GERM-Y MICS...again

Get that thing away from your mouth--you don't know where it's been!

http://www.radio-info.com/programming/country/tales-of-germy-mics-electrocution-listener-food-and-those-critters-that-liv?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_campaign=aaff441da8-TRI_06-15-2012&utm_medium=email

After all these years of exposure to germs of all description, shouldn't we be resistant to all?
And if so, why won't we be the surviving species--like cockroaches?

Mics for Broadcast?

Quite a few new mics have come on the scene in the last several years that resemble or ask us to compare to the standard broadcast mics we have used for years. Usually these are end-address large diameter dynamics. Included are new mics from Rode, Blue, Charter, Heil and now--the new ones from MXL. Even the the long standard bearer--Electro-voice has new choices to the RE20.


Mics for broadcast have to meet many various demands. Have some of the demands, or styles, changed? You bet.


The picture above is me on-air in 1969. Yes, that is a Neumann U87. The company had just replaced all on-air mics with this new mic that was supposed to make every announcer sound like.... well, you know...ballsy or something.


The problem for me was the fact that I was a Rock & Roll screamer--Wild Willie Edwards. I knew how to work the dynamics and adjust levels to where my voice was easily part of the music and other programing. But the new U87s were condensers. It could pick up a fly-fart on the other side of the room. I had to change the way I worked the mic drastically.


Also, radio was changing around that time. FM was coming on strong. The "Hey-man" style of progressive FM allowed for a natural presentation perfect for the right condenser mics.


I have been lucky enough to work with a lot of various mics. In broadcast, I have even been blessed to hear myself on RCA Dx77s and 44s (ribbons). The mic we used on-air and in production before the U87s were Sennheiser MD421s. I   became a voice-over star on the Shure SM7. (And the model before that looked like a football.)


But enough history...back to the new mics. There are a few condensers mixed in with these new end-address mics. Does that mean they are not really for broadcast? Well, not necessarily. It's back to the "right tool for the right job in the hands of a skilled craftsman."


I really look forward to sharing some new test of these new broadcast type mics. I will even let on to some existing studio mics that I feel are fantastic "On-air" mics. You may be surprised.

New "Broadcast/Voiceover" Mic from MXL?

Very interesting. I understood MXL had been looking at this type of mic for a while.

Has anyone tried or heard this new mic?

MXL End address studio mic--BCC-1

Again...Very interesting. I really would like to hear and compare.

Compare at Rode Mic "Soundbooth

Check it out:

http://www.rodemic.com/soundbooth

Long load times.

Let us know what you discover.

Mic Makers Offer Fall Discounts

From Broadcast Engineering

With the turn of the season to autumn, the major microphone manufacturers have announced rebate incentives for select wireless and/or microphone products. These rebate programs from Shure, Sennheiser and Audio-Technica all apply to purchases made on or after Oct. 1 and run through the end of 2011.

Audio-Technica is offering rebates on its professional wireless systems, including the 4000 Series, 3000 Series and 2000 Series. 

Shure’s rebates apply to the classic SM58 and SM57 dynamic microphones, along with cash back on the purchase of its PGX wireless system and a rebate on its new PGX Digital wireless systems. 

Sennheiser’s rebate program covers its 2000 Series professional wireless systems, plus the full range of its Evolution G3 wireless series. The G3 rebates include the LE Sets, ew100 range, ew300 systems and ew500 G3 wireless.

For full details on the products involved, visit the respective manufacturer websites. All require submission of the original UPC code from product packaging, along with the associated sales receipt.

Link to BE article

42 Years Ago and I Still Appreciate High Dollar Mics

Notice the albums, the turn-table and the "count-down clock" (that's the light bulb on the right).

What's with the striped shirt and tie? I forgot R&R had a little class, although mine was mostly "low."

Blue Mics "Reactor" Looks Different, But How Does It Sound?

Interesting.

I would love hear the Reactor on various Voice-over tests.