just when you thought it was safe to go out on the convention floor...

Lee Brenkman

Lee Brenkman

Junior
Jan 13, 2011
307
0
0
Oakland California USA
Someone has introduced a microphone with "built in analog dynamics". Which, as far as I can see is based on a light bulb as in an old electroptical comprssor.

http://www.lampifier.com/

Great! It isn't bad enough that some singers insist on plugging their mics into a stomp box to personally control effects they have not concept of what to do with NOW they can pre-compress the vocals before they even get to us.

Bet a singer with good technique and an SM58 will sound better nearly every time.
 
Last edited:
Re: just when you thought it was safe to go out on the convention floor...

Lee, to be fair: Using most wireless mics could also introduce a little bit of compression, too. I remember a specific thread about Shure UHFR B58s sounding "better" than wired B58s, and the conclusion enden up being a companding artifact that was actually favourable for some users :)
 
Re: just when you thought it was safe to go out on the convention floor...

I love the one comment about how it makes her voice sound "better" than it is. So that tells me it is NOT accurate and changes the sound.

Yet people all the time say they want "natural sound" and accurate reproduction. OH -natural sound that is different and not natural-OK I get it ;)

What if a real singer WANTS to be able to use dynamics? I guess they are just screwed. Maybe it is just for people who can't control their voice.

And the musicians were talking about how it "sounds". Well I would ask-"What loudspeaker were they using" That would make more of a difference than the mic?????????

But if you "believe" that any single component in the chain is the "key"-then that MUST be what it is.

Could it not be the new supermix console they were using? Or what about the gig-a-watt amp? Or maybe it is the snake oil cables that hook it all up?

You can get people to believe all kinds of "things", by filling their heads up with "stuff" and thoughts
 
Re: just when you thought it was safe to go out on the convention floor...

kristianjohnsen said:
Lee, to be fair: Using most wireless mics could also introduce a little bit of compression, too. I remember a specific thread about Shure UHFR B58s sounding "better" than wired B58s, and the conclusion enden up being a companding artifact that was actually favourable for some users :)
Click to expand...

Yes they do. I actually like what some of the better ones do. It sounds like mild compression in the 2:1 or slightly less range. The lesser quality units do not sound good at all with a completely unflattering and unmusical compansion being noticable. This is of course for analog units.
 
Re: just when you thought it was safe to go out on the convention floor...

I've interspersed comments with quotes from Ivan Beaver's reply.

"I love the one comment about how it makes her voice sound "better" than it is. So that tells me it is NOT accurate and changes
the sound."

The "audiophile" term is "euphonic coloration" ;-)

"Yet people all the time say they want "natural sound" and accurate reproduction. OH -natural sound that is different and not natural-OK I get it ;)

What if a real singer WANTS to be able to use dynamics? I guess they are just screwed. Maybe it is just for people who can't control their voice."

Which is, sadly, far too many singers these days. I've ranted before about the lead singer in a fairly successful band who's sound guy proudly outlined the $12k of inserted outboard gear on his "money channel" to a magazine interviewer.

"And the musicians were talking about how it "sounds". Well I would ask-"What loudspeaker were they using" That would make more of a difference than the mic?????????"

I suffer frequently from microphones bought by singers in a store after they tried them out on either very bad speakers or by listening to them in headphones.

"But if you "believe" that any single component in the chain is the "key"-then that MUST be what it is.

Could it not be the new supermix console they were using? Or what about the gig-a-watt amp? Or maybe it is the snake oil cables that hook it all up?

You can get people to believe all kinds of "things", by filling their heads up with "stuff" and thoughts"

Ah, belief systems. At the risk of violating a "no religion" rule here I note that most of the testimonials on the manufacturers site were from "Christian Rock Musicians", "Worship Leaders" and people who operate "HOW" sound systems.

I have no quarrel with churches but I do know from experience that they are sold a line of audio hooey at least as often, if not more so, than ill informed wanna be rock stars.
 
Re: just when you thought it was safe to go out on the convention floor...

Lee Brenkman said:
Ah, belief systems. At the risk of violating a "no religion" rule here I note that most of the testimonials on the manufacturers site were from "Christian Rock Musicians", "Worship Leaders" and people who operate "HOW" sound systems.

I have no quarrel with churches but I do know from experience that they are sold a line of audio hooey at least as often, if not more so, than ill informed wanna be rock stars.
Click to expand...
Now let's be honest here. That was at WFX (Worship Facilities Expo)-so yes there would be an abnormally large number of Christian musicians/operators/buyers at that convention-as compared to other conventions. I highly doubt the same musicians would be used at NAMM (for example). The women would have different attire and the songs would be different.

It is about trying to reach the target market (at least for that week). Next week it is a different target.
 
Re: just when you thought it was safe to go out on the convention floor...

I would expect more processing to migrate into parts of the audio chain that will never go away (like microphones and speakers).

JR
 
Top Bottom