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Rode pencil mics

V

VODood

Looking at getting either a Rode NTG-1 or the M3. Both are shotgun, or "pencil" mics.

I have a Sennheiser 416. Looking for a decent backup/road mic.

Thoughts?

Also..if you had to choose...TLM103 or TLM193?
 
Pencil condensers are NOT the same thing as shotgun mics. The M3 has a much looser pattern and I can't imagine it being a great choice for VO. The NTG-1 & 2, on the other hand, sound pretty good. I've heard a shootout with the 416 and the NTG...They don't sound alike at all, but the NTG sounds very nice for VO. It has some characteristics that may remind you of a 416, but not the same tone at all. Just effects of the tight pattern.

Emmett
 
I've spent entirely too much time and...well...cash, to not weigh in on this one.

I've tried a whole host of "affordable" mics for backup or for VO on the road...and I can say this now, and mean it.

Save your pennies, and buy the mic you like. If you use a 416 at home, don't settle for anything else.

Just save up, and get another one...or get one from ebay.

I have tried an Earthworks mic, I've tried the Rode NTG-2, I've tried an Audio Technica shotgun...

And I finally realized, that if I want something to be a backup for the 416, I should...just...get another 416.

It's hard to justify spending another $1K on the exact same mic you already own, but honestly...you'll be better off.

I'm getting another one this year. After I finish selling off all my excess mics that I've spent too much time and money on to try and "get an affordable" backup for my 416.

If you don't mind tweaking alot of sounds, you could get a different mic, but it's going to sound completely different than what you, or your clients, are used to.

But at this point, for my money, I'm going to just get another 416, to avoid being caught with my pants down if my only 416 ( which has already been rebuilt once ) takes a dive.

Good luck!

Oh, and if you find a place that has 'em for a good deal, please, let me know!

Thanks!

Mike Bratton
Voice Guy

www.mikebrattonvoice.com
 
voiceguy said:
I've spent entirely too much time and...well...cash, to not weigh in on this one.

I've tried a whole host of "affordable" mics for backup or for VO on the road...and I can say this now, and mean it.

Save your pennies, and buy the mic you like. If you use a 416 at home, don't settle for anything else.

Just save up, and get another one...or get one from ebay.

I have tried an Earthworks mic, I've tried the Rode NTG-2, I've tried an Audio Technica shotgun...

And I finally realized, that if I want something to be a backup for the 416, I should...just...get another 416.

It's hard to justify spending another $1K on the exact same mic you already own, but honestly...you'll be better off.

I'm getting another one this year. After I finish selling off all my excess mics that I've spent too much time and money on to try and "get an affordable" backup for my 416.

If you don't mind tweaking alot of sounds, you could get a different mic, but it's going to sound completely different than what you, or your clients, are used to.

But at this point, for my money, I'm going to just get another 416, to avoid being caught with my pants down if my only 416 ( which has already been rebuilt once ) takes a dive.

Good luck!

Oh, and if you find a place that has 'em for a good deal, please, let me know!

Thanks!

Mike Bratton
Voice Guy

www.mikebrattonvoice.com
Click to expand...

Emmett and Mike thank you both. I was leaning towards another 416, but wanted to save $$$. However, Mike, I agree. I'll just most likely be disappointed and regret not getting another 416.


Ok...now, what about the TLM103 or TLM193. I have a 103...but think the darker sound of the 193 would be better for the timbre of my voice.

And then there's the U195...which I want as well. I'm soooo krazy!!!!!!!!
 
Ummm...

Honestly...if you've got the cash to play with, I'd get the U195 before getting that 193.

I think it's too dark, IMHO.

If you want a phat bottom end, and let's face it...who doesn't...I'd get the U195...'cause if you're buying from sweetwater, the U195 is about $500 cheaper than the 193.

And, from what I've read, the 195 sounds amazing...and with the "fat" switch, you can give it some extra "oomph" on the low-end.

I've talked on a few Soundelux mics ( before they became BOCK Audio ), and they sound phenomenal...

seriously...if you're talking about another $1K + mic...don't bother with the 193...go for the Bock U195.

do it...and if you don't like it, I'll buy it from you.

:)
 
VODood, I have to agree with Voiceguy. Your demos sound awesome, and you'd be "krazy" indeed to mess with that. Stick with the 416. And it won't hurt to have a spare in case Sennheiser discontinues it.

I too have considered the TLM-193 (+ EQ), but ultimately rejected the idea because it suffers from the same ridiculous bass extension as the TLM-103. I'm just not that interested in picking up the 10Hz rumble of the air conditioner compressor 30 feet away, nor the trucks down the road 2 blocks away. That's something you could filter out with the variable bass rolloff on your ISA-220, but with my current pre I don't have that option. Thru my Symetrix 628 Digital, nothing, absolutely nothing sounds better than the MKH-416. It's open, clear, and predictable. Unveiled. The TLM103 comes close, but still isn't quite as open. With the kind of bass you have in your voice, you don't need any sort of dark mic, and I'd consider the "fat" switch on the U195 to be an interesting but probably unusable feature. But it does sound good on big voices, and even on females as well.

You can hear some comparisons with the MKH-416 and other mics on Ty Ford's site at http://www.tyford.com, and also at http://vomictest.blogspot.com. In both shootouts, to me, the winner is "clear."

Good luck!

JJ
 
voiceguy said:
Ummm...

Honestly...if you've got the cash to play with, I'd get the U195 before getting that 193.

I think it's too dark, IMHO.

If you want a phat bottom end, and let's face it...who doesn't...I'd get the U195...'cause if you're buying from sweetwater, the U195 is about $500 cheaper than the 193.

And, from what I've read, the 195 sounds amazing...and with the "fat" switch, you can give it some extra "oomph" on the low-end.

I've talked on a few Soundelux mics ( before they became BOCK Audio ), and they sound phenomenal...

seriously...if you're talking about another $1K + mic...don't bother with the 193...go for the Bock U195.

do it...and if you don't like it, I'll buy it from you.

:)
Click to expand...


A buddy of mine, George Robinson, uses the U195 (with ISA220) and it sounds big 'n creamy, before I do anything to it.

I was leaning towards the U195 all along....just always wondered about the TLM193.

Thanks guys for talking me off the ledge, lol!
 
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