Warm Audio WA47; Boom or Bust?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2021
- The Warm Audio 47 large diaphragm condenser mic... an homage to one of the world's most classic studio microphones. Is it worth the $900?
Special thanks to the Warm Audio reps at Sweetwater for hooking me up the past couple weeks! It's been a blast to try out some new gear. 
Видеоклипы
Great review, and bonus points for the Guild jumbo!
articulate and intelligent and well organized. High production values. well done.................
Thank you!!
I am kind of waiting on this one for a version two
Just a point of clarification. Neumann didn't have quality control problems in the 50s. They were so picky in fact that only 1 in 200 or something like that of the Telefunken tubes would make it into the microphone. The K47 capsules didn't sound "completely different" from each other as you suggest in the video. The tolerances were tight. It's almost 70 years since these were in production and you can still buy the real K47 capsule from Neumann direct. That's how good the design is. And noone else knows how to make a K47 capsule. You can reverse engineer the back of it but the front, the diaphragm engineering, is almost entirely in the process (heating, cooling, tensioning etc). That's part assembly but bigger part chemistry. Only neumann knows the exact process here. And that, arguably, is the most important part of the capsule. Frequency response you're looking for is solely on the diaphragm design. All the clones seem to have this smiley curve frequency response profile to them. This isn't what a k47 capsule sounds like. My guess is it isn't because the cloners can't hear what the capsule is doing. It's more than likely they just can't reverse engineer the frequency response. It's not unlike the blue meth (in that it is a chemical process + some other processes). The K47 capsule is actually mid forward not mid recessed like the clones. For a thousand bucks why not go with the OG? Something like a TLM 49? That's got the original Neumann K47 capsule. To my ears the frequency response is exactly what a U47 should be. Which makes sense since it has the K47 capsule in it (single sided). Just my thoughts. Why go with a copy when you can still buy the original. Cheers.
I appreciate the feedback man, that’s the beauty of the platform. I learned something here :) I think that still many engineers would agree that each 47 from the era sounded different regardless. Maybe quality control wasn’t the best way to put it
@@OfficialRYANmusic Yeah for sure. Of course. And I understand that. It is more than likely that the differences are attributable to age than tolerances of that era. Components experience wear and tear over time and once you have components running out of what are acceptable tolerances you'll find differences in sound (a lot of the problems, like in all electronics are usually related to the contacts). Factor in each U47s unique circumstances throughout its lifespan and yeah I think differences are inevitable. Neumann was very fanatical, even back then, about quality control. But I mean you are talking about 60+ year old equipment at this point so it is a lot to ask that these things are all uniform.
Arguably it would be good for the whole industry if we knew how Neumann make their diaphragm (either K47 or K67; they are both great) but that isn't likely to happen anytime soon. It's a closely guarded secret to this day. The clones that I've heard aren't really close. Everybody seems to fail at getting that midrange response. But we pretend like they can step in as a substitute because, well the prices are crazy.
In my experience, I spent 20 grand on clones that say they faithful reproduce the sound of a U47. After about 5 years and about 7 or 8 microphones I gave up. Finally I've realised it's a marketing con. I gave up and just bought a Neumann. And now with the U67 reissue there is really no need to go the clone route.
There is also something to be said about the ethics of cloning. There are some companies who built their entire business model on copying Neumann products. That's been an educational process for me.
Anyway I just wanted to share my story so you can save yourself the 5 odd years looking for stuff that doesn't exist. 20 grand is cheap when you consider the cost of time. :)
@@OfficialRYANmusic And one other thing I forgot to mention is Neumann made a lot of changes to the U47 and the like over the years. It's hard to compare the first iteration with the last (this was over 20 years). This will account for differences in sound too.
@@Screaming-Trees you’re right. I play a Monette trumpet and though many brands copy them (Lotus, Taylor, even Adams) they have a process in their brass (secret formula?) and building that others copy but never get right
Great point and informative I have the Tlm 49 and I couldn’t agree with you more beautiful capsule tolerances specs and build quality it’s warm and smooth
GREAT Review bro. Nailed every point.
It got "Under My Skin"... :D
HA I appreciate the kind comment and the feedback, seems I’m doing something right :)
I saw a video on the polar pattern in Cardioid and I liked the 47jr pattern. It also had less self noise so I think I would run it through a tube channel strip and then I would just eq back in the low end and bump up 2 k maybe
And that’s a good idea! A lower noise floor never hurts. Back in the day, guys like Sinatra didn’t even think of it as a problem, and maybe in a mix you wouldn’t notice. But as we always say: “everything effects everything” :)
47 too dark sounding to be useful for vocals. but let’s be honest people anything more expensive than the rode NT one can be made to sound like every other mic with just a little bit of EQ.
Thank you for an excellent video! I use a Shure KSM44 and am very tempted to purchase this WA47. I wonder how it compares...I guess it is a matter of personal experience and taste. Would love to know that the 47 will give a warmer sound. It definite did, compared to the WA67 in your video. Any advice ? Should I just buy one?
Doesn’t hurt to try! The KSM44 is killer, but the tube in a tube microphone will always add a bit of warmth. That comes at a price though, you get a bit more noise although it’s not noticeable
i was thinking what to get between this and the neumann tlm 103 this one seems great especially after this history lesson
Another great choice! TLM is much quieter on the noise floor and brighter. All depends on what you’re looking for in your vocal!
Get the 103… it’s tried and true…unless you have money to experiment…imho
@@watch76 103 worst for vocal, i have
I’ve tried both these mics and I ended up going with the 103 ,Sounds so fye once you get to know yo plug-ins better
Choose the 103 on lower vocals and the wa47 on mid-high range vocals. It all depends on what u looking for
Wa-47 best mic 🎤
actually there's a few original U47s for sale right now that are 33K each but some good ones have sold for 13K ish. 100K would be batshit crazy
Well of course I made this video so that it would age with the timezzzz… in 5 years the claim might be relevant 😎
The problem with this mic is it has lots of negative feedback on different gear sites. Many people have reported it failing on them in a short space of time, mostly the tube but some reported replacing the tube didn't fix it. It's also reported to be an Alcatron mic rebranded with a few changes to the Alcatron circuit board put into a new shell. (Alcatron mics are cheaper) Basically it's a budget Chinese mic that tempts you in with the name 'Warm' and making it look like the big vintage u47. This mic, as with many clones will not sound like a vintage U47 but will have its own sound. There are many other mics out there more reliable that do the same job and cheaper or same price. I would love to hear from more people who have used this mic for sometime and judge the overall failure rate against other mics.
The problem with a lot of reviews is the reviewer gets loned the mic for a review or simply does a review when it's brand new.
A follow up review a few years later would be good to see, on how it got on in your recording setup? Any problems? And is it still used or been sold.
Yeah I don’t think it’s absolutely fair to call it a perfect replica of a 47, and for the price it shouldn’t be. It gets a similar idea, but yeah I would agree. I’ve used both. Do I like the WA47 for what it is? Sure. I’ve met the CEO and he’s a very knowledgeable guy who just likes to give options to people on a budget :)
I’ve had this microphone for 3 years + and use it heavily . Still sounds amazing and hasn’t failed me once . Best investment I’ve made for my home studio .
Have you used a real u47 in good repair? I used one everyday for three years. They are a mythical creature. Nothing else sounds like them. A large diaphragm tube condenser with selectable polar patterns is a must have for a studio. So warm seems like a good entry level. Try a real 47 on a good source and you’ll get what it’s all about.
Had mine for only 2 years but I must say it’s been the best 2 years of my life! Upgraded from the Aston Origin, which was really brittle and bright now I’m Running it thru the Mbox studio and I must say it’s a great starting point.
but these take EQ so well in post... seriously- low-noise and warm "dry" in is what makes those old-vintage expensive mics worth it! lol
For the acoustic, where were you pointing the microphones?
Great question! My AKG 414 was right where the neck meets the body, about a foot away, pointing toward the sound hole. The 47 was just behind the bridge 6 inches away pointing toward the sound hole as well :)
Why the mic stand movin so much when u singin haha gotta fix that bro will introduce rumble and bad vibrations
The pattern was really quite Jagged on the review I saw he could have gotten a bad mic
For your voice, U67 all the way
Also believe for Cardioid a ride Nt 1 into a serious tube would get you a very similar sound
What the hell.....I bought one in jan and I didn't get that case...I got a cardboard box containing a ps, cable, and fancy wooden box for the mic.
Bummmmmmer.
Case is separate purchase