My virgin experience with Mic comparisons . . .

  • Thread starter Thread starter chessrock
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chessrock

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I remember a time when you couldn't visit this forum without seeing another mic "shootout"/comparison. So many mic shootouts but so little time.

Anyway, I've decided to pick up some of the slack and allow for a little different twist on the mic comparisons. What I wanted to do is give anyone interested an opportunity to hear a quality large-diaphragm condenser and a quality large-diaphragm dynamic mic side-by-side. I'm really not trying to make any points here or make any arguments for a particular model.

My gut feeling is that alot of you who are newly in the market are getting recommendations for Large-diaphragm condensers. C1's, V67s, NTK's, etc. are probably all you're reading about on the forums and in magazines. Amongst all this buzz, I think the dynamic mic has been all but forgotten. The following link will allow you to download several examples of the same clip, only recorded with different mics. Nothing you haven't already seen a hundred times! :)

The difference is that we are deliberately comparing apples side-by-side with oranges. One of them was recorded with my favorite dynamic, the Shure SM7. And my other favorite mic, the Rode NT2 (condenser) can be heard as well. Try and listen for the differences if you can. Try and note characteristics that are unique to dynamic mics and those unique to a typical condenser.

The third mic is my "mystery mic." I threw it in for fun. See if you can come close to guessing what it is. :)

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/5/1298/singles.shtml
 
I think the sm7 might be having a tough time cutting through without any eq. I purposely went flat, which probably isn't very fair to the dynamic when competing with a conder(s?)

I actually prefer it over the others during parts where there's harmonies, though. Other than that, I think mystery mic has a little easier time cutting through, but isn't as smooth as the NT2 --notice the harsh "c" on "The poster bearer CRIES." That's a very abrupt-sounding consanant if I ever heard one. Still it's the only downfall I can find so far, since everything else on mystery mic sounds pretty damn good.

Not an AT, though.
 
Yeah, you can definatly hear the difference. Cool song though.
 
Well, yeah, I can hear the difference, but I'm not going to say one is better over the other. Thats like comparing chocolate ice cream to vanilla. Which one do YOU like better? I think the SM7, a great mic in its own right, was better on the vocals than the Rode. But, conversely, I think the Rode had a better presence overall. How exactly did you record the music on this?

I think what you've really demonstrated was just how important mic selection is. If it was me, for these vocals, I would have selected the SM7 over the Rode.
 
I'm with Mr. Jones here all the way.


Cool comparison, Chess, and quite relevant as far as the budget condenser wars go. Nice Job!

I was a actually looking into an SM7 myself, BTW.

heylow
 
Hmmm. While I liked the overall tone of the SM7, I preferred the way the NT2's vocals cut through the mix a bit more. The mystery mic sort of to that presence to the extreme for my tastes.

It's also a little harder to judge overall because I'm used to a particular sound for that song with the NT2 does not have, but the SM7 is much closer to. Sort of a warmer vintage-y tone.

I don't really see why this is an unfair or apples to oranges comparision because we tend to get into dynamics vs. condenser discussions a lot, but we don't really do side by side comparisons.
 
Just a little unfair since I deliberately didn't use any eq - which might give the impression that the sm7 can't cut through as well. I like certain phrases better with each mic. The harmonies I like with the SM7. But the NT2 just has this sound it gets on certain notes and phrases that makes it unique. I can't put my finger on it. But listen to the word "down" (during the phrase: "up . . . and DOWN"). Something about that note resonates with the mic that just sounds "cool" for lack of a better word.

If I could find a mic that rings like that on every note instead of just that one word . . . wow.

Pretending I'm Alan Parsons, I'm probably going to take my favorite parts from each one and edit them together. I came to a similar "revelation" upon hearing Blue Bear's NT2 vs. C1 comparison a while back.
 
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