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VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!
Where A.I. is a four-letter word.
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Tom Test
DC
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Posts: 625
Location: Chicago, IL
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 Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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Oh gosh, I've tried out sooo many mics over the past decade. Maybe 20? My go to mics now are the Gefell M930 and the Sennheiser 416, both out of your range for now.
You've gotten a ton of good advice here. Yes, you'll need to try out a few mics with YOUR voice, if at all possible in YOUR recording environment with YOUR signal chain (preamp, digital converter, cables, etc). I've found that many if not most vendors will not let you "try out" a mic (there may be state or local laws against returning a mic that has been used, probably over some hygiene hysteria). IF you can find one willing, buy a handful of the mics suggested here and try them out AT HOME (not at the Guitar Center if you can help it - you recording environment makes a HUGE impact on your overall sound). If not, then consider buying a few used on eBay from sellers with good feedback selling audio gear (a pawnshop is more of a risk). Then you can turn around and re-sell the "losers" and make much of your money back.
From my own experience, I echo the suggestions of the Studio Projects B1 and the MXL V88. (Try finding them from good vendors on eBay and you'll get a better price than the usual suspects in the retail world). I also have the AT2050, a multi-pattern version of the AT2035, and honestly I don't like it much - I feel it sounds thin. BUT it is so easy to travel with due to it's small size and the box it came in (which can hold my MicPortPro, cable, AND small mic stand in a very small footprint) that I've kept it. It's "good enough" for non-broadcast and auditions. The V88 sounds MUCH better, but even though it is a tiny mic, it comes in a bulky, heavy aluminum case that is just too heavy yo travel with.
Hope this helps!
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com |
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Scott Pollak
The Gates of Troy
Joined: 01 Jun 2010
Posts: 1903
Location: Looking out at the San Juan mountains
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 6:50 am Post subject: |
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And hopefully not to threadjack, but I DID receive my CAD E100S yesterday and immediately did a super quick back-to-back comparo to my RE20 here:
http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15474
Interestingly, the general consensus I'm getting from friends on F.B. is that they ALL prefer the RE20. Personally, I'm LOVING the ever-so-subtle improvement in warmth from the CAD. At the moment it's going to be my go-to mic.
Now... to work on my danged lousy room acoustics.
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.
www.voicebyscott.com |
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Bruce
Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7926
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:44 am Post subject: |
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| Frank F wrote: | | Choosing a mic is personal and like choosing underwear; you do not need to choose what the other person wears just because he/she said so. |
I know, I know. I've tried I don't know how many thongs now, and I just don't get it.
Sigh.
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005
I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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heyguido
MMD
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Posts: 2507
Location: RDU, the Geek Capitol of the South
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:15 am Post subject: |
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You really have NO internal filter, do you? 
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?" |
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Bish
3.5 kHz
Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Posts: 3738
Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:20 am Post subject: |
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I've found that there's not enough material in thongs to filter anything.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls. |
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heyguido
MMD
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Posts: 2507
Location: RDU, the Geek Capitol of the South
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:27 am Post subject: |
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I'm not even going to ask how you arrived at that conclusion. 
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?" |
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Frank F
Fat, Old, and Sassy
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 4421
Location: Park City, Utah
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:45 am Post subject: |
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Bruce,
That does not even come close to drawing a pretty picture....
FF
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com |
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captain54
Lucky 700
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 744
Location: chicago
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Tom Test wrote: | If not, then consider buying a few used on eBay from sellers with good feedback selling audio gear (a pawnshop is more of a risk). Then you can turn around and re-sell the "losers" and make much of your money back.
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Here's my take and experience buying and selling mics on Ebay:
I would say in the past three years I have bought about 15 mics from sellers with good feedback on Ebay.. That's about 5 mics a year, and that maybe be a bit on the conservative side.. .Of those 15, I have 3 currently in my possession
Of the other 12, I have made my money back or close to it on the majority...of the others a) I took a beating on 2 mics, made back 1/2 of what I paid b) I had to file claims against two sellers who sold me damaged goods.. one was an RE 20 that could have doubled as a maraca there was so much internal rattling c) I made about a 25% or more profit one 1, maybe 2 mics at most.
When all was said and done it did end up setting me back in time and money. I recorded and saved samples of every mic.. Its not that hard to figure out what mic works for your voice and what doesn't.. I think I have a pretty good pair of ears..
All the mics came on recommendations of other vo people, or they were mics I heard on other people that have a similiar voice than mine..
Its kind of easy to say try a lot of mics, and see what sounds best on your voice, on your gear, and your room, but the reality is, it can be an expensive and time consuming process to bring these mics into your possession, test them out, then send them back.. I've cut back considerably on the mic purchases and when I do, I narrow them down from a lot of research I do online as to who has my voice type and whether or not the work they do, or the gear they use is similiar to mine.. The room and recording environment variable is, unfortunately, an obstacle that is difficult to overcome.
I understand why people go with the industry standard Neumann's and Sennheiser's, let me tell you. |
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cyclometh
King's Row
Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 1051
Location: Olympia, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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I've had good luck with some smaller mic manufacturers. The first mic I used extensively was the Cascade M20u, which was about $150 at the time, I think. A nice sounding mic, and it's come way down in price, I found some on Amazon and such for $120. It looks like they've updated the design since I bought mine, so it'd be worth giving one a listen.
What I've found is there are some seriously great mics in the "boutique" arena where they have low volume and little name recognition but you can get some great sounding mics if you look around.
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Corey "Vox Man" Snow
http://voxman.net |
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JCDunn
Contributor IV
Joined: 21 Jun 2010
Posts: 134
Location: Near Seattle, closer to Everett
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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I wished there was a mic of the week club that somebody else but me would foot the bill for. Sigh...
I've gone through a few and currently use a BLUE Bluebird for general purpose. I have Samson VR88 ribbon mic that I use for audiobooks. Booth fit my voice well and I get great feedback on the audio from both.
My sights are on the CAD E100S that more than a handful of folks have mentioned. Now, I know what you might be thinkin', "But JC, you said that clients love what they hear."
Yeah, so? I want one.
Make sure to try several before you plunk your cash down.
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J. Christopher
Your words deserve a clear voice. |
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Scott Pollak
The Gates of Troy
Joined: 01 Jun 2010
Posts: 1903
Location: Looking out at the San Juan mountains
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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J, when you're ready to get that CAD E100S (and so far I'm in LOVE with mine), the best price I found was at B&H Photo:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/667336-REG/CAD_E100S_Equitek_E100S_Supercardioid_Large.html
VERY fast (and FREE!) shipping, too.
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.
www.voicebyscott.com |
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Bish
3.5 kHz
Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Posts: 3738
Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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For NY residents who prefer to shop out-of-state (if you know what I mean), Front End Audio has the same deal. They also have an interesting package for $100 more which includes headphones, pop filter, cable and acoustic shield. It looks like a great deal if you need any of these items. Here
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls. |
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JCDunn
Contributor IV
Joined: 21 Jun 2010
Posts: 134
Location: Near Seattle, closer to Everett
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:36 am Post subject: |
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I'm close. I'm Close!!! Thanks for the links to deals. I'll be considering the purchase more this weekend and I'll let you know what I decide.
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J. Christopher
Your words deserve a clear voice. |
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markt
Been Here Awhile
Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Posts: 217
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Don't forget to look for open box or demo mics on eBay. I've gotten some great deals. And, most of the dealers there have a pretty liberal return policy.
Mark
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"Dammit Jim, I'm a voice actor, not an audio engineer!"
Leonard McCoy |
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Bob Stevens
Contributore Level V
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Posts: 151
Location: Orange County, California
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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Zenpro currently has it for $369 with the pop filter, 25' cable w/ free shipping.
Bob
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"Dialog is the painting on a canvas of silence" |
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