Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $50

Budget/Beginner

$75

$201+

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gwEm’s gwEmbassy

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

Tandy / Radio Shack / Realistic PZM microphone modifications and tests!

Video thumbnail for Tandy / Radio Shack / Realistic PZM microphone modifications and tests! by gwEm’s gwEmbassy

Tandy / Radio Shack / Realistic PZM microphone modifications and tests!

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

gwEm’s gwEmbassy

Video thumbnail for Gear Finds, Episode 7: The Realistic PZM Microphone by I Love Recording

Gear Finds, Episode 7: The Realistic PZM Microphone

I Love Recording

I Love Recording

Video thumbnail for Why YOU should buy a pair of Realistic PZM microphones + easy Mods by dancetech

Why YOU should buy a pair of Realistic PZM microphones + easy Mods

dancetech

dancetech

Video thumbnail for How To: Realistic PZM MODIFICATION to improve performance - SUPER INEXPENSIVE DRUM MIC by PRODUCE MUSIC AT HOME

How To: Realistic PZM MODIFICATION to improve performance - SUPER INEXPENSIVE DRUM MIC

PRODUCE MUSIC AT HOME

PRODUCE MUSIC AT HOME

Video thumbnail for Realistic PZM Secrets and more awesome reasons to use them! by Take the Fear out the Gear

Realistic PZM Secrets and more awesome reasons to use them!

Take the Fear out the Gear

Take the Fear out the Gear

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Realistic PZM.

Mods and upgrades

  • Modifications involving phantom power can lead to low output and noise; some suggest that increasing capacitor size might help smooth the output.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • After modding, it's noted that a voltage of 7V DC at the capsule may be higher than expected, potentially affecting performance.

    Source
  • Noted for an inherent compression effect, particularly beneficial for acoustic guitar recordings.

    Source
  • Owners highlight the sensitivity of the Realistic PZM, making it suitable for quiet environments but potentially problematic in settings with shuffling papers.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Check the orientation/polarity of the capacitor and DC voltage on the capsule side to ensure proper functionality post-modification.

    Source

User experience

  • Some owners experience difficulty soldering onto the electret capsule, with reports of needing to wrap a cable instead due to soldering issues.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Ideal for use as a room mic on walls, providing excellent results in live settings.

    Source
  • Effective when mounted on particle boards over drum sets for capturing a broad sound image.

    Source
  • Great for capturing audience laughter in comedy clubs when mounted on ceilings for a stereo mix.

    Source
  • Provides a unique drum sound when placed on the floor near the kick and under the snare, yielding a fat kick and splatty snare sound.

    Source
  • Suitable for theater performances, capturing live stage sounds effectively when taped to the stage front.

    Source
  • Used inside pianos during live recordings, with one mic on high strings and another on low strings for balanced coverage.

    Source
  • The Realistic PZM is praised for use in small gatherings, effectively capturing audio in a circle setup due to its hemispherical pickup pattern.

    Source
  • Ideal for documentation purposes in grassroots events, where professional audio quality is not the primary concern.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • The Realistic PZM can be acquired for under $50, making it an affordable alternative to the Crown PZM, which is priced around $400.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Realistic PZM, specifically the model PN 33-1090B, is noted as the version closest to the Crown PZM, favored by professionals for its quality.

    Source

Critic Reviews

PZM!: The inexpensive mic that can do a lot! | Tape Op Magazine | Longform candid interviews with music producers and audio engineers covering mixing, mastering, recording and music production.

tapeop.com

The Realistic PZM microphone, though unassuming in appearance, offers surprising performance for its price. Its large hemispherical pickup pattern captures sound with clarity, especially excelling as drum overheads and in live settings. While the PZM requires some modification for optimal use, such as converting to XLR inputs and eliminating battery dependency, these tweaks enhance its sound quality significantly. Its warm low-midrange response competes favorably against more expensive mics like the Shure 57, though it distorts at higher volumes. Overall, the PZM is a versatile, budget-friendly option that punches above its weight, particularly for musicians willing to make minor adjustments.

positive

Throwback Thursday - Realistic PZM Microphone | Production Expert

production-expert.com

The Realistic PZM microphone, a nostalgic gem, once revolutionized budget recording with its boundary mic design and striking high-frequency response, perfect for tape. While its bright sound paired well with analog gear of its time, modern advances have overshadowed its performance due to noise issues and discontinued production. Yet, its unique design and historical impact still resonate with enthusiasts.

positive

Realistic PZM (HSR Mar 84)

muzines.co.uk

The Realistic PZM microphone is a budget-friendly entry into the world of pressure zone microphones, offering a natural sound capture with its hemispherical pick-up pattern. Ideal for home studios, it delivers an uncolored and open sound. However, its unbalanced output and susceptibility to interference can be problematic, particularly in environments with electrical noise. Despite these drawbacks, the affordable price and decent audio performance make it a worthwhile consideration, especially for those willing to tackle some DIY modifications to improve its interference issues. Overall, it punches above its weight, rivaling more expensive counterparts.

positive

3.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings

5 star
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jeromy

My favorite drum mic

Tape a few to a big flat piece of wood and record some drums...

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Beck uses Realistic PZM

Beck

Singer, Guitarist

Loser

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video titled "Show Us Your Junk! Ep. 34 - Rob Schnapf (Mant Studio) | EarthQuaker Devices," Rob Schnapf, the producer and mixer on Beck's 1994 Mellow Gold album, states at 15:07 that the vocals for the track "Loser" were recorded using a Realistic PZM microphone.

See how Mike Campbell uses Realistic PZM

Mike Campbell

Guitarist

Fleetwood Mac

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Mentioned by recording engineer Richard Dodd in this Sound on Sound interview about the recording of "Learning to Fly".

"One of the amplifiers Mike was using was an open-back Ampeg, and I had a Shure SM57 on that while, to capture some low end, I had the bright idea of also sticking one of those flat PZM microphones onto the amp. It was the Radio Shack mic, not the posh Crown version, and I just blended that in. Being omnidirectional, it gave a little of the environment, and those mics were blended together and went through a Urei 1176. Typically, the pre would be an outboard Neve 1073 or an API, and only things like percussion would use the preamps on the console.

"The same recording method was used for the other guitars, with the exception of the PZM.

See how Tom Robinson uses Realistic PZM

Tom Robinson

Singer, Guitarist

Tom Robinson Band

...
Verified via Muzines

"The other useful piece of gear that Tandy do is the PZM, and what a bargain that is! Until I borrowed a couple of Neumann U87s, I used those for vocals and they are amazing. Even the popping is minimal if you stick on that little foam Hitler moustache thing that they give you. I find you have to sing close up to it if you aren't going to record the room sound but it's not a problem. They're also great for congas; I just stick a pair on the glass screen in front of the player."

See how Jesse Gunn uses Realistic PZM

Jesse Gunn

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Warmer

...
Verified via Photo

The following photo was taken from the PDF file included with Warmer's album, The Tragic Evolution of Desire. All the gear included was used in the making of this album.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Realistic PZM, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Shure SM57
Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphones
2
Shure SM58
Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphones
1
Yamaha NS-10M
Yamaha NS-10M Active & Passive Monitors
1
AMS Neve 1073
AMS Neve 1073 Preamps & Channel Strips
1
Neumann U87
Neumann U87 Condenser Microphones
1
Shure Beta 57A
Shure Beta 57A Dynamic Microphones
1
ART Pro VLA II
ART Pro VLA II Effects Processors
1

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Gear Guides

  • Added to Equipboard on by

    jeromy
    jeromy

    Gear IQ 238