Opinions on the EV Cardinal or Raven?

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Kuzio

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Hey,

Im pretty interested in buying both these mics. I have heard good things and they look pretty sharp. I was wondering if anyone had any experiance with either of the two? The cardinal would be my choice for vocals and acoustic and the raven would be for guitar cabs or for live vocals.
 
Kuzio said:
Hey,

Im pretty interested in buying both these mics. I have heard good things and they look pretty sharp. I was wondering if anyone had any experiance with either of the two? The cardinal would be my choice for vocals and acoustic and the raven would be for guitar cabs or for live vocals.
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I bought one of each recently--and I gotta say, I was impressed with both of em. The Cardinal is clean and clear, but is refreshingly lacking in the hyped high end that so many cheaper condensers have. I'm not a singer (but I will test it next time I have a vocalist in) so besides just talking into it, my test was with an acoustic guitar. I thought it sounded quite nice.

Where I thought the Cardinal wasn't as (artificially) bright as other condensers, the Raven was the other way around--not as dark as other dynamics. Lately I'm more and more likely to use dynamics for vox (as much as condensers anymore) and the Raven had a big, clear sound. It was almost "edgy" in a good way. I'm sure it wasn't edgy, but it just like a dynamic with the "blanket peeled back."

Admittedly, I'm a junkie--I can't resist cheaper mics. But I'm glad I got these two. In fact, I'll likely get another of each.
 
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Ill have to read some reviews on this...Id like to say that EV doesnt make any bad mics...but that would be famous last words...and you know what they say about that.
 
I checked and if the reviews over at gearslutz are any indication...the raven is going for $50 for a reason...the cardinal reviews are scetchy...but Id look for a company that makes all Dynamics and no Condencers might not score big with thier first condencer.
 
I love my raven, I bought 3 total! I had the cardinal but wasn't impressed really so I sold it. I was a part of that thread over on Gearslutz (Obitheincredible) I don't know why they didn't like the raven, it is awesome! Plus for 50 bucks its a great deal right now. I think I paid around 180 for all three ravens shipped. It works great on horns, toms, kicks, amps and I like it on SOME vocals, There is no such thing ans 1 mic for everything but this is a great addition to my mic locker.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
the cardinal reviews are scetchy...but Id look for a company that makes all Dynamics and no Condencers might not score big with thier first condencer.
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Which company would that be? Both EV and Blue have been making condensers for years.
 
EV...they havent made a condencer...and I dont think that blue has ever made a Dynamic that I remember...I could be wrong though.
 
blue partnered with EV on this one. If anybody could post a sample with either of the two mics thatd be really helpful
 
 
 
I had never seen those before...I wonder why they havent took of?
 
Kuzio said:
blue partnered with EV on this one. If anybody could post a sample with either of the two mics thatd be really helpful
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I thought EV actually bought Blue?

I had a Cardinal for a week, did test recordings and didn't think they were worth keeping.....cuz I didn't keep the mic either. As said above, there is a reason why they are $50 bucks. Think about it......you cant even get an SM57 for $50 bucks. Doesn't that tell us anything?

Save your money and do a side by side with an AT 2035 ($150 in some places), then see if you keep your Cardinals...I thought the Apex ribbon was better than the Cardnal.

Sorry......but I must add I bet it would record some fairly decent mouth harp.
 
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