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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! Nevertheless we decided to offer some sound examples to show the differences between microphones of different manufacturers and price ranges.  On this site you can hear comparisons between different small- and large diaphragm as well as tube microphones

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

Andro MK 012 MK 012 UPdated Electronics JZ 6 Brauner Phantom Classic	Erin MK 012 MK 012 UPdated Electronics JZ 6 Brauner Phantom Classic
Melodie MK 012 MK 012 UPdated Electronics JZ 6 Brauner Phantom Classic	Psalite MK 012 MK 012 UPdated Electronics JZ 6 Brauner Phantom Classic

 

  

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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