VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

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

Okay, I’ve finally done it! I’ve recorded 2 short scripts for each of 7 microphones I have in my collection. I’m using a “Warm and Authoritative” script sample (my “money read”) and a “High Energy” script sample (think “retail”). Here’s what I have, arranged by price (note there is NO mic #3, that would have been a Marshall 990 but I forgot that I had loaned out to a friend). To keep this test blind, note that this is NOT the same order that I used for the test:

Behringer XM8500 – $20 (el cheapo dynamic mic)

Marshall V63M - $75 (medium diaphragm condenser)

Kel HM-1 - $110 (small diaphragm condenser)

AKG Perception 200 - $185 (large diaphragm condenser)

Studio Projects C-1 - $240 (large diaphragm condenser)

ElectroVoice RE-20 - $399 (a cardioid dynamic mic)

Rode NTK - $569 (tube condenser)

M-Audio Sputnik - $799 (large diaphragm vacuum tube mic)

FYI, I’ve tried to even out the levels as best I can, and both tracks have a little compression (ratio 1.4 :1), but nothing else. I am using a pop screen, though I could not use it on one mic that was just too honking big to handle in my small booth. All of these mics go through a Mogami cable into a Mackie 1220 Onyx mixer, into an Echo Mia sound card. I’m using Sound Forge 9.0.

I’m looking for the best “warm authority” mic, and the best “high energy” mic. Please give me your impressions. I plan on using your feedback to help me decide which 2 or 3 to keep. Thanks for your time and expertise!

Warm Authority: http://tinyurl.com/3qsdce
High Energy: http://tinyurl.com/4bam89

These links will take you to my Online File Folder, where you can download the files (about 1 MB each).
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
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SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

Hi Tom,
My opinion, for what it's worth....
Warm #6
High Energy #7
Good Luck!
John
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Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

Well, Tom, thanks for proving my hearing is more shot than I thought. I noticed only very subtle differences, and FWIW, the two I least liked (too "tubby") were mics #2 and #9.

SomeAudioGuy · Contributor III Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 75 Location: LA

Hey Tom!
That's a great experiment, but we might be losing a little of the nuance. MP3 @ 128Kbps is slicing into the recording a bit.

Would it be possible to hear these at 256 or even 320? I'd like to see if it makes any difference (maybe post them on my blog if you wouldn't mind).
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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Well, here are links to download the WAV files. See how much of a difference you hear then! And if you are still curious, you can convert them to whatever bit rate you wish yourself, and hear with your own ears. I do hear a significant difference, though I doubt it would affect my evaluation since there's a level playing field. I'm listening through a pair of Project Studio 6 monitors.

Warm Authority: http://tinyurl.com/5uyndo

High Energy: http://tinyurl.com/5gm63c

There - this link should work!
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

louzucaro · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject:

Tom, that first link above goes to an ew.com article about Sarah Michelle Gellar. Are you a Buffy fan, or did she help with the mic shootout?
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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

#6 on the Energy reads was my fave!
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Yoda117 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject:

Mic 6 for me, but I liked mic 4 too... just want to hear it with you backed off of it a bit more though (sounded too bassy to me, but liked the tone).
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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Okay, here are the mics, in order as they appeared in the shootout files, along with comments:

1) M-Audio Sputnik - $500 - Four picks for Warm

2) Marshall V63M - $75 - One negative comment

3) Marshall MXL 990 - $70 (not available for the shootout – it’s on loan to a pal)

4) Kel HM-1 - $110 – One positive comment

5) AKG Perception 200 - $225 - Two picks for Energy

6) ElectroVoice RE-20 - $350 (a dynamic mic) – Two picks for Warm, One pick for Energy

7) Behringer XM8500 – (el cheapo dynamic mic) One pick for Energy

cool

Studio Projects C-1 - $225 - One pick for Energy

9) Rode NT-K - $550 – One negative comment

My own personal favorites were the Sputnik for warm authority and the AKG 200 for high energy (though the Studio Projects C-1 was almost as good). I also thought that the Kel HM-1 sounded most "real", i.e., closest to my actual live voice. I'll have to play around with this one a bit more.

I'm inclined to keep the Sputnik, AKG 200 and Kel HM-1, and sell the rest. Thanks so much to all who took the time to listen and comment! Still, I'd love to hear more opinions.

UPDATE: edited to include Rob's and other's comments
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I saw where you had posted the results and purposely did not read the results so I could post my feedback without bias:

Warm read-#1

High Energy(harder to decide for some reason)-#8