself fearing that maybe
i was wrong somehow/delusional/i had had a couple of beers that night (?) and had missed something. makes me feel tons better. thanks.
 
on that PV mic...

At one time,I worked at a place called Daddy's Junky Music in Boston (across form Berklee). As you may know, PeeWee's are not nearly as popular up north as they are in LynrdSkinrd country :)

BUT- I was a fan of several of there gear- most notabely the AMR consoles and the PAG amps. I will look at the PV, and maybe compare to the RE 20. As I am really trying to create some high quality pro recordings, I am more concerned about the end product then the name. As you all know, musicians are notoriously name brand conscious; just ask the guys who listen to speakers and tell you how the hear the 22Hz signal with clarity :confused:
 
chessrock said:
Yea, I'd go used.

See if you can score a (Electrovoice) PL-20, RE-15, or RE-16.

Any one of those will get you in the ballpark. And a PL-20 will get you what amounts to be a cheaper RE-20 with the model number being the biggest difference between the two.
Click to expand...

bares repeating.
 
Your best shot at lowering the price is searching out a PL20.

I don't know of any mic made by anyone that sounds the same as an EV RE20. There are many other worthwhile dynamic mics out there such as the SM57, SM58, Beyer Soundstar MKII, EV 635a, Audio-Technica ATM25, Sennheiser 421, Shure SM7.

The EV mics are great mics. Here's more info on them... http://mojopie.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=845
 
A little sound testing

Well, I did a little sound test at my local GC. No RE20 in stock.

The winner (so far) for my voice was the MD 421. The switch for music vs. speaking also made a huge difference. There was an AT that was pretty hot but revealed too much between words, and the $1000 Neumann was also excellent- but not $650 better for my purposes. Tried a few others but they didn't make it to the second round. Must be that misplaced NYC accent :)

I am interested in putting the RE up against the MD- word for word. Either way, I'll have to drop the bucks. Been searching on eBay but not sure if I want to breath someone elses lather all over the mic. Any cleansing tricks? lol
 
got my re20 on ebay for around 250 also. good thing about that mic is that its built like a tank. a used one should be fine. things a huge chunk of steel.
 
I just saw an RE20 listed on craigslist in LA for $275 & shipping....
....I'm flat broke - somebody grab it! :eek:
 
Flatpicker said:
I have used the Peavey 520i and it sounds pretty darned good to me.
Click to expand...

I just picked up one of these for $70 on a whim. I'm going to do an A/B comparison with a friend's RE20. I will post results.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top