Countryman B6 lav

MattinSTL

MattinSTL

Sound Modulator
Ordered earlier today. So far I've had several Lectro sets and one G2. My lavs have been Lectro m150, several Trams (tr50), and one MKE2.

Of all the lavs I've had the MKE2 was the most expensive, but in reality I don't know if it sounded any better then the Trams, and those sounded just a little better then the Lectro lav.

I'm expecting the B6 to sound good, like the other lavs have, but it will be interesting to see how open it is. The MKE2 is NOT open sounding, but it still sounds good. The Trams were very open sounding, but have some sizzle on top... and the Lectro sounded like a slightly inferior Tram.

I'm hoping the B6 sounds really open, but without sizzle. The obvious benefits of the B6 are size, or rather the lack of size.

Had it not been for the size thing I'd have gone with Countryman EMW lavs, which I suspect would sound similar to the Tram minus the sizzle... and for me that would be just about a perfect sounding lav.

I'll try not to be so reactionary when it comes (like I was with the Petrol)... but I like to have some discussion going on early because I think it's interesting to get other opinions and see how expectations become reality.
 
I've rented B6's and I thought they were great. I fully admit to being totally impressed at the size, but didn't do any comparisons of the sound quality. I've yet to meet anyone that doesn't like the B6 and to me it sounds as good or better than any other lav I've played with. I cheaped out and bought an AT 899 for myself, which is AT's version of the B6--at least sizewise. The B6 sounds better than the AT899, but the 899 works just fine for me. I'll be really surprised if *even* you start ragging on the B6. :)
 
Matt
I've had some issues with the connector end of my B-6's. Talent stuffing them into pockets roughly.
Add a bit of shrinkwrap to the first inch of the cable sticking out of the connector to strengthen the cable at that end. And forcefully remind everybody you wire that they are wearing a very fragile and very expensive mic.
 
i have a b6 it is a great sounding Mic very smooth but it is a little bright. Also as Xort said be leery of the connector.
 
You know that comes with 3 caps to adjust brightness right? Please elaborate if you knew that and you think the lav is too bright even with the flat-response cap on.

I hate to blast my new lav with a heat-gun for shrink wrap, but if that's two of you saying the connector end is weak I'll plan on it.

From the positive response I got in another thread with pics and info on the pics I'm going to get a lot more in depth in these posts... that's why the basic title, so it will be easy to search later. Video, pics, audio, and descriptions to follow after the lav arrives.
 
Yes it comes with the protective caps that give you (+8 Very Bright +4 Bright 0db Flat) the 0db cap is nice but it is a little bright and the others+8 and +4 are way over the top. Dont get me wrong it is the best sounding lav i have ever heard i think you have made a great choice going with the b6.
 
Matt
To clarify, I'm only talking about a bit of shrink wrap at the connector end, not at the mic end. I'm sure you know this but...
 
Yeah, I was just being silly.

I'm about to get nuts again actually. I ordered 4 custom cables from Trew and 3 of them are not what I had in mind. I'm getting sick of picturing ideal products that don't seem to exist. Well they're OUT THERE but good luck finding them. My point? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron, silver solder, and everything cable... I have no idea why I normally pay somebody else to do it. In the next few weeks I'm going to offer cable services for the forum members... hopefully there's just a few obsessive people that come along every couple weeks. I already know more about Neutrik connectors, Canare (pronounced can-are-ee... I was corrected) connectors and cable then I did yesterday.

I'll make sure the B6 connector/wire is as solid as a rock and fully protected. If I come up with something unique I'll be sure to let you guys know.
 
A question for MattinSTL,

How does a lav like the B6 perform against the Oktava MK-012?

I really cannot decide which mic to start with. I had decided on Rode NT3, then after reading your posts, I get the feeling that the Oktava with the hypercap is the way to go. But if this lav is close, then I might change my mind again...

Thanks for all your effort. :)
 
What he said.

I haven't even got the B6 yet. My only previous lav experience is with At899, Tr50, M150, MKE2. I'd still take the Oktava over any of those lavs and I expect that will be the case with the B6 as well. A lav is a tool that you use when you need it. What works better, a hammer or a screwdriver?

The thing I say over and over with the Oktava is if you want to get one and you want to be happy with it you MUST get good windprotection which means at least the "extreme conditions" windscreen which is $49 and that will only be good indoors and on calm days outdoors (light breeze at most). Plus good shockmount which means $49 Sabra-Som at the cheap end and $109 K-Tek K-SSM at the higher-end. I go into this same discussion all the time, but that's cool... just read around some more... and to clarify YES I think you would be better off with the Oktava, but you'll have to spend some more on other stuff (read this paragraph) after you get it. Even though it may work no pro is gonna' stick a 1+ lbs mic on a boom pole. The NT3 is heavy and more suited to hand-held or mic stand mounting.

I'm getting the B6 because I need to tighten some screws. Since you're looking at an empty toolbox right now I think you should focus on the Oktava hyper.
 
I always prefer the golf club analogy to the tool one. :happy: Can you play a round of golf with one club? Sure, but your score (read sound) will suffer. "But I can only afford one club!" Well if you must only use one club, get a seven iron. Your score will still suck but it will probably suck the least with that one club over the others.

Then again, some people don't appreciate golf anymore then they do getting good sound. :grin:
 
wabbit said:
I always prefer the golf club analogy to the tool one. :happy: Can you play a round of golf with one club? Sure, but your score (read sound) will suffer. "But I can only afford one club!" Well if you must only use one club, get a seven iron. Your score will still suck but it will probably suck the least with that one club over the others.

Then again, some people don't appreciate golf anymore then they do getting good sound. :grin:
Click to expand...

I like Wabbit's analogy, but to piggyback it... there are a ton of things you CANNOT do on a golf course with a seven iron (put, chip, tee off over 150yrds).

When it comes to microphones there is only one mic that can come close to doing everything, and it's not even really one mic. The only way to have one mic do everything is to get a full modular set up. Even then you can't do everything.

I don't understand why this is so hard to understand. :huh:
 
TheYankee said:
I like Wabbit's analogy, but to piggyback it... there are a ton of things you CANNOT do on a golf course with a seven iron (put, chip, tee off over 150yrds).
Click to expand...

That's part of the beauty of the analogy. You can do those things with a seven iron...but your shot will suck. Back in college sometimes we would all play a round just using a seven iron. We would get 5 and 6 over par per hole but it was fun (mind you don't do this on a crowded course :happy: ).

Some people will just buy the seven iron (shotgun) and try to play a round (shoot their film) and then wonder at the end why their score sucks (bad audio). Well, you need a full bag (complete mic kit) if you hope to have a good score (good audio).

You can have all sorts of fun with the analogy (ie think of the sand wedge as your wireless, etc). But maybe that is why no one likes hanging out with us sound geeks at the end of the day. :grin:

Best
 
I forgot about the golf analogy... that is the best one. Jeremy you're not a golfer are you? I can hit my 7 150 yards easily.:grin: Each club down is 10 more yards so even at 150 for a 7 you're looking at a max drive of 210.

It always pisses my brother off when I putt where he would wedge... then it really makes him mad if I sink it from 30 yards.:)

For sake of full disclosure... he usually beats the hell out of me.

The other reason the golf analogy works is because proper technique is everything and a good golfer with one crappy club will still beat you and your Callaway irons unless you do what he is doing.
 
MattinSTL said:
I forgot about the golf analogy... that is the best one. Jeremy you're not a golfer are you? I can hit my 7 150 yards easily
Click to expand...

Actually I am a golfer, just a pretty poor one.

OK, staying on this whole golf thing... I like Taylormade clubs (or AKG mics). When I was in the market for a new putter, because I can't putt (or shoot interiors) I went for a belly putter because it makes things easier (hyper cardiod). Now I can sink my putts (use an Oktava indoors). Then again I also got a 540XD Driver (or Sennheiser MHK416) for my tee shots (outdoor shots).

Some people can't hit with the Taylormades. Some people don't like the ME66. Get what works for you.

Now I want to go to the driving range.
 
Hey Matt,

I've used B6's with lectro 2xx and they are awesome. Not only do they sound great, you can hide them in plain site, so you can cut down clothing rub. For men, I pushed them up behind buttons on their shirts. For women, usually over the ear or in their hair. Anyone with glasses got it taped to the arm of their glasses. I just saw a screening of the feature that used them in the Dolby Labs Screening room, and wow, you would have thought I was using a boom.

One thing you may want to consider is once you decide which cap you're going to use, get them in the multiple colors...helps to hide them even more. You may even want to get a flesh colored wire on a couple of them...if it's not too late. Anyway, I'm jealous...I won't be ordering mine for a few more weeks... ;-)

Phil
 
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