Recording - October 2016 - 20

Neumann's current line honors its history in several ways.
The TLM 49 (reviewed June 2007) and the TLM 67 (May 2009)
are modern transformerless FET-based homages to their venerable ancestors; the KM 184 and U 87 Ai are modern updates to
the classic designs; and there's even been a precise reissue of
the U 47 fet ($3999; reviewed February 2015, photo 13) that
Paul found indistinguishable from vintage models in direct A/B
tests. But Neumann is also constantly looking forward, with
brand-new designs that are on their way to becoming classics.
Two of our favorites: the TLM 107 ($1399; reviewed May
2014), which Paul called "a fantastic all-around workhorse and
one of the most neutral microphones Neumann has made," and
the tiny TLM 102 ($699; reviewed April 2010), which Paul
(Stamler) said "gives you clarity and definition without ever
losing its suavity and control."

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MXL (www.mxlmics.com): MXL is famous for extremely
affordable mics that have graced many a new recordist's
starter setup. Perhaps its most famous mics, the LDC 990 and
the 991 SDC pencil condenser, cost $109.99-for a package
with one of each! But that's not all MXL does; the firm also
sells tube mics like the Genesis and Revelation, and its own
line of ribbons. We reviewed the CR89 ($349), which Paul
found useful on vocals and acoustic guitar, in August 2015.
Neat Microphones (www.neatmic.com): Founded by Skipper
Wise and Martins Saulespurens, the brains behind Blue, Neat
is a new line offering unusually-designed and very high-quality
mics for what would usually be entry-level prices. Paul tried the
Worker Bee ($249) and King Bee ($349, photo 12) in
December 2015 and February 2016; he liked the Worker Bee
on female vocals, electric guitar cabinet, and baby grand
piano, and loved the more upper-mid-forward sound of the
King Bee on acoustic instruments (especially miked up close),
and as a kick and front-of-kit drum mic that competes with
much costlier mics.
Neumann (www.neumann.com): Many of the greatest mics
in history are Neumanns: the CMV 3, U 47 and U 47 fet, U
67, M 49, U 87, KM 84... the list goes on. They say imitation
is the sincerest form of flattery-many of the condenser mics
on sale today are inspired by these classic designs, whose
magical sounds have appeared on millions of hit records over
more than seven decades.
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RECORDING OCTOBER 2016

Oktava (www.oktava-mics.net
(Russian); www.oktava.eu):
Headquartered in Tula, Russia,
Oktava has been around for nearly
100 years, and makes a variety of
excellent mics. While there are a
number of well-known Oktava
designs like the MK-319 LDC and the
ML-52-02 ribbon, easily the most popular Oktava model is the MK-012, a
pencil condenser with a variety of interchangeable capsules, screw-on filters and
pads, even a swivel head and a T-adaptor that
turns two cardioid capsules into a figure-8! The
MK-012 has a tortuous history, full of legitimate
exports, cheap counterfeits, and various people offering upgrades and rebuilds... but the
mic itself is affordable and offers great results
in many applications, and is worth seeking out
from a legitimate dealer like oktava.eu.
Pearl Microphones (www.pearlmicrophones
.com): Pearl Microphones is a Swedish mic
maker, from whom Milab split off in the 1970s.
It is famous for its unusual rectangulardiaphragm condenser mics, most notably the
ELM-A, whose dual diaphragms are output separately so polar pattern can actually be adjusted at mixdown time, and the PRIORITY ($938;
reviewed September 2014), whose new
diaphragm design makes it exceptional for
male and female vocals.

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Pearlman Microphones (www.pearlman
microphones.com): Dave Pearlman handbuilds microphones inspired by great designs
of yesteryear, using original parts wherever
possible and obtaining custom-made replacements if necessary. His most recent releases
are the TM-250 ($3300; reviewed February
2014), based on the Telefunken ELA M 250
that Paul called "a stunner... an instant Wow
Moment" on vocals, and the TM-47 ($2280;
reviewed September 2014, photo 14), a cardioid tube mic based on the Neumann U 47
that Paul considered a magical choice on
vocals, guitars (acoustic and electric), percussion, and as a front-of-kit mic.
Peluso Microphone Lab (www.peluso
microphonelab.com): John Peluso runs a family
operation that combines hand-built electronics

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http://www.oktava-mics.net http://www.oktava.eu http://www.oktava.eu http://www.pearlmicrophones.com http://www.pearlmicrophones.com http://www.mxlmics.com http://www.neatmic.com http://www.pearlmanmicrophones.com http://www.pearlmanmicrophones.com http://www.neumann.com http://www.pelusomicrophonelab.com http://www.pelusomicrophonelab.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - October 2016
