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[MDM,]

a metre or close to two?

the actual precise distance is not so important as this varies with the application due to room reflections and musical reasons.

but what does matter to me is that the capsule does work fine at a distance, in the sense that the sound is still distinct and 'solid-sounding'

I know the vintage ones in good shape can do this quite well(they were after all made to pick-up orchestras?)

[Klaus Heyne]

Nah, the "vintage ones" were originally made for the Nazis- spoken word. The M7/K47 backplate pattern that is still in use today goes back before WWII.

I will comply nevertheless and report back how the Sneesby compares to the Neumann at a distance well beyond proximity effect, at a meter or two.

[Edvaard]

Is it taken as gospel that Neuman were oblivious to all other broadcast and recording considerations of that time? or that the backplate design was intentioned thuswise? That is an interesting proposal, considering the cultural situation before and during that regime. Speeches were important, but the propaganda utility of music and film were invoked often too, aside from the normal recording and film considerations. But then I don't actually know what the thought process might have been, considering all that.

[Klaus Heyne]

It may be much simpler and less speculative than that. Audio equipment of the 1930s and even earlier had very poor s/n.

Accessing the mic close-up optimised the signal output and minimised the noise.

[MDM,]

hmm.. I think they would have at least considered mic'ing orchestras, and the mercury living presence records are proof of how the capsule does perform at a distance.

the 'omni' setting using two membranes would also have had other applications.

orchestral music was used often in propaganda.

The soundtracks for nazi movies for instance were very impressive.

Air friction causes HF loss at a distance so a presence peak can be a good thing for distant mic'ing.

the M7's had a high-frequency peak, which became more subtle as time went by.. probably because of vocal use and too much sibilance (for the time) at close-range..

I have two M7's here and the late 50's one is not as bright by design from what I understand.  The backplate is slightly different.  The earlyer M7 is brighter.

I know it's the capsule and not the reskin because I had it reskinned twice (second time PVC) and the overall high midrange was still there (but the peaky top-end was not)

[David Bock]

Quote:

In the Sneesby test I used the following: Headphones: Sennheiser 414 run and wired in mono Headphone interconnects: back to stock-Sennheiser, after lengthy tests with audiophile substitutes Mic pre and headphone amp: Nakamichi 610 Control Preamplifier, unbalanced input. Interconnect beween mic pre and microphone power supply: Gotham GAC3 Mic power supply: stock Neumann NG Microphone: Neumann U47, long body, 1957, mostly stock, with the exception of Hovland Musicap coupling and filtering capacitors Sound source: my voice. No reproduced sound sources were used.

Do you use a different setup for P48 mics?

[Klaus Heyne]

For P48 I use the same system, except for an external phantom supply (Neumann N451, with no integrated decoupling of DC) which I connect to a high quality Mayhak 1:1 transformer. P48 mic cable and output XLR cable is Gotham GAC3.


I will make the Sneesby distance tests as soon as I get the U47 back from rental, next week.

[miics]

Hi Klaus and all.  I have been making some changes and will get a few more samples out to you ASAP.  thanks again.

[miics]

Hi Klaus,
I have just today implimented 2 changes into the K7. Firstly, thinner centre washers (thanks) and secondly, solid-core termination wires.

Just letting you know some progress.

thanks

[MDM,]

just a reminder for distant-mic comparison of original neumann vs. Ben S.'s capsules

[Klaus Heyne]

Yes, thanks.
I will not get my U47 back from rental until next week, but your reminder is appreciated.

[Klaus Heyne]

miics wrote on Fri, 18 June 2010 06:03

(...) and secondly; solid core termination wires.

Just make sure they don't resonate, as solid core capsule lead out wires have a tendency to do.

[J.J. Blair]

[quote title=Klaus Heyne wrote on Fri, 18 June 2010 10:50]

miics wrote on Fri, 18 June 2010 06:03

(...) and secondly; solid core termination wires.

I was going to say, of the many things I've learned from Klaus and David Bock, one is to not use solid core wires off the capsule.  

[zebra50]

I keep reading this, and would point out that capsules in UM57, and the Microtech Gefell UM70 and M71 etc use solid wires.

[miics]

Klaus Heyne wrote on Sat, 19 June 2010 03:50

miics wrote on Fri, 18 June 2010 06:03  (...) and secondly; solid core termination wires. Just make sure they don't resonate, as solid core capsule lead out wires have a tendency to do.

Thanks, i will/have done and so far so good. and i believe that i have the midrange clearer now too due to an ever so slight tensioning modification.

cheers