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Hi everybody
I'm working on a project,during the singer sound check
we found that the U-48 was more efficient than the U87 .The point is : Is there a non-valve mic that features that kind of tube-feeling ?or do we have to go tube,anyway ?
BTW, except for its lack of gain,we liked the 48 better,

Thanks in advance

Comments

atlasproaudio Fri, 08/31/2001 - 20:15

A mic can be tube or solid state and still have the character other than you think it is supposed to have as a tube or solid state mic. Coloration is dictated by what the desinger intends for the mic to sound like. If your singer sounds good on a U48/U47 then obviously that is the best mic. There are other mics that are lower cost that follow the same tonal tradition as that mic, but most will fall short. A BLUE Cactus or Soundelux U95s follow in that same tradition for the sub $3000 range. That's a damn good value when you also take into consideration consistancy among new units.

Guest Sat, 09/01/2001 - 12:00

Golly, I wish I were Mike...I've always been of the opinion that anyone who makes an "absolute" statement about anything concerning audio is a complete, total, unmitigated, asshole...but Mike wouldn't be a complete, total, unmitigated, asshole now would he?

But here he is making a jackass "absolute" statement vis a vis "there is no non-valve mic that will give you that "feeling"" ...so who knows... maybe he actually is that fucking dumb, or inarticulate, or just has his head firmly implanted between his buttocks.

As for the original post, if you found a "lack of gain" from the U-48, there is something wrong with it. If it sounds good for your application, then I would recommend you use it anyway, and have it looked over at the conclusion of the project, but the output from a U-48 should far exceed that of a U87 [maybe not a U87A, but definitely a U87].

As for being 'stuck in valve world', what else have you tried on the singer? Sometimes a ribbon mic can work wonders, often a dynamic microphone can bring the depth and emotion of a singers' performance to the forefront. There is no law that requires the use of a lg. diaphragm condenser microphone for vocals, nor is there any law requiring the use of a 'valve' anywhere in the program. That's why it's "an artistic decision", there are so many potential variables. Use your ears, if it sounds good, it is good.