VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Yes, it's compressed audio on Youtube, and he's speaking quietly, but here's an interesting mic test between the Studio Projects CS1, the TLM 103, and the MG 930:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTOjx_Wk94A

My thoughts:
1.) The CS1 could be a really nice narration mic. I've heard a few clips now of the CS line and I like it a lot. Better mids at least than the TLM 103.
2.) I like 103s and use one, but they are really lacking in the mids. Honk. Honk!
3.) MG m930...smooth, but they're kinda boring. Neither warmth nor punch.
I guess that means it's perfect! Smile

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Bruce · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:44 am Post subject:

CS1 very nice. You could hear everything, but in a good way.

B
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bobsouer · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject:

Lance,

Interesting find. Thank you for the link.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

With all the positive buzz the B1 and C1 have among VO talent, I've always been surprised and puzzled that I couldn't find *anything* about the CS1 or CS5. So thanks for passing this along, Lance. You can snag a CS1 for $250 on eBay w free shipping.

BTW Lance, have you gotten back your modded V67 yet? I'm curious to hear what you think.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I never had my v67g modded. I realized that with much use and testing a few things:
1.) The self noise was a little high, and the mod would only get it down -3db.
2.) The mids were really cloudy, and the highs were essentially sharp - I couldn't see the mod fixing things enough.
3.) I don't completely trust the results of the person with whom I was going to have the mic modded, although he was very nice and pro in our correspondences. On the v67g modded sample on his website, you can clearly hear that the instrument is being played differently before and after. It's not about the mod.
4.) I've decided that the v67g is respected because it is a beautiful looking mic. Really, it's gorgeous. If it was all silver, no one would care. The MXL 2003 is a great mic and nobody uses it because it looks like an anonymous Chinese mic. The v67g sounds good, certainly; and extremely good for the money...but I thought it just made more sense to blow that $180 on a mod towards a different mic instead

So...I just placed an order for a Studio Projects CS5 for $349...which is a huge price drop. They just never marketed these mics correctly. I never knew they existed until this month. D'oh! Now with this price cut they probably figured they'd do what some other manufacturers have done...take the loss in MSRP to get the name out there, and then jack up the price to something they can live with. SP came in a bit high with their original price considering their other mics, but this mic does offer a lot:
4 Pattern
4 Stage Pad
4 Stage Low Cut
4 Stage High Cut
It has a much different sound from the TLM 103 (which I'm keeping). Hopefully, the CS5 will work as my narration mic and the 103 will be the sharp between-your-eyes mic. I also have my MKH 50 as a narration and warm commercial option. I love the high end of a 103, but around 200Hz and 1kHz it's just flabby and lame...no matter what pre or room I use it in. Low mid response is crucial especially for male narration (at least on my voice).
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

The M930, while not always the most exciting, is an excellent VO mic IMO.

It can be "warmed up" by the talent, and the right pre-amp
(like an Avalon or LA 610, etc.)

While it doesn't completely mimic a U87, to my ear it's in the same neighborhood cool

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Agreed that the m930 is much closer to a U87 in all the good ways.

I expect delivery of the CS5 on Wednesday, and I'll have samples on Thursday if it's any good. Poor performance of this mic will be met with eerie silence on my part.

This week I've been rocking my MKH 50...love it.
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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

I had a session several months ago on an M930, and I thought it was perhaps the best I've ever sounded.

But.... my pal John Weeks (aka "Skinny Johnny") sent me files a while back comparing his M930 to his TLM-103 through a fairly high-end signal chain (Manley VoxBox?), and I struggled to hear the difference. They were wav files, not MP3. So that makes me concerned about the idea of buying an M930 to replace my TLM-103 - why spend another $$$ if the improvement is not obvious? Unless there's some x factor on John's end that I can't think of.

I hope to hear samples of your CS5 Lance, good or bad[/b]
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ricevoice · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject:

Just playing Devil's Advocate here Tom, but... is your voice similar to your friend John's? Perhaps the mics sound more similar to one another with his voice than they would on yours (or someone else's).

If you (and the client presumably) loved your voice on the M930, AND you'd be running it thru a similar chain that it was going thru for that session... maybe there is more of a difference between those 2 mics for your voice than there is for John. Plus there's always the psychological benefit of you thinking you sound really good on a mic... in my case anyway, when I'm using a set-up I like (and think I sound better-than-usual on) I think I'm more comfortable with it and able to focus more on the actual performance... it can act like a security blanket and let you bring out the best in yourself.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

In line with what Chris wrote, don't discount the effect of the room, preamps, and converters they were using at the studio with the m930 even though I wouldn't be surprised if that was a great mic for your voice.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Tom,

I have had both the TLM 103 and the Gefell M930. For my voice the Gefell seems a better fit. It just felt like the M930 does a better job handling my particular vocal style-----whereas on the 103 I sounded boomy if I got in close.

But the M930 needs the right pre-amp. I have tried it directly into an Agogee Duet, MOTU Ultralite, Mackie 1202 and the venerable Avalon 737.
It sounds pretty good with the Mackie and MOTU. The Duet is too transparent for it, to my ear.

But the 737 really seems to pump some body into it.

If you want to hear a sample, just let me know.