large diaphragm condenser mics - clip

[guitarman68]

Hi picking fellows,

I tried out some great LDCs and a Coles 4038 ribbon for a mic shoot out on a Merrill C 28. I used AKG C 414 LE, Brauner phantom AE, Neumann U 87 Ai, Ear Trumpet "Edwina" and Mojave MA 300 tube.
I'd like to share with you. Feel free to criticise and tell my your opinions.
Which one would you prefer ?

Best,
Bob

[H165]

Very interested in this subject, but I get this message through your link:

An error occurred. Please try again later. (Playback ID: WTnchDMnM92ynlK1)
Learn More

[JakeStone]

Yep. Error on playback for me too.

[Rudy4]

There is no way to judge performance based on a Youtube video. By the time Youtube runs your source material through its compression algorithm what you hear on playback is a shell of what goes in.

[rick-slo]

Coded it correctly for you. Liked the AKG the best (balance and clarity) and Coles ribbon the least.
If you use a higher resolution video you will get better sound off of youtube.

[Doug Young]

I kind of like the Coles. I wonder how people would hear it if the order was reversed. Ribbons are not as bright as condensers, but sound very natural. But after hearing 4 brighter mics, the Coles coming at the end sounds a bit dull. If you had the Coles 1st, the perception might be that the condensers were more brash in comparison? In any case, all sound good to me. No real favorite, just differences.

[guitarman68]

Sorry folks for the technical problems and a big thanks to rick-slo !

And thanks for feedback so far.

Doug Young, that is exactly what I hear: I really like the Coles, and if you hear only the Coles alone, it sounds great to my ear, although it would not my first choice. But after listening to condenser sounds, I'll miss the treble.

[rick-slo]

To me the Coles lack detail to the point of sounding tubby. It does not matter what order of mikes I am listening to. However we all have somewhat different tastes, ears, and playback gear.

[KevWind]

So to clarify is the performance on the Coles a different performance than on the other mics as it appears to be in the video ?

[guitarman68]

No, I played the tune once and recorded it with six mics. So the Coles performance is the same as the other five.

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

I kind of like the Coles. I wonder how people would hear it if the order was reversed. Ribbons are not as bright as condensers, but sound very natural. But after hearing 4 brighter mics, the Coles coming at the end sounds a bit dull. If you had the Coles 1st, the perception might be that the condensers were more brash in comparison? In any case, all sound good to me. No real favorite, just differences.

If I was to be "working" with a sound (that is to say mixing instead of just listening) I'd pick the Coles. Especially if it were a low count instrumental track. There's something about many ribbon mics I find appealing. Like everyone else I think most ribbons need a bit of added eq clarity but the complexity of sound (at least to my ears) is more along the lines of what I enjoy about any acoustic instrument.

Off topic to be sure but Doug can I get in touch pm with you to discuss the AEA N22? Seriously thinking this might be my next mic.

[Chickee]

I liked the Mojave first,
then the Coles very close second.
The rest sounded pretty similar(not bad by any means, just sharper highs).
I think i prefer a mellower sounding acoustic. The top two would be for me.
Thanks for the shoot out.

[Brent Hahn]

Every mic has a different "reach." You can't judge that many mics fairly by just setting them up in a line; you have to give each one its optimum distance. To me, in that test, the distances of 414 and the Coles were pretty right. Everything else was too far away.

[guitarman68]

You are right, Brent. Especially the Ear Trumpet would benefit from some proximity.
Thanks to all for contributing.

[rockabilly69]

I might be the odd man out here but I like the way the U87ai pushed the mids right out in front.