Tube Mics: Worth it?

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noah_swanson

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I was recently thinking of purchasing a high dollar condenser mic, and was wondering if the tube condenser mics really are worth the extra cost. I know that tubes surpass the competition with amps, but i didnt know if the microphones hold to the same. (since it all is digital on the computer anyways). All help is much appreciated!
 
It completely depends on the microphone. There are some tube mics that have a "warmth", and non-tube mics that are clean and clinical. On the flip side, there are also tube mics that are very clinical and clean, and warm non-tube mics. It all depends.
 
if you can afford it get a tube mic.
however it does depend on the application.
tube mics sound warm due to the fact the signal runs through a tube which naturally compresses it.
i have a SP tb1 ($250) and i love it.
great sound.
i also have a SP c1 ($190). the difference is quite clear. tubes make things sound better.
but if you're gonna want to record an acoustic guitar or a piano with it i'd suggest a matched pair of small diaphram condensors rather than a LD tube mic. :)
 
Mainly i'm looking for one to warm everything up. Guitar, bass, etc... I've got a few MXL condensers that do great for drum overhead or acoustic guitar, but i was hoping for something to warm up an electric guitar a little more, and even give vocals a better sound.
 
Try tweaking your bottom end eq. I'm affraid you probably aren't going to get the "warmth" you're looking for from a tube. Not saying that a tube mic isn't great. I work with a groove tubes gt66 all the time and I love that mic, makes the vox sit real nice in a mix, however my solid state baby bottle is much "warmer" eventhough I hate the way it sounds on vox.
 
I'd recommend the NTK as a great starter Tube Mic. Although I haven't got one, I've heard great things about the MXL V69 also...

Jacob
 
yea but as with some tube mic pre-s im sure some tube mics can be clean or in a detailed nuetral kinda way im thinking. i dont own one and probably never will.i just dont like when tubes are always stated to warm things and make things fatter. dont forget that the mic has to warmed up and tubes require some maintanance im sure.smear and smother might be a better word for tubes although it sounds damn good in the right cases . can a tube be considerd flat or linear without compressing transients? im leavingbthis to the experts. i know we aLL WANT TO BUY OUR RECORDING HAPPINESS BUT TUBES SEEM TO BE ONLY PART OF THE PICTURE.
 
jkokura said:
I'd recommend the NTK as a great starter Tube Mic. Although I haven't got one, I've heard great things about the MXL V69 also...
Jacob
Click to expand...

...both of those are great AFFORDABLE starting points in the "tube mic" category...other highly recommended mics would be:

Studio Projects T3 - nine pattern tube mic (go for around $300 used on Ebay)

SE Z5600A - nine patterns again (here's one going at a good price:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7394665634)

CAD M9 - cardioid pattern tube mic has a solid following on this site (goes for around $299)

Cascade V55 - cardioid pattern with oversized diaphragm give it a "big full" sound (sells for $499 but can be had for a good bit less from Bayview Pro Audio)

...most importantly, consider upgrading the stock tube to a NOS vintage tube to "smooth" out the mic's performance...a NOS GE 6072 will work for most, while the Rode mics need a vintage E88CC (Siemens, Amperex, etc)...
 
kidvybes said:
.CAD M9 - cardioid pattern tube mic has a solid following on this site (goes for around $299)
Click to expand...
I'll vouch for the CAD M9 as a good tube starter!
It is warm and clean on voice and accoustic guitar.
Havent tried it on an amp yet but I've read it does well on that.
 
If you want to warm up your electric guitar sound, how about one of the inexpensive Nady ribbon mics? It's a very different sound from a condenser.
 
popman said:
if you can afford it get a tube mic.
however it does depend on the application.
tube mics sound warm due to the fact the signal runs through a tube which naturally compresses it.
i have a SP tb1 ($250) and i love it.
great sound.
i also have a SP c1 ($190). the difference is quite clear. tubes make things sound better.
but if you're gonna want to record an acoustic guitar or a piano with it i'd suggest a matched pair of small diaphram condensors rather than a LD tube mic. :)
Click to expand...

How can you be certain that the tube itself is why you like the tube mic better? In addition to having a tube, the two mics proably also many other differences. In the recording world, tubes are not responsible for "warmth". Design and build are responsible for that. In fact, most people with experience tend to like tubes for the upper harmonics that they seem to do so well. Some of the "warmest" and "fattest" sounding equipment whether it be mics or preamps or compressors are not tubed. Some of them are. Personally, I would not be thinking of your mic purchase as tubes or no tubes. I would be asking yourself which mic would be the best for what you are trying to do with the equipment that you already have and may plan on buying in the future. If your result happens to have tubes in it, then so be it. If not, then so be it.
 
Noah, The proof is in the listening sometimes.....So if you check out any of the tunes in my link they were all done using an NTK on vocals (not guitars though). I'm pretty happy with it and it's medium priced....
 
Are you sure that you need a new mic or do you need to get rid of a cheap digital recorder that sounds harsh? All of the tube mics in the world wont fix cheap digital recorders.
 
Kenny, don't you live in like, Wisconsin or some snow-packed state??

Of course you don't know what warm means. :rolleyes:
 
The lure of retro is not confined to recording gear. There seems to be a swell of favourable opinion about vintage gear and vintage technology: it's warmer, more natural, more this, more that.

I remain to be convinced that the 'good old day' attributes we currently think are desirable are in fact desirable; that they are objectively 'better' than newer technology.

I am aware of the differences in valve versus transistor (and of digital versus tape), just as I am aware of the difference between my first manual, sidevalve Morris Minor and the car I drive now. The sense of 'driving' was much different then to what it is now, but does that make it 'better'?

Getting from A to B was much more a challenge then than it is now, and comparatively more expensive. Given that my objective is the end result (getting to point B), I am quite happy that I can do it so much more comfortably, safely, and economically.

For me, the objective of recording is (as I have said elsewhere) is to recreate faithfully and with integrity someone's performance. When we argue that we want 'transparent' pre-amps, are we defeating this by using technology that is inherently not transparent? I wonder sometimes about our motivations: do we get something because it is the right thing for us to get at this time, or because it's kinda cool? Are we considering function or fashion?

Interestingly, I am not arguing against tube technology. Instead I am wondering whether we are focussing properly on the end result, the reason why we do this stuff in the first place.

My answer to Noah's question is therefore: if you can afford it, and it's what you want, then get it. With luck, you will have the skills to make it work well for you. If someone was asking whether they should get a high end, non-tube mike, I would give exactly the same advice. My interest is in the end, not the means.
 
Then you are justified?
...and yeah I'm in Wisconsin, and it's snow packed.
 
Big Kenny said:
Then you are justified?
Click to expand...

...definately justified...

...and just for the record, here in S.FL, we know "warm"...S.FL tube mics are truly "warm"..."toasty" in fact...we don't even have to "warm" up our tube mics here in S.FL...we can use them right out of the box...true!...we just have to remember to tie the little suckers down once hurricane season blows in... :D
 
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