What Makes Mics Sound Different?

[tkingen]

A couple of weeks ago a posted a question asking about the differences between a KM184 and SM81. One of the issues that I have with the KM184 is that it can be a little bright, with that hump around 10k. Of course, the SM81 looks almost flat.
There were some excellent alternative suggestions - Schoeps, DPA, AT4041, AKG451, etc. The thing that surprises me about these suggestions is this - when viewing the frequency charts, they all look to be even brighter than the KM184.
In a manner of speaking, is there more than meets the eye when it comes to the sound of a microphone? Is it a mistake to go by frequency chart alone? Why does a Neumann sound different then a Shure, than an AKG, than a Coles, etc?

Thanks,
Terry

 

[chessrock]

Uh . . . because they're made by different companies by different people with completely different designs, with completely different components and philosphies.

Other than that, they're pretty much the same. The charts tell only part of the story. Use them as a rough guideline, because frankly, most of them are complete bullshit.

 

[c7sus]

Read the big sticky at the top of this forum.

All will be revealed...............

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Don't forget -- gear specs are written by the marketing team, NOT the desginers.....

 

[ds21]

for the same reason two speakers made by two different companies can have the same ON-AXIS response and sound totally different.

 

[omtayslick]

And............. Let's not overlook the obvious: 'Cause they are brighter?!!

 

[Richard Monroe]

Well, Tkingen, there are multiple variables that define the performance of a mic, and I'm sure there are more that I don't even know about. Frequency response is only one of them. As pointed out above, frequency response graphs are just lines on paper, and those lines can be arrived at by a variety of standards, some looser than others, and sometimes they are outright lies. By and large, the higher end mic manufacturers use tighter standards, so the graph may have more meaning.
Here are a few other factors that are important in a mic. Distortion. I don't know of any graph or standard that can tell you why the distortion in a B.L.U.E. Cactus is better than the distortion in Mr. Microphone. You can measure total harmonic distortion across a spectrum of sound pressure levels at various frequencies, but none of that will do squat to tell you whether it will sound good or bad. Pickup patterns (not polar patterns)- You can define a spectrum of polar patterns, but mics still have personalized pickup fields, and off axis response can be linear or a minefield for a moving source.
Proximity effect figures into this. Especially if you are a vocalist, and you use proximity for effect, you have to know with each mic you use, where the proximity effect begins, and whether it is linear, or more often, where it takes an abrupt jump. Self noise is quantifiable, but some self noise is more obnoxious than on another mic, even at equivalent levels. Sometimes a mic doesn't "come alive" until you reach a certain SPL, especially some tube mics that really want to be yelled at. Change the tube, and that may change. Sensitivity and speed of response to transients can be quite variable, even in mics of similar design. Total diaphragm mass seems to be the main factor here.
Frequency charts won't tell you whether a 10K boost is going to bring out the detail of the drummer's high hat, or the nasty nasal twang of a vocalist. Harshness and warmth are 2 sides of the same coin. The question is not what and how much. The question is, in what way, and why? There's nothing wrong with a mic being "bright" or "dark". What matters is- does it sound good? Stop reading spec sheets and listen.-Richie

 

[ozraves]

Mics to me are much more interesting than anything else in the signal chain. OK, I freak out over mic pres and compressors and EQs as well but it's amazing what can be done with mics.

I've been eval'ing a Blue Dragonfly for review. It's an extremely interesting mic. It's got this top end sheen to it. It's not just a bump. It's a complex flavor. It's funny that even though it's so scuplted that it works like a charm with acoustic guitar. One of my friends was in town. He's a studio/tour guitarist out of Nashville. We were talking about mics. I was telling him about how much I was digging the Blue Dragonfly on acoustic and he agreed that he loved it as well.

Another interesting mics is the Oktava MK012. It's bizarre what this mic can do. It's a fantastic acoustic instrument mic. Try singing or talking into one and the mic goes to pot. It'll crap out on you as soon as any "P" sound comes out of your mouth. But, put a Stedman popscreen in front of the MK012 and it becomes a rich sounding vocal/dialog mic. And, I bought a pair of $99. Impressive.

 

[tkingen]

Wow, guys...thanks for the thoughtful answers. I've been experimenting with my own mics...KM184, KSM44 and 32, and discovering how good they really sound. This is all so cool and fun!
Ozraves, have you tried the Dragonfly as a vocal mic? I used to have a Baby Bottle but sold it. It always seemed that one of the other mics was more appropriate.
Richard, thanks for your answer...especially the last sentence.

Happy Turkey Day,
Terry

 

[chessrock]

It's funny that even though it's so scuplted that it works like a charm with acoustic guitar. One of my friends was in town. He's a studio/tour guitarist out of Nashville. We were talking about mics. I was telling him about how much I was digging the Blue Dragonfly on acoustic and he agreed that he loved it as well.

Hey Oz, how are you positioning? Where are you pointing and how far away? Just haven't quite found the sweetspot yet.

 

[ozraves]

Hey Oz, how are you positioning? Where are you pointing and how far away? Just haven't quite found the sweetspot yet.

You need to get a pair of the Extreme Isolation Headphones. They are like the magic bullet for finding the sweet spot. They are on sale now for $79.

I kind of angle in where the body meets the neck. I haven't recorded acoustic guitar with it in a couple of months so don't quote me.

 

[ozraves]

Ozraves, have you tried the Dragonfly as a vocal mic? I used to have a Baby Bottle but sold it. It always seemed that one of the other mics was more appropriate.
Richard, thanks for your answer...especially the last sentence.

Happy Turkey Day,
Terry

The Dragonfly is a great vocal mic.

I really like the Baby Bottle. I think that it's a great mic as well. I think very highly of it as a dialog mic.