VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Darren Altman · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:34 pm Post subject: M-Audio Luna v U87 mic test

Hey all,

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this. Attached is a mic test with my old and new set up. First we have the M-Audio Lunar condensor mic going into an M-Audio Mobile Pre audio interface, straight into my Macbook Pro laptop.

Then we have the Neumann U87 going into an Apogee Duet, into my Behringer Xenon mixer and out to my Mac Mini. The level of the M-Audio test was a bit hot in comparison (I recorded a while ago), so I dropped it slightly and matched the U87 level as best I could to it.

The MP3 is at 320kbs. What do you think?

http://soundcloud.com/darren-altman/m-audio-v-u87-mic-test
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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

I much prefer the Luna. The U87 sounded a bit thin. Was there an 80hz high pass filter engaged? I wouldn't run any high quality mic through a Behringer anything! Even going into an insert will degrade the signal.

Your best equipment combo would be the Luna > Duet > Computer. IMHO

Something odd about that U87. It doesn't sound like most I've spoken into and heard.

I have a Luna also. It has a beefy sound with the transformer. I've always liked it. I tend to do hard sell commercials, so I use a Sennheiser 416.

One vote for the Luna in this test. Try it through the Duet, it may sound even better.
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SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:44 pm Post subject:

What Bill said!
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject:

Sounds thin. Like bill said check your hipass setting. The high pass starts rolling of at 1k http://www.coutant.org/u87ai/u87.pdf

Make sure you're in cardioid setting too

Dump the Behringer.

PS
since you're uploading to sound cloud, recored @ 24/48K and upload a WAV file.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:17 am Post subject:

ISDN test connection yesterday sounded just fine to me, all the information required was in my headphones. The test recording was brighter than I would have expected so something is (to use a car analogy) in gear when it should be in neutral.

Having placed the above on record, for the benefit of the Anoraks above. My room during the test dial was rather humid and the door to my VO booth was partially open during low tide. As my southerly placement was only about 8ft above sea level and the baromteric pressure 993mb I suspect my reading were falsely inaccurate.

No top VOs would ever, ever use a Behringer, particularly not the UB802 which as everyone knows is an anagram of Satan.

Monk · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:52 am Post subject:

8ft above MSL.

that explains so so much.

the waft of sea air with the hint of a peat fire from the tavern down the road, the slight din of laughter of the gull in the low tide frolic of harvest.....
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

IMO the only way to do a true comparison is to record both directly

into the Duet.

I think it's also true that a U87 isn't necessarily a good fit for everyone, tho

it does work for a lot of people.

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Darren Altman · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:38 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies. I have to agree with all your comments about the U87 sounding thin in comparison. I think that I was a little too close to the M-Audio Luna and it does sound beefy in comparison, I'll have a play with my mic placement and levels on my new set up, as I'm positive I can (without EQing or compressing) get a much better sound out of the U87. It's probably my fault and not the mic's that it sounds thin in comparison. I'll post the new results.

I've checked the U87 and it was recorded with just the cardiod setting, no filter. I'd just like to add that the Behringer mixer is not really part of the chain as everything is set to 0, so I'm not using any of is processors and I'm simply using it to monitor.
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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

If the Duet is plugged into the Behringer, it doesn't matter what the settings are, the mixer is part of the audio chain.

Use your ears. If the Luna sounds better, go with that. A U87 isn't for everyone. It also depends on the type of voice work you do. A U87 does not flatter loud sources.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:54 am Post subject:

http://soundcloud.com/philip-banks/perfect

If you get a sound (not my voice) like this then you should get no complaints and you'll pay the bills.

http://soundcloud.com/philip-banks/perfect

Chuck Davis · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:08 pm Post subject:

The Neumann into the Apogee....into a Behringer? That's like driving a Mercedes and wearing an Armani suit ...then going thru the McDonalds drive thru.
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