One Mic To Rule Them All

Jeremy Ordan

Jeremy Ordan

Major Contributor
As someone who has hung around these forums for about a year, but only just started posting a couple of months ago, I can say that this site is one of the most valuable resources available. There is so much knowledge here amongst the active members in the community, plus when you dig through the archives, literally any question can be answered. That being said, as many other people who recently started to focus more seriously into the sound capture in my projects I decided that I wanted something more than what I was getting. After my discussion and bouncing back and forth, I finally settled on the AKG Blueline system.

I think a lot of people who read through posts are looking for one mic that can do interiors well and exteriors well. As we all know because of different pick up patterns. Originally the idea of the ME66 appealed to me because I loved the idea that the K6 would handle different modules. The obvious problem with the ME66 is the sound quality. On various projects I rented the ME64 and ME67 in addition to the ME66. I was just never able to get that ideal sound. On the advice of someone who I consider a DVXuser friend I finally just bit the bullet and picked up the SE300B with the CK93 & CK98.

For those of you who do not know, the SE300B is the preamp power unit (similar to the K6), while the CK93 is the Hyper Cap, & CK98 is the shot gun cap.

From my two weeks of use so far, I feel like I am starting to get comfertable with this set up. Here are some initial reactions...

CK93 - Excellent. I have heard Oktavas, but there is something about this mic that sounds more full and complete. The handling noise is very low even on boom swings and I am able to get solid sound inside using just a foam windshield in a cheap shockmount. It sounds like very high end sound and very nice.

CK98 - Well this is where it gets weird. This morning we ran a head to head test with the 4073a vs CK98. The 4073a came out sounding, it's hard to describe a sound, richer on the low ends and identical in the mid and high range. Both had no handling noise, but at extreme distances (30') I found that I got less interference with the CK98. Why should this be important? It shouldn't because there is no reason to mic from 30' with your test dummies yelling about things growing on their body.

Now, the real test: rear rejection. I did not find much difference in the rear rejection difference between the 4073a and the CK98, but if I had to rate on a scale of 1-10 I would put the 4073a at an 8 and the CK98 at a 7 in this category. There is a slight difference, but not noticable.

Overall, I am happy with my purchase. Do I still want a 4073a or a 416? Yeah. Do I need them, no, not right now. I know this pretty much proves that there is no one perfect mic to handle every situation, but I think for anyone looking for a modular set up, this is a great package that will definately deliver the results you are looking for. I am just waiting for the 15th of November now so I can order another set. By the way, the prices are really cheap on these: about $700 for the preamp and the two caps. Overall, are you getting an Oktava and a 4073a? No. Are you getting a Oktava and an 897? Yeah, I'd say it's better. Do I still want to get an Oktava so I have an extra Hyper? yeah

This is just my opinion, and thought I would post it for anyone who has gone through what I have with the microphone debate. I will try to get some audio A/B comparisons up this weekend.
 
"ONE MIC TO RULE THEM ALL"

CMIT_Front_Glow.jpg
 
Yay Schoeps. I just ordered a bunch for stock. They aren't in yet, and they are all almost already sold. Once these go you won't be able to get one till after the first of the year. I can't wait to get my hands on it and to a "shotgun shootout" with it and a bunch of other stuff.

-Dave
 
You mean you still have a few that have not been claimed yet? If so I might want to re-evaluate my finances and maybe give you a call. :thumbsup: Are you selling at list?

744t, HVX, and Schoeps shotgun all released in the past year...my pocketbook aches.

Next year better be pretty un-innovative.
 
taubkin said:
Hey Dave, do you have them in another color? Maybe for men? :)
Click to expand...

LOL, the color has the guys at RAMPS up in arms. Schoeps knows their audio...just not the best at designing it for location use.

Cheers
 
wabbit said:
LOL, the color has the guys at RAMPS up in arms. Schoeps knows their audio...just not the best at designing it for location use.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Ah, you crazy soundpeople! :grin:

(Sound recording techs always seem to be having more fun than me! :embarasse )
 
I think the color was a strategic move and that the next batch of mics (or next year's model) will be black. There's no doubt Schoeps knew what they were doing with the "look at ME" color scheme.

I'm dying to hear how this thing does in a head to head with the MKH60. On paper the 60 looks to have an equal (or better) frequency response and a definitely better pattern.

With the hypers Schoeps is known for perfect frequency and perfectly nested pattern... so I would expect nothing less from this new gun.

I do wonder if Schoeps will modify THIS PAGE RIGHT HERE because after my love/hate relationships with my early shotgun choices I almost wrote shotguns off... at Schoeps' recommendation! Yeah I realize that this page isn't a direct damnation of shotguns... but until now you wouldn't hear any praise from Schoeps for anything past a hyper or super-cardioid.

I am absolutely DYING to hear this thing against a 60 (or even CS3e or 81i).


Hey I just realized we're all hyjacking Yankee's AKG thread... so that said I'll agree that the AKG is a high-value mic that just isn't marketed aggressively in the USA. I'm a big fan of ALL the AKG mics I've tried so far... and I actually preferred the ck69 to the 416 for outright sound quality. So far I think the Blue Line and ULS are the only modular mics worth having (except Schoeps and other HIGH end choices). The Blue Line has a sound that the ME line lacks... and maybe that's a good thing 'cause if I had liked my ME mics then I probably wouldn't have ever gone over the edge.

I said this before, but I've been told by some pretty reputable sources... *cough*trew*cough*... that the ck93 is used way more in full budget hollywood features then you'd think. The ck93 should do everything the Oktava does... and then offer more reach and bass cut... plus a dramatic improvement in handling noise for ham-fisted boom ops. It took me a couple weeks to decide between the Blue Line and the ULS.

I don't want to risk another hyjack... but I went from really liking my AKG to flat-out LOVING it with this new recorder.
 
The reason I posted this thread was simply in response to all these people who are always asking "what mic should I get" and debating between all these models. I have no idea what the new Schoeps will cost (I do think they chose the color maybe to help with chroma keying, but what do I know), and I thought that this AKG package, being only about $650 is a great cheap solution to address the hyper & shotgun issues.

Hey, just my limited experience...
 
TheYankee said:
...After my discussion and bouncing back and forth, I finally settled on the AKG Blueline system.

On the advice of someone who I consider a DVXuser friend I finally just bit the bullet and picked up the SE300B with the CK93 & CK98...the prices are really cheap on these: about $700 for the preamp and the two caps. Overall, are you getting an Oktava and a 4073a? No.
Click to expand...

Yankee,

I too was considering the Oktava and the 4073A. These can be had for just about $700 combined. It sounds like you may have preferred the 012 and the 4073a but didn't get them and chose to spend the $700 on the Blue Line (which sounds like a good choice).

But could you clarify for me if your first choice was 012 and the 4073 and if so, why didn't you get them if the price is just about equal to your Blue Line set-up? Maybe I just I misunderstood these comments "overall, are you getting an Oktava and a 4073a? No."

Thanks.
 
TheYankee said:
The reason I posted this thread was simply in response to all these people who are always asking "what mic should I get" and debating between all these models. I have no idea what the new Schoeps will cost (I do think they chose the color maybe to help with chroma keying, but what do I know), and I thought that this AKG package, being only about $650 is a great cheap solution to address the hyper & shotgun issues.

Hey, just my limited experience...
Click to expand...

What do you mean? Are we going to chroma key the microphone? Why not have the reflectors and the director chair blue too! :)

Besides, there will probably be a black foam around it, so nobody will even know it's blue...
 
Hey Kelly, good question and I will try to do my best from a complete amatuer perspective to answer it for you.

The CK93 is a better hyper cap than the Oktava. There is significantly less handling noise and in my opinion, a cleaner more natural sound. For hyper mics, with all the ones I have demo'd, listened to, rented, and heard samples of, this is the best hyper I have experienced (*Note: I have not experienced any of the $1000+ mics personally, I want to be clear with that point).

Now with the CK98. I think it is pretty close to being on par with the 4073a, but not 100%. I would say that you get about 90%. As lots of people have mentioned, the 4073a is possibly the best value mic available. It sounds better and most likely should cost more than it sells for. All of this being said, I do not feel like I'm missing out on anything by not having the 4073a.

The benefits to the 4073a & Oktava vs. CK93 & CK98 is that you get two mics and your shot gun is better sounding.

The benefit to the CK 93 & CK98 vs. Oktava & 4073a is that you get a modular system, it is one mic, and you are getting the best hyper card plus a really good shot gun mic. I think the CK98 sounds better than the AT897.

At the end of the day, this is all my opinion though. Honestly, I am certainly going to purchase an additional SE300B & CK93. I don't do a lot of work outside, so I'm on the fence if I need to get an additional CK98, right now I'm going to pass though.

Finally, for me, whether it was classic analog synths or microphones I have always been a been fan of modular set ups. I love the expandability and the ease of use.
 
The new Schoeps CMIT 5U will sell for $1795. Schoeps is like Sound Devices. All the dealers have to sell at list. I might have a few left on my opening order that aren't spoken for. E-mail me privately or send me a private message if you want one. I have ordered a BUNCH more for stock, but I won't see them till after the first of the year. In case anyone hasn't seen it yet...
http://www.coffeysound.com/new/Schoeps_CMIT.pdf


-Dave
 
Sorry for the earlier hijack, just having some fun :grin:

For the hyper mic I believe Yankee definately made a good choice. I will recommend the Oktava to those looking for a super cheap solution but it is a painful mic to deal with especially to an amateur. I don't think people listen to that part of the recommendation. Ahh well.

Good choice Yankee, have fun.
 
Hey Yankee, where did you purchase your AKGs? Also what would you consider to be good shockmounts and wind protection for the AKGs? What do you use that seems to work well?
 
I would say that a great place to get the AKG is RVACanada.com (this was recommended to me by Matt). I ended up ordering mine through a connection that I have and got away a lot cheaper, but that was a one time thing, so next month I will be ordering my second one from RVA.

For shockmounts, this is a tricky subject. I have used the Gitzo and have had good results with that (just purchased a second one also). Other people here will have other recommendations, but I have always liked those, plus their cheap.
 
I had a member chastise me for overlooking the Sabra-Som shockmount that sound-room sells (the place I always say to go for the Oktava)... He basically asked why I always pushed the higher cost K-SSM... anyway, I decided to check out one of the Sabra-Soms... I've had it for a while now and it's a pretty good value if you like the configuration. It's a funky little mount and it's significantly bigger then the K-SSM, but it's also adjustable in every way and this one mount can handle any mic that you have... plus it's only $49... which is stupid cheap. For economy shockmounts this is probably the one I'll suggest from now on. I still prefer the K-SSM, but the Sabra-Som's adjustability is really cool... and it's easily worth the cost (at less then half the K-Tek's price)... still I gotta' say that K-Tek gear is the Ferrari... meaning you can examine it and you understand it's price too.
 
I knew a shockmount question would get Matt's expertise up and going... I say I send him one of these Gitzos and he runs a complete review comparing them all.
 
If you send it I'll pay to ship it back:thumbsup:

So far I've had a direct shoe-mount, a flexible tube shoe-mount, a home-made shockmount that used surgical tubes, a crappy mount that came with the 4073a, a Rycote 2-point suspension (full zepp) rig, Rycote Softie, K-SSM with standard bands, K-SSM with soft bands, and now the Sabra-Som.

The only mount that appealed to me that I haven't bought is the PSC, but to be honest I haven't checked out the Gitzo... which is odd because I really like Gitzo gear... I've got one of the better pods from Gitzo, as well as their top-o-the-line head... plus their TOTL mono-pod... plus I've been so happy with the quality of the monopod locking collars that I'm going to try out one of their boom poles next... they say it uses the very same collars and the one's on the monopod couldn't be ANY nicer.
 
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