Again with the Stam SA800g. The resonant whirr in the 6-8khz range adds a pleasant intelligibility to the capture that made the OG so amazing, and the slight high bass bump is like a supporting undergarment in feel when you're playing a sport.

I'm just loving this microphone with now.

I’m an Athletic Supporter too!

A number of years ago I began a project with an old friend to record Woody Guthrie's "Do Re Mi". It was a tune we'd play for years and decided to record. We cut some basic tracks and it got put on the shelf.

I had forgotten about but stumbled on it a week ago and decided to spend some more time on it. One thing I noticed was a bad punch in to fix a line in the harmony vocal.

I decided to fix the line but I am now in a new space that does not bode well for the use of condenser mics. The original vocal had been recorded with a Wunder CM7.

I decided to try my RE20 and much to my chagrin, you really cannot tell that it is two different microphones - certainly not when all the tracks are playing but even when solo'd, it really sounds close enough it is almost not noticeable.

My RE20 was the first quality mic I ever purchased and it still holds up. I have yet to open it up and check on the foam but it still sounds great so I'm not going to jinx it.

The "solid" AKG D770 here.
On a little slice of Intruders "Philly Soul".
Purely RAW one take.

Done inside my fave coffeeshop's 'lil Conference Room.
People talking out the glass window looking in.
Overhead music etc.
Chris
*My Lewitt 550 DM is my recent "10" for Live Performance.
It's my fave of the Dynamics I have.

Would put this D770 around 7.5.
And the good "flukey" D790 I have at around 9-ish.

My other ones are EV 635a (8+/unless paired with quality Pre) and 58 (usually around 6-ish).

Graded on the Curve at Home/Live!
Chris

Today I used a $40 Behringer C-2 Studio Condenser Microphone amplified through the exquisite Behringer Original ADA8000 on a Zoom call.

It sounded thin and occasionally buzzed from random RFI

Then I drank champagne and ate caviar.

Thankfully somebody brought me some Grey Poupon.

Fabulous. I used my Heiserman 47 with the HK47 head basket in Omni, through and Ironageaudio QP5 into an Audioscape V-Comp into a Pro Replicas Bluestripe, as I was tracking a lower backing vocal with the bassist in an Irish Trad band and it's the gear for that!

Chessparov "getting down" with The Trammps.
Disco Inferno!

Lewitt 550 MP (obviously Live/"one take")
Partly posted for amusement-NOT showcasing )

Effectively my "Before" recording.
Getting it ready for Live Performances in Town.
So a fun "feel" take.
Chris
P.S. Just a Medium dose of MJUCjr. on it.

Trusty old Shure Sm7. But it was only in pre-production so I forgive myself… 😜

You know whats crazy? There are counterfeit Shure SM7 's now...they look identical, its wild!

Becareful everyone!

I used an AKG SolidTube. Wow, the sound was phat.

From the day when AKG still made a real tube mic.

That's forgivable. It is the one good use of the SMeven.

Practice vocal portion of "This Love Of Mine", on my AKG D770. Combined with MJUCjr/3% PSP Chamber..
Chris

I needed a particular sound for vox in a key that doesn't fit me with a singing voice that blows.

Started U67, then OC818, then RE20, then M88, then SM58, then finally got a decent sound from a Warbler (the 87ai copy).

Pure turd polishing, but it made me think an 87ai might be a good investment.

Here's a "one take" Practice Vocal, with just MJUCjr Compression and Voxvengo "Old Skool" Reverb on it...

I may delete it in a day or two.
But I really like this free 'verb!
(MJUC is great too)

Otherwise just AKG D770 into Volt 1.
Recorded outside!

Portion of the American Songbook Standard, "This Love Of Mine".
Chris

I found years ago that, for whatever reason, the modern U87ai works for what I do better than nearly any other mic. If you've used a real one and you know you love it, it'll be worth the price of admission.

I also have a Warbler and still love it, but mine is the MKI (modeled after the original U87/U87i). So it's a nice complement to my U87ai and other mics, quite a bit woolier on top (too much for me most of the time but nice with an eq boost).

I had the privilege of auditioning this mic, today.
Even with my clay ears, I recognized a clear difference between this mic and my next-best (formerly go-to) condenser.

I'm not sold on the blingy look. I usually go for more adult attire on my mics. Traditional colors and shapes, I suppose. Nothing that snags the eye (or a lens).
But after hearing the mic, I'm suspending the dress code for a minute. Come as you are.

Edit: My pic isn't as clear as it should be. Vanguard V13, if you can't make it out.

And what did it replace?

M49?

It was a DIY 47 clone. Hand-built from a donor body. Kinda looks it, too. I didn't have a badge to aim at. I've got a couple of Sharpie-dots
It fit my voice better than the K2 I was trying to make work. Nothing wrong with the K2, though. You should hear it on my favorite female vocalist. Just not a fit for me.
My home-built is actually a pretty decent-sounding mic, if not a tad bit noisier than the K2.
It has been my personal go-to for a couple of years.
I just knew I wanted a better top-end, without losing that flattering low-mid bloom that I associate with '47-style capsules.

It's not absolutely linear, but as the mic cost goes up, I notice 3 things that seem to improve beyond the subjective sound:

1) The mentioned top-end. Mics that resist harshness and sibilant consonants, yet retain an airy glitter that never gets old.
2) How they take EQ. There really is a difference.
3) Off axis behavior. Quieter, perhaps, but not so different.

I saved up for a mic that out-performed my jalopy, and chose the V13.

My Jalopy is below. Of course, I'm keeping it. It is marvelously dark, for when I want marvelously dark.

Sheesh, lol. I wish.

This is my first mic that actually came with badge and a wooden coffin. Of course, it's not THE sought-after badge, and the coffin appears to be pine, but this hobbyist is sure grateful to have it.

I missed getting a V13 a few years ago when you could find them used around $400-$500. People like them and the prices shot up.

I hear nothing but good things about them. Congrats. Cool looking shop.

Thanks, Gruner!

I'm trying not to "go on" about it. It beats my jalopy. Big deal.
Too many times I've been excited about a new piece of gear, only to have the confirmation bias wear off and find I'm up against an unforeseen limitation. I'm a little too old to be falling in love with my "car".

But inside? I'm sorely impressed, so far. If there are no GS reviews, I may contribute my first one once I get to know this mic like Adam knew Eve. Particularly if I still feel the same.

Best,
Frank

Soft spot here for 47 FET style on my Male Soprano.
Elly>Mackie Onyx Pre.

Just free MJUCjr Compression and free Voxvengo Plate here,
on this one take.
Chris

Today I did voiceovers with a Sony C100. Not a bad mic, sorta noisy, but tonally nice for my weaselly voice.

Gotta say I was playing live and a harp player so used my green bullet to sing for convenience. Fun and funky. Surprisingly sounded good lol!

I´ve recorded a choir in a community hall this weekend using 5 Schoeps CMC6XT/MK41, a Shure Beta91 for the Cajon and a Beyer MC930 for percussion OH. The piano was DI unfortunally. The choir decided to go electric instead of using the available Kawai acoustic piano to save space on stage.

Songwriting/preproduction for the next two weeks.
In the CR, while accompanying herself with a GM piano preset, she sings into a Shure KSM8, plugged into an Amek CIB preamp.
Monitoring through the CR speakers, surprisingly no feedback, even though the mic has such a wide sweet spot.

More potentially keeper takes today went into a Brauner Phanthera and a Voxbox (preamp only), on the "soft" 40 dB setting.
Nicely airy, solid, and not sibilant. But a notable buildup around 300Hz on some notes.

Might be her voice, the room (had her set up near a corner, will move her away tomorrow) or...the whole MicKing/Rycote combo which has a strong resonance around the same freq. region when tapped.

Either way, tomorrow I'm trying a Gefell UM70s.
Also planning to test Neumann KM86, TLM193 and U89, Mojave MA200 and a Gefell body with an omni cap.

(p.s. sorry for the sideways pic, looked straight on the iPad...)

Next day edit: after more careful listening, I find the Phanthera *plus* the 40dB setting introduced too much "tubey haze" for a lead voice, which I find distracting, at least in this context. This might work well with strings, horns, or other sustained, pad-like sources, possibly a choir, or backing vocals.

Heiserman 47
SM7

This weekend was BN C12 tube👍

It was a late 70s C414 EB.