Matt great video. Hey I can identify a different for example the brightness does seem to be tamed a bit. I have the Rode K2 and it’s a major quality boost from my former AT2020.
Just purchased the K2, sounds almost exactly the same as NT1 5th Gen. Disappointed as for vocals the tube dooes nothing but for guitars and percussive sources it might do something, but I doubt. Actually it is a good news, with the NT1 you get a great microphone for pickles. But I just ordered the Telefunken, let's see if this will bring something to the table, but in reality it should be nothing that a simple plugin can not do. Let's see...
Thanks for your comment. Not sure what you're using to monitor, because those 2 mics don't sound alike at all. And the tube definitely does affect vocals, when you swap the tube to something smoother you can hear it mainly in the top end and the way it handles sibilance. And then of course it depends how much vocal you're pushing into it as to how hard the tube is being driven. I had an NT1, I didn't love it so I sold it. It is a decent mic for the money but there are so many good mics for that same amount of money these days, you can really take your pick. Anyway, hopefully you like the sound with the Telefunken (And sure you can always fix things in post, but I like to get everything sounding right before it even hits the interface!)
Hey! I am looking to buy it for male vocals. I don’t know much about this stuff though :/ I have a Focusrite 2i2 Interface and a basic laptop Will I be able to get the high quality vocals this mic is capable of? And how exactly would I connect it to my laptop? Would really appreciate your advice :)
Hey Matt, just pulled the trigger on the K2 as hopefully my mainstay in my budget home studio :) I have a mid-baritone sort of voice and am hoping the warm tube distortion mixed with the boost in presence will work for my voice. I wonder if investing in a couple tubes to test would be worth it? I love the original sound of the K2 with light eq on it, but would you say the third party tubes give something that eq *cant* give to the original tube in post? Great vid btw :)
Hey, congrats on taking the plunge with this mic! I would definitely put a different tube in. You have to think about it from the company point of view. They use a standard modern tube because they can buy them in bulk (so, it fits the budget) and it gives a predictable sound,. Is it the right task for the job? A lot of people don't think so. These mics rely a fair bit on the character of the tube to get their overall character, so changing the tube makes a noticeable difference. I say go for it :) The person I bought this one off is selling another one, I'm tempted to buy it, but definitely go searching and see what you come up with. Some people like the RCA tubes, some the Mullard or Telefunken, or go the Gold Lion gold pin for more modern (and this one will definitely do what it's supposed to do, unlike old tubes which are a gamble). Good luck!
Thanks so much for the detailed response! I agree that the tube character is definitely part of what im going for, it's the whole point in buying a tube anyhow right? Anywho, my room has some acoustic issues that I need to take care of first. No tube will make my room sound good 🤣 I got some budget ideas in mind for that ahahha. After that I may shoot for a nice warm tube :) thanks again for being responsive, have a great day!
With my AKG K240s I can tell a difference for sure. The mic seems a lot more balanced not as boomy in the bass or as peaky in the highs and high mids. The mids are now nicely focused. I have 2 K2's that sound a little different from each other. I should give this a go. Getting 2 tubes the same may make the mics more matched too.. Do you have a link to where you got the Mullard ?
I just bought mine through ebay, I usually go for NOS and look for ones that mention the test scores (and obviously test well). Buying a pair gets a bit more expensive (if they're matched anyway) but would be worth it if you're trying to get them to sound the same.
I Put an Electro-Harmonix 6922, Balanced Triodes in my K2 .works for me.it smooths out the highs and I put one in my rode NTK.
Matt great video. Hey I can identify a different for example the brightness does seem to be tamed a bit. I have the Rode K2 and it’s a major quality boost from my former AT2020.
What’s the name and brand of the after market tube you are using?
@@KennyGuyte its a Mullard NOS ECC189 from the 60's, built in Great Britain.
Matt David thanks bro✊🏾
Just purchased the K2, sounds almost exactly the same as NT1 5th Gen.
Disappointed as for vocals the tube dooes nothing but for guitars and percussive sources it might do something, but I doubt.
Actually it is a good news, with the NT1 you get a great microphone for pickles.
But I just ordered the Telefunken, let's see if this will bring something to the table, but in reality it should be nothing that a simple plugin can not do. Let's see...
Thanks for your comment. Not sure what you're using to monitor, because those 2 mics don't sound alike at all. And the tube definitely does affect vocals, when you swap the tube to something smoother you can hear it mainly in the top end and the way it handles sibilance. And then of course it depends how much vocal you're pushing into it as to how hard the tube is being driven. I had an NT1, I didn't love it so I sold it. It is a decent mic for the money but there are so many good mics for that same amount of money these days, you can really take your pick.
Anyway, hopefully you like the sound with the Telefunken (And sure you can always fix things in post, but I like to get everything sounding right before it even hits the interface!)
Hey! I am looking to buy it for male vocals. I don’t know much about this stuff though :/
I have a Focusrite 2i2 Interface and a basic laptop
Will I be able to get the high quality vocals this mic is capable of? And how exactly would I connect it to my laptop? Would really appreciate your advice :)
Hey Matt, just pulled the trigger on the K2 as hopefully my mainstay in my budget home studio :) I have a mid-baritone sort of voice and am hoping the warm tube distortion mixed with the boost in presence will work for my voice. I wonder if investing in a couple tubes to test would be worth it? I love the original sound of the K2 with light eq on it, but would you say the third party tubes give something that eq *cant* give to the original tube in post? Great vid btw :)
Hey, congrats on taking the plunge with this mic! I would definitely put a different tube in. You have to think about it from the company point of view. They use a standard modern tube because they can buy them in bulk (so, it fits the budget) and it gives a predictable sound,. Is it the right task for the job? A lot of people don't think so. These mics rely a fair bit on the character of the tube to get their overall character, so changing the tube makes a noticeable difference. I say go for it :) The person I bought this one off is selling another one, I'm tempted to buy it, but definitely go searching and see what you come up with. Some people like the RCA tubes, some the Mullard or Telefunken, or go the Gold Lion gold pin for more modern (and this one will definitely do what it's supposed to do, unlike old tubes which are a gamble). Good luck!
Thanks so much for the detailed response! I agree that the tube character is definitely part of what im going for, it's the whole point in buying a tube anyhow right? Anywho, my room has some acoustic issues that I need to take care of first. No tube will make my room sound good 🤣 I got some budget ideas in mind for that ahahha. After that I may shoot for a nice warm tube :) thanks again for being responsive, have a great day!
With my AKG K240s I can tell a difference for sure. The mic seems a lot more balanced not as boomy in the bass or as peaky in the highs and high mids. The mids are now nicely focused. I have 2 K2's that sound a little different from each other. I should give this a go. Getting 2 tubes the same may make the mics more matched too.. Do you have a link to where you got the Mullard ?
I just bought mine through ebay, I usually go for NOS and look for ones that mention the test scores (and obviously test well). Buying a pair gets a bit more expensive (if they're matched anyway) but would be worth it if you're trying to get them to sound the same.