Comments

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  Joe Nickell September 24, 2011 at 6:01pm

  Mike,

  Good post on a subjective topic. A large diaghram will always sound 'warmer' or less detailed than a small diaghram mic. And the 416 dies have a certain punch doesn't it. After that it's quite a matter of taste. Howard have you ever tried alighing the two mics as close as possible and using them both?
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  Howard Ellison September 24, 2011 at 4:44pm

  Odd man out here: I use a ribbon (Coles 4038) as my go-to because it's flattering and warm and goes easy on the esses.  However, if the brief indicates a more aggressive, energetic edge is sought, or if I anticipate competition with music & FX, then it will be the NT1A condenser.  In practice, a tiny bit of EQ can make those two sound nearly identical.

  Of course if I had a U87 it would likely cope with most things, while still not quite offering the tight 'cinematic' tone of a focused gun mic.

   
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  Mike Bratton September 24, 2011 at 4:32pm

  Howdy,

   

  No problem at all, anytime.

   

  As for the reasons between a 416 or a Neumann...there's no hard and fast reason to use one over the other. Most people I think tend to like large diaphragm microphones ( like your Neumann ) for more "acting" reads...the larger diaphragm and wider pickup pattern allow you to move around and be more expressive with your reads, without worrying about getting "off mic."

   

  The 416 is a very tight pickup pattern microphone...it is designed to be put on the end of a mic boom and used in video and film recording, to point at a particular sound source during filming. When used in a small voiceover booth, the tight pickup pattern has an interesting tendency to make the voice very tight and present, almost as though it's being run through a little compression. The mic tends to help voices "sit" in a mix well, without having to do too much to the vocal sound.

   

  The thing is, there's really no good way to describe why one is preferred over the other. I honestly tend to use my 416 for my ISDN sessions, because the tight pickup pattern helps reject unwanted noise better than my U87 does. I'm in a home studio, based in an apartment in Brooklyn, NY. I do work for a variety of networks and trailer houses now...so, having that extra little bit of "woops" protection for my booth is a great comfort factor for me.  I also carry a 416 with me on the road, specifically because of its noise rejection...very helpful in hotel rooms.

   

  The U87, I tend to use for my clients who I record full tracks for and ship them off...also, for my auditions and scratches...I'd use the U87 more for live recordings, but I'm always concerned that it's going to pickup that random noise in the distance that might make my studio sound less professional. Again, it's probably more my own paranoia than anything based in reality, but it makes me feel better during a session, and if I'm comfortable, then I'm relaxed, and I do better work.

   

  Hope this helps...sort of.

   

  mb
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  Alexis Serrano September 24, 2011 at 3:39pm

  Mr. Bratton,

  Thank you for that I will print your response and give it to her. 

   

   Can you tell me what type of reads you us the U87 and what you use the 416 for.  I have heard that trailers and promos the 416 is preferred but no one has ever explained why. 

   

  There is a studio that I often audition for Disney stuff and commercials and they use a 416 for everything the lady doing the recording is really nice but cant tell me anything useful about there set up though. 

   

  I ask because my dad is thinking about getting a used 416  to complement our TLM 103 but the only reason he can say is "if that's what the Big Gun (Ed Victor) does then its good enough for me."  I am just not sure when we should use each mic. 

  Thank you,

  Alexis 
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  Mike Bratton September 24, 2011 at 3:10pm

  Hi Alexis,

   

  I've talked on all the mentioned Neumann mics, and for my money, I'd go with the 102. It's small, but don't let that fool you...it's a nice, big sounding mic. Very similar I think to the 103. I use one in my secondary studio, and really have come to like it. My main studio I use a U87 and a 416 Shotgun mic...

   

  The 103 I've always felt was a bit strident in the midrange...it tends to pick up my mid-tones and over emphasize them...I've not had the same issue with the 102. 

   

  The 49 is a really cool mic, it does sound good, but for the money, you could get a pair of TLM 102s...or you could buy really, any other mic under $1000 and find one that performs just as well if not better...any number of the Audio Technica mics or the Shure KSM family are quite nice and well priced.

   

  But if she's specifically thinking Neumann, the TLM 102 is going to be a nice step up from any USB mic. Just so long as she has a decent preamp or interface to plug it into her computer.

   

  As for testing mics, many resellers have backed off their policies of not allowing you to buy a mic and return it. Sweetwater for instance now allows you to return microphones if you're not satisfied with them. Effectively allowing you to "test" the mic out for a short period. Double-check with the sales rep you work with, but that's a great place to find a great mic, at a reasonable price, and you can send it back with little or no hassle if it's not going to meet your needs.

   

  Microphones used to be listed in their "personal items" that can't be returned...things like in-ear monitors, instrument mouthpieces, etc...but they don't specifically list it. So, if you try that route, definitely contact a sales-rep first before purchasing...

   

  Hope all is well,

   

  Mike Bratton
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  Alexis Serrano September 24, 2011 at 2:59pm

  A nice lady in my acting class is considering moving up to a Neumann from the USB mic (I think it was a Sampson G something). She was asking me about which one. I am not the one to ask at all but I wanted to help so thought I would ask you all.
  
  She is considering a TLM 102, a 103 (which we have but I wonder if its a little bright and makes the ss zzz ch sh sounds too noticeable) and the TLM 49 which is like 1500 dollars (wow!). The sales guy at Sam Ash was pushing the 49 (no wonder) but I was wondering if anyone had used it or had any thoughts for her. I read some reviews on the 49 that say its good but does a 1500 dollar mic really make you sound better than a 700 102? I don't think so but I'm not that into the tech side of this.
  
  Oh and asking to test it out for her voice in the store won't work. In California they have some law about selling "used microphones" and no store me or my dad have ever been to will allow you to test them.
  
  
  
  Thanks
  Alexis
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  Alexis Serrano September 24, 2011 at 2:36pm

  Thanks,
  When it gets here maybe someone can tell us how to use it :)
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  Edward Dalmas September 17, 2011 at 10:20pm

  Hey Alexis - the RNC is a solid piece - or, as they like to say, "really nice." Should definitely solve any issues.
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  Alexis Serrano September 17, 2011 at 3:51pm

  Thanks everyone, 

  My dad ordered a "really nice compressor" I think it was, I am sure there will be more questions when he needs to set it up. 

   

   
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  Joe Nickell September 17, 2011 at 10:56am

  To clarify on my previous comment about PreSonus. They make fine gear, I didn't think the Eureka was competition to the Red7/737 class mic pre.