Neumann TLM 103 Yes/No?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GOODLAND
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Yeah ...Whut he said. The TLM103 is a nice mic. It has some of that 'Neumann panache'....It is NOT worth the asking price. A USED one at around $600 is. There are other mics at this price range that do a very credible job and are probably more flexible than the Neumann.

They are NOT, however, a Neumann. For what you're talking about with "whoever walks through the door", having a Neumann is going to book your time more so than several 'other' mics with much better sound and variety of use.

Its a dilemma and theres nothing you can do about it except buy something that does more for you than something else.
 
AKG C141 B/ULS. If you wan't versitility this is the way to go. I find it doesn't add too much colour, which is something you want in a workhorse mic. Also the switchable polar patterns, adjustable pads, and bass roll offs are a great feature.
 
cavedog101 said:
They are NOT, however, a Neumann. For what you're talking about with "whoever walks through the door", having a Neumann is going to book your time more so than several 'other' mics with much better sound and variety of use....
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a 103 won't impress anyone walking through the door except for stupid people that heard a roomer dat noyman iz da zhit.

The 103 is an ok mic on many sources but it's not a great mic, if you have a few good mics available you'll find yourself using it less and less on anything critical instead using it for utilitarian functions. If it had multipattern it would be far more usable but still the sound lacks. For whatever reason the Gefell stuff is simply elegant and sounds great, I'm always impressed with their stuff. They just aren't as well known as noyman
 
GOODLAND said:
This sounds like the best mic for under $1000. Anyone own it? What do you think? Planning on making a purchase in near future.
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It works great for all the sources I use it on.

Much maligned mic that is like any other mic.
It works magic when it works. Period.

You need many mics if you want to record many sources. Depends as always.

I love mine but it works for what I do in a good recording facility.

Crappy rooms, equip, etc. YMMV

Good Luck.
 
cavedog101 said:
Yeah ...Whut he said. The TLM103 is a nice mic. It has some of that 'Neumann panache'....It is NOT worth the asking price. A USED one at around $600 is. There are other mics at this price range that do a very credible job and are probably more flexible than the Neumann.

They are NOT, however, a Neumann. For what you're talking about with "whoever walks through the door", having a Neumann is going to book your time more so than several 'other' mics with much better sound and variety of use.

Its a dilemma and theres nothing you can do about it except buy something that does more for you than something else.
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Any one who books a studio because of a name on a mic is a dope.

The TLM is a Neuman and uses the same components as.......well.......

some other Neumans.

You don't want dopey people in your studio wasting your time.
Buy mics that will work for you and not against you and forget the name.

Hell, one of the best mics I ever bought was Groove Tubes GT44 Tube.

Stomps the shit out of just about anything on Snare and cymbals, acoustic guitars etc. I will buy another if I find one (GT discontinued it as they are dopes)
 
GOODLAND said:
I'm looking at the Gefell m990 or AT4060
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Good, at least you're looking at Gefell. It's the original Neumann company and makes great mics.
 
MCI2424 said:
You don't want dopey people in your studio wasting your time.
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Damn! There goes half my income.

If I have to get rid of Sleepy, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Doc, I'll REALLY be in trouble... :eek:
 
littledog said:
Damn! There goes half my income.

If I have to get rid of Sleepy, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Doc, I'll REALLY be in trouble... :eek:
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Well.................30 years experience tells me that if a client is looking for brand names on equipment..................


Then they waste your time, have no experience and are genarally dissapointed in any recordings you do because.....................


They think brand names MAKE a recording PROFESSIONAL








Damn, I have had it with dopey newbies that think that Neuman and Neve will make their crappy recordings totally pro.





Think about it hard. There is plenty of great equipment that runs under the radar screen. You have to try things to find it.

Pro engineers that are good seek out and use the "goodies"
It is only after a trusted source finds out about a great tool that all the others jump on the bandwagon.

Find a GT44. (wink:wink)

Good to hear from ya'
 
MCI2424 said:
Well.................30 years experience tells me that if a client is looking for brand names on equipment..................


Then they waste your time, have no experience and are genarally dissapointed in any recordings you do because.....................


They think brand names MAKE a recording PROFESSIONAL








Damn, I have had it with dopey newbies that think that Neuman and Neve will make their crappy recordings totally pro.





Think about it hard. There is plenty of great equipment that runs under the radar screen. You have to try things to find it.

Pro engineers that are good seek out and use the "goodies"
It is only after a trusted source finds out about a great tool that all the others jump on the bandwagon.

Find a GT44. (wink:wink)

Good to hear from ya'
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Believe me, I don't expect expensive name brand equipment to make my
recordings sound better. Before I got into recording, my band paid good
money to be "professionally" recorded. The guy running the studio had the
BEST mics, pres, amps, guitars, comps, AD converters, you name it, he
had the best of the best. When are album was finished and mastered I'd have
to say our CD sounded OK, not great, but OK. I now have my own little
studio and have been running it for a while. I don't have anywhere near as
nice equipment as the other guy but I can say that my band has a GREAT
sounding CD now, and not an OK sounding CD. It's not as much the
equipment as it is the person using it, and the person mixing your music.
Anyway, the Gefell M930 or AKG C414 look good to me.
 
GOODLAND said:
Believe me, I don't expect expensive name brand equipment to make my
recordings sound better. Before I got into recording, my band paid good
money to be "professionally" recorded. The guy running the studio had the
BEST mics, pres, amps, guitars, comps, AD converters, you name it, he
had the best of the best. When are album was finished and mastered I'd have
to say our CD sounded OK, not great, but OK. I now have my own little
studio and have been running it for a while. I don't have anywhere near as
nice equipment as the other guy but I can say that my band has a GREAT
sounding CD now, and not an OK sounding CD. It's not as much the
equipment as it is the person using it, and the person mixing your music.
Anyway, the Gefell M930 or AKG C414 look good to me.
Click to expand...

Hey, case closed. You are wiser than most. Get the mic that you like the sound of most. There are many. God speed.

As always, good luck little buddie.
 
sdelsolray said:
Good, at least you're looking at Gefell. It's the original Neumann company and makes great mics.
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This man is wise beyond his years. :D I am poised to pounce on the UM930 in the fall.....
 
BigRay said:
This man is wise beyond his years. :D I am poised to pounce on the UM930 in the fall.....
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So. if it is the ORIGINAL Neuman co. it MUST be the end all of mics.

Thanks, I will ditch all my mics and buy this.


ALL mics have a use. It is up to you to find the use. Gefelle is good, Neuman is good, Shure is good...........................

Frickin etc.
 
MCI2424 said:
So. if it is the ORIGINAL Neuman co. it MUST be the end all of mics.

Thanks, I will ditch all my mics and buy this.


ALL mics have a use. It is up to you to find the use. Gefelle is good, Neuman is good, Shure is good...........................

Frickin etc.
Click to expand...

Big Ray is passionate about Gefell mics. He's used or owned numerous vintage and current models. While I haven't tried as many, I do own 5 Geffels, two paird of SDs and a LD. They are truly wonderful mics.
 
I perused through all the back and forth on this thread. I agree with the guy who said something to the effect that "if you can't get a good sound out of the 103 you might need to invest in a new set of ears."

That doesn't mean that on any given source that a different mic might sound better. However, the 103 is a beautiful sounding microphone.

It IS sensitive to what preamp you use with it. Through a Peavey VMP-2 it's magical.

Taylor
 
MCI2424 said:
So. if it is the ORIGINAL Neuman co. it MUST be the end all of mics.

Thanks, I will ditch all my mics and buy this.


ALL mics have a use. It is up to you to find the use. Gefelle is good, Neuman is good, Shure is good...........................

Frickin etc.
Click to expand...


Of course they arent the end all. Noone implied as much. Like Sodelsolray said, they are magnificent. and yeah, I have a soft spot for them. Everyone should check them out if the resources are available. I own more than Gefell though, including schoeps, neumann, beyer, akg, and dpa. They all have a use. If you suck as a recording engineer no microphone will fix that.
 
Get a Gefell M930 -- its similar to the TLM but better in many aspects.
 
Giganova said:
Get a Gefell M930 -- its similar to the TLM but better in many aspects.
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I might be able to score one for $750.00. Is that a good deal? I think it is, but not sure.
 
That's a steal. It must be hot.

If you don't take it, I will :)

GOODLAND said:
I might be able to score one for $750.00. Is that a good deal? I think it is, but not sure.
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I jusr recently posted a thread asking what a good 2Ch pre might be for $500 -
$600. Does anyone know of a good pre in this price range that could be matched
up with the Gefell M930?
Or am I going to have to spend a great deal more in order to get the most out of
the mic.
 
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