roland22

roland22's Reviews

14 reviews Back to roland22's Equipboard

roland22

REALLY GREAT RECORDER

Much more than a just a handheld recorder. Pros -48 volt phantom power for 2 mics -can record these at the same time as the stereo mics on the top of unit -ability to overdub tracks; can record multiple takes as well (like additional tracks) -ability to edit track (trim, mix-down 2 separate tracks into one stereo track) in the unit -built in compressor and limiter -build quality is very good -mics can be swapped with different H6 zoom mics Cons -interface could be much more intuitive; there definitely is a learning curve.For most users they will have to spend more time to take advantage of the additional functions the unit offers ! Yes, you can jut pick up and press the record button, but it take more than that to set it up. -Interface kind of small - no ability to change what is displayed on screen, or change screen appearance -Built in compressors/limiters are for a live situation/when you want to get your own ideas down; but I would save that for your DAW software.

BOTTOM LINE - once learning curve is out of the way (it will take a while), this unit really can do tons of stuff, AND do it WELL. It can even work as an audio interface (!). If I lost this I would probably buy again, or the H6. I've owned this for a year, and have never regretted the purchase.

roland22

warm, clear

Not unlike a 47 FET, but with is own sound, tames sibilance really well. Wonderfully RICH sounding, but there are Downsides: -Heavy (and I mean heavy!) Not a microphone to carry around. Happiest parked in one studio--preferably in one spot. -Factory shock-mount has difficulty holding this heavy mic....barely manages, BUT with excessive tightening effortz (does fit the largest rycote shockmount! Once I got the Rycote, I never looked back. An investment for sure, but believe me, superior and hassle free to ANY old school shockmounts ) -Switches on the mic have a slight bit of 'play'; though they have never caused me any sonic problems. Switches should be of higher quality for a mic in this price range. I have had this mic for some time now; Even with these caveats, I haven't regretted owing it...not for a second...without a doubt puts you squarely in microphone 'big league' Land (think Neumann; though there no mistaking those mics with the rich and wonderful Lauten Audio sound) . I still give it 5 stars!

roland22

don't waste that amount of money for this

Sold mine. I don't regret it for a second. to be fair, yes, does what it says, but for me this was absolutely not a significant improvement, If i had to do it over I would have bought a clone, and had very similar acoustic results. It just didn't work well...at least not for the ridiculous price they charge for a damned foam ball.

roland22

Great mic

Pros- Very natural sound for a dynamic. Rear noise rejection insane! Well built..solid, heavy. More sensitive than many other dynamics. Cons - Sensitive to plosives- moreso than other dynamics. Handling noise also a bit more than other mics..but not too much. Pricey..there are other choices out there as well, for less--- but then again, quality is often more expensive..you get what you pay for.

roland22

The sound I have in my head

Small, heavy.well built. greater frequency response than most other ribbons. More 'air' . This was my first ribbon mic, and I don't regret getting the Voodoo when I compared with other ribbons, OR any other mic for that matter. Even though i gave it 5 stars, the shock-mount looks cool, like a suspension bridge--- but replacement of the bands is like a Chinese jigsaw puzzle! An absolute nightmare to figure out. Don't believe me? Try it. So, you get a mic, shock-mount, and 'puzzle game' all in one. But seriously, I bought the mic for its sound, and this mic knocks it out of the park!

roland22

It just works

No problems with windows 10. plug it in and basically it just works. So , biggest asset for me is RELIABILITY. I don't have to think about it. It never gets in the way of making music. If It broke I would buy another without hesitation. External power supply is on the cheaper side, BUT I've never experience ANY problems with focusrite products, and I've upgraded quite a few times. Highly recommended.

roland22

STILL one of the best hardware de-essers out there

Buy used if you can find one. Most stand up well to years of use. Its a Drawmer. Classic gear, made in England. Another one that you set and forget. Transparent. The only drawback is that there is no true bypass.....a real bummer. But, still love mine to death! There's just something magical and mystical about a hardware de-esser that software will never be able to recreate. Something you can actually touch, control, feel and see things happening right there in front of you. Not an 'emulation' for my older eyes. As things should be.

roland22

Latvian Gold...neumann 67 vibe

Punches well above its weight. total 67 vibe in spades..is transformerless. Pair with a good tube mic pre and you're set for almost anything. will easily pull its weight next to the 'big boys' without a problem.

roland22

Bullet proof...Old school VCA compressor

every bit as good as a dbx 160. It is very transparent unless pushed hard...still very vanilla. Not an effect, or character piece. Transparent...Set it and forget it.

Yes, you will have to pry this unit from my cold hands after I die.

roland22

Solid--- its a Drawmer

Get it used, as new it's too expensive. Classic old school gear.studio staple. everyold school stuio had at least one. ONe of the beast hardware noise gates out there.

roland22

I sold mine

Owned and used extensively for 6 months before I sold it. Phenomenal form factor (small, compact, solidly built). The shock-mount is plastic and is somewhat flimsy and downright cheap compared to other mic shock mounts for the same price...AKG shock mounts are very expensive to replace if damaged. But, you buy a mic for its sound. This mic is very 'hot' ---gets loud quickly--- good for home recording into an audio interface. I see it working well for pop and hip/hop . The Timbre (sound of the mic) was wonderful, and it would have been my all-time favorite mic, except for a huge frequency spike that these mics have around 12-13 KHz, which can make them unacceptably bright on some sources. This mic might work well for you, but (fyi) a lot of used ones always up for sale on ebay(!) If it had worked for me, I would have been in love with it.

jimmarchi1
Moderator

that spike n the detail range is part of the 414's thing... like it or lump it.... when you change polar patterns it definitely changes that treble spike though.... The older 414s have less of a harshness in that range (fyi). The spike's there but it just sounds smoother. I dunno. I like the 80s ones you find in a lot of studios....

jimmarchi1
Moderator

you may really like the audio technical 40 series if you ounf the 414 harsh on some sources. The AT 40s are similar in some ways though the multipatterns are all tranformerless which changes the sound a bit. I find the 40s to be a lot easier to place to get a balanced representation of a source.

roland22

FOR THE MONEY YOU CANNOT BEAT THIS

the first thing I would do is to change the factory CHEEP Chinese tubes to Nos (new old stock), or just better after market ones. The tubes that the unit comes with are the cheapest ones available. The tubes in this unit DON'T make a huge difference in the sound, just a slight one, but it IS noticeable. It WON'T give you that 'thick/creamy' tube sound, but it WILL give you excellent a great with a touch of saturation . The ART MPA has tons of features. This amp is Excellent . I have owned it for a few years now, and it works like a charm. Look, u get 2 VU meters, digital meters, variable impedance settings, 2 channels with mid-side capability and ability to like the channels. A no wall 'wart' unit in a steel rack-mountable case for under 300? Close your eyes buy it.

roland22

excellent

Headphones are a very very personal thing, like a pair of gloves. You have to try them on, make sure they fit, are comfortable after many hours, and of course the like sound. These are extremely detailed and 3-dimensional. They are on the heavier side, but ear cups are huge, padding very generous around ears as well as the headband. these are pro studio headphones. They are overbuilt. The sound Is sonically colored; but in a very pleasing way. They have much more Bass than, say AKG's, but it is truly a matter of taste. The bass isn't sloppy, and is really deep. If you like the sound of BEATS phones, look elsewhere..they aren't similar. I have owned these for 2 years after have tried compared with numerous other competitors. Every time I put them on I smile ! I had a pair of Sennheiser 280's aa while back for many years before they literally disintegrated. this isn't a bad thing, since they were used DAILY, but here's the caveat...You can't order any parts form the factory and replace them besides earcups padding and cable. with the Beyers EVERY PART can be purchased and replaced. Lastly, for everyday use get the 32 or 80 ohm versions. The 250 ohm will work just like 32 and 80 and are somewhat more accurate, but to appreciate this you need a dedicated headphone amp ...so if you get the 250 ohm you will need to turn up the volume a lot to equal the volume level on lower ohm versions. AVOID the 650 ohm version unless you plan to always use them with a headphone amp ! Hope this helps

roland22

Not 'prosumer' but professional studio monitors

auditioned these extensively and A/B'd them against many other speakers in their price range at various music stores for months prior to purchase.

; these are the company's bottom of the line monitors which (IMHO) beat the pants off of so many other more expensive monitors, and anything in their price range. Bass is tight, never overpowering. Balanced across the audio spectrum and articulate is how I would summarize their sonic qualities.Feel like they are overbuilt, but only time will tell of this is true. Large for 5" speakers, and might fit (with difficulty) on your desk, as is the case with me. The auto turn-off and turn-on is wonderful. Additional rca inputs and +6db input signal adjustment are welcome features. Download the manual and read more from their website regarding additional details.Provided HPF and LPF crossovers work like a charm for most less than perfect nearfield monitor ing environments.

I haven't had these for a long time yet; but I still feel confident in recommending these studio monitors without hesitation. They ARE more expensive, and Focal doesn't discount their products, which you must remember. At least in this case, you get what you pay for.