VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

FinMac · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2016 1:38 am Post subject: It is a sickness

Hello Paul,

People who have this disease are known as Mic-o-holics. Most frequently this disease occurs in males between the ages of 20 and 65 year old. Those afflicted with the disease are often found sitting alone in small, dimly lit, padded rooms speaking to themselves for hours.

Micoholism often begins with T.D., (Transducer Dissatisfaction). Mic-o-holics often attempt to explain away their addiction by saying, “I’m just trying to find the right mic, for my voice, in my space”.

Bad forms of T.D. can lead to a more serious condition known as G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), also known as, “having a Sweetwater tooth”.

While there is no known cure for Micoholism, it can be arrested with proper counseling, preferably by female significant others. Those with proper training repeat the phrases…

1. What ? You need ANOTHER microphone ? Don’t you have
_____ (fill in the blank) already ?

2. How many microphones can you use at one time ?

3. But I thought you said that was your last one ?

Joining M.A., (Mic-o-holics Anonymous) can also be of help.

By the way, anybody using the Sennheiser MKH 60 ?
_________________
www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

Bish · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2016 6:24 am Post subject:

In a thread that has meandered (quite legitimately) into the realm of micoholism, it's quite unfair to bring up the Sennheiser MKH 60 without actually providing the link... because you just know we're all going there Smile

So, as a public services, here it is.

BTW, I loved the "Sweetwater Tooth" line... unfortunately they don't carry the MKH 60... otherwise I would have linked to them rather than B&H Smile

_________________
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.

Jack Daniel · Cinquecento Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 576 Location: SoCal

paulstefano · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 4:56 am Post subject: Re: It is a sickness

AlanTaylor · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 5:10 am Post subject:

I noticed that the price of the Neumann TLM 103 has dropped by $200 (at B&H and Sweetwater.) Now, I'm really tempted to get one....

Bish · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 6:06 am Post subject:

There seems to be an interesting trend with mics around the $1,000 street mark from Neumann/Sennheiser (in case you didn't know, they are one-and-the-same). Ignore list price... these are always a fantasy... the usual street price for the MKH416 is $999... but now, there's always a way to get it for $799... whether it's a BSW coupon or a "special deal" somewhere else, the street price for the 416 has been re-defined at $799 - never pay more. It now seems that they are doing the same with the TLM 103 (it's down to $899 instead of the usual $1,099 at all the retailers now).

Are they finding that sales of these particular mics eroded by the good $300/$500 microphones out there? Do they need to to bring the price down to capitalize on their "aspirational" status? I will admit that my 416 came as the result of it being a $799 deal. I know there are lots of people out there who would stop messing around with their AT-Whatevers, their CADs, and their Blues if they just had a 103... it's almost like, "I can stop looking now, I have what I need, I don't have to search anymore... my GAS is cured." I did the same with the 416. I'm done with searching for that elusive surrogate... I have the "real thing" now.

Anyone invested in a u87 or a Manley is outside this marketplace. If you are buying a Rolls Royce you don't particularly care about the marketing strategies that Ford or GM and farting around with... but for those that can't/won't contemplate >$3,500 for a microphone, these could be interesting times.
_________________
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.

paulstefano · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 6:24 am Post subject:

I don't know if GAS is every "cured". I thought I had solved my booth envy. Things do sound great 90% of the time. But right now, my neighbor is having his driveway replaced and there is a back hoe right outside the Whisper Room. So, I'm thinking, hmmm, what else can I do. Double walled enhanced upgrade?

We've also talked before about how there is a certain pride in feeling like you "beat the system" Certain folks, like me, will search forever, trying to find that magic mic that costs 1/2 the price of a 103, but sounds "nearly as good". Of course, I've spent the cost of a 103 many times over already, buying and selling other mics.
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http://www.paulstefano.com

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

Bish · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 6:35 am Post subject:

I've never sold a mic. I have a fine collection of <$500 mics, all boxed and sitting on a shelf. If I were to realize their value, I could probably get myself a u87. If I were to sell my old pre-ams as well, then there would be no "probably" about it.

... but then I'd want to spend another small fortune on the studio because the u87 can pick up a mouse fart at 500 paces. That being said... it's still something I'd like to explore Smile

Edit: Crap. I can get the u87ai (no shock mount because the Neumann shock mount is horrendously overpriced) for $2,900 ($3,200 list less 10% WoVO discount) at Sweetwater.

I hate you all... so does my bank manager Wink

_________________
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.

AlanTaylor · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:59 am Post subject:

verbcrunch · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2016 5:51 am Post subject:

Didn't know about the Gold Digger - handy way to do apples to apples comparisons between mikes, instead of separate mic chains or plugging/unplugging cables. Level attenuation is especially handy for sake of comparison, some mics output hotter than others, as I discovered recently comparing a Gefell M950 with a Sennheiser 8040.. Wouldn't mind running two mics in the booth again, I do like being able to switch between shotgun & large diaphragm mics, but tend to just use one or the other.

Thanks for the info !
_________________
Jeff Berlin
Humble Voice Guy
http://www.jeffberlin.com

FinMac

Jeff - what did you think about the sennheiser 8040 ?

Someone recommended it as a good alternative to the 416.

Your thoughts would be most appreciated Smile

_________________
www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

AlanTaylor · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 11:55 am Post subject:

My TLM 103 arrived today. Just gave it a test run. Wow! Now I see why it is so highly recommended.

Jack Daniel · Cinquecento Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 576 Location: SoCal

Congrats, Alan, on the 103!

For all you micoholics: have you seen the site Martin Mitchell's Microphones (https://martinmitchellsmicrophones.wordpress.com/)? Mitchell tests wonderful old (and new) mics, many broadcasting classics and some obscure (e.g, Soviet or specialized military) examples. Such fun! His investigations are meticulous and he posts sound samples. A treasure.
_________________
Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town