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I got a blue tube stereo tube preamp with the 12ax7 tube. As well as a apex 435 condenser mic. I want to know what frequencies these add or cut. (how they color the signal). Any idea where I can get this info?

Also is it possible to get the same info for these speakers? Altec Lansing ACS33?

Thanks

Comments

pr0gr4m Thu, 09/20/2007 - 14:27

Used to be, microphone manufactures would give you an easy to read graph/chart/whatever-its-called so you could tell at a glance what a microphones frequency response was...like in this example:

However it does not look like there is one for the Apex microphone:
[="http://www.apexelectronics.com/pdfs/omapex435.pdf"]Apex 435[/]="http://www.apexelec…"]Apex 435[/]

As for other recording equipment, you don't get this sort of chart. Some things are know to be bass heavy or airy whatever but those are usually user descriptions of the products. Your best place to find out this sort of info is either from the manufacturer or other users.
[[url=http://="http://www.presonus…"]Blue Tube[/]="http://www.presonus…"]Blue Tube[/]

As for your speakers? C'mon. Get real. Those are computer speakers designed for the average consumer. The average consumer doesn't care about that sort of info. All they know is that they want a subwoofer.

When you are ready to step up to some more realistic recording studio type of monitors, then you'll find the sort of info you are looking for.

Cucco Fri, 09/21/2007 - 06:54

InsaneGenius wrote: Thanks Pr0gr4m.

Yeh the speakers blow I know. At the bottom is a picture that shows that happened when I tried to record a tone generated wave file through my speakers. For anyone saying that you can just use any old speakers to mix on. This is living proof that you can not. :)

Logic Studio

That is a good test to do and it's impressive that you took the time to do so. However, I should very much caution you that as much as that tells you about your speakers, it also tells you about your microphone, the preamp, the A/D conversion (jitter and overall conversion process), etc.

A test like this, to be most accurate, must be done with appropriate test and measurement equipment (which is generally very expensive). If it were done on a traditional microphone through a traditional preamp, there would be all sorts of variation which could/should be chalked up to that.

However, I want to stress again that it's very good that you did this test and that you understand the limitations of your system.

I'll simply add that the single most important ingredient in making a good mix is a good monitoring environment - that means good monitors in a good room.

Knowing your weaknesses though are a very good first step.

Cheers!

J.

InsaneGenius Sat, 09/22/2007 - 10:39

yeh good tip. I found that out th hard way. I did another sample at my friends house. we plugged his CAD dynamic mic straight into his sound card. Everything looked good up to 10k. At 10k it started taking a nose dive (like the sm57 chart above). I thought it was the speakers but when we looked up the mic, we saw the mic falls off exactly like our test. That is why I wanted the specs on the bluetube and the mic that I have. So I can compensate my tests and take those variables out of the equation. (I did a test on my sound card so I know it's frequency response.)

Thanks again guys.
Your posts have been very helpful.