Tube microphones

  • Thread starter Thread starter EveningSky
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EveningSky

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I am looking for a nice tube microphone.
Do any of the readers have experience with these. I am looking at the AKG tube, NKA from Rode, AT3060 from AudioTechnica and the AT4060 from AT.

Another question, what happens if one uses a tube preamp with a tube mic? Good idea or bad idea?

Thank you.
 
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I have not used the AKG Tube mic but I have the Rode Ntk and Like it a lot, I also like the audio technica 4060, for the price its very good stuff.

Also your question about tube amps with tube pre's, Im not sure what your question means.
If you mean a tube guitar amp miced up into a tube pre Yes thats the normal thing to do.

Or if you mean a tube mic through a tub Pre Thats another normal
thing to do.

If this is not what you were asking Please explain more detail.
 
Dear MP,
Thank you. I mis-wrote: should have been tubemic going through a tube preamp.

What do you use your tube mics for?
The Rode NTK costs approximately 50% of the AT4060. Is the AT4060 worth the extra $. What does it do better?

Thank you.
 
You might want to look into a Studio Projects T3.
Its a nice tube mike. Great for female vocals and crooners.

Tube Mike into a Tube Pre - nothing wrong with that. I'd want my tube pre to be of equal or better quality than my tube mike though. (no toobs!)
 
First, there’s lot’s more options: CAD, Studio Projects, ADK, Grove Tubes/M-Audio, and Marshall MXL all make good, affordable tube mics as well.

The thing you need to know about tube mics is that some designs use pure tube circuits (ADK, Grove Tubes, AT4060) and others use “hybrid” circuits consisting of a tube input stage and a transistor output stage (MXL, RODE). CAD uses both methods. I’m not sure about the Studio Projects mics, but they sound like pure tube to me.

The difference in sound is that the hybrid versions I’ve heard seem to have a little more upper mids and highs and may be considered slightly harsher sounding on some things. I’m not saying one is better than the other, but they are definitely different. Of course, this greatly depends on the preamp, source and mix as well. An all-tube mic through an all-tube preamp might be too mushy in some situations and vice-versa with hybrid mics into solid state pres.

If it were me, I’d steer clear of the AKG Solidtube. For the money, it’s just not up to par with the others, IMHO, and I’ve never heard an example of it that I liked.

My $0.02, anyway...
 
NTK works for Me. It sounds good for what I do; for My voice; in My studio; with My preamp; and for My type of music;
 
Applications of Tube Mics?

What do tube mic users use their tube mics for? Where do they give their best results?
 
Oh, don't I know it flatpicker. I can never kep up with all this stuff. I just hapen to have a link to Studio Projects because I have one of their mikes.
Just thought I'd throw it out there.
 
i have and love the NTK.

but, don't overlook the groove tubes gt66. it sounds really nice.

i use both for acoustic guitars and vocals and room mics (drums and electric guitars), and a couple times for violins.
 
willovercome said:
i have and love the NTK.

but, don't overlook the groove tubes gt66. it sounds really nice.

i use both for acoustic guitars and vocals and room mics (drums and electric guitars), and a couple times for violins.
Click to expand...
Hey, if you ever get a minute to throw out a couple of short clips comparing the two, that'd be great!
 
The NTK is a favorite among many, but aren't the SP TB1 ($249) and the Marshall MXL V69 ($349) starting to open some eyes, er...ears?
 
I USE THE NTK FOR GUITAR AND VOCALS
I USE A 3035, A BABY BOTTLE, A STEDMAN, AND OCCASIONALLY EVEN MY AKG C1000S
MY FOCUSRITE HAS A TUBE SECTION I USE SOMETIMES AND I USE MY NEW TOFT ATC 2
DON'T GET STUCK ON THE TUBE THING
A GOOD EQ AND MIX WILL (I'M GONNA SAY IT) WARM THE TRACK JUST AS WELL
IMHO
iN hIS nAME
bIG kENNY
 
Hay Eveningsky, about your question what does the at4060 do that the rode ntk does'nt do and is it worth it.
I dont think that eather is necessarilly better they both are great mics some mics sound better on peoples voices then other mics
thats why the bigger studios have so many to choose from,
you just have to try some differant mics to figure out which suits
your needs the best.
I also agree with Big Kenny, there are many non tube mics that can sound really good for your needs also
AT4033 Love it
Studio Projects C1 I have and like quite a lot
Some of the Oktava mics I use a lot also
So there are good mics for lower prices to choose from.
depending on your goal of recording you could buy one really
great expensive mic or a few really good ones??
 
Thank you all for your comments about Tube Mics. They are very userful. I am more confused than ever on the subject, but that appears to be the "nature of the beast."
ES
 
EveningSky said:
I am more confused than ever on the subject, but that appears to be the "nature of the beast." ES
Click to expand...
Let's go back to your first question: If you don't know what they sound like or what they're used for, why do you think you need one? After all, some "tube" mics sound like transistor mics and vice-versa. What type of music/instruments are you recording and what mics do you already have?
 
Voice and guitar (electric, electric acoustic, acoustic). I play with a percussive style; I frequently mic an electric solid body as well as the amp.

I am constantly looking for new sound. To quote: "microphones are to a musician like a paint brush to an artist."

I have read that tube mics have a unique and very appealing tone for both string instruments and voice.

I have never tried one out myself.
 
EveningSky said:
Voice and guitar (electric, electric acoustic, acoustic). I play with a percussive style; I frequently mic an electric solid body as well as the amp.

I am constantly looking for new sound. To quote: "microphones are to a musician like a paint brush to an artist."

I have read that tube mics have a unique and very appealing tone for both string instruments and voice.

I have never tried one out myself.
Click to expand...
Here’s what I suggest you do...

Go here, http://www.3daudioinc.com/mics.html and order the 3D Mic CD. Next, go here, http://www.thelisteningsessions.com/home.htm and download all 5 sessions, plus order the Small Condenser Mic CD when it becomes available. Load all these files into your computer so that you can instantly switch between them for "back-to-back" listening. Study them well over a period of weeks. You'll be surprised at what you like and don't like. Also, take into account the preamps used - a Shure SM57, for example, will sound completely different running through a Great River than it will through an Audio Buddy.

Next, go to the mp3 mixing clinic, http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=15 and find music styles similar to your own and find what mics and pres are being used to record them. Decide what you like and don’t like and why.

Finally, beg, borrow, rent, or buy using trial periods, any mic you can get your hands on and try it in every conceivable position. Then, you’re only going to begin to get a clue, but hey, it’s a start. By doing this you’re going to end up with a much better idea of what you need than anyone could ever tell you. (And you thought this was going to be an easy question to answer!:p )

Otherwise, you may as well just close your eyes and pick one.

Seriously, this is the best advice I can offer you and is the same advice I use myself.
 
Dear FlatPicker,
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look into them.
I also considered renting studio time to simply try out different mics and different mic placements.
In the end however, I may do as you say, buy what I perceive to be the best for myself with incomplete data.
In the final analysis, it is not possible to compare my equipment, room acoustics with what is on these recordings.
Without having the product to experiment with (placement, preamps, ajustments of the preamps/recorder, different guitar, guitar amp, playing style, singing style, etc), it is not possible to objectively evaluate the mic. For me, I need to try it out and experiment. In addition, I have self doubts about whether my "ear" is good enough to hear many of the subtle nuances described by a recording engineer. Honestly, I often have difficulty hearing differences in the mics I own, or some of the different mic patterns on a teaching CD/book set I purchased on "How to record e-guitar."
Nonetheless, I perceive that there are many excellent choices, the this web site provides me with excellent info and I have faired well overall with my purchase decisions. Furthermore, I have come to the conclusion that: NO ONE IS SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING, I STRESS NO ONE, I STRESS ANYTHING. Everyone I know tires of what they have and desires something "better."
Thank you again for your excellent advice.
Yours,
ES
 
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