The SE mics sounds great, not only for their prices. The Gemini is on of a hell amazing sweet sounding tube mic -

check the recording samples here:

http://www.purewaveaudio.com/tcmicsamples.php
http://www.purewaveaudio.com/media/testmp3/

SE microphones are good for the money.... I demo'ed all of SE microphones a year and a half ago. They were all plugged directly into the preamp of the SSL (which isn't known for adding a lot of color). The Gemini is good for some things, but I preferred the sound of the Z5600a as an all around microphone.. The Gemini was too tubby sounding (it's just too much for my tastes). I could probably use it on a kick drum, but I would rather use something else for vocal work. Just like anything else the preamp is a major component in the overall sound.... your only as good as your weakest link.

do you feel the Z5600a is too sibilant for vocals sometimes ? i.e exaggerated "zzz".... This is the only reason I feel not quite confident taking one for vocals - what do you think ?

Do you have any of those recordings on line ? and how would you compare the SE1a and SE3 ? is the SE3 much better sounding ?

Thanks

gilwe wrote: do you feel the Z5600a is too sibilant for vocals sometimes ? i.e exaggerated "zzz".... This is the only reason I feel not quite confident taking one for vocals - what do you think ?

Do you have any of those recordings on line ? and how would you compare the SE1a and SE3 ? is the SE3 much better sounding ?

Thanks

Yes, I do feel that the Z5600a can be too sibilant at times, but I find that problem with a lot of the chinese mics...

As far as recordings... no, I didn't make any samples. They just gave me the mics to check out and we ran vocals through the Z3300, 5600a, and Gemini...

I didn't get a chance to record with the small diaphragm mics. At that time, they were having a problem getting those into the country...

Thanks,

Which one of the Z5600a / Gemini would you prefer for vocal work the most ?

I'm trying to decide weather to get a Gemini and Z3300a, or the Z5600a and Z3300a ....

I guess the 3300 and 5600 are quite similar sounding, and the Gemini really outstands on some sources, better than the 5600 as a tube mic...
What do you think ?

Thanks.

gilwe wrote: Thanks,

Which one of the Z5600a / Gemini would you prefer for vocal work the most ?

I'm trying to decide weather to get a Gemini and Z3300a, or the Z5600a and Z3300a ....

I guess the 3300 and 5600 are quite similar sounding, and the Gemini really outstands on some sources, better than the 5600 as a tube mic...
What do you think ?

Thanks.

I guess the 5600a. but I don't know that I would buy any of those mics unless I had an SM7 first....