All this time I was looking for that U87 sound, and now that I tried an older u87 and u87ai, I have been amazed at how boring the mic is, I cannot believe it!

As much as I do pop more than rock, I am still wondering why Rock producers don't use the Sony c800g more, I'm positive that James Lugo bought one a couple of months ago.

Thats pretty much it, its not a bad mic but you kind of expect more for such a expensive mic before you even start. You also have to remember they were designed in the days of large consoles and tape, where everything else added character and a mic that cut though could be so powerful. Time have changed and so should many of the things we use.

Anyway there is a tendency to idolise these kind of mics before we even use them and to claim you want that sound when you don't even know what it is is crazy. If you think you want the sound of mic x then try mic x for a baseline then try mic y and z. As videoracer said you 'are either in a for great disappointment or a pleasant surprise' because all mics are different but you may just find the mic you like along the way.

A mic I've found to not have any cheap replacements has to be the sony mic. I think the C12 tone is well represented in the SP T3, there are tons of U47 and U67 clones, no c800g clones yet, and no, the Peluso VTB is not even in the same ballpark!

Since the Arabella has almost doubled in price, what U47 clone do you like?

And they nulled perfectly.

I also have a SP C1 and I don't think it sounds like a U87, either. FWIW, I've heard U87's that didn't sound like... you'd expect.

This is true- Great mic. Cheap on ebay. or the 300

Well, what I will say as a new member here and looking at a really old thread! It's what everybody else says, no mic is the perfect mic. But the CAD mics are amazing!!! When recording my album (soon to be released) we tried several different mics.

Telefunken Elam 251
Mikrotech Gefell MV692 with an M7 capsule
Neumann U87 (with Andreas Grosser Modification)
Neumann TLM 103
CAD e350 (courtesy of Joel Patterson!!! GREATEST GUY EVER!)
Thomann T-Bone SCT 2000 (Nady 1150)
Audiotechinca AT-3035
and a SE Electronics 2200a

And hands down on my voice the best mics are the
CAD e350
TLM 103
and then the U87.

There is nothing almighty about the U87 and the engineer recording me that day (a good friend of mine) didn't even wanna use the U87 because he thought it to bland. But for rap vocals, man... all three of those mics rock! And also, it depends on the preamp because I've heard a cheap 3035 stand next to a Neumann and the Nady out perform both on the right preamp and voice

But once again it's not about the price you pay for gear... it's about the talent and skill of an artist and Engineer.


Also, I think my next mic purchase will be a the CAD m179, it's looks the right choice for a rapper I'm working with right now. Hopefully, I can get it before we finish the project!

Peace,
min

This is very true. It's why they make stereo pairs of microphones. You can't own a Mic for a year and expect to go buy another and have it sound identical. It is gonna sound close though.

I have no idea what CAD mic your a talking about. Truthfully it might be a decent mic but I doubt it sounds like a u87

You haven't read the previous posts. The mic he was looking for was the CAD e350. And it has a great feel and I can see how people would compare it to a U87. But honestly I believe it sounds better, but that is on male voices. Great mic, really great mic, if you can find it!

(Don't tell me you doubt it sounds better, because I have used both!)

Whatever happened to the VX2? Worked with one for about 6 years. Did they ever actually make the digital interface card that the original advertising touted as an option?

I thought it was quite a big sounding mic, but found it sounding ferocious on some female voices, harsh at a few narrow peaks that a u67 immediately tamed.

Idk, but I wish I could try a VX2 out. I don't anybody who has one here. Pity really.

Peace,
mista min

As I recall Warhead has two of them still.....

Yea, true... by here I meant in my local area

Doh!! When you said "here" I thought you meant the GS forum, my bad.

Bump... Is everyone still enjoying these mics? I have a few myself and would never part with them.

Tim

Bump... Is everyone still enjoying these mics? I have a few myself and would never part with them.

Tim

Is the 300 a step up from the 200? I'm dying to try one of these, as I've all but given up on finding a 350. lol

i picked up a 350 a few weeks ago, there was a 300 on the bay a few days ago... keep looking

p.s. twenty years on, what's everyone using for the elastic on the fancy e350 ZM-1G suspension cradle? mine's so stretched it's unusable, so I suppose I'll get some 3mm bungee cord or something... anyone any suggestions?

well - CAD got back to me about the cord length of their original spec for the ZM-1G being 11 and 21 inches respectively (attached pdfs), but nothing about size/stretchiness type specs - they say they don't know.

I saw some other thread suggesting that the spec of the cord is important for the suspension to provide the correct isolation - anyone know anything about this?

Did you ever find out? I pulled out my old e-350 and charged it up, and the cords are pretty worn/loose. (I realize this is an old post)