Tube mics...

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justharold

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OK, please bear with me on this, but...

I am totally new to the tube mic thing. However, I am looking into getting one in the future. I am at least semi-familiar with the Studio Projects T3 and the Rode stuff. However, I do not know how they measure up.

Any suggestions or information here would be appreciated (as I am pretty much starting from scratch...)

Thanks!
 
They all have their place.
I have a T-3 that I use on voice mainly but the occassional acoustic guitar or flute. It has a very nice full bodied sound that does not have too much top end.

I also have AT-4033s, Cad E-100s, SP B-3s some Oktava MC 012s and a bunch of Dynamics.(Including a RE-20)

I think that as far as tube mics go, the T-3 is a wonderful mic. I have heard some higher end (Manley reference tube) that sounds a little better, but is 6 ties the price. The T-3 is a 6 micron diaphram so it works better on sources where you are not worried too much with a lot of transient material. The TB-1 is also a tube mic (from the same company) that has fewer patterns but a lighter diaphram (3 microns) and is almost half the price.


Tom
 
Harold, I have a Neumann M149 tube mic which is a hi end and very expensive mic. There's quite some discussion about this mic on Klaus' forum at PSW right now.

Anyway, I also have a MXL V69 Mogami and a V77.

The V69 is a nice but quite colored mic, the V77 OTOH is a neutral and very nice sounding tube mic that comes close to the sound of the M149.

I understand Harvey is happy as well with his V77.

Tubes are special.
 
I've owned the V69, NTK, TB1 (currently), and I've owned scads of other Solid State mics. There is no reason why you should be going for a tube exclusively. Just because it is tube does not mean it will sound darker/warmer. there are lots of Solid State mics that do that too. although if you can hear the tube sound in the mic it does impart a cool sound.

Here is a short clip of a song I recorded a few days ago with the TB1, and a single C4. The guitars were done with a TB1 at the neck joint about a foot out and the C4 was behind the bridge of the guitar about 6-9 inches out. The vocals were just the TB1.

In the track (rough mix and unmastered) there are two guitar parts. One is a std. Tuned guitar capoed on the 1st or 2nd fret...Can't remember, and the 2nd guitar part is in open D no capo. No EQ except some low end roll off. Some waves Compression, and Waves Reverb.

The guitar is a Mayes OM-cutaway with a redwood top and Cocobolo rosewood back and sides.

http://www.mayesguitars.com/wantsample.wav
 
petimar said:
The Audio Technica 4060 is quite nice. I love mine.
Click to expand...

Me too. The 4060 was my first "expensive" mic purchase. I've tried and sold many mics because they just didn't have the sound I was looking for. I have a nice collection of expensive mics. After 5 years, I still have and use my AT4060 on vocals and instruments. "Silky smooth" is how I describe the 4060.

What I don't understand is how I was able to purchase that mic 5 years ago for less than they currently sell for. Go figure.
 
Han said:
Harold, I have a Neumann M149 tube mic which is a hi end and very expensive mic. There's quite some discussion about this mic on Klaus' forum at PSW right now.

Anyway, I also have a MXL V69 Mogami and a V77.

The V69 is a nice but quite colored mic, the V77 OTOH is a neutral and very nice sounding tube mic that comes close to the sound of the M149.

I understand Harvey is happy as well with his V77.

Tubes are special.
Click to expand...
Hello Han... do you like your V77 more than the V69... you know, if you could only have one mic or the other, which would it be, the V77 or V69?

Harvey, (if you read this thread) what about you... the V77 or the V69?

Thank you gentleman.
 
DJL said:
Hello Han... do you like your V77 more than the V69... you know, if you could only have one mic or the other, which would it be, the V77 or V69?

Harvey, (if you read this thread) what about you... the V77 or the V69?

Thank you gentleman.
Click to expand...

I second that notion. I used to own a v69. Sold it, before I really gave it much of a chance I think. I'd like to hear the opinions as well...
 
Don and John

If I had to make a choice between the V69 and the V77 it definately would be the V77, because this mic (the one I have) is a very neutral sounding mic which is more versatile than the V69 IMHO.

I use it next to the Neumann M149 when there are two vocalists singing together and few people can hear the difference, that says something about the V77's quality now doesn't it?

It may be that I have a very good sounding V77, dunno, for I have only one.

I wonder what Harvey thinks about it.
 
As others have pointed out (including myself), the V69 has a lot more coloration than the V77. To me, the V69 sounds like the V67 - on steroids.

During the Barbara Dane sessions, I preferred the V77 over my beloved RCA 77DX on her voice.

For the bulk of what we do here (heavy metal, hard rock), the V69 is used most, but I'm glad that I own both mics. Kinda like having two different daughters; one is gorgeous, but not too smart, while the other is kinda pretty, but a lot smarter. Asking me to choose just one would be impossible.
 
Harvey Gerst said:
Kinda like having two different daughters; one is gorgeous, but not too smart, while the other is kinda pretty, but a lot smarter. Asking me to choose just one would be impossible.
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Wierd eh?? :o
 
Thank you Han and Harvey. :)

EDIT: Too bad you two don't live near each other... it would be nice to know if both your V77's sound the same or not... and the V69's too.
 
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DJL said:
Thank you Han and Harvey. :)

EDIT: Too bad you two don't live near each other... it would be nice to know if both your V77's sound the same or not... and the V69's too.
Click to expand...
When I first tested the Marshall mics, I waited several weeks and then asked them to send me some more, just so I could compare them for differences. All of the new mics sounded identical to the first batch, except for the V77's, but they were within a dB or so of each other. Identical sound, but one had a slightly higher output.
 
Harvey Gerst said:
When I first tested the Marshall mics, I waited several weeks and then asked them to send me some more, just so I could compare them for differences. All of the new mics sounded identical to the first batch, except for the V77's, but they were within a dB or so of each other. Identical sound, but one had a slightly higher output.
Click to expand...
Thanks Harvey... that's what I wanted to know... and a slightly higher or lower output can easily be compensated for with the preamp gain... so that's no big deal. Thanks again for the info. :)
 
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Yo, thanks Harvey. I was under the impression that maybe I had a very good sounding V77. I'm glad you say the V77's sound alike. A couple of db's isn't any problem.

I would any engineer who can't afford a Brauner or Neumann recommend to try the V77.
 
I just bought a V77 as well. I listened to ALL the mxl mic audio samples matched with many preamps and to my ears the V77 sounds the BEST out of all the MXL mics..that's just me though. :o
 
Having a hard time finding the v77, anyone know where they are available now?
 
I wonder how the new V6 and V12 will compare - supposedly (according to the MXL guys at the AES show) these two mics are their best sounding mics yet...
 
www.music123.com sell the v77

I nabbed a ksm44 instead...hope i won't regret it when i can't get a v77 no more...

A question about tube mics...
I wanna HEAR the TUBE...:)

Any mic's that will let me hear the tube ?

Oh, and what does a FET mic do compared to a tube? (soundwise speaking...)
 
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