What's the difference?

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:09 pm

The Cascade Fat Head, I have been looking into getting a pair of these microphones for a few weeks. I have read a lot of good things about them on recording forums and in mix mags. The only thing I can't figure out is what the difference is between the Fat Head, and the Fat Head II......besides the fact that the Fat Head is shorter than the Fat Head II and you can get a Fat Head II in a stylish black finish....... Can anyone offer me any counsel for this puzzling encumbrance?

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:16 pm

Good questions!

Why not drop him an e-mail or make a phone call? I wasn't aware that he had a version 2 offering of that microphone already?

I love ribbon microphones and I thought those looked interesting as well. What puzzled me is the difference in response and/or patterns, between front and back? Maybe similar in concept to the adjustable old RCA 77 DX's I have, without the adjustment? I do a lot of MS recording and therefore require a figure of 8 ribbon to be a true figure of 8 and so, I don't believe that microphone would be good as one half of an MS pair, unless it was the "M" part of that pair. So I myself, I would want to hear that microphone first. Maybe that's what version 2 is, a true figure of 8? I haven't dropped him a line about that because I've been so busy with other stuff and purchasing microphones right now is not at the top of the list.

I've heard some of the other Chinese ribbon offerings such as the CAD Turion (Maybe that's an AMD processor?) Or something like that? Mixed a CD where the vocal was was cut with a Shure KSM32 and one of those. I liked the way it sounded a lot. I think that's a little more expensive ribbon? But not by much. Besides, they have been around a little longer, I believe?

Smooth Ribbons
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:30 am

Thanks for all the info. I was also wondering about the Chinese ribbon thing. With the Cascades have the option of getting Lundahl transformers instead of the stock transformers, which I would imagine are chinese as well. Is Lundahl a reputable company and would it be worth spending the extra money?

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:39 am

I haven't cruised by Cascades site lately. I've known about the Lundahl transformers for quite some time although I have no direct experience with that particular brand. It is a quality transformer and probably a lot better than a Chinese transformer. Again it's rather dependent on the kind of music you may be recording. If you want a bargain microphone that's a ribbon, the Chinese transformer may be adequate for your purposes. Then again, you might have better peace of mind knowing you have a better transformer in the microphone?

You like egg roe with your miclophone?
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:01 pm

According to the frequency response diagrams available on the website, It seems like maybe the Fat Head is more of a true figure of eight than the Fat Head II. It also seems like the frequency response of the Fat Head has more of a mellow curve than the Fat Head II, including a better low end response. The 1/3 octave specs are virtually the same between the stock transformer and the Lundahl so i guess I just need to decide whether or not I want to spend the money on a ribbon with more of a true 8 or a ribbon that has an opinion on what it records........

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