Hi all!
I'm a singer/songwriter/engineer with some soldering and electronic-building experience, dipping my toes into the modding/building world. I'm basically looking to find the holy grail of tube vocal mics (for my voice, at least). ;D
I have a vintage U87, which I adore, but I also miss that warm tube sexiness, and sometimes it's a touch too dark, and my SM7 cuts through the mix better (usually I'm going through a Focusrite ISA430 MKII into a Warm Audio WA76, then a WA2A, and finally an EQP-WA equalizer).
I'm weighing up a few options - I have an Avantone BV12, which I could mod (though I'm not quite sure where I'd start. Maybe a new capsule or upgraded transformer. I already put in an Electro-Harmonix tube); I could get an AMI U47 kit and throw in the best capsule possible (Thiersch M7, Beesneez, or something NOS?) and maybe a NOS EF14; or I could take the easy route and get a Warm Audio WA-47 (tempting because of the price and sound demos) or a Cathedral Pipes Notre Dame. From my research so far I haven't found enough information online about DIY U47 builds to be able to determine if I could build something that would sound as good as something pre-built/be worth all the time and money. That said, I love the idea of being able to record through a unique microphone that I built and tailored specifically to my own voice. Plus this stuff is fun, and not enough people in my generation know how to solder or work with electronics, so I want to learn whatever I can!
I'd like to keep it as affordable as possible (<$2K), or I'd be adding Wunder CM7 or Flea to that list.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks so much.
Dan
I'm a singer/songwriter/engineer with some soldering and electronic-building experience, dipping my toes into the modding/building world. I'm basically looking to find the holy grail of tube vocal mics (for my voice, at least). ;D
I have a vintage U87, which I adore, but I also miss that warm tube sexiness, and sometimes it's a touch too dark, and my SM7 cuts through the mix better (usually I'm going through a Focusrite ISA430 MKII into a Warm Audio WA76, then a WA2A, and finally an EQP-WA equalizer).
I'm weighing up a few options - I have an Avantone BV12, which I could mod (though I'm not quite sure where I'd start. Maybe a new capsule or upgraded transformer. I already put in an Electro-Harmonix tube); I could get an AMI U47 kit and throw in the best capsule possible (Thiersch M7, Beesneez, or something NOS?) and maybe a NOS EF14; or I could take the easy route and get a Warm Audio WA-47 (tempting because of the price and sound demos) or a Cathedral Pipes Notre Dame. From my research so far I haven't found enough information online about DIY U47 builds to be able to determine if I could build something that would sound as good as something pre-built/be worth all the time and money. That said, I love the idea of being able to record through a unique microphone that I built and tailored specifically to my own voice. Plus this stuff is fun, and not enough people in my generation know how to solder or work with electronics, so I want to learn whatever I can!
I'd like to keep it as affordable as possible (<$2K), or I'd be adding Wunder CM7 or Flea to that list.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks so much.
Dan