EV RE15 vs RE20

[chessparov]

The RE15 (and RE16) have a certain "vibe" on vocals, like the RE20 has in its own way.

Difference in top end on these two equate to the RE15 sounding like a quality ribbon mic, and the RE20 sounding more like a "tube" LDC.

This was EV's conceptual direction in creating both these series,
largely due to the broadcasting industry. Their mics (like RE15/16) were competing with the RCA 77 at that time, then later on, the Neumann U87
which has a crisper tone (as FM radio became more popular).

In fact, the RE20 is nicknamed "the condenser killer" in some veteran radio circles due to its success vs. LDC's.

Chris

 

[EleKtriKaz]

Haha, seriously though, college degrees are a dime-a-dozen these days. I can't even count how many people I know with Bachelors and Masters (and even some doctoral) degrees that are now living with their parents and can't find a job. Just having a degree isn't enough any more. You have to be diverse as hell. I majored in Communications with minors in Business, English and Music, and I'm still not sure I covered all the bases. Dream jobs are hard to come by these days. I’m not saying they don't exist, but man are they hard to land. All I can do is work my ass off and hope for the best.

Elektrikaz - Fuck yeah I'm scared but I'm confident that I can make something of myself.

Yeah, apparently a degree in finance is the "in" degree right now, so I'm not exactly going to be in high demand...so it's probably a good thing I'm considering a career in music

 

[hognogger]

Thanks, chessparov. That was a great post.

Anway, I've just scored an RE15 from ebay, so I'm looking forward to playing with it...

 

[chessparov]

Thanks hognogger. This EV info is mainly based,however, upon study of a certain world class AE's postings (Bob Ohlsson).

Chris

 

[OneRoomStudios]

Difference in top end on these two equate to the RE15 sounding like a quality ribbon mic, and the RE20 sounding more like a "tube" LDC.

If the RE15 is supposed to sound like a ribbon, why would it have a weak low end, as Big Kenny says his does. Could that be a problem with his mic, or it that really the case? All the ribbons I've used (only two) had pretty big bottoms to them. I assumed that was the case for most if not all ribbons...am I off base? Thanks.


Peter

 

[OneRoomStudios]

Also, I just looked at the EV website and downloaded their product catalog, and it appears that they're going to stop making the RE16 as it wasn't in the most recent catalog. That would be a shame. I guess either their new Cobalt series or thier N/D series are supposed to replace it?

Has anyone used the N/D468? It's the one with the swiveling head on the yoke style mount. They describe it as their instrument mic. It looks pretty interesting. It almost looks like it might have a larger capsule that the others, but you can't judge a capsule by it's housing these days. Anyway, any feed back would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[chessparov]

Due to the "variable-D" feature that the RE15/16 have, they don't produce le
proximity effect as standard cardiod mics do (like SM57)=less bass response.

So you can't fill in as much low end, for example, on a "thin" sounding singer.
This turns out to be an advantage however, on the following;

1) Many female vocalists where you want a natural "bottom end" .

2) Inexperienced "studio singers" (like me!) who have poor mic techinque.

3) Studio singers (like Elvis) who moved around while recording.
BTW the RE20 is even better for this and was Stevie Wonder's
main vocal mic during his 70's heyday. He's NEVER still.

The top end on these EV's are highly "EQ-able". And they're nowhere as
fussy as a Shure when it comes to which pre is used to sound good.
This makes them more practical with budget pre's/mixers.

Scott Dorsey considers the 468, 408, and 308 in the N/D series to be excellent vocal mics. The issue with these neodymium designs is they're much brighter than the classic EV's/Shure's. That can bring out
sibilance. The Shure Betas are too bright on me, but the the AKG D790
(or D770) is fine, so YMMV with this type. The positive is sometimes you want the faster transient response (like condenser) they get.

Sorry to hear about the RE16 going away, a mistake for EV in both marketing and judgement IMHO.

Chris

 

[chessrock]

If the RE15 is supposed to sound like a ribbon, why would it have a weak low end, as Big Kenny says his does.

Just like we have a lot of creative markeging going on these days -- "Sounds just like a Neumann on my hampster" -- Electrovoice seems to have had some very active and similarly clever marketing folks on their team back in the 60's-70's. They were very good, too. They successfully took over the broadcast and voiceover industries with their mics; I don't think I've seen a studio or radio station that doesn't have a few RE-20's.

Any audio guy over the age of 40 probably knows or has heard the "hammer" story, where one of EV's chiefs demonstrated how tough their mics were by pounding in a nail with one. The basis of their strategy was in designing mics that supposedly sounded like something else, but without the drawbacks inherent in what they were imitating.

For example: The Electrovoice 666. Sounds similar to a ribbon, only it's way tougher. You can even use it as a hammer, it's so tough. Now take the RE-15. It also sounds like a ribbon, but only with far less of the annoying proximity effect. This would eventually evolve in to the RE-20, which I believe they dubbed themselves as the "condenser killer."

When you boil it all down ... aside from the clever marketing, Electrovoice made some of the very finest dynamic mics. Make that some of the finest mics, period. Forget all the wild claims about them sounding like something they're not, and you still have a great mic.

I know it's really hard to believe and all ... a microphone company making wild claims, and audio guys being susceptible to marketing.

 

[EleKtriKaz]

Anyone used the RE15 on toms? I know I should just get another 421, but a) it's expensive and b) I already have one and I want something different.