USE THE MICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mixwell]

Ya, I know this isn't _________,

But since its about microphones, and their placement, as it applies to a sound in front of one, I thought I would re-post this here.

I will post some 24/96K examples shortly, but first let me explain a few things. We put up; the 5-0-7, a Telefunken Elektroakustik 251E, and the new Josephson C715, in front of Sean, playing our Taylor and singing at the same time. We positioned these microphones extremely close to each other, as best as possible. After volume matching them to the best of our ability [with the NPNG 4NW] we recorded all three files into the RADAR @ 96K.

Now, I will tell you, after switching between these three microphones, for over an hour, we all came to the conclusion that each microphone was amazing in their own way, [personal preference aside] but - their relation to each other, the acoustic space of where they were put, and where Sean was preforming [relation to the source] made things slightly complicated in order to gain any real concrete comparison, of exacting detail.

I believe this void's any trustworthy A/B/C comparison, even though you can CLEARLY hear the attributes of each microphone, but you are hearing a result of three different places in time - to the source. Of course, YES, it is a A/B/C example/preview, if you switch between them in the DAW. This is certain. Regardless, I think the point I am trying to make, is that using these microphones on your session is a far better way to evaluate them when working through real world applications.

At this session, we could all agree that "comparing these microphones" is best done when actually "using the mics", so that is what we did. We un muted them, and panned them cleverly. The 251E became the Vocal Microphone, [at its height] while the 5-0-7 became the neck side element of the GTR, [laying in sideways in between] and the C715 became the direct acoustic GTR sound [placed underneath the 251E]. I would encourage you to pan them differently and experiment with audience versus player perspective, which is quite cool.


http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=157370&d=1265823799

[Mixwell]

Bock 5-0-7 (http://www.methlabstudio.com/uploads/adam/Bock507.wav)

Telefunken Elecktroakustic 251E (http://www.methlabstudio.com/uploads/adam/251E.wav)

Josephson C715 (http://www.methlabstudio.com/uploads/adam/C715.wav)

[RWB]

Video to come.

bthead

[hardtoe]

All those mics sound phenomenal in different ways - I keep thinking I have a favourite, and then one or the other gives a little something more to a different section of the tune. I lean towards the Bock or Josephson, but lets face it, the Telefunken kicks ass as well. I have never used such high-end mics, but this is a great illustration of why they are so important. I mean you could make a couple of slight adjustments and there is a finished, beautiful recording, no hassle or fuss. Thanks for sharing.

(loved Sean's playing as well - where is the full length?)

Cheers

Orion

[Mixwell]

All those mics sound phenomenal in different ways - I keep thinking I have a favourite, and then one or the other gives a little something more to a different section of the tune. I lean towards the Bock or Josephson, but lets face it, the Telefunken kicks ass as well. I have never used such high-end mics, but this is a great illustration of why they are so important. I mean you could make a couple of slight adjustments and there is a finished, beautiful recording, no hassle or fuss. Thanks for sharing.

(loved Sean's playing as well - where is the full length?)

Cheers

Orion

MOVE THE MICS!!!!!!!

Moving the relation of these mics into any other position would yield a far different comparison I think. The C715 has a crazy open head basket that is like no other. And would be more sensitive to putting objects near it, for sure. It's innovative design completely eliminates plosives, close p-b-blasts, without changing the sound of the capsule.

[hardtoe]

MOVE THE MICS!!!!!!!

Moving the relation of these mics into any other position would yield a far different comparison I think. The C715 has a crazy open head basket that is like no other. And would be more sensitive to putting objects near it, for sure. It's innovative design completely eliminates plosives, close p-b-blasts, without changing the sound of the capsule.

Sure differing the placements wold give a different sound, but the tone of the mics is there to hear. By all means, make more files for us to enjoy to make your point hit home.

I think they have a C715 at Pulsworks where Sandy resides - they have a bunch of Josephson mics, and there was one with the same "lack of headbasket" headbasket design. It got a very realistic sound on the snare (Sandy was doing a shootout the day I was there - I'm sure it doesn't usually do this duty). The also have some NPNG pre's, the lucky bastards!

[hardtoe]

PS - I dont think there are enough exclamation points in the title of this thread.bthead

[Mixwell]

MICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sandyrb]

I think they have a C715 at Pulsworks where Sandy resides
Actually it's a C720; one of only twenty ever made.

the lucky bastards!
And that's why. ;)

I know the Mercenary lads have S/n 013. Ours is S/n 016. At the moment we know where just nine of them went. There are two in Canada. Most of them sold in Europe. It's a bloody awesome mic, that's for sure.

Cheers,

[Mixwell]

Seriously, I love the C715

[Mixwell]

Our 720 rocks my world.

Definitely a different animal from the C715 but RIGHTEOUS never the less!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sandyrb]

Our 720 rocks my world.
Yeah it is an AMAZING mic. I love it on everything I've tried but that's perhaps not too surprising seeing as I'm such a huge fan of everything Josephson does. Have you tried it on spoken female vocals yet? Holy shmoly... I was in audio heaven... so smooth, so warm, so intimate (yes I'm still talking about the mic!) ;)

Definitely a different animal from the C715 but RIGHTEOUS never the less!!!!
Now Adam, I wonder whether you could please do me a favor and describe the differences between them. I'm undecided on whether I want a C715 yet and I have other mic aquisitions to torture out of the boss, but he wants one so we're kinda dialoging (read; arguing) about it. If I could make a more informed decision based on your advice that would be great, please and thankyou. :)

Cheers,

[pauly]

all three of those mic's sounded amazing to me in their own ways, i really like the bock and the josephson, the telefunken sounded best to me on vocals but i try to not listen too much to that microphone because the pricetag breaks my heart every time.

[Mixwell]

Now Adam, I wonder whether you could please do me a favor and describe the differences between them. I'm undecided on whether I want a C715 yet and I have other mic aquisitions to torture out of the boss, but he wants one so we're kinda dialoging (read; arguing) about it. If I could make a more informed decision based on your advice that would be great, please and thankyou. :)

Cheers,

Hey Sandy,

You know I am fluent in Swahili right?

Aside from the OBVIOUS capsule design differences, the amplifier circuit is the exact same thing. Expect there is two of them inside the 720 for each capsule. Anyway, we asked Josephson to clone a Sony C37-A capsule 7 YEARS AGO, and @ the most recent San Fran AES convention, Kelly from Josephson walked over to us and proceeded to uncover the C715 from his sleeve. We said, "huh"? It uses a acoustic housing inside the capsule that is turned mechanically to adjust the polar pattern. Cardioid or Omni polar patterns are available through this mechanism. Basically, after he showed us the microphone, I wanted to hug him. To my ear, The C715 has a brighter top end, [more extended, more open perhaps would be a good way to put it] and I would suggest it is NOT strident or harsh or has any ice picks installed up there no matter what. To my ear, it offers a largely flattering presence range along with a very, very, very real amount of detail up there.

[Mixwell]

all three of those mic's sounded amazing to me in their own ways, i really like the bock and the josephson, the telefunken sounded best to me on vocals but i try to not listen too much to that microphone because the pricetag breaks my heart every time.

Not for nothing, as I hear you on the price tag, and agree that each microphone is STUPIDLY good, [given their league and craftsmanship and therefor results] but had I been a paying customer that day, and not Mixwell [a mercenary stool pigeon] I would have purchased and walked away with the C715 and been a very happy man.

[Sandyrb]

You know I am fluent in Swahili right?
Swahili? Isn't that when you try to take another gulp of beer and it goes down the wrong pipe so you cough a bunch of it all down your shirt and onto the chick and then she uses profane language in such a manner as to indicate that she no longer wishes to pursue the relationship? I'm quite fluent at that. ;)

clone a Sony C37-A capsule
Hokay now you certainly have my attention. Is that what's in the 715? Really? I would love that. Those old Sony mics are awesome; my favorite's the 38B.

To my ear, it offers a largely flattering presence range along with a very, very, very real amount of detail up there.
Okay now I'm itching to try one out. Have to see if we can order one 'on spec' but I know if we do the boss'll want to keep it... which I guess is no bad thing other than it delays my other mic acquisitions grumble grumble grumble...

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. :)

Cheers,

[burnthair donethat]

just read this thread in its entirety. i'm sorry for being such an ass for the temporary hijack. i was bummed about my recording and was looking for a forum for advice.

thanks for not jumping on me.

i like the 251E the best but i can't tell if the hi's are because of where it is or my speakers. between the other two, i'm with the josephson. but i'll take any of them any day if i can afford it. my daily fare is u87ai's, 414XLII's & B-ULS' which aren't bad but i'd go with the C715 instead of the similarly priced neumanns.

[Dan]

just read this thread in its entirety. i'm sorry for being such an ass for the temporary hijack. i was bummed about my recording and was looking for a forum for advice.

thanks for not jumping on me.

No sweat; I was certainly complicit.

New thread here (http://www.movethemics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238)

-Dan.

[RWB]

So while those samples were being recorded, there just happened to be a video camera set up and recording...

It ain't much, but hopefully it'll put into perspective some of the differences between the mics which are due to performance. No science here, not supposed to be an objective anything really, just some guy [Sean] playing into some very nice microphones.

It's 140M, so if you're still on that 3200 baud it'll take a while. Audio is 48k 24b uncompressed, right click and save 'er as right here (http://methlabstudio.com/media/aintwastinnotime_507-251-715.mov).

The Telefunken is in the middle, with the 507 panned right and the 715 panned left, just as described in the first post.

[hardtoe]

MICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is somewhat more acceptable.

I watched the video - Sean is way less hairy then I imagined him.

[pauly]

its been a while since i listened to these samples and i actually prefer the sound of the josephson in this sample. bthead

[fakiekid]

the 5-0-7, personally, was my least favourite here but all of the mics were not bad at all. Panning them accordingly entrails a nice thick recording. Very beautiful mics here.

[RadioCamp]

"I know the Mercenary lads have S/n 013. Ours is S/n 016. At the moment we know where just nine of them went. There are two in Canada. Most of them sold in Europe. It's a bloody awesome mic, that's for sure."

720 S/n 18 is in California. You can hear it in daily use here as the host mic.

www.undercurrentsradio.net

[Mixwell]

I miss ours dearly.

BUT one day I will own a C715 and a C700A personally, so I'm not too broken up about not using the C720 on any more sessions. Well, OK, I am broken up about it. I loved that microphone.

[Sandyrb]

...not using the C720 on any more sessions. Well, OK, I am broken up about it. I loved that microphone.

If you don't mind me asking, what happened to it? You guys sell it?

Cheers,

[Mixwell]

Yes, a client of ours simply HAD TO HAVE THE MICROPHONE and well,

We like our clients a lot. A LOT.

[Sandyrb]

Yes, a client of ours simply HAD TO HAVE THE MICROPHONE and well, We like our clients a lot. A LOT.

Ah, that's understandable. Shame you guys don't have it still though, I feel kinda bad for you. Heck you could always come record here and use ours. :)

Dress warm though (suggested Sandy, breaking the icicle from his frost-bitten nose) ;)

Cheers,

[Mixwell]

That's oK Sandy, I know. The 720 is a bad wamma jamma. But I think I'll slum it out with the 12 different MG microphones we have here, including the Twin Capsule UM930!!!!!

Its freezing here to by the way. I'm cold. Ice Cold.