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DonnyThompson 11 July 2016

I've recently been hearing whispers of this in the wind from some fellow engineers - but no one I've talked with has actually had a chance to use it... has anyone here had a chance to use this mic?

Priced at $499 ( new), the LA320 is a cardioid tube condenser, featuring both HPF and LPF; it comes with an external power supply.

Thoughts?

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Comments

audiokid Fri, 09/02/2016 - 20:51

Wow, this mic sounds very accurate, versatile and smooth. I'm impressed. I've had past opportunities to use Lauten Audio mics, passed on them. I will not pass again.

They all sound great. The Sax, Bass and Cello sounds especially sweet to me.

On a side note... Does anyone know what headphone those are @ 1:24 with the singer?

pcrecord Tue, 09/06/2016 - 06:20

I've been checking this mic for a while. I'm in for a good all around vocal mic (in a near future) and the samples I heard were promessing.
Thing is, I think there is just on place who carry them in Montreal and I don't know if I would be able to test it first...
Anyway my next buy will probably be a Guitar Amp, so I need to refrain from busting my budget ! lol ;)

pcrecord Tue, 09/06/2016 - 08:14

kmetal, post: 441059, member: 37533 wrote: I know GC for instance won't let you return mics, due to a policy they have. Not sure if all places are like this but it's worth checking before you buy it, if you end up buying it. Maybe they have a demo model or something they could send you.

What amp(s) are you considering??? JW

I'm tempted by a Vox.. possibly the AV60

kmetal Tue, 09/06/2016 - 10:19

One place don't like dsp is in guitar amps. Johnson made an amp called the millennia back in the early 2000's that sounded authentic. Other than that I don't think the sound or the feel is right yet. I mean for playing out loud and or recording live amps, out through a speaker cab.

Amp sims are cool for tracking and for recording into/on the computer.

I played a couple of the re-issue vox ac 30's and bought they were nice. They have a moderate price tag. I was gonna scoop one up but I went w a peavey hi gain 6505 instead.

KurtFoster Tue, 09/06/2016 - 11:12

kmetal, post: 441069, member: 37533 wrote: One place don't like dsp is in guitar amps. Johnson made an amp called the millennia back in the early 2000's that sounded authentic. Other than that I don't think the sound or the feel is right yet. I mean for playing out loud and or recording live amps, out through a speaker cab.

i would have agreed with you a few years ago but after i picked up a 50 watt VOX Valvetronics modeling amp i changed my mind. not only are the sims good but the feel of the amp back through the guitar is great. the only amp i ever had that was better was an old 50's Fender narrow panel tweed deluxe i had.

kmetal Tue, 09/06/2016 - 11:29

Kurt Foster, post: 441074, member: 7836 wrote: i would have agreed with you a few years ago but after i picked up a 50 watt VOX Valvetronics modeling amp i changed my mind. not only are the sims good but the feel of the amp back through the guitar is great. the only amp i ever had that was better was an old 50's Fender narrow panel tweed deluxe i had.

Hmm I'll have to try it out. As of yet I haven't tried it.

kmetal Tue, 09/06/2016 - 11:30

pcrecord, post: 441071, member: 46460 wrote: That's not what I ment. Some of their actual hardware amp have virtual preamps and effects now a day.. It's the case of their VT line. ;)

Right I new wacha meant lol. I don't like solid state/hybrid amps in general. But Kurt approved so maybe the valveteonics is the exception.

rmburrow Mon, 09/12/2016 - 06:42

audiokid, post: 440974, member: 1 wrote: Wow, this mic sounds very accurate, versatile and smooth. I'm impressed. I've had past opportunities to use Lauten Audio mics, passed on them. I will not pass again.

They all sound great. The Sax, Bass and Cello sounds especially sweet to me.

On a side note... Does anyone know what headphone those are @ 1:24 with the singer?

What tube is used in that mic?

dvdhawk Mon, 09/12/2016 - 19:19

Kurt Foster, post: 441074, member: 7836 wrote: i would have agreed with you a few years ago but after i picked up a 50 watt VOX Valvetronics modeling amp i changed my mind. not only are the sims good but the feel of the amp back through the guitar is great.

I'm with you on that, Kurt Foster.

I have 2 Vox Valvetronics combos, and an AC30 piggyback 2x12 model to compare it to, [*see guitarded] and the Vox VT amps are VERY useable - sims, low voltage tube and all. Do they sound exactly like the AC30, tweeds, blackfaces, plexis, and triple rectifiers they're modeling? Who cares? It's irrelevant. The question should be, are they good tones? I'm not into shredder tone, so I'm looking for a good vintage tube clean-tone, a nice bluesy overdrive, and an extra-crunchy distortion that isn't over-saturated and mushy. The Valvetronics checks all those boxes very nicely. I especially like the tone of the 30w single 10" combo.

DonnyThompson Tue, 09/13/2016 - 03:01

audiokid, post: 441232, member: 1 wrote: and dual-triode vacuum tube inspired by what was used in classic German microphones"

which could really be anything... LOL.

Lauten has previously used 6J1's, 6J1B's, and 12AU7's in their other models... so it's possible that they've used one of these for the newer LA-320... but I can't say that for sure... just basing the list of possibles on their previous models.

Classic mics used all kinds of different tubes in them... sometimes two exact mics could have different tubes in each.

AKG C-12's could have 6072A's, (or not)... sometimes it was a 12AY7 ( or not, LOL)
A Neumann U67 might have an EF86, or, maybe a 6267...

I cleared that up nicely, didn't I? ( NOT)

;)

kmetal Wed, 09/14/2016 - 15:57

rmburrow, post: 441214, member: 46233 wrote: What tube is used in that mic?

That's a good question. Might be worth an email to lauten. I'll drop them a line of I get a chance.

dvdhawk, post: 441227, member: 36047 wrote: I'm with you on that, Kurt Foster.

I have 2 Vox Valvetronics combos, and an AC30 piggyback 2x12 model to compare it to, [*see guitarded] and the Vox VT amps are VERY useable - sims, low voltage tube and all. Do they sound exactly like the AC30, tweeds, blackfaces, plexis, and triple rectifiers they're modeling? Who cares? It's irrelevant. The question should be, are they good tones? I'm not into shredder tone, so I'm looking for a good vintage tube clean-tone, a nice bluesy overdrive, and an extra-crunchy distortion that isn't over-saturated and mushy. The Valvetronics checks all those boxes very nicely. I especially like the tone of the 30w single 10" combo.

I meant to clarify that I'm biased to high gain crunch (with clear note articulation) and shreddy sounds. So I base my personal opinions on that. The deisel Einstein being the best sounding amp I've heard/recorded in that vane. I played a real Marshal plexi which was phenomenal one time.

Objectively there is a place for ss amps. I've gotten good sounds from the output of a digi tech pedal straight into the pa. The Roland jazz chorus is a longtime stalwart.

They definitely don't have that 'thing' that a nice all tube amp has, but that 'thing' is all that's 'missing' otherwise ss amps sound good. I've had plenty of fun even on little $100 practice amps.

Not that I doubt you guys, but for my money the ac15 reissue is a heck of a deal at 600 new they can be had around the 450ish range last time I checked a few years ago. I'm still curious to try the valveteonics.

Many of the hi gain stuff isn't even recorded w tibe amps any more or at least not completely. A lot of guys are using the fractal axe efx and Kemper profiling amps which are all ic based.

I think most tube amps are a one trick pony.

rmburrow Sun, 09/25/2016 - 22:18

12AX7....Didn't believe the 12AX7 would be stable and quiet with its high gain (u = 100) and the extra high grid operating impedance (0.1 to 1 G ohm) of a condenser mic. Most every 12AX7 (ECC83) or 7025 I used had to be selected for noise, especially for low level preamp (i.e. Altec 1567A mixer, etc.).

The 6072 (12AY7) has less gain; AKG used it in their microphones.... the EF86 was used by Neumann in the U67...it's my understanding one reason the U67 was discontinued was the high noise reject rate of EF86's from Telefunken..The 7586 nuvistor works well in a condenser mic...so does the 5840 subminiature in triode connection...

The electrical characteristics of these tubes differs, and circuit components must be compatible with the tube. For example, components selected for a 12AX7 mic may not work with a 12AY7, even though the base connection is the same.

Warning...the bias for the mic capsule may be derived from a resistance voltage divider off the tube cathode instead of a resistance voltage divider off supply HT. Check the schematic. The cathode bias for the capsule is typically between 40 to 60 volts depending on the mic. Excessive voltage on a capsule can damage it... The cathode current can change when substituting different tube types (i.e substituting 12AY7 for 12AX7), so get out the DMM and check the before and after change of cathode (and anode) voltages.

Davedog Wed, 09/28/2016 - 18:13

audiokid, post: 440974, member: 1 wrote: Wow, this mic sounds very accurate, versatile and smooth. I'm impressed. I've had past opportunities to use Lauten Audio mics, passed on them. I will not pass again.

They all sound great. The Sax, Bass and Cello sounds especially sweet to me.

On a side note... Does anyone know what headphone those are @ 1:24 with the singer?

The phones are Grado's

DonnyThompson Thu, 09/29/2016 - 03:33

Davedog, post: 441720, member: 4495 wrote: have. A friend has a "listening" pair. Magnificent.

I've heard of Grado's but have no experience with them. Are they one of "those" models that you can use to do an actual mix with? Or recommended for listening only?

I'm asking because my domicile situation might be changing soon... And, at least for awhile, I may be forced to work in less than optimum conditions....

Davedog Thu, 09/29/2016 - 14:00

Donny, Grado's are available in several different levels. Some are $2K. Others aren't. The ones in the video look to be the PS500's. A paltry $600.....My friends are an older pair that are almost all wood. They are comfy beyond imagination and its like moving into a chamber specially designed to "hear" things in. Unbelievable. NOT something you leave lying around in the studio as a "pair of phones" But seriously something that will tell you just how good your headphone out is on your playback. This is heavy-duty audiophile stuff. Yeah...some are better suited for mixing. Like the ones in the video. Some are for sparking a fatty and listening to a Japanese printing of your favorite record.

Kikixxx Thu, 10/13/2016 - 15:12

DonnyThompson, post: 441730, member: 46114 wrote: I've heard of Grado's but have no experience with them. Are they one of "those" models that you can use to do an actual mix with? Or recommended for listening only?

I'm asking because my domicile situation might be changing soon... And, at least for awhile, I may be forced to work in less than optimum conditions....

I think for mixing are better Sennheiser HD600 for they neutrality , i like Grados, i own Grado SR80 but now i only using HD600 (for mixing and listening)

kmetal Fri, 10/14/2016 - 16:57

audiokid, post: 442182, member: 1 wrote: Welcome to the forum. I've heard the HD600 are beautiful, very neutral, great for recording and mixing and comfortable.

Yes, these are the Grado's in the video, thanks
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00L1OHBWE/?tag=r06fa-20

I looked at the grado site a while back, and love their design philosophy.

Their prices are what I expected based on the description. it seems like something you definitely have to experience to understand/justify. But I'm sure it's lovely.

What is the point of diminishing returns on headphones??

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