Coles 4038 vs sE Electronics Voodoo VR1 ribbon mics on drums

A quick comparison between two pairs of ribbon microphones. Mono overhead and a mono front-of-kit positions. An unscientific test, with drums in an untreated room, with a small amount of EQ and dynamics control applied to the mics to get them sitting in roughly the same place in the mix.
Chapters:
00:00 Pair one (with music)
01:05 Pair two (with music)
02:17 Pair one (solo drums)
03:23 Pair two (solo drums)

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Assuming 4038's are clearly pair #2. The VR1 fared well though. Tonally they're similar but the Coles dominate in several other key areas. First and foremost for me being transient capture. It almost sounded as though they were different recordings and that you were _playing_ better when the Coles were on. The transients were not just clearer but punchier and fatter. The Coles (or, "pair 2") also did better at capturing the resonances of the drums, especially the toms. They also displayed a slightly less harsh "wash" on the cymbal crashes. That said, the sE's are a good value at $399 and could find use in a lot of studios. I've seen a couple pro studios employing them as ambient mics set up high and spaced wide in a room. I think their character suits that role. I can also see them working well on a lot of guitar amps when paired with a nice dynamic mic and/or condenser. It should also be noted that the "shortcomings" I pointed out when comparing them to the Coles in this recording could likely all be - if not mitigated - at least _offset_ by the use of close mic to accompany them. If I were doing the Glyn Johns/"recorder man" technique then yea, the Coles would be *BY FAR* the better option of the two. Say though if I had a few more mics and could use the ribbons as overheads or ambient mics, then the gap between the 4038's and VR1's would be far less wide.
For anyone using 4038's or VR1/2's as overheads, try this technique Steve Albini was and/or is employing at Electrical Audio. It can be seen by searching the video "Recording Drums WIth Steve Albini [Third Circle Recordings]" starting at the 9:57 mark. I've found it works really well with ribbons.

[@AnotherUsernameGreat]

Interesting observation that it seems like the is better with the Coles - they do capture the fundamental note and bloom of drums in a really compelling way, which makes it seems like the drums were hit better. A classic mic for good reason.

[@maxbauhof]

Nice!

[@Blazerota]

I liked pair two slightly better, but they are really close

[@AnotherUsernameGreat]

It was a lot closer than I expected!

[@manugonzalez9222]

Thanks for the video! I really liked the 2nd pair, Coles?

[@AnotherUsernameGreat]

Correct!