Measurement Mics

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Hi guys, just wondering, what are they

At first i thought they were mics used, not specifically for recording sounds, but maybe sound levels etc.

I have been looking about at cheap small diaphram condensors (to use as a pair, drum overheads, stereo effect on acoustic guitars etc. And while looking at cheaper ones, i came across behringer mics (as you do), and have read in a number of places about the behringer ECM8000 measurement mic, and have heard sound samples of it when used to record acoustic guitar, and it sounded pretty good!

Would there be any problem using two of these in a manner similar to how a stereo set of small diaphram condensors would be used? Seeing, when it comes down to it, thats pretty much all these seem to be?

Cheers

- Will

[Alaska Bass]

Measurements mics are microphones utilitzed in analyzing sound system response. They are designed to be flat response with no boosting or cutting to accentuate the microphone sound.

That is the theory. It used to apply to these mics, until we started finding mics made by Behringer, dbx, etc. that cost under $500.00 and were supposedly flat in response.

NO SUCH DEAL.

Personally, saying or writing the Behringer name is like cussing. They have a market in the incredibly deaf, poor and stupid market and seem to be pretty successful.

If the mics sound good to you, by all means get them. Maybe they create the sound you are looking for, but be assured they are not re-creating the sound you put in front of them.

Hope that helps.

[Harvey Gerst]

Actually, the Behringer ECM8000's are surprisingly good for the money. The downside is they can't handle really loud sounds, and the self noise may be too high for very quiet sounds.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Alaska Bass

Measurements mics are microphones utilitzed in analyzing sound system response. They are designed to be flat response with no boosting or cutting to accentuate the microphone sound.

That is the theory. It used to apply to these mics, until we started finding mics made by Behringer, dbx, etc. that cost under $500.00 and were supposedly flat in response.

NO SUCH DEAL.

Personally, saying or writing the Behringer name is like cussing. They have a market in the incredibly deaf, poor and stupid market and seem to be pretty successful.

If the mics sound good to you, by all means get them. Maybe they create the sound you are looking for, but be assured they are not re-creating the sound you put in front of them.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the rundown, i thought it was for something like that, but had trouble finding any definite answer

Being a member of that deaf poor and stupid market, i have to say, that i think high-end mics arent worth thier weight and cost. I've used some cheaper LDCs for instance, and when compared to say a U87, yeah, the U87 sounds better, alot better? no. In the grand scheme of the mix, the differences are often so subtle that some clever EQing can make the difference.

From what ive learnt, as long as the mic isnt an ultra noisy hissiny POS, then the talent of the musician and the placement of the mic matter alot more than spending £1,500 on a mic

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

Actually, the Behringer ECM8000's are surprisingly good for the money. The downside is they can't handle really loud sounds, and the self noise may be too high for very quiet sounds.

For what ive read, they really do seem to be one of the jems that behringer has copied properly. I didnt hear of them having a high self noise tho, just a high handling noise (was going to get a coulple shockmounts to replace the standard clips those mics come with). But i'll take it into consideration, cheers

[bluestarbass]

I seem to remeber those mics being Omni's. I also have heard good things, as theres not much good to behringer, about those mics. They would work well for certain situations but being that they are only omni youll find them odd on certain drum sets and rooms. An omni mic will pick up alot more of the room, which can be a good or bad thing. After you get those your going to want something a little different to cover your basses, your better off spending a bit more on a pair of oktava 012s or something you can change capsules on. I have a pair of the rode nt-5s. I have the cardiod and omni caps which makes them alot more versitile.

[Alaska Bass]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Thanks for the rundown, i thought it was for something like that, but had trouble finding any definite answer

Being a member of that deaf poor and stupid market, i have to say, that i think high-end mics arent worth thier weight and cost. I've used some cheaper LDCs for instance, and when compared to say a U87, yeah, the U87 sounds better, alot better? no. In the grand scheme of the mix, the differences are often so subtle that some clever EQing can make the difference.

Well, good luck to you with that then

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Alaska Bass

Well, good luck to you with that then

Tis true either way you look at it.

How can someone running a home studio justify spending so much money on something that costs the same as the cheap mics to make? And when it comes down to it, be honest, they dont make that much of a difference, hell, ive heard really good recordings where the vocals have been done on an SM58.

I cant find the link, but theres a review out there directly comparing a cheap Apex tube condenser to a Neumann. Inside, the electrics were practically the exact same, was even made in the same chinease factory. Only real difference was that they put a NOS tube in the Neumann and the Apex had a cheapy tube in it (didnt know NOS tubes made it worth a $1000 difference in price tag).

After the review, Neumann claimed that had only been a prototype (mass produced in a chinease factory?). You also would have thought they would have pointed something like that out before.

Sorry if im ranting a bit, just the mark up on electrical gear, especially mics (which are very simple things), really peeves me. The studio world is filled with huge mark ups on only neglidable differences and snake oil.

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I cant find the link, but theres a review out there directly comparing a cheap Apex tube condenser to a Neumann. Inside, the electrics were practically the exact same, was even made in the same chinease factory. Only real difference was that they put a NOS tube in the Neumann and the Apex had a cheapy tube in it (didnt know NOS tubes made it worth a $1000 difference in price tag).

After the review, Neumann claimed that had only been a prototype (mass produced in a chinese factory?). You also would have thought they would have pointed something like that out before.

It wasn't Neumann; it was Telefunken.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

It wasn't Neumann; it was Telefunken.

That would explain why i couldnt find the link as a reference, either way, it was a needless markup

[bluestarbass]

I think you have a point about the price. First, its hard for a home studio guy to justify having severel $1000+ mics. Second your signal chain is only as good as your weakest link. If you have terrible convertors or terrible monitors, a 3 grand mic isnt gonna make much of a difference. To get the most out of a u87 for example, youd need high quality converters, high quality preamp, good monitors to mix on, and a computer that can handle all of that. If your using a mbox with a u87, while it will sound good, alot of the amazingness will be lost in your conversion process and weak preamp.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by bluestarbass

Second your signal chain is only as good as your weakest link. If you have terrible convertors or terrible monitors, a 3 grand mic isnt gonna make much of a difference. To get the most out of a u87 for example, youd need high quality converters, high quality preamp, good monitors to mix on, and a computer that can handle all of that. If your using a mbox with a u87, while it will sound good, alot of the amazingness will be lost in your conversion process and weak preamp.

+10 The key is learning to get everything you can out of whatever gear you have. Heard lots of great stuff on done on so-so gear and crap done on expensive gear. You have to learn to get everything out of whatever you have.