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Can we really make a distinction between “colored” and “accurate” microphones? Who decides what mic falls into what category, and on what basis?Proponents usually define as “accurate” a mic that does not add to, or take away from the musical event it records: what goes in comes …

This is only a short history of the M7. (For additional info, check some of the Microtech Gefell sites.) The M7's history, design and description is a bit confusing, because neither Neumann/Berlin nor Neumann/Gefell, the two companies that legitimately can claim having …

It’s time to survey the burgeoning Podcast scene, now that two of my three friends have started one, too. Audio quality of many podcasts ranges from awful to barely listenable. Muffled, distant, or hyper-compressed vocals - some pods are hovering near AM-radio quality - a …

- Remove all three (outer) slot screws which hold the plastic head assembly in the head grill. Do not touch the big screw in the center.- If you are right-handed, grab the (upside down positioned) grill with your left, and hold the head assembly with the fingers of your right …

I never listen to sound samples, and would never evaluate microphones that way. Not even for clients who beg me. 1. Sound samples recorded with MP3 or other lossy formats obliterate the subtle characteristics we cherish in a good microphone - characteristics we reward by …

David Satz posted on the Neumann forum a really clear and informative summary of microphone impedance strapping found through the 1980s on Neunann mics like U87, KM84 etc. I am reprinring it here with his permission.There are actually three possible settings for the output …

The first chapter, below, is condensed from Oliver Archut's historical knowledge of the AC701. What follows is a summary of my experience with this tube. "In the beginning, Telefunken had two different AC701 versions, both low noise but the version with the 'K' designation was a …

Sometimes you will want to remove stains or residue from adhesive badges or labels on mic bodies.The goal: to remove the stain without irreversibly altering or marring the mic’s surface.Here is my general rule when choosing chemicals or mechanical means to remove foreign …

I have arrived at a "semi-objective" test protocol which, over the years, has served me well to weed out marginal microphone tubes, including those with hidden defects. This article will use the VF14 as a prime example, but the method is equally helpful for other tubes used in …

Here is a rough overview of how to date K67/870 capsules installed in U67, M269, SM69, SM69fet, U87Ai; and K87 capsules used in U87 and U87i. (I will add photos later). The U67 and U87 types are identical in dimension, construction and acoustic design, except that the K87 uses a …