it's an amazingly good mic. the realism was crazy...in a good control room with atc monitors, i once turned around in confusion after thinking i heard the vocalist talking behind the console, after just seeing them just enter the vocal booth. no compression or eq obviously, and it happened to be at just the right level to trick me, but still...damn! the only problem i've had with it is it seems to be prone to subtle diaphragm distortion with some singers. usually quiet ones, actually...

no doubt the vm-1 is one of the greatest vocal mics out there....

but i think the reason i liked in the first place.... and that people like when they hear it.... is the fact that it's almost eq'ed from the factory... as jimbo said: "no compression or eq"... it has loads of presence/highs and lows..... not thin in any way....

but after a while it get a bit boring not having to sculpt your own sound... and i the long run it get too sibilant imo..... but i think it has something to do with the capsule.... we got it 1998 and it sounded awesome...... but after the capsule got changed i was less impressed,...

after a few years i started using the soundelux u85 more and more.... until it was about the only mic i used....

so if you want instant gratification on your new r&b track buy a vm-1.... just don't use it with an avalon 737 :shock:

but if you want smooth highs it's not "it" imo......

Thank you gentlemen for sharing your experience with me. I was quite surprised to learn that the power supply, if bought as a spare part is more expensive than the mic itself. It's around €1500 for the VM-1 without PSU but both together costs €3500, although that includes a few accessories. I'm considering the Lite version, which is a VM-1, but with the PSU and accessories from the Valvet.

Thanks again
John Stafford

Hi John,

Last year I got hooked to the Brauners. I started with the VALVET.
I was blowned away by the quality of it's sound. I was working on a couple of songs with a great singer and fell in love with the mike. Then I used it on a foley recording session. It was extremely detailed, sharp and a very sensitive mike, which is good when you're trying to pick up very subtle, soft sounds. Then I thought to myself : what about the VM1? It's a bit off budget, but for a little over 1000 euros extra, I might be missing the whole deal. So I borrowed it and went to the bank. Right away. No regrets. Ever.
The microphone has an extended response in the highs, compared to others of the big league... It is on the bright side, but I would not say sibilant. Sibilant seems like a nasty attribute for a microphone...
It has plenty of low end also, so it makes it a great BIG microphone.
I do a lot of Soul, Jazz,... oriented music (where vocals are important. I think that you'll be happy with it. But try it first!

To be honnest, sometimes I favor a different mic. I don't expect it to be the best performer in any given situation, it would be silly.

I'm just a bit concerned about your plans. I don't remember both models using the same PSU. Are you sure you can do that?
The VM1's directivity can be switched continuously from omni to figure of eight from the PSU. The Valvet was only switchable from Omni to cardioid. By not using the VM1s PSU you would miss all those very useful directivities...
On top of that the round popscreen that makes your VM1 look like a lamp javascript:emoticon(':wink:')is extremely useful if you want to record several singers around the mike.
How about the suspension? The Valvet suspension is tight, but will it hold the VM1 that is much heavier?

IMO the VM1 is a very expensive piece, but it's worth the price you pay for.

Thank you very much Thomas for your reply.

I e-mailed Brauner about the PSU, and Dirk Brauner replied -which I thought was nice.

Anyway, some retailers sell what they call the VM-1 Light, and it is a package he endorses. It is all of the Valvet accessories and PSU, but with a VM-1 in the box instead. Even the shockmount is from the Valvet. I was pleased to hear that he recognises the product and it's not just the result of some dealer realising that you can get the mic and PSU to work together, only to realise the transformer burns out after a few months! According to DB they make a very good combination, but -as you say- with two discrete polar patterns.

I am a fan of mics that are on the bright side, but I'm sure we're both in agreement that it takes a very good microphone to be able to pull it off. I must say you make the mic sound irresistible!

I've just spent quite a lot of money on an AKG C426, for which my need is more immediate, but the Brauner is next on the list!

Thanks again 8-)
John

iznogood wrote:

so if you want instant gratification on your new r&b track buy a vm-1.... just don't use it with an avalon 737 :shock:

but if you want smooth highs it's not "it" imo......

hello,

i have the avalon VT-737SP .
and im thinking to buy the vm1,

vm1 works bad on 737 ??

thanks

i think that combination i a bit too sibilant....

but maybe you'll think otherwise....

i prefer to use a warmer mic like the soundelux u95 or some Neumann...

but you have to listen yourself....

i'm currently investigating how to modify the avalon to sound less "hyped" in the top end.... it has great tranparency and pontential to sound really extraordinary.....

(don't misunderstand me.... i think the avalon is one of the best pre's i've ever heard.... )

iznogood wrote: i think that combination i a bit too sibilant....

i have the "3D MIC CD" and i think that VM-1 has to much presence and have many treble.

now i dont know what mic i will buy. can you help me ?

m147 or rode classic II or gefell um92.1s or other ? ( i have 2500 euros to spend)

is for my vocals, right know i have the tlm103 (i think tlm103 has to many presence on my vocals)

what you think ?

ferreira@gabrielsousa.com

try the m147

iznogood wrote: try the m147

thanks a lot