Neumann M147 review
Milton Finks
I thought I had a subscription...but I guess it ran out as I missed
this. Did anyone read this review? Can you tell me if it was
favorable? Just curious.
Milton Finks
Joe Egan
memory. You could include the M147 review in this synopsis. Hope this helps:
While there's no such thing as a "Perfect Mic" for all situations, the (insert
microphone name here) is perfect for some voices and certain instruments. It
sounded great on acoustic guitar, For drum overheads it may be a bit too dark
for some, a bit too bright for others. I found it to be excellent on electric
guitar cabinets, and it's ability to handle relatively high sound pressure
levels makes it suitable for certain live applications. It sounded
surprisingly good on good sounding female vocals, and while the proximity
effect might not be necessary for those "James Earl Jones" types, it sounded
open and natural on our average-looking, if somewhat surly, male singer. On a
price/performance scale it's a winner. If you're in the market for a large or
small diaphragm condenser or dynamic or ribbon mic, regardless of polar
pattern, it's worth checking out. It would be a welcome addition to any mic
locker.
Joe Egan
Eclipse Recording
Hinesburg, VT
Bill Roberts
* Needs shock mount (duh)
* Needs pop screen (duh)
* Tone at 90 degrees is midrangey and dull
* Broad presence boost 1-3 k
* Very different sound from U47
* Thought it sounded better with API preamp w/ transformer
* "If you expect a clean and faithful rendition of an
instrument or voice, you should look elsewhere."
* "Overall, I must admit I was a bit stumped with this
mic when I first used it. It's not a forgiving mic,
it's not ideal on everyone's voice, and it won't give
you a faithful picture of what a particular voice
or instrument sounds like."
* "So if you're looking to buy one mic that will
work reasonably well on everything, you're looking
in the wrong place."
* "The particular kind of presence it adds is realy unique
and desirable... Typically, condenser mics that have
a forward character are really just brittle and edgy,
and the M147 is completely different from that."
How I read the above: it is a specialty mic for when
something needs to sound different than it does, and
would be a good item for a studio with a large locker
of fine mics, for special purposes.
-- Bill
BrownSnd14
microphone name here) is perfect for some voices and certain instruments. It
>sounded great on acoustic guitar, For drum overheads it may be a bit too dark
>for some, a bit too bright for others. I found it to be excellent on
>electric guitar cabinets, and it's ability to handle relatively high sound
pressure
>levels makes it suitable for certain live applications. It sounded
>surprisingly good on good sounding female vocals, and while the proximity
>effect might not be necessary for those "James Earl Jones" types, it sounded
>open and natural on our average-looking, if somewhat surly, male singer. On
>a price/performance scale it's a winner. If you're in the market for a large
>or small diaphragm condenser or dynamic or ribbon mic, regardless of polar
>pattern, it's worth checking out. It would be a welcome addition to any mic
>locker.
I love it and i'll take 2!!! Can I also order the matching preamp? It's only
$300?!?!?! How does it compare to a Neve?
-Jay Kahrs
Brown Sound Studios
Morris Plains, NJ
http://members.tripod.com/~BrownSoundStudios
Mikey Davis
(Joe Egan) wrote:
> Here's a synthesized version of every mic review that's been printed in recent
> memory. You could include the M147 review in this synopsis. Hope this helps:
>
> While there's no such thing as a "Perfect Mic" for all situations, the (insert
> microphone name here) is perfect for some voices and certain instruments. It
> sounded great on acoustic guitar, For drum overheads it may be a bit too dark
> for some, a bit too bright for others. I found it to be excellent on electric
> guitar cabinets, and it's ability to handle relatively high sound pressure
> levels makes it suitable for certain live applications. It sounded
> surprisingly good on good sounding female vocals, and while the proximity
> effect might not be necessary for those "James Earl Jones" types, it sounded
> open and natural on our average-looking, if somewhat surly, male singer. On a
> price/performance scale it's a winner. If you're in the market for a large or
> small diaphragm condenser or dynamic or ribbon mic, regardless of polar
> pattern, it's worth checking out. It would be a welcome addition to any mic
> locker.
>
>
> Joe Egan
> Eclipse Recording
> Hinesburg, VT
ROTFLMAO...
The above would be even funnier if it weren't so ****ing true!
Thanks Joe.
--
Bill Davis
NewVideo
(still working on Mikey's iMac while the studio is being built)
Milton Finks
were childish and so much horse kaka!
Milton Finks
Steven Sena
--
Steven Sena
XS Sound
"But life as it touches perfection appears just like anything else"
(Joy Division)
Joe Egan <gt1...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990718161045...@ng-fp1.aol.com...
hank alrich
> Well I asked a serious question and got one serious, professional reply.
> The rest were childish and so much horse kaka!
Actually, most of the rest were funny as shit, whether or not it
satisfied your curiousity about the review you've not yet seen. If humor
is childish, then lack of a sense of it may show your age, Milton. No
kidding. <g>
Did the one serious reply say whether or not we could get 'em in black?
--
hank - secret mountain
Note: the rec.audio.pro FAQ is at http://recordist.com/rap-faq/current
Read it and reap!
Rick Powell
But I have noticed an inordinate (for a new product) amount of M147's for
sale with very few hrs. on them. It appears to be a product that didn't
meet a lot of people's expectations, who probably blindly ordered it based
on the Neumann pedigree. Anybody else out there have any opinions on
this?
Rick Powell/Studio71
Milton Finks wrote:
> I heard that RECORDING magazine's July issue had a review of the M147.
> I thought I had a subscription...but I guess it ran out as I missed
> this. Did anyone read this review? Can you tell me if it was
> favorable? Just curious.
>
> Milton Finks
Milton Finks
about the review. I think many thought it was an M149 with one pattern...it
isnt. But it sure makes my awful voice sound good.
MF
Fletcher
>
> Well I asked a serious question and got one serious, professional reply. The rest
> were childish and so much horse kaka!
>
>
I know I'm going to be sorry for doing this...but if you already have
one, why do care about the review? On another note, was the 'serious',
'professional' reply the one with (insert product name here) in the
first sentence? That little piece of generic review seemed about
average for most of the magazines.
--
Fletcher
Mercenary Audio
"this is not a problem"
TEL: 508-543-0069
FAX: 508-543-9670
http://www.mercenary.com
Fretwiz
----------
In article <379324...@mercenary.com>, Fletcher <Flet...@mercenary.com>
wrote:
> Milton Finks wrote:
>>
>> Well I asked a serious question and got one serious, professional reply.
> The rest
>> were childish and so much horse kaka!
>>
>> Milton Finks
>>
>
> I know I'm going to be sorry for doing this...but if you already have
> one, why do care about the review?
Can you spell 'justification'? Strange but true, many people will seek
opinions on products after the purchase just for this reason. It's human
nature...
> That little piece of generic review seemed about average for most of the
>magazines.
This is quite too.
Rick Knepper
> Don't know about the RECORDING review...
>
> But I have noticed an inordinate (for a new product) amount of M147's for
> sale with very few hrs. on them. It appears to be a product that didn't
> meet a lot of people's expectations, who probably blindly ordered it based
> on the Neumann pedigree. Anybody else out there have any opinions on
> this?
>
Yes.
If anyone's got an M147 that did not meet your expectations, please contact me
with the price you are willing to sell it for.
Thank you.
--
Rick Knepper
Wasted Potential Productions
MicroComputer Support Services
Po Box 1461
Ft. Worth, TX 76101
817-737-4002 or 817-239-9632
Project Studio
CD Duplication - Budget Short Runs
PC Tech Support & Equipment Sales
Milton Finks
Fletcher wrote:
> Milton Finks wrote:
> >
> > Well I asked a serious question and got one serious, professional reply. The rest
> > were childish and so much horse kaka!
> >
> > Milton Finks
> >
>
> I know I'm going to be sorry for doing this...but if you already have
> one, why do care about the review?
Since you asked ...I'll answer. I was just curious. Am I not allowed to be that?
Milton Finks
Milton Finks
Rick Knepper wrote:
AH! A wise move from a fellow Fort Worth/Arlington neighbor!!!! This mic is
really nice.
MF
Milton Finks
Fretwiz wrote:
> ----------
> In article <379324...@mercenary.com>, Fletcher <Flet...@mercenary.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Milton Finks wrote:
> >>
> >> Well I asked a serious question and got one serious, professional reply.
> > The rest
> >> were childish and so much horse kaka!
> >>
> >> Milton Finks
> >>
> >
> > I know I'm going to be sorry for doing this...but if you already have
> > one, why do care about the review?
>
> Can you spell 'justification'? Strange but true, many people will seek
> opinions on products after the purchase just for this reason. It's human
> nature...
True but not in my case. I am pleased with this mic and I have one client
thats nuts over it. I was just curious....plain and simple.
Milton Finks
hank alrich
> I actually have one and like it a lot for many reasons. I was just curious
> about the review. I think many thought it was an M149 with one pattern...it
> isnt. But it sure makes my awful voice sound good.
Yo, Milton, how's about _you_ giving us _your_ review of that thang? Or
did you do that and I missed it? I don't always show up in time to catch
the whole class.
Dave Martin
Milton Finks wrote in message <3793F660...@Unforgettable.com>...
>
>
>Fletcher wrote:
>> I know I'm going to be sorry for doing this...but if you already have
>> one, why do care about the review?
>
>Since you asked ...I'll answer. I was just curious. Am I not allowed to
be that?
>
My dad taught me a long time ago - once you buy the car, don't keep price
shopping. Don't scan the ads - don't even look at the stickers as you drive
past the lot. It's kind of like that with reviews; It doesn't really matter
whether a hobbyist on rec.audio.pro or Fred Bashour writes the review - if
he agrees with your assessment, you made a good deal and he's a real bright
guy because he shares your opinions, and if he doesn't, then either he's an
idiot or you'll lose confidence in your taste (or both). Don't worry about
it; if you like the sound, just take the mic and make some music or some
money with it. If you're lucky, you'll do both.
Dave Martin
Digital Media Associates, Inc.
Nashville, Tennessee
dave....@nashville.com
Milton Finks
Dave Martin wrote:
And you are 100% correct but is it really a crime if I am just
curious....interested?? One would think I broke some one of the 10
Commandments! I have not worried one twit about it...who said I had? And I
have made money with it and intend to keep doing it!
MF
John Etnier
Rick Powell wrote:
>
> Don't know about the RECORDING review...
>
> But I have noticed an inordinate (for a new product) amount of M147's for
> sale with very few hrs. on them. It appears to be a product that didn't
> meet a lot of people's expectations, who probably blindly ordered it based
> on the Neumann pedigree. Anybody else out there have any opinions on
> this?
>
Yes, and I own 2 of 'em.
--
=============================================
John Etnier
Studio Dual
-------------------------------------
http://www.studiodual.com
=============================================
fretwiz
----------
In article <3793F6D7...@Unforgettable.com>, Milton Finks
<MrM...@Unforgettable.com> wrote:
> True but not in my case. I am pleased with this mic and I have one client
> thats nuts over it. I was just curious....plain and simple.
>
> Milton Finks
Milton, I hope you didn't take offense at what I said. I didn't mean to
offend, I guess I may have seemed caustic...(isn't that Fletchers job
anyway?... a JOKE Fletcher... a JOKE).
Rick Powell
From the couple of comments from M147 owners, the general consensus is that it
is a nice mic. I'm still curious as to why there have been several for sale, on
this newsgroup and other places such as Harmony Central and Sweetwater Trading
Post. Is this a specialty mic that sounds good on a few applications and maybe
not as well on others?
Rick Powell/Studio71
Greg Heimbecker
and some tenors for 3 years and it's absolutely gorgeous. Killer at 2-3' on
classical singers and very sweet up close on many women. I've also had great results
on some upright basses with where my 4038s were a bit too rich. We've also got Røde
classics, a C12VR, and a host of other mics that from time to time serve different
voices appropriately. One size isn't going to fit everyone... When you get a 20
voice vocal jazz group thrown at you all close miked you find out some interesting
things about your mic cabinet.
Greg Heimbecker
University of Northern Colorado Recording Studio
manna-dallas wrote:
> If its anything like the M149 I think I can solve the mystery, I
> bought one sight unseen because of the reputation and the mic looked
> like a million bucks.Unfortunately it sounded like 15 cents. Really
> nasaly, thin solid state like. as far as sound quality goes In my
> opinion an AT 4050 blows it away. I sold it at a huge loss a week
> after I bought it. Mike
>
manna-dallas
If its anything like the M149 I think I can solve the mystery, I
bought one sight unseen because of the reputation and the mic looked
like a million bucks.Unfortunately it sounded like 15 cents. Really
nasaly, thin solid state like. as far as sound quality goes In my
opinion an AT 4050 blows it away. I sold it at a huge loss a week
after I bought it. Mike
On Wed, 21 Jul 1999 19:01:06 -0500, Rick Powell <rpo...@ivnet.com>
wrote:
M
Greg Heimbecker wrote
>One size isn't going to fit everyone... When you get a 20
>voice vocal jazz group thrown at you all close miked you find out some
interesting
>things about your mic cabinet.
>
>Greg Heimbecker
If someone throws a 20 voice vocal jazz group at me, I am leaving.
M
Ty Ford
<AA6BE2DEA1A619D9.2EC3AD1B...@lp.airnews.net>,
manna-...@airmail.net (manna-dallas) wrote:
>
>If its anything like the M149 I think I can solve the mystery, I
>bought one sight unseen because of the reputation and the mic looked
>like a million bucks.Unfortunately it sounded like 15 cents. Really
>nasaly, thin solid state like. as far as sound quality goes In my
>opinion an AT 4050 blows it away. I sold it at a huge loss a week
>after I bought it. Mike
>
Mike,
Possibly your source was thin and nasaly?
Next time you do some thing like that please contact me to help you with
your problem.
Regards,
Ty Ford
Ty Ford's equipment reviews and V/O files can be found at
http://www.jagunet.com/~tford
poiuyt
<strang...@williams.com> wrote:
Close mic'ed my arse. If they are any good, an ORTF with the group in a
semi circle will do just fine, if not alot better. If they cant' sing as
a group, close micing wont help them anyway.
Mike Turk
>
> Close mic'ed my arse.
Will this be on the new RAP CD?
--
Mike Turk
hank alrich
Granted, but all we need to destroy that opportunity is a lousy room or
an outdoors site. Don't forget the windscreens. <g>
hank alrich
> poiuyt wrote:
>
> >
> > Close mic'ed my arse.
>
>
> Will this be on the new RAP CD?
No, it's just a reg'lar audio CD, not one o' them enhanced interactive
things.
Rick Knepper
> Well,
>
> From the couple of comments from M147 owners, the general consensus is that it
> is a nice mic. I'm still curious as to why there have been several for sale, on
> this newsgroup and other places such as Harmony Central and Sweetwater Trading
> Post.
I can't speak to the postings at Harmony & Sweetwater. However, the M147 I'm buying
(after posting to this thread) is being sold by a gentleman who is buying a stereo
pair of them.
> Is this a specialty mic that sounds good on a few applications and maybe not as
> well on others?
>
Most mikes fit this description to one degree or another.
>
> Rick Powell/Studio71
>
> John Etnier wrote:
>
> > Rick Powell wrote:
> > >
> > > Don't know about the RECORDING review...
> > >
> > > But I have noticed an inordinate (for a new product) amount of M147's for
> > > sale with very few hrs. on them. It appears to be a product that didn't
> > > meet a lot of people's expectations, who probably blindly ordered it based
> > > on the Neumann pedigree. Anybody else out there have any opinions on
> > > this?
> > >
> >
> > Yes, and I own 2 of 'em.
> >
> > --
> > =============================================
> > John Etnier
> > Studio Dual
> > -------------------------------------
> > http://www.studiodual.com
> > =============================================
--
TransamAG
><AA6BE2DEA1A619D9.2EC3AD1B...@lp.airnews.net>,
>manna-...@airmail.net (manna-dallas) wrote:
>>
>>If its anything like the M149 I think I can solve the mystery, I
>>bought one sight unseen because of the reputation and the mic looked
>>like a million bucks.Unfortunately it sounded like 15 cents. Really
>>nasaly, thin solid state like. as far as sound quality goes In my
>>opinion an AT 4050 blows it away. I sold it at a huge loss a week
>>after I bought it. Mike
>>
>
>Mike,
>
>Possibly your source was thin and nasaly?
>
>Next time you do some thing like that please contact me to help you with
>your problem.
>
>Regards,
>
>Ty Ford
I've done a number of demos against the M149 with a Brauner Vm1, and the M149
does not sound thin or nasaly. I have had similar comments on the Vm1 by a
very few people, usualy those who prefer the M49 sound to a M149/Vm1. Both
these mikes have extended high end, are not rolled off at all....The Brauner
Vm1 of course is much better (ha-ha).
Let me ask you, do you think a really good C12/C24 sounds thin?
Brad Lunde
TransAmerica Audio Group, Inc
http://www.transaudiogroup.com
805-241-4443
805-241-7839 Fax
US Importers for Drawmer & SoundField (UK), Brauner and Klein+Hummel (Germany)
US Distribution for API
Jeff Olsen
>Milton Finks <MrM...@Unforgettable.com> wrote:
>> I actually have one and like it a lot for many reasons. I was just curious
>> about the review. I think many thought it was an M149 with one pattern...it
>> isnt. But it sure makes my awful voice sound good.
Here's my two bits:
I've had one for about a month now. I put it into the linup for say a
vocalist, which if time allows would be the 147, an AT 4050, a TLM 193, a
soundelux U95, an RCA 77DX, and of course an SM57 <g>. It will win
(clients choice) about half the time, with the 77DX and the U95 being the
other common winners. So standing only on it's merit to ears other than
mine, it does fine.
Subjectively, here's what I think. The mic's strong point is it's nice
smooth midrange and big bottom end. The mids are warm, punchy, and
slightly polished sounding, which I hear most obviously on acoustic guitar
or some voices. The top end is not hyped at all (subjectively), and is
rather un-tubey in a good way. How to say that better... the top is more
etched sounding that I'd expect from a large diaphragm tube mic. Not
necessarily a bad thing at all. In contrast, the top on the U95 is
downright magical, but that mic is quite colored in general. The 147 is
not, at least not for a LD tube mic. But the "lack" of a lush top end may
be why the mids are exposed in all their glory so well!
I agree with monte that this mic likes a transformer input.
It works great for me on edgy male vocals and guitar amps. Also on bright
acoustic guitars. I am not afraid to use my Summit EQ's or the ones in my
Neotek, and a little top end boost can really open up the otherwise
workmanlike top end!
If you could only have one large diaphragm mic, this might not be the one
(maybe a Lawson?) in this price range. But as part of a collection, it
a great mic...
-jeff
Monte P McGuire
manna-dallas <manna-...@airmail.net> wrote:
>If its anything like the M149 I think I can solve the mystery, I
>bought one sight unseen because of the reputation and the mic looked
>like a million bucks.Unfortunately it sounded like 15 cents. Really
>nasaly, thin solid state like. as far as sound quality goes In my
>opinion an AT 4050 blows it away. I sold it at a huge loss a week
>after I bought it. Mike
You should have tried it with a preamp that has some iron in it.
Something like an API 312 adds the missing iron that turns the sound
of a mike with only a tube and no transformer into a mike with "that
tube sound".
(Just to pat myself on the back, that useful tidbit was included in my
M 147 review ;-)
Best,
Monte McGuire
mcg...@world.std.com
Fletcher
>
>
> I've had one for about a month now. I put it into the linup for say a
> vocalist, which if time allows would be the 147, an AT 4050, a TLM 193, a
> soundelux U95, an RCA 77DX, and of course an SM57 <g>. It will win
> (clients choice) about half the time, with the 77DX and the U95 being the
> other common winners. So standing only on it's merit to ears other than
> mine, it does fine.
>
Very interesting, I've found it's most practical applications so far
have been instrument use...especially foot drum/front of the kit. It
didn't suck on a bass rig either...I thought it a bit boxy for alot of
vocalists.
--
Fletcher
Mercenary Audio