and I love this comment on that video:

Did you build a beer can camera to record your beer can mic video?

But seriously here's is your real solution:

How to Make Your Own DIY U87 Vintage Condenser Mic

 

Other beer cans are available on the market.

 

"Did you build a beer can camera to record your beer can mic video? "


Rofl :DDDD

 

I wounder if the brand of beer make a difference since all brand beer cans are similar but they are some differences in shape.

 

A piezo is not a condenser. Steel Reserve ranks right up there with Colt on the malt liquor/beer quality scale, as I remember it from my drinking days. You have to drink a lot of beer to believe it sounds like a U87, but it is hand crafted quality!

 

Last edited: Sep 23, 2015

U87 is over rated anyway.

Last time i heard an array test with 10 mics, from U87 to 100 bucks China condenser, U87 was first by a small margin...and the second just behind it was an obscure brand at 200 bucks .
C414 was muddy as hell, Rode (NT2 may be ?) was high mids ringing...and more. And some cheapo 100-200 bucks where nicer.
Is U87 nice ? For sure. Is it worth the price ? Not, by a long margin.
Instead of loosing your time and money cloning an U87, just buy a good 100-200 bucks condenser mic.
Everything else is just hype and brand.

 

I just got a new ribbon mic. That may replace my lrg. dia. condenser for my voice. going to line it up with a couple mics to see, but my Rode NT2-A is now my floor tom mic, most often. Both it and my Blue Reactor sound much nicer with a pre-amp, though. Dialing the impedance really changes the Rode and the Blue. And I have never heard of an AKG414 being described as "muddy". Always had one of the crispest high ends and definition, in my experience. I can hear the viscosity of my saliva with one of those. lol Maybe it was a bad one or off axis or something. I never have preferred U87 for my voice, when I had access. If somebody wants to give me one though....

 

Last edited: Sep 23, 2015

I'd like to know some of those mics cause I'm buying one. Thanks in advance.

 

Pick a price range, then look for mic "shoot-out" comparisons for those mics in that range. Good way to get some idea of what you are getting for your money.

 

When you see how much Neumann is selling the piece of metal which serves as a shock mount for the U87, you might get yourself an idea about where your dollars go when you buy a Neumann. Then if you don't care about the money, I'd say why not.

 

The newish and cheapish TLM 102 sounds pretty good to my ears. @ Fer Zeleid, maybe start a new thread. What is important to know is your price range, intended application/applications, whether your recording space is treated or not and perhaps your preference of manufacturer. Then we can talk about everything "For The Song".

 

Nice vid. Problem, though: the wife got as mad as hell when I tried to use her pantyhose as a spit trap. She said I might at least have had the decency to wait until she'd taken them off.

 

http://transom.org/2005/transom-studio-mic-shootout/

 

It's nice reading your view points guys

Most people fall for the reputations of things and for sure the Neumann and other top brands feed on that. I personally won't spend that much money on a mic.
I used to have a Rode Classic which is still cost about $1000, an AKG C414 B-ULS, Rode NTK, Rode NT1A, and Sennheiser MD 421 II. There was a little bit of a difference in dry vocal recording and I always thought that with an EQ, you could compensate for lost quality or some frequencies, if I am not wrong .

Finally, I settled for Rode NT1A. For some reason, it sounded very quite and less of background noise, at least for my recording environment which lacks acoustic treatment. The only problem is it's very sibilant, but I could deal with that with automation, usually.

This would be a good idea to start a new thread about mics only. Many people will find it useful. Hope to see it soon

thanks for all the info you guys shared. Didn't expect the post will start a good subject like this

 

Rode NT1A (and some others Rode) high mids ringing (i spoke about just before) can be solved by mod.
Do a little research : some ppl offer service starting at 100 bucks to...400

@rhythmatist I probably confused AKG 414 with another well known mic But my point was "some clones sounds almost as good than originals." Because it is mostly a design stuff, not magic gold capsule
The funniest thing is circuit design : designers compensate on ACTIVE circuits capsule/head flaws. So the supposed famous "airy/no EQ needed" high end can be a joke sometimes : the EQ high shelf is inside mic circuit
Replace circuit by a neutral/another one and you may laugh...or cry you payed so much for a circuit design instead of "neutral, airy, no EQ needed..."

 

Can you elaborate more on the "solved by mod." thing? excuse my ignorance. I did search and came up with nothing. I am very interested in knowing more about this.
One more question, is there a big difference between NT1A and NT2A sound wise?

another thing that needs to be considered here is the Mic-ing technique. Moving 1" closer or farther makes a big difference. Also, the position of the vocalists against the mic, directly or 40-45 degrees on either side of the mic, having the mic by lips level, above or down. All those things can make you love or hate your mic.

I think good results could be achieved by average mics if you know how to use your mic.

 

@asad12... a bunch of years ago I had a Rode Classic and I thought that it was a great mic. I paid 1500 for it back then but now it is over 2000 bucks, not anywhere near a grand.

 

@asad12 I meant "modification", sorry
There are some modifications (basket, circuit...) giving less of that high mids spikes, less noise...
They solved some of those problems (along with noise) with the NT2 line.

Here is one, a little expansive (but complete) :
http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=145

 

Yes, it's a really good mic. That thing was built to last. Did you struggle with finding a good shock mount to carry all that weight?
It's one the heaviest mics I've ever seen.

Thanks for the clarification and the link.

Now, I will blame you for an addiction I've been experiencing lately

I've been reading and searching about this for the past 2 days and don't seem to have enough until I put my hand on one of these.
I found this also:

I can't make my mind up between Rode NT1A Mod. and Professional Hulk 990 Mod (for MXL 990)
http://www.oktavamodshop.com/produc...d=114&osCsid=2352dab266b4bb05d84788ace6d2b180

It would be nice to hear your advice on which one should I go with.

I couldn't figure out which one has the lowest noise. The Rode NT1A mod. is Re-voiced, very low noise (5 dBa) FET / transformerless circuit.

The MXL 990 mod is Very low noise (10 dBa post mod), MJE Premium Electronics FET / transformerless circuit