Comparison - 14 microphones

[danhughes]

I have several microphones (none of them much above midrange in the price department, sorry to say), and I recorded 14 of them, one after another, in a file that runs a bit under three minutes. I'd appreciate it if you'd give it a listen and let me know which microphone seems to be best for my voice. Many of them sound pretty much the same to me, and than includes some that sell for under $20 and some that sell for over $100.

Here's the file:

I don't want to identify the mics before you listen, because I don't want that to color your opinion. If you do listen and send me a response, I'll email you a list of the microphones.

Thanks!

---Dan, http://danhughes.net

P.S. I don't think any of these mics are professional enough for quality voiceover, but I do a couple of podcasts, where the sound quality isn't quite so important, and I'm just looking for some guidance as to which of the mics I now own is the best for my posdcasts.

 

[sajs]

I could only stand to listen to up to number #7. Too many Peter Piper's for me.
I liked #1,4 and 6.

 

[WhiteStrat]

Yeah, it's tough to keep impressions straight while listening to that many samples in a row. I'd do better with picking the best out of a group of 3 or 4. Then again and so on. Then picking the best from those.

In any case, I got through about eight, and liked 4 the best, with 1 coming in second.

 

[Mayismus]

I listening to them all and it would be better in groups of three but I go with 1, 4 and 6.

 

[Shadow_7]

It's quite hard to choose not knowing the purpose intended. And only having a simple source like an unknown human voice.

That being said, 7 and 14 would probably work well for documentary type work. Number 10 seemed well suited for acoustic work. Initial impressions below.

1. high end
2. low end
3. ultra low end
4. mid
5. low end
6. mid
7. mid / low
8. mid / high
9. mid
10. high end
11. low end
12. mid
13. low end
14. mid

Not that it's worth anything not knowing the source sound. And having no complex acoustic sound to judge against. And pretty pointless past six (or less) options. As reproduced through a Delta 44 to Studiophile BX8's (low end IMO). But it'd be nice to know the low end stuff so I don't waste my money, or recommend it to the competition. And the mid/high stuff so I keep my sanity.