Ok I STILL can't figure out what I want (no way to test mics here in the middle of nowhere). I use a 414 uls through a 428 with a distressor as my vocal chain and it works pretty good. I want to step it up with a better mic as I have read the 414 is not really a superb vocal mic. I am looking at something from Geffell, because all I have read says their great. Pricewise I am thinking the UMT 70s ($1450) (only bad thing I have read is no transformer). I have also thought about the Soundelux U195 ($1100). I'm not interested in a tube mic so that should keep the costs down. Lastly, I had been set on a U87, but many state that almost anything from the above mentioned companies will sound better and be cheaper as far as LD condensers go. Just wanted to have some people weigh in. Thanks all.
Justin
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Justin This is a very tough one. While I was one of those who su
Justin
This is a very tough one. While I was one of those who suggested that the U87 might not be the mic for you [edit: sorry it was someone else :oops: ], I also have to say that when it works with you, it creates a certain magic that's difficult to describe. I absolutely love my U87, especially on some vocals, and I know it will always be with me (God, I sound sad!). I can also say the same about some others -one in particular that is WAY cheaper than the Neumann in the US, but dearer over here.
For some reason, there seems to be a totally inappropriate aura surrounding the U87, and this is borne out by the fact that most of the cheapo mass-produced mics want to be "as good as a U87". OTOH most of the lower-profile manufacturers of excellent mics must surely resent having to fight against the cult of the 87, and Microtech Gefell in particular must be congratulated on the very gracious remarks about the U87Ai on their website.
There is no simple scale of 1-10 that you can rate mics on, and the U87 certainly does not do anything to justify the way other mics -some of which are exquisite- get overlooked simply because of the U87s fame.
I happen to find the U87 can be a 'difficult' mic to get to work well, but with a bit of effort the results can be amazing. In the end it's all a matter of taste.
As far as the UMT 70S is conerned, the transformer issue is a complex and controversial one. If you compare the way Neumann for example and Schoeps use transformerless electronics is very different. Many people find the KM-180 series inferior to its predecessors with transformers (there is a separate issue relating to the different frequency response in the newer capsules), yet it is difficult to find the same criticism levelled at the transformerless Schoeps microphones. Klaus Heyne deals with this issue elsewhere on the Internet. However, some of those who hate the transformerless Neumann SDCs love some of the large diaphragm TLM mics (and the more expensive transformerless SDC mics like the M-150). There are too many variables to make a judgment on a mic on the basis of whether or not it has a transformer.
Sorry for the rant, but this is not an easy choice to make. After all that, I have some transformerless MGs on my wishlist.
Whatever you buy, enjoy it!
John