Do you see any shortcommings in these mics?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrAccident
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MrAccident

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Hi
Although I spend the whole day, learning how to interpret microphones specs - there's a big chance I missed something.
I intend to use the microphone for singing and recording sounds (probably less important).
My first concern was as flat frequency response as possible; and those definitely have that. The rest seems good from what I've learned; but I'm not sure. This is what I need your help for.
For instance, it seems strange that the frequency response line is at -40db; what does this mean?
Since I can't post links - the mics are: "Dayton Audio iMM-6" and "Dayton Audio EMM-6", on parts-express.com. I want to buy one of the mics.
There are no differences (unless I missed something), other than the connection.
I want to use the mic with a digital recorder; so which one of them do you thing will be better?
 
Several notes:

For recording voice, people generally prefer a mic that doesn't have a flat frequency response. But that's not really the question you asked (or even one of the questions).

For recording voice, people generally also prefer a directional mic. This is actually another facet of the preceding point, since cardiod mics, by their nature, typically have a presence peak when you sing into them at a fairly close distance. Again, not one of your questions, but it's information.

Those two mics almost certainly have the same capsule. It's also highly likely that it's the same capsule that's used in various other small diaphragm mics. The XLR version you're interested in looks almost exactly like the Behringer ECM 8000 and some other similarly-priced measurement mics wearing several different brandnames (Nady, Apex, etc.). There's a good possibility they all come out of the same factory and are the same in all respects save for the logo. That's not definite, though. They also look similar (though not identical) to some higher-priced measurement mics from Audix, Earthworks, etc. The various cheapies may just be separate knockoffs based on the same originals. Pretty good chance they use the same capsule, though.

Though the list for the Behringer version is a little higher, it's readily available at a cheaper price than the one you've linked, on eBay or wherever.

Don't rely on frequency-response charts as truth, absent some independent reason to do so. It's pretty well established, I think, that individual ECM 8000s are different from one another, and (of course) different from the supposed precision response plots. That may not matter a ton to you, as it might if you were using it as a measurement mic. If your goal is really just to be approximately flat at a low price, you're not likely to do a lot better than those choices. If you have a different goal, those may or may not be good choices.

it seems strange that the frequency response line is at -40db; what does this mean?
It doesn't mean anything. The output level they measured is just 40 dB lower than something. In the absence of knowing what that "something" is, -40 dB means nothing. If you knew the something, it still wouldn't really mean much standing by itself. FWIW, -40 dB just mean 1/10,000 the power of whatever the reference level is. It's a reasonable guess that the reference level is standard consumer line-level (-10 dBV), as that would be consistent with a fairly typiczal mic output. But that really doesn't have anything to do with the frequency response.

There are no differences (unless I missed something), other than the connection.
As I mentioned, the capsule is very likely the same. The electronics probably are different, though. To the extent the specs can be trusted (which, in this instance, they probably can), the XLR version requires at least 15V of phantom power. The TRRS version couldn't possibly expect that, or it wouldn't work when plugged into an iPhone. So it's highly likely they're different inside. The impedance, level, etc. all may be different.

I want to use the mic with a digital recorder; so which one of them do you thing will be better?
See prior post. It depends on the recorder. If it's an iPhone, the one with the iPhone plug will work better, in that the other one won't work at all. As quite appropriately noted in the prior post, most little handheld recorders have built-in mics, which are likely as good or better in some sense than those (though probably not flatter), and which are free once you pay for the recorder.
 
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Thank you for the replays.
The reason I chose those, is that this whole thing is like looking for a needle in a haystack. So I relied on two things: ratings and a flat FR.
Now you say that it doesn't tell much. Frankly I don't understand the logic in buying a recorder and relying on the mics that there is no data on them, and disregard the information that matches very well with a long article I just read about this subject exactly. so what else is there to rely on? I'm out of ideas.
My budget is something like 300$ MAX for the whole equipment: mic, preamp if needed, recording device, international shipment, and whatever else is needed. Could get higher if I would be sure that I stumbled on some amazing equipment. So far it seems though that I have no idea what is good and what isn't. :-[
 
Thank you for the replays.
The reason I chose those, is that this whole thing is like looking for a needle in a haystack. So I relied on two things: ratings and a flat FR.
Now you say that it doesn't tell much. Frankly I don't understand the logic in buying a recorder and relying on the mics that there is no data on them, and disregard the information that matches very well with a long article I just read about this subject exactly. so what else is there to rely on? I'm out of ideas.
My budget is something like 300$ MAX for the whole equipment: mic, preamp if needed, recording device, international shipment, and whatever else is needed. Could get higher if I would be sure that I stumbled on some amazing equipment. So far it seems though that I have no idea what is good and what isn't. :-[

It sucks, but what you say is essentially true. Will data sheets tell you the difference between a good band and a bad one? There is no technical description of "sounds good". OK- noise is bad, in general, but it matters more on some sources than others. Flat response is not a feature of a main vocal mic, as a rule. Using a measurement mic to record vocals is like taking the makeup off of a supermodel and then taking pictures of her when she gets out of bed with a hangover. Measurement mics are about telling the truth. Vocal mics are about flattering a given voice. Vocal mics are like shoes. They either fit, or they don't.

In order to give you any better advice on your limited budget, we need to know *what* digital recorder, and whether it produces phantom power. Next, we need to know *where* you are, because English does not appear to be your first language, and mics have very different prices in different countries. Finally, we need to know what kind of things you're going to record (?sounds- that covers a lot of ground), and voice- spoken, singing, opera, death metal? Answer those questions and we might be able to start with advice that actually helps. So far, I'm pretty sure you're going to need a directional mic, probably a cardioid, and it could be either a dynamic or a condenser (same thing as a capacitor mic), depending on your answers to the above questions.
 
Thank you for the replay; but I decided to buy this mic.
 
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