kristian
New member
Acm-1200
I received two ACM 1200s earlier in the week and burned them in for a day. I've been putting them through a few trial runs before I decide what to do with them.
First, here is a comparison photo of one ACM 1200 and an Advanced Audio Microphones modded mic including CEK-367 capsule, BV11 and AAM's circuit mods. That is my "control mic" to see what I can do with the 1200. I also have an AKG 414buls which I'll use for subjective comparisons.
My original intention was to mod both ACM 1200 along similar lines as the AAM mic instead using a CEK12 capsule. I picked up two Cinemag 2480 transformers a few months ago but I've yet to pick up the CEK 12 capsules, new tube or gained the confidence to do any circuit mods.
Ok, initial impression.
1-The top of one of the grilles is considerably dented in. I'm going to have to push it out and reshape it. I would say the lowest point of the dent is lower than the corner of the grille, so not good. It's not touching the capsule but it's quite close.
2-Tried both mics on Acoustic guitar/vocal where I had one over my right shoulder pointed at my left knee. Set to cardiod + one notch of omni. The other was placed forward and to the left pointed at my chin. Polar pattern of cardiod + one notch of figure 8. Both intersected in a space between my mouth and the top of my guitar. Tried both normal and rolled off. The roll off is transparent. The tighter pattern of the left mic caused a significant amount of proximity effect even at 2 feet giving some tube buzz. Maybe that wasn't causing it but that's my conclusion for now. The mic over my shoulder had a more open sound from both placement and pattern but was more pleasant to listen to. It wouldn't sit as well in a mix because it was not "in your face" but that was the point of putting it there! Overall, compared to the AAM the mics are smaller sounding but NOT bad. It would just take significantly more time for placement. My guess this is probably more down to the capsule than anything. Next test further emphasizes that.
3-Then I moved over to drums. Again, single OH over my right shoulder in figure 8 pattern about 5.5 feet up in a 9 foot room. The other mic was on bass drum in cardiod with -10 pad engaged... heed the warnings, mute before engaging the pad! I was actually really excited to try this after the "tube buzz" encountered during acoustic guitar/vocal trials. It was NOT placed in front of the sound hole but it was in the middle about 3 inches off the skin. Anyway, the kick drum sounded horrible. And I'm not sure why it did but I think the capsule was bottoming out. I don't think the SPL was too high and it was NOT a direct wind blast. When I have more time I'll try to back it off the skin and see if that helps. The OH mic again was workable but smaller than the AAM mic or AKG 414. This is not surprising, nor an indictment of it's value but I'm leaning towards the capsule being the weak link with these guys.
What's next? On Monday I have band practice so I'm going to throw up one of the ACM1200 in front a bass cab and see what we can do with the "tube buzz". Hopefully it doesn't bottom out again. I'll leave the other 1200 as an drum OH for practice as well. Also, I want to find a jazz group that I can record, I think upright bass could sing through one of these guys.
Overall I'm happy with both mics, but honestly my expectations were not excessive. However, for what you pay these are EXCELLENT shells to work with for the future; multipattern, easily modifiable and quiet. I'm definitely going to go ahead and purchase some new capsules to go with the Cinemag transformers though. But before that I'll be testing them out a bit more in stock layout.
I'm kicking myself that I didn't grab a few ribbon mics. The ACM-2 and ACM-3 were begging me a half year ago but I decided to go with the 1200 as a known quantity. Live and learn, right? I am dieing for more "EQ mics". I've had a Peluso R14 for a few years and the thing changed the way I approached recording. Get sound to tape vs. processing. Obviously mic position works as a great EQ but sometimes you want a different starting response. In the meantime the SM57 and SM58 will continue being my other EQ mics.
Happy recording people and thanks Chance for helping us with our musical explorations.
I received two ACM 1200s earlier in the week and burned them in for a day. I've been putting them through a few trial runs before I decide what to do with them.
First, here is a comparison photo of one ACM 1200 and an Advanced Audio Microphones modded mic including CEK-367 capsule, BV11 and AAM's circuit mods. That is my "control mic" to see what I can do with the 1200. I also have an AKG 414buls which I'll use for subjective comparisons.
My original intention was to mod both ACM 1200 along similar lines as the AAM mic instead using a CEK12 capsule. I picked up two Cinemag 2480 transformers a few months ago but I've yet to pick up the CEK 12 capsules, new tube or gained the confidence to do any circuit mods.
Ok, initial impression.
1-The top of one of the grilles is considerably dented in. I'm going to have to push it out and reshape it. I would say the lowest point of the dent is lower than the corner of the grille, so not good. It's not touching the capsule but it's quite close.
2-Tried both mics on Acoustic guitar/vocal where I had one over my right shoulder pointed at my left knee. Set to cardiod + one notch of omni. The other was placed forward and to the left pointed at my chin. Polar pattern of cardiod + one notch of figure 8. Both intersected in a space between my mouth and the top of my guitar. Tried both normal and rolled off. The roll off is transparent. The tighter pattern of the left mic caused a significant amount of proximity effect even at 2 feet giving some tube buzz. Maybe that wasn't causing it but that's my conclusion for now. The mic over my shoulder had a more open sound from both placement and pattern but was more pleasant to listen to. It wouldn't sit as well in a mix because it was not "in your face" but that was the point of putting it there! Overall, compared to the AAM the mics are smaller sounding but NOT bad. It would just take significantly more time for placement. My guess this is probably more down to the capsule than anything. Next test further emphasizes that.
3-Then I moved over to drums. Again, single OH over my right shoulder in figure 8 pattern about 5.5 feet up in a 9 foot room. The other mic was on bass drum in cardiod with -10 pad engaged... heed the warnings, mute before engaging the pad! I was actually really excited to try this after the "tube buzz" encountered during acoustic guitar/vocal trials. It was NOT placed in front of the sound hole but it was in the middle about 3 inches off the skin. Anyway, the kick drum sounded horrible. And I'm not sure why it did but I think the capsule was bottoming out. I don't think the SPL was too high and it was NOT a direct wind blast. When I have more time I'll try to back it off the skin and see if that helps. The OH mic again was workable but smaller than the AAM mic or AKG 414. This is not surprising, nor an indictment of it's value but I'm leaning towards the capsule being the weak link with these guys.
What's next? On Monday I have band practice so I'm going to throw up one of the ACM1200 in front a bass cab and see what we can do with the "tube buzz". Hopefully it doesn't bottom out again. I'll leave the other 1200 as an drum OH for practice as well. Also, I want to find a jazz group that I can record, I think upright bass could sing through one of these guys.
Overall I'm happy with both mics, but honestly my expectations were not excessive. However, for what you pay these are EXCELLENT shells to work with for the future; multipattern, easily modifiable and quiet. I'm definitely going to go ahead and purchase some new capsules to go with the Cinemag transformers though. But before that I'll be testing them out a bit more in stock layout.
I'm kicking myself that I didn't grab a few ribbon mics. The ACM-2 and ACM-3 were begging me a half year ago but I decided to go with the 1200 as a known quantity. Live and learn, right? I am dieing for more "EQ mics". I've had a Peluso R14 for a few years and the thing changed the way I approached recording. Get sound to tape vs. processing. Obviously mic position works as a great EQ but sometimes you want a different starting response. In the meantime the SM57 and SM58 will continue being my other EQ mics.
Happy recording people and thanks Chance for helping us with our musical explorations.
