Audio
It is a little dangerous to
compare audio examples of microphones on the internet. You
don`t know the exact recording conditions, every sound source
is different and file compression smudges the differences -
nothing can compete the personal test! On this site you can hear comparisons between different small- and large diaphragm as well as tube microphones |
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We did comparing recordings of celtic harp, western guitar (Martin), a Yamaha grand piano as well as drum overheads. We used the same preamps on all recordings, no EQs, no compressors, no effects. We only normalized the files to get comparable levels.
Please scroll down the whole page - it`s worth it!
Celtic Harp
This instrument offers nice
comparability of transient response, openness, separation
and three-dimensionality. The instrument is relatively
quiet, so sensivity and noise floor of the microphones are
also an issue - it is useful to listen to the files with a
good headphone.
Microphone placement is wide A/B stereo, appr. 1,5m distance
to the harp. Listen to matched stereopairs of Oktava MK 012; Oktava MK 012 UPdated
Electronics (Cardioid capsules without pad-module), Violet
the Junior and Brauner Phantom Classic.
Thanks to Susanne Globisch
from Bamberg / Germany for playing the harp!
www.arpa-magica.de
Western Guitar
First a comparison between small diaphragm comdenser microphones. Listen to matched pairs of Oktava MK 012, MK 012 UPdated Electronics, Neumann KM 184 and Microtech Gefell M 300, all with cardioid capsules. Narrow A/B-Stereo, distance to guitar appr. one meter
Chords Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Groove Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Picking Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Furthermore we did a
comparison between large diaphragm tube microphones. The
files are stereo for reasons of compatibility - nevertheless
these are mono recordings, you always hear only one
microphone! Listen to Brauner VM1, Brauner Valvet X,
Microtech Gefell M 990 and Microtech Gefell
M 92.1S
Groove 1 VM 1 Valvet X M 990 M 92.1 S |
Groove 2 VM 1 Valvet X M 990 M 92.1 S |
Groove 3 VM 1 Valvet X M 990 M 92.1 S |
Grand Piano
We tried small diaphragm, large diahragm an tube condenser microphones on the grand piano. Let`s begin once again with small diaphragms, A/B stereo, appr. 1 meter distance from the opened piano. Oktava MK 012, MK 012 UPdated Electronics, Neumann KM 184 and Microtech Gefell M 300.
Part 1 Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Part 2 Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Fantasie Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Here we used two matched pairs of large diaphragm mics, also in A/B stereo. Position 1 is the same as with the small diaphragms, position 2 is inside the grand piano, at the beater side, 40 cm above the strings. listen to matched pairs of Microtech Gefell M 930 and Brauner Phantom Classic.
Position
1 Gefell M 930 Brauner Phantom Classic |
Position
2 Gefell M 930 Brauner Phantom Classic |
We also tried the tube mics on the grand piano. Listen once again to Brauner VM1, Brauner Valvet X, Microtech Gefell M 990 and Microtech Gefell M 92.1S, once more in mono.
Part 1 VM 1 Valvet X M 990 M 92.1 S |
Part 2 VM 1 Valvet X M 990 M 92.1 S |
Last but not least we meda a direct comparisons between tube and FET (transistor) microphones: Brauner Valvet X (Tube) and Phanthera (FET); Microtech Gefell M 990 (Tube) und M 930 (FET) sowie Microtech Gefell M 92.1S (Tube, M7-capsule) und MT 71 S (FET, M7-capsule) respectively have the same capsule and sonic calibration. The difference is much more impressive at vocal applications, but perhaps you can nevertheless get a small impression here.
Part 2 Valvet X (Tube) Phanthera (FET) |
Part 2 M 990 (Tube) M 930 (FET) |
Part 2 M 92.1 S (Tube) MT 71 S (FET) |
Drum - Overhead
At a drum-overhead application we once again compared small diaphragm condensers Oktava MK 012, MK 012 UPdated Electronics, Neumann KM 184 and Microtech Gefell M 300, matched pairs with cardioid capsules. Furthermore you get a comparison of the large diaphragm mics Gefell M 930 and Brauner Phantom Classic as stereo-overheads
Groove
1 Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Groove
2 Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Groove
3 Oktava MK 012 MK 012 UPdate Neumann KM 184 Gefell M 300 |
Groove
4 Gefell M 930 Brauner Phantom |
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