Mag Lites for Mic Bodies...

[chrissugar]

[quote author="bcarso"]There are also a lot of at least little maglite knockoffs for way less---I know because TI gave me some with a promotion of some sort.[/quote]

That would be the MagLite clone microphone. :grin:

chrissugar

 

[BYacey]

I have a nice Heinz Tomato juice can that looks like it would make a fine mic body...

I had an Audio Technica SD mic that had a mic road case lid slammed shut on it. The mic still worked but it was really mangled. Audio Technica didn't have a body available for it, so I made one from 3/4 inch EMT conduit. I'll post a picture if i get a chance.

 

[bcarso]

"I have a nice Heinz Tomato juice can that looks like it would make a fine mic body... "

Hey, it worked for Andy Warhol. He had some nice bodies hanging around the Factory too.

 

[tomrogers]

Having actually used the MagMic in session, I can say three things:

1) It sounds great

2) No musician complained about it; in fact, none noticed until told what it
was - & all got a kick out of it

3) The Maglite body makes a very rugged housing for a mic

 

[alk509]

[quote author="tomrogers"]1) It sounds great[/quote]

It damn well better for over 2K$!

[quote author="tomrogers"]2) No musician complained about it; in fact, none noticed until told what it was - & all got a kick out of it[/quote]

That's great, but what do musicians know about gear manufacturing? I've shown the pic to a few people and they could all tell it was a damn flashlight. And they all were less than eager about trying one out. I understand it ultimately comes down to what it sounds like, but this is a 2K$ mic and most people are going to expect a proper body. To me, the argument that "we cut corners with the body, but saved our quality work for the rest of the mic" is just not believable.

[quote author="tomrogers"]3) The Maglite body makes a very rugged housing for a mic[/quote]

That's the only real advantage I can find, since I'm in the habit of driving my 16-ton Mack truck over all my 2K$ mics, and it's a real bummer when they break after a couple of runs! :razz:

Peace,
Al.

 

[tomrogers]

safari error! ( no mac craks, svp)

 

[tomrogers]

Hey Al,

good comeback!

Sure, you can argue the novelty angle, I suppose: Innertube certainly isn't shy about showmanship:

From your website:

"Here's a picture of a microphone body I made out of 2" brass tubing (the stuff they use for handrails and stripper poles)."

So do you disinfect your mics before putting them in front of a singer's face? :shock:

Ah well, chacun a son gout -

BTW: Nice detail in the photos on your site - when can we expect pix of an assembled mic?

fwiw: I don't own a Magmic: I've used them, & mixed other folks tracks, but I'm not defending a financial investment or anything. I think they're fun.

Pax to you too.

cheers :guinness:

 

[soundguy]

well, the main argument from me, despite whatever anyone's opinion is about a c12vr, m147 or u87ai, they'll all be real easy to sell. Granted, the name recognition has more to do with it than what they look like, but someone new to mics looking for something good isnt going to be turned off by the way it looks. A flashlight mic is only going to be sold for top dollar to someone who knows what it is. When I spend $2k on a mic, the first thing I think about, before how good it sounds is how risky of an investment it is if I decide to sell it, I flip a lot of gear. Flashlight mic might sound totally awesome, but it would be harder to sell than if the same mic was housed in a more "conventional" looking housing that wasnt as rugged and was as easy to ding up as a U87. It's one less hurdle to have to jump when you go to sell the thing. Id rather pay slightly more for a "finished" looking package rather than pay slightly less for a gimmick home made" looking package. I can appreciate why someone might be attracted to that for its quirkiness, thats a lot of money for me to lay out on a quirk.

All this nonsense aside, the mic is pretty decent? Can you go into a little detail about your experience with it?

dave

 

[tomrogers]

[quote author="soundguy"]well, the main argument from me, despite whatever anyone's opinion is about a c12vr, m147 or u87ai, they'll all be real easy to sell.

snip

When I spend $2k on a mic, the first thing I think about, before how good it sounds is how risky of an investment it is if I decide to sell it, I flip a lot of gear.

snip

All this nonsense aside, the mic is pretty decent? Can you go into a little detail about your experience with it?

dave[/quote]

Well, good points:

Your comments are valid: it's certainly not for everyone.
The person wanting European tradition ain't gonna go near it; will probably turn them off.

Boutique category for sure; bit of a sleeper, underground item.

Funnily enough, in the cradle on a stand, you sort of overlook what the case is: It's also physically quite large, and heavy.


As I said, I don't own one: Wasn't looking for mics, and wasn't looking to be impressed:
But Innertube insisted on a demo unit being dropped off for me to check out, so what the heck,

I auditioned it as a rear overhead on drums, and liked what I heard:

Very "big" sounding; excellent representation of the kit in the room, with an extended low end impact from the kik, with lots of controlled details off the brass; present, but not harsh or zingy top.

I've never asked, but I think it's probably got a tweaked response; feels that way, at least: I wouldn't call it "neutral" or "transparent"

Very hot output too.

Anyway, I didn't buy it, cause I wasn't in the market for mics, but I had a studio check it out, and they bought it after comparing it to their C12's

I've mixed tracks that were cut with it, including lead and bg vox, drums, perc, and acc guitars; but wasn't present for the tracking, so can't speak to that aspect.

That's pretty much it: I posted only because I thought the thread was getting side-tracked by the novelty issue, and not the sonics...

But I appreciate that this is a D.I.Y. forum, and many posters here put a lot of stock in serious craftsmanship, & would probably be a little sceptical of something that's a bit too hyped looking...

YMMV, as they say

cheers!

 

[alk509]

[quote author="tomrogers"]"Here's a picture of a microphone body I made out of 2" brass tubing (the stuff they use for handrails and stripper poles)."

So do you disinfect your mics before putting them in front of a singer's face? :shock:[/quote]

Yes on the handrails, no on the stripper poles.

[quote author="tomrogers"]BTW: Nice detail in the photos on your site - when can we expect pix of an assembled mic?[/quote]

The way my bank account looks right now, it'll probably take a while...

[quote author="tomrogers"]Very "big" sounding; excellent representation of the kit in the room, with an extended low end impact from the kik, with lots of controlled details off the brass; present, but not harsh or zingy top.[/quote]

Hmm... I'd love to listen to the damn thing, any chance of posting some sound files somewhere?

Peace,
Al.

 

[tomrogers]

Well here's hoping your bank account cheers up!

Given the quality of your power supply work, I'd like to see the finished mic!


As to soundfiles, none available at the moment:

I did a quick check out of the mic at another studio one evening, and didn't have a chance to print anything, as it was in the middle of another session.

MagMic tracks I mixed are client's recordings, so copyright is an issue

Give me some time to scare up some files for you: I'll talk to the owner I know about it.



cheers

 

[Jeff Roberts]

Hi there. I'm new here. I'm the guy that modifies the Mag bodies for InnerTube Audio.

BTW, I was an enthusiastic MM2000 (MagMic) owner and user before I became the source of grilles and modified Mag bodies.

Yes it's a bitch to solder aluminum, that's why we (InnerTube Audio and Latch Lake Music) don't do it. There are other ways of making that connection.

Grilles for the MM2000 are very difficult to make. Of the first dozen that I made, one was usable. And I started out as a seasoned solder guy, with over 40 years of experience.

Most machine shops will probably not be interested in little onsey twosy kind of jobs. It takes a time long to figure out the actual needs of a customer even when they do have decent drawings.

The best advice I can give for microphone DIY people would be to develop a relationship with a machinist that can do your project on the side as a "government" job. Preferably a machinist that is also a musician. A musican machinist will understand your passion.

Or if you can find a mutant like me that has a machine shop & manufacturing facility, and a recording studio, all the same factors apply but a guy like me doesn't want to trade work for studio time like a machinist musician would.

No one has ever bitched about singing into a flashlight in my studio. All they do is rave about the sound. It is my go-to vocal mic, and is also a fave over the drummer's left shoulder. The MM2000 is used more than my Neumann 149, AKG C12, and Blue modified CMV563 w. B6 capsule put together.

And custom bodies and grilles for $100 or so in small quantities is a complete fantasy if you want to maintain any standards of quality and appearance.

 

[Guest]

I just wanted to hop in and mention that we all work with different kinds of clients... Personally I am less worried about what the musicians think about the looks of the mics I use in a commercial situation, and more focused on the producers. Alot of them need to SEE world class gear, or they might think twice about coming back. (I do alot of corporate stuff) Now, in my project studio its a different story all together. Anyway... it is amazing how alot of people judge equipment by its looks... different=scary :shock:

 

[fum]

[quote author="JCMaudio"]Anyway... it is amazing how alot of people judge equipment by its looks... different=scary :shock:[/quote]

Very true. When I first started showing some of my stuff to people who have used the best, their response was along the lines of "that's insane, but it can't be as good".

Then I started sending the sound clips, and their tune changed :green:

 

[Jeff Roberts]

Whenever it's vocal mic shoot-out time, I put 'em all up, the Neumanns, AKG's, the CMV's etc.

I can't help it if the ITA MM2000 usually wins, and it does.

So far no one has said that they liked the sound of the Mag best but don't like the looks.

Appearantly I'm only dealing with people that actually listen.

I've got the snob gear also, but I'd rather use the best tool for the job instead trying to convince myself and others that the NAME is more important than the sound.

 

[soundguy]

hey jeff, welcome to the lab.

dave

 

[Guest]

I agree wholeheartedly with you Jeff, the name, looks, etc. mean nothing. After all, it is a microphone, asthetics are (or should be) an afterthought... Anyway like I said I have some specific cases where I know that looks (i.e. brand) matters, and the clients aren't interested in being convinced otherwise.
The real the point of this post is to say welcome to the lab Jeff. Good to have you around, and hopefully you'll stay and share your opinions, etc...

Damn, soundguy beat me to it! :evil:

 

[Scodiddly]

[quote author="Jeff Roberts"]Whenever it's vocal mic shoot-out time, I put 'em all up, the Neumanns, AKG's, the CMV's etc.

I can't help it if the ITA MM2000 usually wins, and it does.

So far no one has said that they liked the sound of the Mag best but don't like the looks.

Appearantly I'm only dealing with people that actually listen.

I've got the snob gear also, but I'd rather use the best tool for the job instead trying to convince myself and others that the NAME is more important than the sound.[/quote]

Welcome to the lab, Jeff!

In that situation I'd hazard a guess that when you actually have those other "name" mics, you've gotten past the client's worries about your gear quality. Imagine if the Maglite mic was your only mic, and you were in the position of having to convince your client that it's really that good of a mic.

 

[Gus]

Two things at the innertube site that I noted

The use of a 6072 vs a ef86 on the 87 conversion thats interesting I tend to like a good ef86 over a GE 6072.

the use of a 6922. 6922's don't sound bad but I have not made circuit that they sound great in. I would like to see and hear the EAR microphone. How did they get around the grid of the 6922? 6922s sound smooth but seem to lack defintion when used in "standard" tube microphone circuits to my ears.

It can be a matter of my taste being different

Is that a MDHO capsule in the microphone? It's hard to tell from the picture.

 

[Jeff Roberts]

Thanks for the "welcome aboard" to soundguy, JCMaudio, and Scodiddly.

Yes Mr. Scodiddly, it does help to have the name mics in the shootouts. I just put 'em up and let the client decide. It's usually not even a little bit close. The big name mikes sound well and good, but for most rock vox in my world, the MM2000 just stomps on the competition. I don't have to "sell" clients on the MagMic sound, it sells itself far better than I ever could. I'm an inventor, manufacturer, and studio geek, not a salesman.

I tend to lurk a lot, but when a thread veers into areas where I have some expertise, I'll chime in. I know about Eddie Ciletti LA4 mods since I started him down that road (as a customer). I also have some knowlege about vintage keyboards of the non-digital variety (Hammonds, Wurlys, and a little Rhodes).

And as for high-end studio mic stands and killer guitar slides, I make 'em for a living. If this is living. (Just whining about my pneumonia....)


And yes, I use parentheses too often.