My New Dragonfly.......Ahhhhhhhhhh

[dudleys100]

Got it yesterday. This thing is beautiful. I only have a 58 and a C-1 to compare but oh how sweet it is. I just keep trying it through different singers and it always sounds sweet. It is just round and full compared to the C-1. I like the C-1 but it is definatly a different mic. I haven't found a situation where I would use it over the dragonfly yet though. I got the Dragonfly for $500 which also makes it sweeter. I have an NTK coming in on Friday or saturday so I am excited to see how they compare. One thing I have noticed though is that there is a far bigger difference between my mics, than between Preamps. I definatly like my Soundtracs pre's over the VTB-1 (opinion) but it isn't THAT drastic. It would take me a sec to figure out which pre I was using just by listening, but I can almost instantly tell which mic is being used. Anyway just thought I would share. I can't wait to start banging away. next week I get to compare a Joe Meek an ART dual MP and the big one.........Delta 1010 VS Aardvark. I am up for some fun, I will keep ya'll posted.

 

[Recording Engineer]

dudleys100, you bastard! I don't even have a Dragonfly!

And you got it for $500?!!!

Well, that's it! You did it now! The next condenser mic I buy under $1k, the Dragonfly it is!

Nice choice man! It's one you'll always keep around no matter whatelse you get! Have fun with it!

 

[chessrock]

Hey dudley, try sticking that thing in front of a guitar amp sometime. I think you'll like what you hear. Trust me on this one.

 

[Booda]

Please post your findings on the NTK and Dragonfly. I went with the NTK to start w/ but the Dragonfly was next in line. Got a grteat deal on the NTK.

I also have a Aardvark (24/96) & am interested in how the NTK sounds through the Aark Pres and your other Pre's.

Actually all the things you have to test are pretty interesting to me.

Thanks & Have Fun,
B.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Congrats! The Dragonfly and NTK make a wonderful contrasting vocal pair, and both are versatile enough to have other applications.-Richie

 

[morte sicura]

whoa! Try something like Fletcher's 3-mic drumset technique with the Dragonfly as the front-of-kit mic and see what you get... and let us know


andrew

 

[Flatpicker]

...I got the Dragonfly for $500 which also makes it sweeter...

Where did you find one for $500? I assume it's used, right?

 

[dudleys100]

I got it from a guy on the net. They sell generally for $650 on ebay so I figured I couldn't lose.

Chessrock, I have heard it is great on amps, I havn't had a chance yet.

Booda: I got the NTK for agood deal too. I got the mic, power supply, Cable, and the optional $50 shockmount for $350 shipped. I know I will get some flack for that one I am getting the Aardvark LX6. This doesn't have pre's. I will be using my VTB-1, Soundtracs mixer, ART, and the Joe Meek MQ3. I have a question though for you. If I had the 24/96 can I use external pre's in it? If so, how? Do you just turn down the pre's in it and turn up the external pre's? Let me know.

morte sicura: I don't have space to do drums, as I am in a little apartment. I did however just purchase the discrete drum collection vol 1 which should do me. I have tried it, and I loved it. I would like to hear the drums like that if you have any samples.

Flatpicker: Ya it's used, but it still has the box, screws and everything.

 

[wes480]

i have to buy a dragonfly.

 

[bullyhill]

Good for you man,
I stared at one through glass the other day...500 bucks aye, GC is such a rip off sometimes. I'm gonna go back and stare some more.

 

[Booda]

dudleys100 - well basically you go in with a 1/4 inch and set up as "Line In" and it by-passes the Pre.

You might not believe this one but I picked it up w/ everything and the shockmount for $300 and I gave him $15 for shipping. (he only asked for$10) He had 2 and used them as Overheads for a project, so it's about as new as could be. One of the coolest guys I've dealt with.

B.

 

[dudleys100]

So your sayin that there is software or hardware settings that will let you just bypass the pre's like a line in? nice, I will have to look into that. Do you know if the Q10 has the same converters and pre's as the 24\96? Or is it like the Delta 44\66 and the 1010 where there is a jump?

 

[dudleys100]

Oh ya, I also tried the Dragonfly out for acoustic guitar. I tried it at the twelvth fret. I couldn't get my usual good sound out of it, and i thought it was the ART's fault. Then I put on the 603s and boom it was back. So I didn't prfer it for the 12th fret recording. Then I put it over the shoulder where I usually have the C-1. Any little turn and it changes the sound quite a bit. When it is in the sweet spot it was nice with a lot of body. If ideal circumstances were there and nobody moved while recording it would have been great. But nobodies perfect. I kept the take but I think to make things easier in the future I will go back to the C-1 or use my new NTK.

 

[Henri Devill]

Try it{Dragon Fly} from the bridge to the endpin...put your small cap at the 12 fret...blend to taste..see if you dig that setup


Don

 

[chessrock]

I'm not all that thrilled with it on accoustic guitar either. Like you, I tend to pull out the 603s or mc012s and there's my sound. What a bargain those are.

I think you'll find that your mileage will vary a lot with the dragonfly. It's going to sound orgasmic on some voices, but it isn't a one-size-fits-all by any stretch. There will be times when you'll need that high/midrange boost, and that's where the NTK (and sometime the C1) will come in to the picture.

Seriously, though, I tried it once on a smaller guitar amp about 2" away aimed directly at the grille instead of the usual sm57 and I've never looked back. It has a permanent role on almost all electric guitars, while still serving part-time duty on vocals.

Now all you need is an SM-7 to round things out and I think you'll be set for quite a while.

 

[dudleys100]

Hey Chessrock what is it about the SM-7 that will give me, that I don't have, I am not very familiar with that mic.

Henri, i will try that within the next week and see how it does, thanks. Ken

 

[chessrock]

Hey Chessrock what is it about the SM-7 that will give me, that I don't have, I am not very familiar with that mic.

So many things . . .

First off, I think you'll want it for the screamers. That or the guys who like to sing with a lot of grit . . . bluesier guys, heavy metal guys (heaven forbid ), etc. And definitely for the grittier chick vocals (think Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin, etc).

And just about every chick that I work with really likes the sm7 on their voice because it's so much smoother and less hyped (but still no less flattering).

Most importantly, it will be the one mic that you'll turn to when nothing else sounds quite right . . . because it is about the closest thing to a one-size-fits-all. It never sounds bad or "wrong" on anything, even if it isn't your fist choice.

And lastly, if you ever do any voiceover or narrative work, it will likely be your first choice.

 

[dudleys100]

Is this the same as the SM7B?

 

[erichenryus]

dudleys, i just want to take this opportunity to tell you that you outbid ME for the discrete drums cd on ebay. i'm really interested to hear something you do with them SOON. the last post i heard with them blew me away.

sorry microphone guys, i have no business in this forum.

 

[Booda]

yes, they're the same on both the Q10 and DP. I was asking about truely bypassing the pre's not too long ago and was told by someone on the forums the info I gave you above. I think the best thing to do is contact them. http://www.aardvark-pro.com/aasd-v1/contact.html ... they usually get back to e-mails w/ in a couple days and you can also call them for quicker answers.

Here's what they have on their web page...
3-Stage Input Gain: The input trim (found at the top of each mixer strip on the Q10 Software Control Panel) provides up to 75dB gain on the mic inputs. This gain is done in the analog stage (pre A/D conversion), just like an analog mixer would do. In contrast, most other audio cards provide the gain after the A/D, which dramatically increases the noise. The Q10 software avoids this by sending commands to the analog circuitry in the breakout box to get the best sound possible. This actually has 3 separate gain stages; m2 (Mic 2), m1 (mic 1), and L (Line level), which are each optimized for that particular gain range to give you the best possible sound.

B.