COMPLETE [Group] Microphone Showdown 3 - RuthieG

andrewfrueh · Post by **andrewfrueh** » July 23rd, 2016, 6:53 pm

I've uploaded my 4 tests.

45. A Rhode NT1-A condenser mic with a foam windscreen* plugged into and recorded with a Zoom H4
https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_45_various_128kb.mp3 (1:44)

46. A Sure SM58 dynamic mic plugged into and recorded with a Zoom H4
https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_46_various_128kb.mp3 (1:42)

47. A Power Up (cheap-o and came free with my Tasacm sound card) dynamic mic plugged into and recorded with a Zoom H4
https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_47_various_128kb.mp3 (1:43)

48. The built-in mic in my Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone recorded with Titanium Recorder (a free app on Google Play)
https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_48_various_128kb.mp3 (1:40)

*Yes, only #45 has a windscreen. This is the black foam bulb type. It came with my Zoom H4.

For me it really sounds like a gradient of quality -- which you would expect based on the mics.

Algy Pug · Post by **Algy Pug** » July 25th, 2016, 5:52 pm

Thanks Andrew

For the catalogue and PLing purposes I will also need the links for the texts.

Cheers

andrewfrueh · Post by **andrewfrueh** » July 25th, 2016, 6:16 pm

Oops. Sorry 'bout that.

Here is the link to Romeo and Juliet which I used for all four recordings.
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1112/pg1112.html

Algy Pug · Post by **Algy Pug** » July 26th, 2016, 8:50 am

andrewfrueh wrote:Oops. Sorry 'bout that.

Here is the link to Romeo and Juliet which I used for all four recordings.
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1112/pg1112.html

Thanks Andrew

PL notes:

All four sections
Title should include "Act 2 Scene 2", not just "Scene 2" in both intro and outro.

Section 45
1:17
See how she leans
Stumble

I thought that the venerable Shure SM57 sounded very good - smoth and rich. The PowerUp sound surprisingly good for a cheap microphone, although it did pick up a lot more plosives than the other microphones. The cell phone sounded reasonably quiet although, as you would expect, the sound lacks a lot of detail.

Cheers

andrewfrueh · Post by **andrewfrueh** » July 27th, 2016, 9:23 am

Okay, I've re-uploaded new versions of all four with the intro/outro fixed.

Also note that I got the name wrong originally for ...
#47 -- it is a CableUp dynamic mic (not a Power Up)
#48 -- it is a SM57 instrument mic (not a 58)

45. A Rhode NT1-A condenser mic with a foam windscreen* plugged into and recorded with a Zoom H4
https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_45_various_128kb.mp3 (1:45)

46. A Sure SM57 (instrument) dynamic mic plugged into and recorded with a Zoom H4
https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_46_various_128kb.mp3 (1:45)

47. A CableUp (cheap-o and came free with my Tasacm sound card) dynamic mic plugged into and recorded with a Zoom H4
https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_47_various_128kb.mp3 (1:45)

48. The built-in mic in my Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone recorded with Titanium Recorder (a free app on Google Play)
https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_48_various_128kb.mp3 (1:43)

Algy Pug · Post by **Algy Pug** » July 28th, 2016, 1:54 am

andrewfrueh wrote:Okay, I've re-uploaded new versions of all four with the intro/outro fixed.

Thanks Andrew

All readings are now PL OK.

This time the Rode NT1A was the real standout, although the CableUp sounded pretty good for a cheapie.

Regards

bubbaspeare · Post by **bubbaspeare** » December 17th, 2016, 1:38 pm

Hello all, I know that the 'Test' section exists somewhere here, but I couldn't find it. Anyway, late to the game. I am NOT a person who's used to being stuck in front of a close up microphone. So part of my motivation is to learn a bit of technique. Also, how to use my complicated DAW called Ardour 5. Audacity just isn't working for me: too many crackles and pops. Finding a quiet time /place will be a major concern, but I do have a couple of very large GIK acoustic panels which help. Also, the option of some D.W. Fearn gear that I wouldn't know how to use.

Even after a few months, my inability to read manuals/follow instructions means everything is being done the long way round. Simply put, I like words, but techy stuff ain't my thing. I have deselected the two effects that were turned on at their low defaults, so unless I'm doing something wrong, there should be zero EQ or compression. I forgot to do the intro, so did it afterwards, then added it to the beginning. Here's how the RE20 sounds complete with background noise:

Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare
Text URL: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1041/1041-h/1041-h.htm
MP3 URL: https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/session.mp3

It's a very heavy and large microphone with the Electrovoice shockmount. Both mounted atop a Triad-Orbit stand (also incredibly heavy, but stable). The Cloudlifter CL1 provides sufficient gain for this large diaphragm, end-address, dynamic mic.

I'm sure I've omitted something in this, my second post. Forgiveness is begged.

Bubba

carolb · Post by **carolb** » December 17th, 2016, 2:53 pm

Welcome Bubba,

Here's the link for your 'one minute test': viewforum.php?f=21

You'll receive lots of friendly advice there, but I will just say that I hope you'll learn to like the 'techy stuff' - it comes in very handy if
you want to record and edit!

Carol

bubbaspeare · Post by **bubbaspeare** » December 17th, 2016, 5:52 pm

Thanks carolb, I'm giving everything a try.

Bubba

Newgatenovelist · Post by **Newgatenovelist** » January 16th, 2017, 2:00 pm

I'd like to add one more:

Title: Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead
Author: Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)
Text: http://www.bartleby.com/42/628.html
Duration: 1.22
MP3: https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown_49_various_128kb.mp3
Recorded with a Rode NT-USB and Audacity on an Asus laptop running Windows 10.

Erin

Algy Pug · Post by **Algy Pug** » January 16th, 2017, 3:17 pm

Newgatenovelist wrote:I'd like to add one more:

Title: Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead

Erin

Thanks Erin

Reading is PL OK.

Rode NT-USB is a real winner - possibly the best all-round USB microphone on the market.

Cheers

iBeScotty · Post by **iBeScotty** » January 24th, 2017, 3:14 pm

Hi there,

I wonder if I may share some mic tests I did? I have on loan for a few days a Sennheiser MKH416 (shotgun) mic that I wanted to compare with the Blue Baby Bottle (LDC) I have mostly been using. While I was at it, I also did some quick recordings with three other cheap (< $75) mics from Shure, Rode and MXL.

I could upload 5 in total.

Algy Pug · Post by **Algy Pug** » January 24th, 2017, 4:29 pm

iBeScotty wrote:Hi there,

I wonder if I may share some mic tests I did? I have on loan for a few days a Sennheiser MKH416 (shotgun) mic that I wanted to compare with the Blue Baby Bottle (LDC) I have mostly been using. While I was at it, I also did some quick recordings with three other cheap (< $75) mics from Shure, Rode and MXL.

I could upload 5 in total.

Thank you

I have allocated Sections 50 through 54 to you.

Cheers

iBeScotty · Post by **iBeScotty** » January 24th, 2017, 6:53 pm

I set up all the microphones in the same spot and tried to match the levels as closely as possible. The distance from the mics varied a little in trying to get a little more optimum sound for each, for example the dynamic mic normally sounds better a little closer while these condenser mics have a bit more proximity effect close in.

All the microphones were recorded into a Tascam DR-60D mkII recorder

No post processing (gate, eq, compression, limiter, etc.).

All these short poems I read from a single collection, Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories.

50: Shure pg58 dynamic mic
Title: Pretty Cow
Author: Jane Taylor (1783-1824)
Text URL: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19993
MP3 URL: https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_50_various_128kb.mp3
Duration: 0:58

51: MXL V67G large diaphragm condenser
Title: There was a Little Girl
Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
Text URL: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19993
MP3 URL: https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_51_various_128kb.mp3
Duration: 1:16

52: Rode Videomicro (little) shotgun mic
Title: The Unseen Playmate
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
Text URL: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19993
MP3 URL: https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_52_various_128kb.mp3
Duration: 1:37

53: Blue Baby Bottle large diaphragm condenser mic
Title: If ever I See
Author: Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880)
Text URL: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19993
MP3 URL: https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_53_various_128kb.mp3
Duration: 1:09

54: Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic
Title: Sage Councel
Author: Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (1863-1944)
Text URL: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19993
MP3 URL: https://librivox.org/uploads/ruthieg/microphoneshowdown3_54_various_128kb.mp3
Duration: 1:28

edit: I should say that all but the Rode are XLR, the Rode being a video camera mic with 1/8" connection that I had to use a different input on the recorder which may also have a noisier preamp--that thing was noisy!

Algy Pug · Post by **Algy Pug** » January 24th, 2017, 9:15 pm

Thanks Scotty

Superb readings - all PL OK.

Audio quality for all readings was excellent. The inexpensive PG58 came up surprisingly well - a lot of people have trouble getting sufficient gain from a dynamic microphone.

However, the pick of the bunch for me was the Sennheiser MKH 416 - clear and quiet and very responsive to even the subtlest vocal modulations. Of course, given its price tag it should be the best - nevertheless I can see why v/o professionals would choose it over much more expensive marque products like the Neumann U87.

Cheers