Neumann TLM 103D digital mic

[Ty Ford]

Hi,

I'm working on a review of the new digital Neumann TLM103D for Pro Audio Review and have uploaded a file of finger-style playing. I'm pretty impressed with the sound.

http://idisk.mac.com/tyreeford-Publi...LM103DD28S.wav

Regards,

Ty Ford

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by Ty Ford

I'm pretty impressed with the sound.

And so am I. It's a lovely mic with impressive low-end and beautiful highs as well. I've had my eye on the 103 for a while. Nice choice!

Bob

[rmyAddison]

Very nice.

So a digital microphone contains a DAC, straight to board, am I understanding this correctly?

[Bob Womack]

Yup. It has a preamp and an A/D converter built in. When you add the "connect kit", you can connect to any digital product offering either AES/EBU standard or S/PDIF input. If you wish remote control of the mic, there is computer software to provide that but it can also be used with a small digital recorder as well. I've had my eyes on this technology since Neumann debuted the D-01 mic back around 2000 at an Audio Engineering Societyconvention I attended. The D-01 is essentially the TLM-170 that I work with daily, with digital output AND digital control in the same data stream. With a computer, you can remotely control the preamp gain, the mic's pattern, limiting, high-pass, and other parameters through the output cable. That's pretty exciting for classical work where you are often a pretty long distance from the mics.

Bob

[rick-slo]

Ty, any hands on comparison to the regular TLM 103 sound (of course when not using the TLM 103D's software, eg compressor/limiter)?

Regarding the software choices the mike comes with, including such as compressor/limter and de-esser, I wonder if making those choices at recording time instead post recording is in principle good or bad. In any case technology marches forward, even if the wallet does not keep pace.

Here is one of your youtubes and another one on the mike.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPXmPelUbtI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl6FXSDQjGw

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Regarding the software choices the mike comes with, including such as compressor/limter and de-esser, I wonder if making those choices at recording time instead post recording is in principle good or bad.

On high-stress, one-pass sessions and remote recordings, where a product must be gotten and retakes for technical problems are not possible, to place a high-threshold limiter in line to prevent stray overloads. The aim is to never hit the limiter, but if something totally unpredictable comes along, at least you don't get digital overload that makes the product unusable. Of course, when you eliminate the analog signal chain from the mic on as with this mic, you eliminate any chance to prevent analog overload, so this becomes an important option.

Bob

[Ty Ford]

Bob,

I like your thinking.

BTW, they sent me the Neumann D-01 for a while. I have recorded a couple of tracks and put them up on my online archive.

I am struck by how this mic captures the pluck of my fingers on the strings. Listen on big monitors, not computer speakers.

http://idisk.mac.com/tyreeford-Publi...0D-01?view=web

Very, very quiet as well.

Regards,

Ty Ford

[Bob Womack]

Hey, Ty. I tried to play your files and they attempted to call an associated internet site that wouldn't load. Sorry.

Bob

[Ty Ford]

weird. it's on my iweb site

Try this.

http://idisk.mac.com/tyreeford-Public/Neumann%20D-01

Sorry,

Ty

[ayavner]

worked for me, just pulled up his public iDisk folder after which I can download the songs from there.

[Bob Womack]

Still showing errors on Real and Windows Media player - could be because it is 24 bit and my settings are wrong for that. I got a break from my session and pulled the clips into Nuendo and they worked. I think I'm most impressed with the cleanliness of the direct to USB route - just clean as a whistle. After that, it's the nice, round, smooth bottom end. Very nice!

Bob