Soliloqueen's k87(k67) and k47 capsules

[McIrish]

Great to hear!

I’m curious what year your K7s are from, as I’m surprised you don’t find the K7 dark enough for violin. I’d imagine my pair would be (from 2014), but I’ve only very-limited experience with EF800s, and that was back in 2014/15. I ended up liking 5840s better with a 6.5:1 small-core. My mics have a very big mid-mids emphasis. Going to a large-core would probably help if I wanted bigger lows; although Mowak’s 6.5:1 small-core would take care of that as well. I have plenty of other mics that do that though, so I’m not worry about that.

Also, I find the Thiersch Red to have a cool fuzzy sizzle (fizzle?) distortion on top that makes it different from others.

I think my K7 is from around 2017-2018. I never found it to be dark but pretty smooth. I have used it on violin often but the slight mid bump made me look for an alternative. I've been using a Beyerdynamic MC930 lately. It's not perfect either but it is easier getting it closer to the violin than a LDC mic. ha ha
I don't find the Thiersch Red to be fuzzy or sizzly. But, maybe there's something there. It's still my favorite on male vocals.

 

[Recording Engineer]

I think my K7 is from around 2017-2018. I never found it to be dark but pretty smooth. I have used it on violin often but the slight mid bump made me look for an alternative. I've been using a Beyerdynamic MC930 lately. It's not perfect either but it is easier getting it closer to the violin than a LDC mic. ha ha
I don't find the Thiersch Red to be fuzzy or sizzly. But, maybe there's something there. It's still my favorite on male vocals.

I don’t know what it is on top with the Thiersch, but to me there’s definitely something others don’t have.

By the way, sounds like you might enjoy a C38B on violin or a more flat SDC; even just a great electret.

 

[soliloqueen]

I don’t know what it is on top with the Thiersch, but to me there’s definitely something others don’t have.

By the way, sounds like you might enjoy a C38B on violin or a more flat SDC; even just a great electret.

it's a shelf down, very interesting high end response. the thiersch is relatively smooth through the upper mids but suddenly DROPS 3dB around 7k and then stays level again after that, from what i remember. i may be misremembering or remembering another capsule though. super particular sound. crazy smooth. since music has a lot of stuff in that range that can get overwhelming, the net result is a neutral, laid back sound that still sounds like it has linear extension. i actually am a big fan of that capsule. such a sound could possibly result from adjusting the tuning similarly to the flat k47 but on an accurate backplate, and it's something i've considered replicating.

to appropriate kingkorg's graph real quick, the thiersch i heard and examined was like this


though bass differences are at proximity and don't exist at distance. the flat k47 is an absurd, almost overdone bass monster at point blank range in comparison. i actually find the bass to be a little too much. but as other people have said, this makes the flat k47 unusually good for distant micing for a k47, so maybe it's for the best

 

[Recording Engineer]

Add a grill and things change… Maybe it’s the fairly-linear extension of it, then adding a grill that probably adds some pokiness? Maybe it’s more noticeable because others aren’t as smooth around that area? Regardless, I think it’s cool.

 

[kingkorg]

Add a grill and things change… Maybe it’s the fairly-linear extension of it, then adding a grill that probably adds some pokiness? Maybe it’s more noticeable because others aren’t as smooth around that area? Regardless, I think it’s cool.

Yup, a lot of times u47 type headbasket will add a peak somewhere at about 10k, or slightly above.

 

[tomas.borgstrom]

I think my K7 is from around 2017-2018. I never found it to be dark but pretty smooth. I have used it on violin often but the slight mid bump made me look for an alternative. I've been using a Beyerdynamic MC930 lately. It's not perfect either but it is easier getting it closer to the violin than a LDC mic. ha ha
I don't find the Thiersch Red to be fuzzy or sizzly. But, maybe there's something there. It's still my favorite on male vocals.

Although K47 flat has similarities in sound to M7 I don't think it sounds like Thiersch red line. I agree that there's something sizzly in the top. I find K47 flat smoother and larger. Of the Thiersch I prefer the blue line.

I bought Beesneez M7, K47 and K67 clones about ten tears ago. The K67 sounded great, but the K47 and especially the M7 did not, so I sold them. I have no insight in their quality control or how their capsules might have changed over the years.

Subtle differences are hard to spot when recording vocals since they have a limited bandwidth and not as fast transients as for example string instruments or drums, which both are very good sources when evaluating differences between microphones.

Violin, double bass and bassoon is in my experience the hardest instruments to record. Violin is very unforgiving if the player and the instrument are not top class. You have to find a microphone that fits your instrument. Ribbon might be a good alternative but they can sound honky on violin so you can't just buy without testing. I recommend to start with Coles. I haven't tried Extinct audio but Stewart has done an absolutely fantastic job on a couple of my vintage ribbon mics. I'd love to try Samar audio as well. As mentioned above there are a lot of condensors that are smoother than the vintage microphones that often have a bump in the high mids. I recommend everyone to buy (or build) modern transformerless condensors with a flat capsule as well. Pearl CC22 is one of my favourites and not super expensive.

 

[soliloqueen]

surprise! production of the first batch of k87s is complete. stay tuned.

 

[Daniel Faustino]

surprise! production of the first batch of k87s is complete. stay tuned.

All right! Put me on the list for 2 capsules please

 

[Mworthin]

surprise! production of the first batch of k87s is complete. stay tuned.

Well, this is a nice surprise!

 

[soliloqueen]

i'm on on my last 2 flat k47s and i likely won't have any back in stock until Valentine's Day because we've been busy on the K87s. the WM thread is going up the second I have the K87 stock in hand, as well as the dachman store page, the reverb store page, and the paypal cart, depending on how you want to buy and from whom.

@my international customers: don't throw those boxes out. they're ESD part storage boxes and they're basically indestructible. they're probably overkill for shipping, but i like how sturdy they are for really long shipping cycles.

 

[soapfoot]

Can’t wait til the K87 reviews and recordings start rolling in

 

[Recording Engineer]

I’ll be grabbing a pair when it’s light-up time! Congratulations!

 

[Silas]

surprise! production of the first batch of k87s is complete. stay tuned.

Amazing! Please put me down for a pair too

 

[lightningbefore]

Just checking to make sure that this would be suitable in a K67 based circuit as well? If so I'm in for one!
(Have a second coming with Dachman's kit too )

 

[kingkorg]

Just checking to make sure that this would be suitable in a K67 based circuit as well? If so I'm in for one!
(Have a second coming with Dachman's kit too )

The backplates are insulated, so they will pretty much work with any circuit.

 

[soliloqueen]

Just checking to make sure that this would be suitable in a K67 based circuit as well? If so I'm in for one!
(Have a second coming with Dachman's kit too )

Of course! Just connect the backplates

 

[materials to outlet]

Defiantly on board for one or two when they're live!

 

[soliloqueen]

i'm setting up the final store page. might start taking preorders in a bit, just waiting for my organization verification to clear for encrypting my site...

 

[Silas]

i'm setting up the final store page. might start taking preorders in a bit, just waiting for my organization verification to clear for encrypting my site...

Ace! Do you have a link for when it’s live?

 

[soliloqueen]

Ace! Do you have a link for when it’s live?

Sectigo was down for maintenance for a while so they're still getting through their backlog of OV orders I think. No idea. The entire site is finished It's just not encrypted yet so I don't feel comfortable collecting personal and financial information.