VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

kgenus · Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:19 pm Post subject:

Although I'm not female, I recently redid my entire signal chain, today it's pretty much the same thing you would get if you went to Marc Graue's studio. I did this after a conversation with Marc and the payoff was this -- everything is so clean you have only your performance to hear.

The preamp is The High Speed Mic Pre made by Jim Williams of Audio Upgrades. It runs $1500, is dual mono with phantom power. It is crystal clean, crystal clear. All you're going to hear is your voice and whatever characteristics your microphone imparts.

I'm also using an Aphex 651 Expressor at 1.5:1 compression to tame peaks. Jim also modifies this unit to make it, as I was told, invisible. Pretty much the right description.

My mics remain a 416 and UMT70s.

Now "my sound" is whatever comes out of my mouth and hits that mic. It's natural, sounds like I'm in the same room. I'm sharing this for anyone else who only wants to hear their voice, not their gear.

Jim mods consoles with a High Speed Mic Pre Card which can be installed in your Symetrix 528e. If it sounds anything like the stand alone unit, you'll not want for an Avalon, that's for certain.

Anyway, best of luck to you Donna.
_________________
Genus

kgenus · Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:23 am Post subject:

I know it's easy to get on the internet and read reviews but we all have to be objective about our situations and understand some of these mics were designed with specific uses in mind. There is no greater example than the Sennheiser MKH 416.

The TLM series has been marred online via countless interviews by many of us with home studios, yet among many "professional" engineers these mics often receive praise and gratitude as some of Neumann's finest mics. Sleepers among the TLM line are shockingly, the 102 and the 193. Both have fast transient responses (the 193 more sensitive) and with the right room and mic position, are spot on. What little there is to be found "wrong" can be corrected with eq.

Over the years, I've never really been thrilled with anything but the 416, but I've learned my voice recorded with a large diaphragm condenser, in the hands of the same engineer, can be made to sound better in their mixes.

ymmv.
_________________
Genus

Donna · Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:45 am Post subject:

Well, I just pulled the trigger for a 102, in a semi-roundabout way, by making a Kickstarter pledge for the Hear Now Festival.

I will post more on the festival itself in Events, but wanted to alert the VO-BB family that, if you're interested in spending a week with some of the top performers and producers of audio theatre and audiobooks, and are in the market for a U-87, go to the Kickstarter page for the festival and scroll all the way down.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/988219584/hear-now-audio-fiction-and-arts-festival-2013?ref=live
_________________
Dangerous.

Donna Postel
donnapostel.com
donna@donnapostel.com

melissa eX · Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:52 pm Post subject:

Oh that's David and Sue's thing! They were telling me about it a few weeks ago. They're nominated for an Audie this year in the Audio Drama and Multi-voice categories. Sue Zizza and David Shinn - SueMedia Productions. It looks like a great event.

sounddguy · Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:57 pm Post subject:

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:25 am Post subject:

Whereas I'm more likely to rumble than boom.

Donna · Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:32 am Post subject:

I'm more of a jive and wailer, depending on circumstances.
_________________
Dangerous.

Donna Postel
donnapostel.com
donna@donnapostel.com

Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

georgethetech · Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:35 pm Post subject:

I will ask my client to shine a flashlight in there and describe what she sees.
I saw the 'slutz post about these, goes into a lot of detail about what to look for.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Thanks George!
_________________
Colin Day - UK Voiceover
www.thurstonday.co.uk

Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Thanks to George I've just spent an insane amount of money on an AKG 414 EB with original CK12 brass capsule. It's crazy how these mics have increased in value over recent years. Anyway, if it sounds as stunning as the model in George's shoot-out then it'll be worth every penny.

I'm a little nervous as the capsule was recently re-skinned by AKG - that could be a very good thing or very bad. Luckily the dealer offered us a 7 day sale or return so it's not a huge risk.

I should say thanks again to George for sharing the files and congratulations on an awesome shoot-out; it's rare to hear the character of the mics shine through in such a distinctive way.

Anyway, this isn't my thread but I'll report back if anyone is interested.
_________________
Colin Day - UK Voiceover
www.thurstonday.co.uk

heyguido · Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 4:49 am Post subject:

Please do. Luvs me some vintage mics.
_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"