VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Tom Test]

I have a collection of 9 different mics that I’ve gathered over the years, and use one of them 95% of the time (I won’t say which one right now). I figure it makes sense to keep maybe 3 or 4 of them, and then I can sell the rest. In order to decide which ones to keep, I want to do my own “shoot-out” and get some feedback here. I’m looking for any advice about how best to proceed with this shootout.

I figure it’s highly likely that some mics will work better than others with certain types of reads, so I intend to audition each of these mics using short 5-10 second scripts of, for example: 1) warm and authoritative health-care read, 2) energetic retail read 3) “real-person” read. My thought is I will put all of these reads onto one master file, with me announcing a number before each mic so I can keep their identities secret so as not to influence opinions. So I’d say “Microphone 1” and then do 3 reads for that mic.

At the same time, I’m also trying to tweak my signal chain. Right now, the mics go into my Mackie 1220 Onyx mixer with nice preamps, then into an Echo Mia sound card. But I also have on hand a well-regarded (and cheap) Studio Projects VTB-1 Tube Mic Pre. So I want to also pipe every mic through the VTB-1 as well to see if it makes a useful difference. (Perhaps the extra “warmth” it can provide would work nicely in “warm and fuzzy” type reads). Would I be unnecessarily complicating things if I do this – it would mean twice as many reads to slog through.

Finally, what do you think about me doing any sweetening beforehand, or should I just use the raw tracks without any EQ or compression? I’m inclined to tweak them beforehand, since I always do that before I submit an audition or job.

Here’s what I have:

M-Audio Sputnik - $500

Rode NT-K - $550

Marshall MXL 990 - $70

Kel HM-1 - $110

Studio Projects C-1 - $225

Marshall V63M - $75

AKG Perception 200 - $225

ElectroVoice RE-20 - $350 (a dynamic mic)

Behringer XM8500 – (el cheapo dynamic mic)

Thanks in advance for your words of wisdom!!
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[bobsouer]

Tom,

Each variable adds complexity to your test, complexity you can't really control. So, if you set up each microphone in the same relative position and read you've eliminated at least one variable (position) while introducing others (there will be subtle differences in the way you read your scripts from time to time). What I would do is try to test multiple microphones at the same time, as much as possible. If you position each microphone so it's in a good position to pick up your voice and running to alternate channels of your audio interface, pre-amp and/or mixer. Then, assuming your workstation can record more than one track at a time, record 2 or 3 or 4 microphones at once. This gives you at last one less variable in your equation for comparison.

Of course, this also assumes you have enough inputs, microphone stands, cables, etc.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Yoda117]

[Tom Test]

Nope, I don't have enough inputs, stands, etc to do this. But I DO plan on recording this all on the same afternoon, so as to try to control for variables in my voice. I plan to keep the scrips short so as not to strain my voice. I do have a sound booth, so that's one form of control. That's probably the best I can do in terms of keeping things as equal as possible. You're also making me think that I should not record using the VTB-1 instead of the Oynx preamps for this first shootout. I could always do that on my own later on.

Thanks for your advice, guys!
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Yoda117]

If you have two preamps, use them both and double the number of selections. You'd be amazed and the difference a preamp can make on a mic.
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

[Yoda117]

grrr... net lag.

Please ignore double-posting.
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

[Jowillie]

Ah man...... Let's get to the nuts & bolts. Your demo sounds fine. You obviously have an idea on the best sound for you.... Let's find it. No need to make it any more difficult than it has to be (unless you just want the thrill and suspense of a blind test for us--I know I would enjoy that.)

In what arena are you working most? Where's the most money coming from? That would be the test you need.

For example, I was asked by a local bud to help him test the best mic for him to do TV and Radio imaging. He knows what sound has been successful for him. So we set up his standard mic and did a hard driving imaging spot. Then I picked two other mics that I thought would give him the presence and matched his voice's sonic curve (how's it hanging?). And of course we let him pick a few to try just 'cause he always wanted to.

The results really opend his eyes. The absolute best mic for him was $949 less expensive than his "Old reliable." He also found a mic that was $1130 less as his new narration and all-around voice mic.

What I am saying is do what you do as hard as you can on all these mics and then pick a winner. And YES, we would love to help you decide. Post it all.
_________________
Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

[Jowillie]

OH Yeah..... I smell a YARDSALE coming!!!
_________________
Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

[Jeff McNeal]

It seems to me that you've already done a rather extensive "mic shootout", that has been 10 years in the making. My guess is that you use one mic 95% of the time for a very good reason.

Unless you're hellbent on having other people pick your microphone for you, why not sell off ALL of the other 8 mics that you rarely if ever use and try something new all together, that compliments, not competes with, your favorite.

Maybe a new Pearlman TM-2, or a used 416 or M71, for example. You could probably get one of those for what you can sell the other 8 for, and have something a little higher end in the signal chain to goof around with. Just a thought...

[todd ellis]

i was actually thinking much the same thing ... except hang on to your #2 choice, maybe?

with my severe case of G.A.S. i cleared out the closet about 18 months ago - then bought some new stuff ... wheeee!
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Tom Test]

Thanks for your thoughts on this. You make some good points.

However, I really do not think I've "done a shootout over the past 10 years" in any sort of objective way. I'm concerned that my own ears are compromised by knowing how much I've paid for each of these mics. I can no longer be objective about them. This is why I want to get feedback from other people on how I sound through each of the mics that I own.

I have probably made far too many "lateral" moves in my purchasing. I think it's true that by selling off most of these mics, I could afford a $1000+ mic like a TLM103, Peluso or Lawson, etc. That's probably what I'll end up doing.

But I do think that it might behoove me to have more than one favorite mic. I think that, for example, my RE-20 might be best for high-energy retail reads, while a warmer tube mic might be best for my "warm and authoritative" reads (like for health-care spots) that seem to be my money reads.

I'll post a file some time early next week - I'd love it if you had the time to give it a listen and give me your feedback. Thanks again!
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Yoda117]

[Diane Maggipinto]

tom, i'm certain there are plenty o'peeps here happy to listen to your personal mic shootout. (shoutout? shuttup?) i will! do i hear a second (hear. heh.)?

i say, eschew surplusage.
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[Jeff McNeal]

Tom,

I've never been wild about the idea in general of having other people tell you what mic sounds best for you. It's like saying "which tie do you like best?"

Only you can really decide, which is why I said that you lean on one mic 95% of the time for a reason. The mic you're using 95% of the time sounds best to you, presumably. Feedback is always useful, but it's like "research" in radio. Ultimately, you have to trust your own instincts, because if you don't develop some good ones, you're always going to be insecure about your choices and at a disadvantage.

I'm coming from a slightly different perspective on all this, naturally. It's easy to fall into the trap of over analyzing the gear, sometimes, when what it all really boils down to is your own performance. Whatever mic/pre combo makes you feel the best while using it is the one that you should be using.

Ideally, you should only have two or three "go to" mics that can handle all your tasks, to keep the focus on your performance where it belongs. But again, these are just my own thoughts and if you want to go through the effort of sorting through 9 different mics, however many pres, and the myriad of possible settings for each, then by all means, best of luck.

But I think that by doing so, you're running the risk of spending a lot of time and effort chasing your own tail.

[Jowillie]

Your response, Tom, seems to imply that if you haven't picked a favorite from what you have--you don't have it yet.
As you can tell by some other posts in the "Gear" section, there are folks that buy and trade mics pretty regularly. But maybe they know what they are looking for. That may be your first priority. Figure out what you are looking for.
If all you want is for someone to help you pick a mic from what you have, bring ‘em on. We’ll pick it for you.
I like crisp transients, clear colors and transparent stripes on my tie.

(Oh! I know some magic tricks posible with your MXL 990.)
_________________
Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com