A room with a million dollars worth of microphones and I still reach for a $300 bluebird. In my peasant world, this video is akin to a child visiting Disneyland. Snapping back to reality is a SOB. All of these mics are more expensive than my entire signal chain. Even still, 1.75hrs of pros diddling about is a pleasure to watch!
There’s value in “fair fight” comparisons based on neutral pre’s, etc. But sometimes I’d like to hear shoot outs with gear in their elements. This is what these mic’s are known for and compare each at their “best”. A more contextual approach. Thanks for sharing.
Warren, not sure you'll read this, being that it's an old post, but... just in case. If the polarity was not reversed on the mics that you were checking, you voice would never have the same, apparent low end response as when (sorry, can't recall his name) you were listening to the VK fellow testing the mics. The sound pressure inside your ears/head is reversed polarity from what is coming to you in the cans, very effectively cancelling out the arguably most valuable low frequencies. With full headphone mixes are used when a singer is doing their vocal take, I found this to be especially important. I first came upon this idea in the late 70s and every singer appreciated the difference.
What's great is everybody comes back with a favourite microphone. Just goes to show we're not all the same, don't have the same ears, and most importantly there IS a mic out there, somewhere, that will be perfect for our taste and budget. Thanks for this great side-by-side, Warren and Alex!
The mojave MA- 300 tube condenser has a continuous polar pattern also. This video is exactly what I needed. Im ready to purchase a monster microphone. And all the contestants were included here. I love the ELAM 251 and the Manley Reference and Gold. I love the Halfmoon and the Pearlman and the Wunders and the Slate and the ........ the Mojave Fet was great too. I own the tube MA-300 and i love it but had a tube issue after 10 months.
These two were my favorite. I agree that the Manley was richer and broader while the Telefunken had a more precise and present sound. It's slight, but all things equal, I'd grab the first for a singer and the second for a studio-standard spoken word.
All flattery aside this is by FAR the best video on microphones on youtube. It also reinforced my feelings on the reference Cardioid as my dream mic. Cheers!
Thanks ever so much Luuk! That's extremely kind of you! So glad it was able to help, Vintage King were wonderfully kind to let us go through the whole collection and try them out!! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I hate listening tests on RUclips. I can’t for the life of me ever tell the difference from one thing to next let alone judge quality. It wasn’t until I just bought a couple of these and tried them out that I realized what they are actually doing. So many factors involved.
Holy 2 hour interview Batman... :-). These comparisons are extremely helpful, Warren. Thank you and Alex Oana for putting together these side-by-sides. I can't imagine how long the interview actually was before editing - but well worth it from my perspective. I am always appreciative and the time and dedication you put towards the community. Kudos and thank you.
Hi Kevin, thanks ever so much for the great comment! I really appreciate it! Haha yes it was a lonnnnggggg review!! Haha Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Those Mojaves are incredibly impressive. I was listening with my phone in my pocklet and as soon as Warren tested the MA300 I thought "wait a minute what was THAT" and pulled my phone out to see it. If I didn't already have a tube condenser I love (a CU29) I would absolutely consider getting an MA300.
I was told many years ago, a person can not judge a vocal mic when they are the one speaking and listening? Let the other person speak into the mic and judge by their voice in different mics. Has something to do with jaw and ears ?? I never miss a video by you! Thank you.
Seriously the Slate VMS is the best option if you’re having multiple singers in your studio. The flexibility to change mics in mixdown to match the singer or cut through a dense mix is worth it weight in gold. All at a great price point too. I own 2 of them and they are well worth it.
Just picked up a Lauten Audio LA-320...I am so happy just to have my 320 in that room...wow. Truly pleased with just how good this mic sounds. Another great vid Warren. Cheers.
The Bock 251was considerably more bassy and boomy then the telefunken on my vxt krk 8 monitors, the headphones probably werent allowing you guys to hear that difference but it was very noticeable on my monitors. Thanks for doing this episode Warren, very good.BTW imho that Manley Gold sounded awesome.
Just in case there are other Voice Over people here, and they haven't considered this, singing does not have the same needs as VO. VO needs a significantly lower self-noise than singing does. This is a fantastic video, extremely informative, but it's mainly for singers, and more than a few of these mics have a self noise higher than a VO mic generally would. The Neumann TLM 103 has a self noise of only 7 dB-A. The Lewitt Sub-Zero is _lower_ than that. The Mojave Audio MA-301fet has "14dB nominal, not to exceed 16dB (A weighted)" - significantly higher. The Gefell also seems to be 16 dB-A. For music, these are wonderful mics, but for VO, most of us will probably need something "quieter". For VO, before buying a mic, find out the self noise of that microphone.
@@Producelikeapro Thank you so much 😊. It was great fun hearing you test the Bock 251 against the Telefunken 251 - it was like James Earl Jones facing off with Morgan Freeman! Again, great video!
One of your best videos! Very educational. Thank you. The Flea 49, Manley Gold, Telefunken 251 and Wunder 67 were my favorites. You and Alex have great chemistry together in front of the camera! The video flew by
One of the most informative videos I've seen you do, and the best one ever on mics. Thanks to both of you for taking the time to do it, it's much appreciated.
You're most welcome Larry! So glad you enjoyed the video! Special thanks to Vintage King for letting us come by and do this! I found it extremely rewarding and informative!! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I record my own music at home and do mobile recording for bands in my area. I bought the Mojave Ma-300 a few years ago and just can't say enough good things about it. Anything I record sounds very clear and smooth which is exactly what I was looking for in a mic... of course I did a ton of research and understood my needs! I'd tell anyone who has a project studio looking to buy a mic more than $1,000 take your time to research and make sure you understand what characteristics you want. Warren made a perfect point about how he hates using adjectives especially since musician's and producer's "terms or adjectives describing sound" get lost in translation lol
Thanks for your great comment Benjamin! I am in total agreement with you!! Happy New Year!! Here's to an amazingly marvellous musical 2017!! Many thanks Warren
Hi Friends, Vintage King was kind enough to let us use their showroom to test a wide variety of large diaphragm condenser microphones. In this shootout, we test over 20 microphones in the $500- $10000 price range. We discuss their frequency response and unique characteristics, but most importantly, we'll share insights into possible uses for each of these mics and discuss the most important points to consider when choosing a microphone. I hope this video will help you to narrow down your choices and find a microphone that will be a great asset for you in any given recording situation. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren Here's to an amazing 2017! Happy New Year!
Thank you for this video.Was there a reason for not including the Neumann U-47 FET? I've been considering that mic,but I want to make sure that i'm getting the most for my $4k.
Hi NURREDIN, thanks for the comment! The U47 Fet wasn't specifically excluded, it just wasn't in Vintage King's Mic Booth to be demoed! I like them a lot. they are great mics! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Gunter Wagner in Australia makes a U47 with the original capsule, he makes the capsule, I understand he used to work for Neumann before moving to Australia
Warren, I know this video was long and made in 2016 but thank you for your time making it. I am still trying to decide on that Lauten Atlantis or that Soyuz 017 FET. I think you are more of a fan of that Lauten and it appears it has more versatility. I am going to use the mic for singing vocals and acoustic guitar. I hope I can make a decision soon. I hate being in limbo. I appreciate you.
about the slate digital emulation mic, i think you need to put a dual circuit to that mic, solid state and tube, that might take you closer to the mic you are trying to emulate, just like universal audio 710 or Lewitt LCT 940 try that, i want my piece of the cake for my idea lollll
Every one of those condenser mics sounded fantastic. I'd love to have any of them. If I were in there and had to choose one I wouldn't know what to do.
Gerard Lee I have a Tfunk 251 and I don’t think they sound too different. A lot closer than I thought they would. The Bock had a bit more bottom but that could be the gain setting they mentioned. I’m impressed with Bock for sure. I got my Tele for a great price years ago so I paid less than what a new Bock goes for so I’m happy either way but bravo Dave.
@@pavmx703 the bock beats the Tfunk imo by quite a bit but sadly I would have to get a tfunk if I had a studio then just prove it to every singer who come through the door but giving them a Bock ;)
i was in search of a microphone and this video has changed my mind..i've to buy at least 2 or 3 mics for different types of vocalist !! really very interesting video. thanks a lot !!
Well, after that, I'm sure it'll be a long time before I forget your name, Warren! Thanks to you and Alex for all of that -- this is by far the best microphone video I have ever seen!
There was a huge difference between the Bock 251 and Tele 251 which sounded thin. The Bock has it all. My favs 1) Bock 251 2) Wonder U47 G 3) Slate 4) Manley Reference 5) Wonder 67
Thanks Jeremy! I am so glad to help and very thankful to Vintage King for letting us come and check out all the mics! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Very good input by some amazing, experienced ears. Thanks! I am personally very sensitive to any phase problems, noise and associated grit or gravel in the mids, and lack of openess in the highs. Probably why I gravitate to magnetic planar speakers. Not that there isn’t plenty of room for a bit of overall warmth and other mic-specific contour for acoustic sources , vocals and other such sources- and we all hear things differently to some extent; but often it’s a matter of the sound you are looking to get. I was amazed when I first listened to some of the Schoeps, Sontronics and interestingly recently the Townsend L-22 with the right pre-amp and related hardware/settings. Source is such a complex part of it all, as I was in a studio with Mariah Carey a while back and listened to her absolutely bury a few top mics that worked great for many other good singers. It is a complex game we play.
The manley reference did give telefunken a run for the money, it really did. Thanks for the amazing comparison, also really liked Alex and Vintage King, feeling very passionate about what he is doing!
The Low End on the Bock was incredible!!! Smooth Clean and bot "Boomy". It was more present in the low end than the Telefunken... I wouldn't say it was a better thing to have but if you have it its awesome! Also I wanted to see the Bock VS the Neumann U87... I can imagine the results but hearing it would have been nice.
Wow. I listened to it all, and the differences from mic to mic, while subtle, were obvious. Having said that, the best bang for the buck in the room is the Manley Reference Cardioid, closely followed by Slate's VMS. I kept an open mind for this as I am always in the market for that "magic" microphone, but the reality is, those two mics, a clean neutral pre, and a vintage vibe pre will do 95% of what you need large condenser microphones for. Mullard tube mod will warm up that Manley, and takes about 5 minutes. All of these microphones are truly amazing, but those two really stood out. The VMS for a swiss army knife, the Manley as my go to for both Male and Female vocals. I bought the VMS when it first came out, and loved it, but didn't really have a good enough Pre to judge it. Now, I have a pair of Shelford Channels going into a Focusrite OctoPreX so that test will be coming shortly. I JUST took delivery of the Manley last Friday, and cannot wait to push it hard, and see what it does for me. This was a fantastic video Warren. Best one yet in my book.
@@morrielouden1 Sorry I didn't respond earlier. eBay has dozens of sellers. VivaTubes is an excellent source. I swapped in a Telefunken NOS 12AX7 into both my Manley Gold Reference and Tube Cardioid, and am about to pull the trigger on either a Bock 251 or U67 Reissue to finish up my Mic Locker. The Slate VMS gets plenty of use as a room Mic. My go to for vocal though is either of my Manley mics. No need for EQ. Push them through a Manley VoxBox or Neve Shelford channel, and you are set.
Thanks ever so much Kyle! Glad to be able to do this! Special thanks to Vintage King for letting us come by and do this! That was extremely generous of them! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
awesome video from the Mastreo ... i have been on a Neumann hunt and i just have a small home studio for guitar and vocals... and i went with the TLM103 i cant wait to give it a go
I'm currently recording with a Blue Baby Bottle SL, but I think you may have sold me on the Lauten LA-320. Can't believe I actually made it through the whole video! lol
I know this is a quite old video, but if it comes to budget mics, there are some really cheap alternatives, which could help to get you startet. My main mic went silent and I had to send it to repair to AKG in Austria, or a service partner. Anyway, since I wanted to record some stuff in the meantime I searched the net and came across a mic named CM2 by Fame. Fame is the brand by a very large music shop here in Germany. Well, that mic was 33€, no mistyping and it really sounds nice, it definitely sounds not like a 33€ mic, even if you have to boost some frequencies to get close to my C414 B-ULS. When I opened the package, I was at first surprised how substancial it seemed. Quite heavy, 100% metal body and cone, 1" diaphragm. So as a temporary exchange, or maybe if you really get startet, it's a steal. And honestly, as great as the VMS maybe is and as versatile it is, 1000$ or 989€ is for many people a lot of money, as long as you don't make a living by making music. If you're living in Europe I would really give you the advice to try out a Fame (musicstorekoeln) or t.bone (Thomann) mic. These are no Neumann, no AKG, no you drop a name here, but they are usable and way better, than these strange mics on ebay and you recongnize that even if you just touch them. No plastics, no fear, that it will fall apart right away. I was stunned and wouldn't have thought, that this was possible for the price.
Think I'm sold on the Slate VMS at this point. Been researching it for awhile and this kind of put me over the edge. Already love most of Slate's plugins it really seems like they know what they're doing over there in this digital age yet he consistently keeps things affordable.
Hi Rob, that makes perfect sense to me! Glad to be able to help! Yes the VMS provides a huge bang for the buck! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Ladraz, thanks for the comment! Did you download the Audio files? Check them out and see if it still sounds like that to you. The main difference we keep hearing is a little less 600z, which frankly I remove on my vocal mixes most of the time! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
OK i downloaded the files and listen tell me if i am correct is mic A on the female vocals the SLATE mic? if i am wrong, then well done slate :) hoping i am wrong so i can go buy it lol
Hi Ladraz, thanks for the message I'm not sure which audio files you downloaded? There isn't a girl singer on this particular review. If you sign up for the email list you will be able to get the audio, did you do that? Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Ladraz, no problem! I understand! Download the audio files and let me know what you think! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Thanks louderthangod! Agreed, all rather wonderful! Yes thanks to Vintage King for letting us come by! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
For me and the type of music i do (rap, pop, rnb), the Manley crushes everything. Too bad the Sony wasnt in this shootout. I also have a C800G and thats generally my go to vocal mic, with the Manley being my backup and other option. They actually sound quite different from one another... their similarities are really exaggerated. Both are modern, forward, brighter mics, but the Sony has WAY bigger low end, and the Manley is actually brighter. I threw NOS Mullards in the Manley and it made it sound even better, quite a bit smoother while retaining its inherent sound. Either way, the Manley is an incredible mic and i will never sell it. Cant recommend it enough for rap, pop, rnb, dance, etc. Great shootout! PS Im also Romanian
Hi District Sound Lab, thanks for the great comment! Yes, I was very impressed with the Manley! It's a fantastic mic! Thanks for the insight on the tube change! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
This is so cool to hear all these mics. Thanks, Warren! I know you hate the metaphorical adjectives, but when you got to the first Gefell, and you were struggling for the right word, I was thinking "say it's flat!" And you did. My theory is that we're so used to hearing scooped or hyped stuff that flat sounds odd, maybe a little harsh by comparison.
Thanks Ken! Haha yes, I think you busted me!! Haha The Befell is pretty awesome! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Claes, thanks for the great comment! I must admit to a soft spot for the CMV 563! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Warren this was WONDERFUL...the Vintage King videos to me, have been your best. I think a quarterly produce like a pro - V.K.VIDEO SERIES is in order. The 500 Series V.K. and now this V.K. Mic shootout are clearly in my top five P.L.A.P segments. Happy 2017 everyone..
Thanks ever so much official patrik jay, thanks very much! I really enjoy making these videos with Vintage King! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I saw a few times where they got an old, and I mean really olde piece of classy kit cleaned and repaired it. As a gear snob and demo studio engineer I would very much like to see more of that. Now that's porn good satisfying and often just as dirty . Thanks
Hi Warren, Thank you for showing everyone the ins and outs of each of these mics. I have a vintage U87 already and through research (and this video) I have really fallen for the FLEA 47. I was also glad to see some of the other high end microphones that I will end up buying later on in my career. Can't wait to see some more exciting videos in 2017! Cheers!
Thanks very much DarkenTheNight! That's very kind of you! The FLEA 47 is an amazing mic! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I know Vintage King carries Roswell. Why weren't they represented? I own Roswell Delphos II and Soundelux (Bock) 195. I would have loved to hear a comparison.
dope!...im really torn between the manley and the telefunken ar-51...$2,700 dollars is KIND of a stretch for me as opposed to the $1,900 for the tele. Im REALLY trying to justify spending that much, so thanks for the response
Best thing is to test the microphones out in your studio and see what fits for you. Thats what I did and I would of never picked the manley or wanted to try it out without vintage king or a music store like that.
Great comparison. We are fortunate to have both a Bock 251 and a Flea 47. The Bock does have incredible low end and reach and pretty much works of most vocalists with little EQ. The Flea 47 has great mid presence. However both are great on the right vocalist. I actually really liked the Flea 49 in this demo. It sounded smooth and not particularly hyped.
Hi Roland Matters, thanks for your real world insight! That's amazingly good information! Thanks also for your kind words! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Very interesting to hear these mics compared, though I would have one suggestion about testing. One needs a singer! And it might have been better to sing up and down a scale with vowel sounds :" a - e - i - o - u".
Aw shucks thanks Peter! Alex is incredibly knowledgable! Thank you ever so much to Vintage King for letting us come by and go through all of these mics! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Soo, i was looking for a video/audio comparison of the u47-u67- u87 and came across this. The level of information and insight in this video is incredible, many thanks to Warren and Alex for sharing. P.S. to viewers: Don't be intimidated by the running time, it is well worth your attention!
Thanks for a revealing journey. I was surprised with your continued focus on the amount of lows as an implication of good or bad quality. In my experience, the amount and cleanliness of the sibilance range, which I place primarily more in the 7k to 10k range, is one of the biggest indications of quality. Of course, the clarity of the mids is perhaps primary. The amount of lows is no indication of the quality, as in good/bad per se.
Also, not sure why you would favor cheap headphones when listening to mostly quite expensive mics. Even the Pelusos are not exactly cheap. In any case, thanks again for a pleasant and informative mic tasting.
Fantastic Tiege! That's great to hear! Let us know what you end up choosing! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Downloaded the samples and listened on my AKG K271s. What does it say about me that many of these could be the exact same mic and I'd never know any different? Don't get me wrong, obviously there are some very subtle differences, but at the end of the day isn't this just really personal preference over something that in the grand scheme of things doesn't matter nearly as much as the many ingredients that go into making a great record?
Hi Jeremy, I think is a smart observation. Some of the differences are very slight, I would say overall tone of the Wunders and the VMS is extremely close and they all feel like the same family as the Telefunken. The Bock is extremely close to the Telefunken! And yes, you hit the nail on the head 100%!!! What you are recording is THE most important thing!! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Dear Sir, I watched almost all of your videos, they have very important content and I can only have one request, especially in your device demonstration and comparison videos, I would be much happier if you make your personal experience towards the end of the video, because when there is too long conversation the listener can get tired and lose concentrate, of course, Your personal opinion an experience is very important, but to be able to hear the result of the device is also important. I do my job in Turkey Istanbul, where the distributors are bringing their products here only when they receive orders from the clients. So your videos are helping us before choosing. Thank you so much for all the videos you posted.
I honestly think that the microphones made these days make very little difference to what gets recorded. So much post production is done, how much of the sound that is initially recorded by original mic remains. Maybe in the world of orchestral recording or live recording etc but for the majority of music being made now, the software has a huge impact. I say this not to be provocative. No vocal mic can help a bad voice or performance.
Long video, but a great one. One of your best yet! Thank you so much. Going to a professional mastering studio tomorrow to sit in on a session and hopefully will help me get to the next level on my journey. Very excited.
Thank you very much for the priceless video!!
U47 21:13 22:01 59:11 sm7 1:21:56 u67 1:24:52 1:25:52 59:07 58:32 reference gold 1:29:07 1:29:47 251 1:29:52 1:13:12 gefell 563 49:09 49:47 manley cardioid 53:59 flea 49 1:01:38 1:02:07 u87 1:08:04 1:08:10
A room with a million dollars worth of microphones and I still reach for a $300 bluebird. In my peasant world, this video is akin to a child visiting Disneyland. Snapping back to reality is a SOB. All of these mics are more expensive than my entire signal chain. Even still, 1.75hrs of pros diddling about is a pleasure to watch!
There’s value in “fair fight” comparisons based on neutral pre’s, etc. But sometimes I’d like to hear shoot outs with gear in their elements. This is what these mic’s are known for and compare each at their “best”. A more contextual approach. Thanks for sharing.
Warren, not sure you'll read this, being that it's an old post, but... just in case. If the polarity was not reversed on the mics that you were checking, you voice would never have the same, apparent low end response as when (sorry, can't recall his name) you were listening to the VK fellow testing the mics. The sound pressure inside your ears/head is reversed polarity from what is coming to you in the cans, very effectively cancelling out the arguably most valuable low frequencies. With full headphone mixes are used when a singer is doing their vocal take, I found this to be especially important. I first came upon this idea in the late 70s and every singer appreciated the difference.
What's great is everybody comes back with a favourite microphone. Just goes to show we're not all the same, don't have the same ears, and most importantly there IS a mic out there, somewhere, that will be perfect for our taste and budget. Thanks for this great side-by-side, Warren and Alex!
The mojave MA- 300 tube condenser has a continuous polar pattern also. This video is exactly what I needed. Im ready to purchase a monster microphone. And all the contestants were included here. I love the ELAM 251 and the Manley Reference and Gold. I love the Halfmoon and the Pearlman and the Wunders and the Slate and the ........ the Mojave Fet was great too. I own the tube MA-300 and i love it but had a tube issue after 10 months.
Warren just has an ear for exactly what a mic is doing and he describes the whole image of it instantly. Amazing
Wow! Thanks ever so much!!
Awwww…. Seeing these mikes lined up feels like a kid in a candy store!!!
That Manley Reference and Telefunken U47 made my little heart go pitter-patter. Killer mics.
Tom Spriggs yep, they are both awesome.
Thanks ever so much Tom! Agreed! Both great mics!
@@officialWWM indeed!
These two were my favorite. I agree that the Manley was richer and broader while the Telefunken had a more precise and present sound. It's slight, but all things equal, I'd grab the first for a singer and the second for a studio-standard spoken word.
All flattery aside this is by FAR the best video on microphones on youtube.
It also reinforced my feelings on the reference Cardioid as my dream mic.
Cheers!
Thanks ever so much Luuk! That's extremely kind of you! So glad it was able to help, Vintage King were wonderfully kind to let us go through the whole collection and try them out!! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
It is also by FAR the longest video on RUclips. I stopped after about 5 minutes of skipping around. :)
I hate listening tests on RUclips. I can’t for the life of me ever tell the difference from one thing to next let alone judge quality. It wasn’t until I just bought a couple of these and tried them out that I realized what they are actually doing. So many factors involved.
Holy 2 hour interview Batman... :-). These comparisons are extremely helpful, Warren. Thank you and Alex Oana for putting together these side-by-sides. I can't imagine how long the interview actually was before editing - but well worth it from my perspective. I am always appreciative and the time and dedication you put towards the community. Kudos and thank you.
Hi Kevin, thanks ever so much for the great comment! I really appreciate it! Haha yes it was a lonnnnggggg review!! Haha Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Those Mojaves are incredibly impressive. I was listening with my phone in my pocklet and as soon as Warren tested the MA300 I thought "wait a minute what was THAT" and pulled my phone out to see it. If I didn't already have a tube condenser I love (a CU29) I would absolutely consider getting an MA300.
Love Mojave gear
This guys been so nice, that I like my Raven more now.
I was told many years ago, a person can not judge a vocal mic when they are the one speaking and listening? Let the other person speak into the mic and judge by their voice in different mics. Has something to do with jaw and ears ?? I never miss a video by you! Thank you.
Seriously the Slate VMS is the best option if you’re having multiple singers in your studio. The flexibility to change mics in mixdown to match the singer or cut through a dense mix is worth it weight in gold. All at a great price point too. I own 2 of them and they are well worth it.
Just picked up a Lauten Audio LA-320...I am so happy just to have my 320 in that room...wow. Truly pleased with just how good this mic sounds. Another great vid Warren. Cheers.
The Bock 251was considerably more bassy and boomy then the telefunken on my vxt krk 8 monitors, the headphones probably werent allowing you guys to hear that difference but it was very noticeable on my monitors. Thanks for doing this episode Warren, very good.BTW imho that Manley Gold sounded awesome.
You're right, but it's clear the Bock has more bass/boom. You (well, I) can even hear it on basic speakers.
bock removed the low cut from the 251 circuit to open up the low end. not necessary for 251 application imo
At 1H02m, I thought you were going to bring up switching polarity on the mic for the singer's benefit under cans.
Picked up a pair of WA-47s --- and they are AMAZING! And a fraction of the cost.
Just in case there are other Voice Over people here, and they haven't considered this, singing does not have the same needs as VO. VO needs a significantly lower self-noise than singing does. This is a fantastic video, extremely informative, but it's mainly for singers, and more than a few of these mics have a self noise higher than a VO mic generally would. The Neumann TLM 103 has a self noise of only 7 dB-A. The Lewitt Sub-Zero is _lower_ than that. The Mojave Audio MA-301fet has "14dB nominal, not to exceed 16dB (A weighted)" - significantly higher. The Gefell also seems to be 16 dB-A. For music, these are wonderful mics, but for VO, most of us will probably need something "quieter". For VO, before buying a mic, find out the self noise of that microphone.
Thanks ever so much for that greet and detailed comment! Very helpful indeed
@@Producelikeapro 🤗 👍
You rock!
@@Producelikeapro Thank you so much 😊. It was great fun hearing you test the Bock 251 against the Telefunken 251 - it was like James Earl Jones facing off with Morgan Freeman! Again, great video!
One of your best videos! Very educational. Thank you. The Flea 49, Manley Gold, Telefunken 251 and Wunder 67 were my favorites.
You and Alex have great chemistry together in front of the camera! The video flew by
One of the most informative videos I've seen you do, and the best one ever on mics. Thanks to both of you for taking the time to do it, it's much appreciated.
You're most welcome Larry! So glad you enjoyed the video! Special thanks to Vintage King for letting us come by and do this! I found it extremely rewarding and informative!! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I watched the comparisson to the end wow. More exciting than some movies. Not 1 min too long. Thanks a lot for sharing!
i think this is the best video on youtube to compare the top class high end micrphone
Wow! Thanks ever so much K C
Fun video guys. Thanks. The Gefell - such transparency. Clearly a step above the rest. Wow.
Thanks! Fantastic
Alex Oana! what a wonderful person, smart and unassuming! Great video guys.
Thanks ever so much
I wish there was a time link listed to this video so i can go to the point where specific microphones are tested.
I record my own music at home and do mobile recording for bands in my area. I bought the Mojave Ma-300 a few years ago and just can't say enough good things about it. Anything I record sounds very clear and smooth which is exactly what I was looking for in a mic... of course I did a ton of research and understood my needs! I'd tell anyone who has a project studio looking to buy a mic more than $1,000 take your time to research and make sure you understand what characteristics you want. Warren made a perfect point about how he hates using adjectives especially since musician's and producer's "terms or adjectives describing sound" get lost in translation lol
Thanks for your great comment Benjamin! I am in total agreement with you!! Happy New Year!! Here's to an amazingly marvellous musical 2017!! Many thanks Warren
Happy New Year Warren! Can't wait for all the new content you'll bestow us!
Aw shucks thanks Benjamin! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Friends, Vintage King was kind enough to let us use their showroom to test a wide variety of large diaphragm condenser microphones. In this shootout, we test over 20 microphones in the $500- $10000 price range. We discuss their frequency response and unique characteristics, but most importantly, we'll share insights into possible uses for each of these mics and discuss the most important points to consider when choosing a microphone.
I hope this video will help you to narrow down your choices and find a microphone that will be a great asset for you in any given recording situation.
Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Here's to an amazing 2017! Happy New Year!
Thank you for this video.Was there a reason for not including the Neumann U-47 FET? I've been considering that mic,but I want to make sure that i'm getting the most for my $4k.
Hi NURREDIN, thanks for the comment! The U47 Fet wasn't specifically excluded, it just wasn't in Vintage King's Mic Booth to be demoed! I like them a lot. they are great mics! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Why so close to the Mics? I always find getting to close to the mics is too much proximity/low end. Do you always track that close??
By the way.... You Rock Warren
Hi D&R, yes sometimes I do! It depends on the effect I want to achieve! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Gunter Wagner in Australia makes a U47 with the original capsule, he makes the capsule, I understand he used to work for Neumann before moving to Australia
Warren, I know this video was long and made in 2016 but thank you for your time making it. I am still trying to decide on that Lauten Atlantis or that Soyuz 017 FET. I think you are more of a fan of that Lauten and it appears it has more versatility. I am going to use the mic for singing vocals and acoustic guitar. I hope I can make a decision soon. I hate being in limbo. I appreciate you.
"One, two, one, two, two, two, two, one.... two."
-Warren Huart, 2016
I know João! One day I will learn how to say 'three'! Haha Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Ah, thanks, Mr. Huart! I'm really enjoying these gear shootouts. Keep up with the great work!
Thanks very much Joao!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
almost 2 hours it was like 10minutes trust me if u passionate u wont notice ,thank you guys
Thanks ever so much
@@Producelikeapro that was the best tutorial i know what i need
about the slate digital emulation mic, i think you need to put a dual circuit to that mic, solid state and tube, that might take you closer to the mic you are trying to emulate, just like universal audio 710 or Lewitt LCT 940 try that, i want my piece of the cake for my idea lollll
Every one of those condenser mics sounded fantastic. I'd love to have any of them. If I were in there and had to choose one I wouldn't know what to do.
Lisa Murphy get Aston Spirit, can't go wrong with it really, the best mic-per-pound I know
Millmoor Michael Okay maybe next time. I just got the Neumann 102 today. That one isn't too shabby and wasn't killer expensive either.
Iove how warren tries to help musicians who love to record music and dont have the money to buy the best gear and there is alot out there.
The Tele 251 was just insanely good. Thought it was vastly different to the Bock.
Gerard Lee I have a Tfunk 251 and I don’t think they sound too different. A lot closer than I thought they would. The Bock had a bit more bottom but that could be the gain setting they mentioned. I’m impressed with Bock for sure. I got my Tele for a great price years ago so I paid less than what a new Bock goes for so I’m happy either way but bravo Dave.
@@pavmx703 the bock beats the Tfunk imo by quite a bit but sadly I would have to get a tfunk if I had a studio then just prove it to every singer who come through the door but giving them a Bock
;)
This is maybe the best shootout clip I ever saw. Thanks so much!
Don’t even know anything about microphones, but this was fascinating! Brilliant video and comparison! Can feel the passion!
Thanks ever so much
i was in search of a microphone and this video has changed my mind..i've to buy at least 2 or 3 mics for different types of vocalist !! really very interesting video. thanks a lot !!
I'd love to hear this test again with some more variety like the less expensive Telefunken range and the Warm 251 and 87.
Great idea!!
Well, after that, I'm sure it'll be a long time before I forget your name, Warren! Thanks to you and Alex for all of that -- this is by far the best microphone video I have ever seen!
There was a huge difference between the Bock 251 and Tele 251 which sounded thin. The Bock has it all. My favs
1) Bock 251
2) Wonder U47 G
3) Slate
4) Manley Reference
5) Wonder 67
the Telefunken ELAM 251 and the Manley Gold are my favourites...
mine as well man
You just helped a whole bunch of folks. Thanks Warren!
Thanks Jeremy! I am so glad to help and very thankful to Vintage King for letting us come and check out all the mics! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Very good input by some amazing, experienced ears. Thanks! I am personally very sensitive to any phase problems, noise and associated grit or gravel in the mids, and lack of openess in the highs. Probably why I gravitate to magnetic planar speakers.
Not that there isn’t plenty of room for a bit of overall warmth and other mic-specific contour for acoustic sources , vocals and other such sources- and we all hear things differently to some extent; but often it’s a matter of the sound you are looking to get. I was amazed when I first listened to some of the Schoeps, Sontronics and interestingly recently the Townsend L-22 with the right pre-amp and related hardware/settings. Source is such a complex part of it all, as I was in a studio with Mariah Carey a while back and listened to her absolutely bury a few top mics that worked great for many other good singers. It is a complex game we play.
A place like VK is what I miss about living in Los Angeles. I think it's time for an hour and half drive.
I laughed out loud after 1:35:30 when Alex did an impression of Warren's voice! It was so good he could ADR movie scenes for Warren! 😂
The manley reference did give telefunken a run for the money, it really did. Thanks for the amazing comparison, also really liked Alex and Vintage King, feeling very passionate about what he is doing!
I thought the Manley Gold and Mojave 300 sounded excellent. Bock 251 too. Thanks for the vid!
Would be really cool to see the new Warm Audio WA-87 in one of these shootouts. Thanks for great content as always
Yes that would be great andYz00m! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
andYz00m compare the wa87 to the 3u warbler. spec wise seem to be the same mic
Warren I know you said you owned the peluso 67. Can you get pro sound from peluso 87? I been looking into there mics.
The Low End on the Bock was incredible!!! Smooth Clean and bot "Boomy". It was more present in the low end than the Telefunken... I wouldn't say it was a better thing to have but if you have it its awesome! Also I wanted to see the Bock VS the Neumann U87... I can imagine the results but hearing it would have been nice.
Wow. I listened to it all, and the differences from mic to mic, while subtle, were obvious. Having said that, the best bang for the buck in the room is the Manley Reference Cardioid, closely followed by Slate's VMS. I kept an open mind for this as I am always in the market for that "magic" microphone, but the reality is, those two mics, a clean neutral pre, and a vintage vibe pre will do 95% of what you need large condenser microphones for. Mullard tube mod will warm up that Manley, and takes about 5 minutes. All of these microphones are truly amazing, but those two really stood out. The VMS for a swiss army knife, the Manley as my go to for both Male and Female vocals. I bought the VMS when it first came out, and loved it, but didn't really have a good enough Pre to judge it. Now, I have a pair of Shelford Channels going into a Focusrite OctoPreX so that test will be coming shortly. I JUST took delivery of the Manley last Friday, and cannot wait to push it hard, and see what it does for me. This was a fantastic video Warren. Best one yet in my book.
Where can I get a great or even good Mullard tube? I want one for my U67 also...
@@morrielouden1 Sorry I didn't respond earlier. eBay has dozens of sellers. VivaTubes is an excellent source. I swapped in a Telefunken NOS 12AX7 into both my Manley Gold Reference and Tube Cardioid, and am about to pull the trigger on either a Bock 251 or U67 Reissue to finish up my Mic Locker. The Slate VMS gets plenty of use as a room Mic. My go to for vocal though is either of my Manley mics. No need for EQ. Push them through a Manley VoxBox or Neve Shelford channel, and you are set.
And a Neumann 67 Reissue it is!
I keep watching this....Its amazing hearing people speak about microphones with such passion.. thanks again for posting
Thanks ever so much Kyle! Glad to be able to do this! Special thanks to Vintage King for letting us come by and do this! That was extremely generous of them! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
This video is the very reason I got the Manely Gold ;-)
awesome video from the Mastreo ... i have been on a Neumann hunt and i just have a small home studio for guitar and vocals... and i went with the TLM103 i cant wait to give it a go
Soyuz 017 Tube has the soul of the Vintage U-47 with a VF14m.
Love Soyuz!
I'm currently recording with a Blue Baby Bottle SL, but I think you may have sold me on the Lauten LA-320. Can't believe I actually made it through the whole video! lol
I have to go get some coffee, this is as long as a movie, but much appreciated.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. It’s incredibly helpful.
I know this is a quite old video, but if it comes to budget mics, there are some really cheap alternatives, which could help to get you startet.
My main mic went silent and I had to send it to repair to AKG in Austria, or a service partner. Anyway, since I wanted to record some stuff in the meantime I searched the net and came across a mic named CM2 by Fame. Fame is the brand by a very large music shop here in Germany. Well, that mic was 33€, no mistyping and it really sounds nice, it definitely sounds not like a 33€ mic, even if you have to boost some frequencies to get close to my C414 B-ULS. When I opened the package, I was at first surprised how substancial it seemed. Quite heavy, 100% metal body and cone, 1" diaphragm. So as a temporary exchange, or maybe if you really get startet, it's a steal.
And honestly, as great as the VMS maybe is and as versatile it is, 1000$ or 989€ is for many people a lot of money, as long as you don't make a living by making music.
If you're living in Europe I would really give you the advice to try out a Fame (musicstorekoeln) or t.bone (Thomann) mic. These are no Neumann, no AKG, no you drop a name here, but they are usable and way better, than these strange mics on ebay and you recongnize that even if you just touch them. No plastics, no fear, that it will fall apart right away. I was stunned and wouldn't have thought, that this was possible for the price.
You must have some ear to still chose one of these over another. but the Bock 251 and the Manly gold both sounded fantastic to my pigs ears.
Also I need to hear the Manley Ref Gold VS the Neumann U87
When is the wedding? Sheesh!! Glad you two enjoyed yourselves. It was nice to watch. Excellent content!
Glad I stuck through the video long enough to hear the Manley gold. Wow. Now if only it wasn't...umm, gold...lol. (kidding...kind of)
Great test. Very educational. Was hoping you'd test the Gefell M930, but it was still great. Thanks Gentlemen!!
Think I'm sold on the Slate VMS at this point. Been researching it for awhile and this kind of put me over the edge. Already love most of Slate's plugins it really seems like they know what they're doing over there in this digital age yet he consistently keeps things affordable.
Hi Rob, that makes perfect sense to me! Glad to be able to help! Yes the VMS provides a huge bang for the buck! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
nice, but the Slate VMS sounds harsh on the high end
Hi Ladraz, thanks for the comment! Did you download the Audio files? Check them out and see if it still sounds like that to you. The main difference we keep hearing is a little less 600z, which frankly I remove on my vocal mixes most of the time! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
OK i downloaded the files and listen tell me if i am correct is mic A on the female vocals the SLATE mic? if i am wrong, then well done slate :) hoping i am wrong so i can go buy it lol
Hi Ladraz, thanks for the message I'm not sure which audio files you downloaded? There isn't a girl singer on this particular review. If you sign up for the email list you will be able to get the audio, did you do that? Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Ladraz, no problem! I understand! Download the audio files and let me know what you think! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I guess it’s safe to call the Tele u47 a “reference microphone”!
Just amazing guys....what is great is your enthusiasm and knowledge and love of mics
I'm only a quarter of the way into the video and I love it. Warren, you're the man!
Owing the Manley ref c makes me smile
Those 251's were just audio velvet. Rich and smooth and so tasty. Love these Vintage King videos.
Thanks louderthangod! Agreed, all rather wonderful! Yes thanks to Vintage King for letting us come by! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
For me and the type of music i do (rap, pop, rnb), the Manley crushes everything. Too bad the Sony wasnt in this shootout. I also have a C800G and thats generally my go to vocal mic, with the Manley being my backup and other option. They actually sound quite different from one another... their similarities are really exaggerated. Both are modern, forward, brighter mics, but the Sony has WAY bigger low end, and the Manley is actually brighter. I threw NOS Mullards in the Manley and it made it sound even better, quite a bit smoother while retaining its inherent sound. Either way, the Manley is an incredible mic and i will never sell it. Cant recommend it enough for rap, pop, rnb, dance, etc. Great shootout! PS Im also Romanian
Hi District Sound Lab, thanks for the great comment! Yes, I was very impressed with the Manley! It's a fantastic mic! Thanks for the insight on the tube change! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
What about a m49
This is so cool to hear all these mics. Thanks, Warren! I know you hate the metaphorical adjectives, but when you got to the first Gefell, and you were struggling for the right word, I was thinking "say it's flat!" And you did. My theory is that we're so used to hearing scooped or hyped stuff that flat sounds odd, maybe a little harsh by comparison.
Thanks Ken! Haha yes, I think you busted me!! Haha The Befell is pretty awesome! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Thanks for a very very very good comparison! My favorites are Gefell CMV 563 M7, Telefunken U47 and the Manley Gold.
Hi Claes, thanks for the great comment! I must admit to a soft spot for the CMV 563! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Warren this was WONDERFUL...the Vintage King videos to me, have been your best. I think a quarterly produce like a pro - V.K.VIDEO SERIES is in order. The 500 Series V.K. and now this V.K. Mic shootout are clearly in my top five P.L.A.P segments. Happy 2017 everyone..
Thanks ever so much official patrik jay, thanks very much! I really enjoy making these videos with Vintage King! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I think the M7 is more close to the C12 than the u47.
I saw a few times where they got an old, and I mean really olde piece of classy kit cleaned and repaired it. As a gear snob and demo studio engineer I would very much like to see more of that. Now that's porn good satisfying and often just as dirty . Thanks
Hi Warren,
Thank you for showing everyone the ins and outs of each of these mics. I have a vintage U87 already and through research (and this video) I have really fallen for the FLEA 47. I was also glad to see some of the other high end microphones that I will end up buying later on in my career. Can't wait to see some more exciting videos in 2017! Cheers!
Thanks very much DarkenTheNight! That's very kind of you! The FLEA 47 is an amazing mic! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I know Vintage King carries Roswell. Why weren't they represented?
I own Roswell Delphos II and Soundelux (Bock) 195. I would have loved to hear a comparison.
Great shootout! I was in that room 1 month ago and picked the Manley Reference Cardioid for its extended top end. Love Vintage King!
Im very interested in getting the manley. how do you like it?
Its a really incredible mic. It was a wow moment when I heard it in my studio.
dope!...im really torn between the manley and the telefunken ar-51...$2,700 dollars is KIND of a stretch for me as opposed to the $1,900 for the tele. Im REALLY trying to justify spending that much, so thanks for the response
Best thing is to test the microphones out in your studio and see what fits for you. Thats what I did and I would of never picked the manley or wanted to try it out without vintage king or a music store like that.
thanks...ill deff try and find a store like that near by.
Great comparison. We are fortunate to have both a Bock 251 and a Flea 47. The Bock does have incredible low end and reach and pretty much works of most vocalists with little EQ. The Flea 47 has great mid presence. However both are great on the right vocalist. I actually really liked the Flea 49 in this demo. It sounded smooth and not particularly hyped.
Hi Roland Matters, thanks for your real world insight! That's amazingly good information! Thanks also for your kind words! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Very interesting to hear these mics compared, though I would have one suggestion about testing. One needs a singer! And it might have been better to sing up and down a scale with vowel sounds :" a - e - i - o - u".
No te preocupes amigo que con un o una cantante el Telefunken 251 original le gana a todosss!!
It's tough for any expert Warren interviews because Warren is such a savant about all this stuff.
Aw shucks thanks Peter! Alex is incredibly knowledgable! Thank you ever so much to Vintage King for letting us come by and go through all of these mics! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I love this! Thanks guys! I need to visit this room.
Might be the best video on youtube!
For Slate manual said it should be -12dBFS so it does depend on your incoming level, so if hitting 0 then cut 12dB. VMS sounds great on this though
This is one heck of a shootout!!
Thanks ever so much!
Soo, i was looking for a video/audio comparison of the u47-u67- u87 and came across this. The level of information and insight in this video is incredible, many thanks to Warren and Alex for sharing.
P.S. to viewers: Don't be intimidated by the running time, it is well worth your attention!
Thanks for a revealing journey. I was surprised with your continued focus on the amount of lows as an implication of good or bad quality. In my experience, the amount and cleanliness of the sibilance range, which I place primarily more in the 7k to 10k range, is one of the biggest indications of quality. Of course, the clarity of the mids is perhaps primary. The amount of lows is no indication of the quality, as in good/bad per se.
Also, not sure why you would favor cheap headphones when listening to mostly quite expensive mics. Even the Pelusos are not exactly cheap. In any case, thanks again for a pleasant and informative mic tasting.
What a fucking good video!! It’s so immersive that the time wasn’t noticed at all!! A lot of things to learn about mics! Thank you!!!
Thanks for this! I'm looking for a new vocal mic, so this was really useful :)
Fantastic Tiege! That's great to hear! Let us know what you end up choosing! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Downloaded the samples and listened on my AKG K271s. What does it say about me that many of these could be the exact same mic and I'd never know any different? Don't get me wrong, obviously there are some very subtle differences, but at the end of the day isn't this just really personal preference over something that in the grand scheme of things doesn't matter nearly as much as the many ingredients that go into making a great record?
Hi Jeremy, I think is a smart observation. Some of the differences are very slight, I would say overall tone of the Wunders and the VMS is extremely close and they all feel like the same family as the Telefunken. The Bock is extremely close to the Telefunken! And yes, you hit the nail on the head 100%!!! What you are recording is THE most important thing!! Here's to a wonderful and Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Dear Sir, I watched almost all of your videos, they have very important content and I can only have one request, especially in your device demonstration and comparison videos, I would be much happier if you make your personal experience towards the end of the video, because when there is too long conversation the listener can get tired and lose concentrate, of course, Your personal opinion an experience is very important, but to be able to hear the result of the device is also important. I do my job in Turkey Istanbul, where the distributors are bringing their products here only when they receive orders from the clients. So your videos are helping us before choosing. Thank you so much for all the videos you posted.
I think Eric was intentionally making Warren look like a hobbit😂
I honestly think that the microphones made these days make very little difference to what gets recorded. So much post production is done, how much of the sound that is initially recorded by original mic remains. Maybe in the world of orchestral recording or live recording etc but for the majority of music being made now, the software has a huge impact. I say this not to be provocative. No vocal mic can help a bad voice or performance.
Long video, but a great one. One of your best yet! Thank you so much. Going to a professional mastering studio tomorrow to sit in on a session and hopefully will help me get to the next level on my journey. Very excited.
Thanks very much Casey!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Listening to the Neuman u47 I sensed a slight bump in the 2k region, Wunder was a bit smoother.
Great! Thanks for the insight!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren