Why not buy a $700 mic? - Page 2

pieterh · #16 07-19-2020, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

When we are recording live concerts we use our KMS104s and KMSs105s. They really are a step up for live recording. They' got a pretty well-known user as well...

Bob

Me and my wife have 104s which we love. We use (amongst others) 105s and 104s at work and I find I prefer the 104 on the whole. They sound great recorded too.

Many well known artists like the 105/104..!

rockabilly69 · #17 07-19-2020, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

When we are recording live concerts we use our KMS104s and KMSs105s. They really are a step up for live recording. They' got a pretty well-known user as well...

Bob

Not a Neumann, that's an AKG D7

rockabilly69 · #18 07-19-2020, 02:41 AM

My girl bought me a KMS105 for Christmas many years ago and I found I don't like it. I use it in my studio for other vocalists as it's super cardoid so it works well for singers that want to record guitar and voice simultaneously. What I don't like about it is that it has a low cut filter built into it and I can't work the mic for proximity effect the way I do my favorite mic the Shure Beta 87a. I wish she would have bought me the KMS104.

Brent Hahn · #19 07-19-2020, 02:50 AM

If you're recording, whether or not the artist can stay glued to to the mic makes a big difference with any of those super- or hyper-cardioids. Most people can't during a gig. Bigshots don't worry about it because they know they'll be replacing it.

pieterh · #20 07-19-2020, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Not a Neumann, that's an AKG D7

Well spotted!

It’s also a decent mic, similar to Beta 58 though with a slightly higher frequency response.

Bob Womack · #21 07-19-2020, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Not a Neumann, that's an AKG D7

It looked a little off but he was using the Neumans on the On An Island tour.

Bob

YamahaGuy · #22 07-19-2020, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Not a Neumann, that's an AKG D7

I thought it looked less like the 104/105 and more like the AKG C5 I have. I looked at the D7 once or twice.

j3ffr0 · #23 07-19-2020, 07:55 AM

IMO - you can't beat a great vocal mic that you love regardless of price. I kind of feel like the better, less commonly used mics can be a vocalist's or soundman's secret weapon.

Br1ck · #24 07-19-2020, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phcorrigan

I've been using a couple of $300-400 ADK large diaphragm microphones for Zoom open mics lately. One for vocal, one for guitar. I add a little room reverb with my mixer. Even through Zoom, I get comments on the high quality of my sound, with one person saying it sounded like I was right in their room.

I don't know what, other than the microphones, would be responsible for the sound quality. I'm pretty sure it's not just the preamps in my Behringer mixer.

If you can run a compressor for your Zoom use, a fast attack medium ratio and the longest decay can have you under the zoom compressor threshold.

phcorrigan · #25 07-19-2020, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Br1ck

If you can run a compressor for your Zoom use, a fast attack medium ratio and the longest decay can have you under the zoom compressor threshold.

I'm not sure how this relates to what I posted. I'm not running a compressor and my sound is fine.

MikeBmusic · #26 07-20-2020, 11:54 AM

Is running a $700 mic (as opposed to a $100-$150 mic) through a typical live PA system in the usual live venue (i.e. restaurant or bar or - these days- outside) really going to be noticeable to any but the 0.001% listener?

buzzardwhiskey · #27 07-20-2020, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Is running a $700 mic (as opposed to a $100-$150 mic) through a typical live PA system in the usual live venue (i.e. restaurant or bar or - these days- outside) really going to be noticeable to any but the 0.001% listener?

I'm going to say yes. The diffence in upper mids and highs is not very subtle TO MY EARS and my singing responds favorably to this.

varmonter · #28 07-20-2020, 12:10 PM

First time I heard a ksm105 it was being used
By Brandi Carlisle. I was saying to myself wow that mic sounds great. So I looked it up
And yeah 700buck..but worth it I'd imagine.
Any piece of equipment that makes me sit up
And take notice is usually spendy ha...🤑

Brent Hahn · #29 07-20-2020, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Is running a $700 mic (as opposed to a $100-$150 mic) through a typical live PA system in the usual live venue (i.e. restaurant or bar or - these days- outside) really going to be noticeable to any but the 0.001% listener?

As an FOH mixer, my take is that it (the Neumann specifically) is different but not necessarily better. With female voices in particular the Neumann is sometimes a detriment, IMO, because something like an SM58 has a grit/texture to it that helps a non-gritty voice cut though a band, while the Neumann doesn't. There's such a thing as "too smooth."

rockabilly69 · #30 07-20-2020, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Is running a $700 mic (as opposed to a $100-$150 mic) through a typical live PA system in the usual live venue (i.e. restaurant or bar or - these days- outside) really going to be noticeable to any but the 0.001% listener?

If the mic is making you feel confident, the answer is a definite yes! Because you are going to sing better, you are going to sound better. Certain mics line up with certain voices and equipment, and when you find the right combination it's kind of magic. That mic could be any price so you've really got to try as many mics as you can. When I found the Shure Beta 87a ($257) I knew I found the right mic for me. And when I heard the Neumann KMS105 on a fellow band member I knew that was the right mic for her!