mics - EV N/D468 and SM57

[rec-tec]

hi all.

i came across some info on a mic i had not really heard of before - the EV N/D468. I wanted to upgrade my tom mics so, from what i could gather this seemed to be a suitable choice (not wanting to splash out on 3 MD421's).

i am curious to know what other's think.

i recorded it using the pre-amps on the zoom H4N (haven't had time to go through anything a bit better. My initial thoughts were that it was quieter and a little brighter than the SM57 and it's swivel head make it much easier to position.

described as super-cardioid, i was a little disappointed with the amount of bleed from the other parts of the kit (but maybe i am being over-optimistic).

on acoustic guitar - i did prefer the sound over the SM57, but i dont know how it would sit in a mix yet.

although an instrument mic (as it says on the mic) i put some vocals through it and i think it confirmed that it is an instrument mic (however i think it may suit different voices better - as some mics flatter different ranges and i was close and quiet - so further and louder may be better).

i am hoping to try my sax through it - just to see how it compares.

i was a little disappointed that it did not sound remarkably better than the Gatt tom mic i also compared it with (which is part of a kit and probably costs about £15)- however i suspect that might be because i did not spend enough time positioning it, whereas i have got the Gatt sounding about as good as it can.

anyway - just wanted to tap the collective knowledge of the forum and get views. i quite like it, but i am not sure i like it enough to get another 2.

cheers

r-t

[Mike Stranks]

I have an EV 468 although it's had very little use as yet.

I've used it on snare and acoustic guitar - both really as a 'see what it sounds like' exercise. In those modes I preferred it to the SM57 - although I'll readily confess that I'm one of the three people in the UK who doesn't regard the 57 as the 'go to' mic for snare!!

If you're wanting cheaper mics for toms have you tried the Yoga-606 in one of its many incarnations (eg CPC part no MP33857)or for floor-toms the AKG D550 (discountinued but still pops up on EBay from time to time)? The 550 was marketed as a kick mic but I was never impressed... different story on floor tom though.

[Sam Inglis]

I'll readily confess that I'm one of the three people in the UK who doesn't regard the 57 as the 'go to' mic for snare!!

I'm one of those people too. I wonder who the third is?

[Aled Hughes]

I'll readily confess that I'm one of the three people in the UK who doesn't regard the 57 as the 'go to' mic for snare!!

I'm one of those people too. I wonder who the third is?

That would be me.

[Fourgery]

While not familiar with the 468, I have a number of the previous model 308's. After using them on a number of instruments, I dumped all my 57's.

[Mike Stranks]

Not wishing to hijack the thread... but that's interesting that others share my view of the 57 on snare. My earlier comment about being 'one of three' was because usually when I say this, fellow sound-techs - including those owning or running much more prestigious equipment than I can run to - look at me as though I've just crawled out from under a stone.

But then in my curmudgeonly old-age I'm increasingly convinced that there's a lot more of "I do this because everyone else does this" around in live-sound and music production than we might at first realise.

Meanwhile back at the thread...

[Bob Bickerton]

I have a 468 and generally prefer it to a 57 on most sources. A perhaps more open top end and more substance down below? However, I only have the one (now, one has ceased to function). On toms my go to mics are Audix D2s and D4 for floor tom - for live work and recording (though I don't often record drums) they deliver a great sound.

BUT I have recently acquired a Beyer M201, which would have to be one of the best dynamic mics I've used. In fact it's been described as how a 57 should sound if it was a proper mic! And I can believe it. If you're thinking of sources such as guitar, saxophone or brass, then this is the mic I'd recommend (well I'd use SDCs on guitar and perhaps a TLM193 on Sax, but this would be the best dynamic to recommend).

I haven't tried it on snare or toms, but would imagine it would deliver an excellent sound. It would be interesting to put it up against an MD421. When I last tried a 421 I felt it was fairly bright (even with the HF lift in lowest position), I'm picking the M201 would have a silkier, smoother top end.

Because I don't live in the UK I don't qualify as the fourth member of the threesome who don't like 57s on snare.

Bob

[The Elf]

I'll readily confess that I'm one of the three people in the UK who doesn't regard the 57 as the 'go to' mic for snare!!

I'm one of those people too. I wonder who the third is?

Audix i5 for me.

[Guy Johnson]

I think the '57 thing on snare is partly its transformer saturating, giving an … um … '57 sound! … which I quite like for rock, but not for quieter styles where more Hi-Fi is good.

[rec-tec]

thanks all for your input.

Bob, i have heard that about the M201 - it was recommended to me after a very lengthy discussion with someone who runs a recording facility as being a much overlooked mic (being somewhat in the shadow of the SM57). i was going to get another 2 ND468s - but i think i will get one M201 and see how it stacks up against my other mics and then make it a trio if it pleases.

i usually use an SM7b or C414 (in omni) for my sax (or an sm57 - if i play it into my voicetouch live) - with very satisfactory results, but i just wanted to see what the ND468 could do in that regard (i still think it has it's uses and i was very pleased with the results on acoustic guitar when compared to the SM57 which was perceptibly noisier and a little duller - but the later is just down to personal preference)

i am not sure that i have given the 468 enough of a go yet to weigh up it's merits and feel that any short-comings may be my hasty technique, rather than the mic itself...time will tell

thanks again for all your thoughts...the search continues

r-t

[Mike Stranks]

Spot-on Bob

The 201 is a brilliant mic and one I used quite often back in the 70s when involved with BBC Radio Bristol. I was introduced to it by the station's engineers who used it with excellent results on a multiplicity of sources. Local radio didn't really "do" condenser mics back then...

... and it still pops up all over the place in BBC local radio - or at least in Oxford where I spotted two or three on a recent brief visit.

See, you've done it again Bob... pointed me at gear that I then start to think "Hmmm... I wonder if I should..."

Note to potential "used" purchasers: The Revox 3500 is the same mic.

[rec-tec]

thanks mike - it's good to hear another vote for a mic from an experienced user.

r-t

[Sam Inglis]

I too much prefer M201s to SM57s on most things.

[shufflebeat]

See, you've done it again Bob... pointed me at gear that I then start to think "Hmmm... I wonder if I should..."

It's why they call him Dangerous Bob.

I like a '57 on a snare - there's something around 400hz that gives body to a snare sound and a hint of Bonham on the right hihats.

...just sayin'.

[Bob Bickerton]

It's why they call him Dangerous Bob.

Or dB for short .......... Lock up your wallets! I'm a convicted microphonophile............

Bob

[Random Guitarist]

Another m201 convert here. They just sound good. I'd describe it as a 'gentle hi-fi' sound.
Detailed but not overly bright. Easy to fit into a mix with other parts. Defiinite keepers.

[dickiefunk]

M201 is a great mic and one I would like to add to my collection at some point in the future.
For snare I've always liked the Audix i5 but have been getting good results with the AKG D5. I've also heard lots of positive experiences with the Heil PR20 but I haven't used on of those yet.

[Guy Johnson]

A million years ago, I always used a 201 on hihats, in a small club with a huge PA doing indie rock bands mostly. Very nice job they did. Poor things god whacked quite a lot by fecking drummers, sadly.

DangerBob® you *are* a mike menace!! I've just got a bargain off ebay, a Revox 3500, because of this thread Can't wait, it's been too long!

Worryingly, and off topic, there are some dangerous threads here mentioning Neumann monitors … My name's Guy Jonson and I'm a … well … I have a problem … I ReallyWant® those monitors.

[TheReson8or]

I am going to throw the Heil PR31 bw into the ring...Great dynamic...not cheap!

[shufflebeat]

I am going to throw the Heil PR31 bw into the ring...

Ouch!

While we're off topic I'd like to extol the virtues of the Audix f12 for a deep bodied bodhran. I had a bit of a trad fest recently and was landed with a last minute bin-lid. My Senny e606 was v fine but the Audix was huge while maintaining a nice detailed top end.

[Guy Johnson]

I am going to throw the Heil PR31 bw into the ring...Great dynamic...not cheap!

Bet it's good … I love my Heil PR35 handheld mics muchly …

[Bob Bickerton]

I am going to throw the Heil PR31 bw into the ring...

Ouch!

While we're off topic I'd like to extol the virtues of the Audix f12 for a deep bodied bodhran. I had a bit of a trad fest recently and was landed with a last minute bin-lid. My Senny e606 was v fine but the Audix was huge while maintaining a nice detailed top end.

I've found the Audix D2 to be 'the' bodhran mic, the frequency shaping seems spot on, but maybe it's time to fry the M201.

Bob

[Guy Johnson]

Deep or oven fried?

[zenguitar]

Would that be on the batter head?

Andy

[Guy Johnson]