Showing posts with label home recording. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home recording. Show all posts

7/01/2012

Electro Voice RE-20 Cardioid Microphone Review

Electro Voice RE-20 Cardioid Microphone
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The reason these are so popular in radio, is that talk show hosts today (and their in studio guests) don't know how to talk into a microphone.But this mic doesn't care. You can have one person where the mic is pointed to the side, or pointing down at thier pants, and another person talking into it properly, and both will sound good and the same. No proximity effect on these mics, so they are idiot proof.
However, if you know how to talk into a microphone, and want one for voice-over work, the Shure SM-7 is THE best microphone on the market today. (So was the SM-5, but it is no longer manufactured) AND, the Shure is cheaper too.
However, this one does LOOK better, and it is just as widely used in radio as the SM-7, so if you really like the looks of this one, then go ahead and get it.
However, for just a few extra bucks, the RE-27 is the improved version with better frequency response, so might as well get the better one. It looks almost the same.


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5/05/2012

Rode Procaster Broadcast Dynamic Vocal Microphone Review

Rode Procaster Broadcast Dynamic Vocal Microphone
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Like many podcasters out there I've been using the AT2020 Condenser microphone, complete with a shockmount and pop filter for over a year now. I've had great success with it, however the environmental noise has always been a constant battle, even echo from my own voice within the environment.
Looking at the Rode Procaster I was concerned that because it wasn't a mic that required phantom power that it wouldn't be able to pick up all the intricateness of vocals during a session. I was wrong. The Rode Procaster sounds amazing, even without a tube preamp or compression being utilized.
The first test I performed on the Procaster was simple. I kept it in the same recording environment as my AT2020, but I made sure the dryer was running in the laundry room and my surround sound in the living room was playing as well. My Procaster, thanks to the tight cardoid pickup pattern, couldn't pick up the noise from the other rooms. I would have those turned off and my AT2020 would still pickup noise from the air conditioning or even the fridge running. Don't be alarmed when switching from a condenser to the Rode Procaster, or any dynamic mic for that matter. You will have to crank the gain up a lot more than what you have before.
If you are constantly battling poor acoustics or environmental noise and you want a professional broadcast quality sound, this mic is the one you want.
Pros:
-Solid Construction. It's built like a tank.
-Comes with a 1 year warranty, free upgrade to 10 Year warranty through rodemic.com
-Mic Stand clip is also solid.
-Sound quality is amazing.
-Noise reduction is unmatched.
-Very Low self-noise (less than any other mic I've used yet, including the MXL 007 USB, AT2020 USB, AT2020 XLR).
-Looks professional.
-Nice pouch included for transport.
Con:
-No bundles yet available to include a shockmount
Oh and one last thing, when was the last time you bought a mic and saw a handwritten quality checklist in the box? Amazing attention to detail and quality from Rode Microphones. Highly recommended.


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2/10/2012

Shure PGX24/SM58 Handheld Wireless System, H6 Review

Shure PGX24/SM58 Handheld Wireless System, H6
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This microphone does the job!....great sound, easy to set up, and haven't had a single problem with it! I certainly don't get any "extra noises" from this microphone as I ever did with a wired microphone! It doesn't pick up every single "puhhhh," "sssssss," or "plunk" when touched or tapped. I'm very happy with it....Only thing though, I recommend getting rechargable batteries...as you'll need to have an extra pair or two if playing long shows as do I....usually 4 hours plus. Most batteries and brands last a good 4-7 hours....but sometimes it just seems that some brands don't last as long as the others...cheaper in the end to just buy the rechargable ones....it doesn't take long...and they last a good while!
Thanks Shure for making such a wonderful microphone!!! Will certainly stay with company forever!


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12/24/2011

Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone, Cardioid Review

Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone, Cardioid
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you are looking for a microphone for voice-overs or broadcast use, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO BUY.
The Shure SM-5 and SM-7 microphones are the best voice mics ever made. The large SM-5 is no longer made, so you can only find it used, but the SM-7 is just as good.Either one, you have the best.
Don't let the price fool you. I have brought this in to studios that have $3000 Neuman condenser mics and they laughed when I said I wanted to use my $300 Shure mic instead.I told them to put up both mics and do an A/B test while I spoke into each of them. The three other audio engineers in the studio had to agree, the Shure was better and it was a night and day difference, not hard at all to decide it was best.
This mic has a warmth and rich sound no other mic can give you.
Even industry publications like MIX MAGAZINE and RadioWorld have done reviews where they did the same tests and said the same things about this mic in comparison to the expensive condenser mics...
--------------------------------------------
from MIX MAGAZINE, March 1998, page 53:
Eric Paul has made a career out of recording country giants like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and many others: "My favorite overall microphone for voices is the Shure SM-5. If they can't get a Shure SM-5, they can still get Shure SM-7s, which are still available. If you've tried out three very expensive tube mics and you aren't happy with any of them, then the next step should immediately be a Shure SM-7. I will almost always guarentee you that if the expensive mic doesn't work, an SM-7 will. For some reason, people sound better on them."----------------------------------------------
from RADIO WORLD, February 18 1998, page 62:
Joe Stack, director of engineering for ABC radio said: "When I worked at WATH in Athens, Ohio, I had someone call and offer me ten RE-20s for the three SM-5s we had. I turned him down." ------------------------------------------
from EQ MAGAZINE, July 2006 issue:
The SM7 is perhaps most famous for being used as the vocal microphone on Michael Jackson's Thriller engineered by Bruce Swedien. -----------------------------------------------
Some interesting facts about the SM-7..."When we were doing "Off The Wall", "Thriller" and "Bad" I ended up with 6 Shure SM7's. That is a fantastic mike." - Bruce Swedien
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have used the SM 7 on vocals on every album they have done.
You can see James Hetfield from Metallica singing into a Shure SM 7 on the "Some Kind Of Monster" DVD.
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Another thing I have noticed in the studio, is that some of my other mics require gating and downward expanders on the mics to get rid of room noise, but the SM-7 doesn't need it. It is quiet all by itself.
And to save many hours trying to edit out mouth noises, clicks and smacks from voice-over talent that use expensive CONDENSER microphones, just have them use the SM-7 next time, and no more wasted time editing out mouth noises anymore.Throughout the years on the Howard Stern Show, they have replaced and tried all sorts of microphones, from the Electrovoice RE-20 to Neuman mics. But if you notice, the Co-host, Robin Quivers, STILL uses the Shure SM-7 and refuses to change to any of the other mics. You can see throughout the years on the TV show that although the mics are always changing for everyone else, Robin ALWAYS has the SM-7 to this day.
Since the Howard Stern Show has moved to Sirrius Sattelite, the show had to buy new microphones, (couldn't take them with from CBS) and everyone seems to be using the same mics they did before. Robin has another SM-7 so she really likes this mic! It looks different now, because she has the larger windscreen that now comes with the SM-7.


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