Recording - May 2020 - 34
REVIEW
On the KM 54 side, it makes use of a
similar subminiature triode tube. Soundwise, it aims to combine the rich low-end
capture of the C28 with the smooth, neutral top end of the KM 54.
Tube and FET
To yield the lowest noise floor possible, The P-28 is also a hybrid FET/
tube design with a Peluso-designed FET
amplifier before the tube stage, which
is then rounded out by a custom-wound
output transformer.
The kit
Peluso P-28 Pencil Tube
Condenser Microphone
Vintage meets modern in this tube-style small
diaphragm condenser mic
REVIEW BY PAUL VNUK JR.
F
or 18 years, John Peluso and Peluso Microphone Lab have been
crafting microphones that are visually and sonically inspired by
classic models of the past.
Peluso microphones are designed, assembled, and tested using
house-manufactured components loaded into imported bodies and cases.
In addition to mics such as the U 67-inspired P-67 valve condenser
(reviewed May 2017), and the C414-inspired P-414 (reviewed May
2019), Peluso also offers original creations such as their 14 series ribbon
models, the CEMC-6 pencil condenser, and the PS-1 handheld condenser.
The P-28 on review taps into both paradigms.
The hybrid approach
The Peluso P-28 is a tube-based pencil condenser microphone that takes its
sound and inspiration from the classic
Neumann KM 54 as well as the AKG
C28. Released in 1954, the Neumann
KM 54 was an early pencil condenser
design that employed a sub-miniature
tube and was known for its smooth,
neutral tonality. The AKG C28 released
in 1955 was also a small diaphragm
tube condenser designed around a similar circuit topology as the AKG C12.
It featured optional interchangeable
34 RECORDING May 2020
capsules under its removable grille/
windscreen. Its body was larger than
most modern SDC mics, as it originally
housed a full-sized tube before switching
to a miniature Nuvistor tube in its third
incarnation. The C28 offered an open,
full low-end capture.
The Peluso P-28 has combined the
best of both. Its 8" x 1" body, removable
head grille, and all are visually reminiscent of the AKG C28. It comes stock
with an 18mm edge-terminated cardioid
capsule, and like the C28, an optional
omnidirectional capsule is available.
The P-28 comes in a kit that includes
a felt-lined wooden box, external power
supply, clamp-style shock mount, 8-pin
screw-on multipin cable, and the mic
itself, all housed in a slim, locking aluminum flight case. Matched pairs are
available on request.
Sounds
Sonically, the words 'clear' and 'neutral' come to mind, with a gentle hint
of low-end richness. The P-28 captures
a source with great detail, while exhibiting zero top-end hype or bite. I have
reviewed a few tube-based pencil microphones in my day, and I was quite
pleased with how low-noise this mic is;
despite being a vintage-toned tube microphone, it's cleaner and has a higher
output than my beloved vintage Neumann KM 84.
To zero in on the sound and tone of
the Peluso P-28, I did some side-by-side
recordings alongside my above-mentioned 80s vintage KM 84, and the new
RØDE TF-5 pencil condenser (reviewed
October 2019). My goal was not to determine which mic sounds best, but instead to give an idea of where the P-28
lives on the sonic spectrum.
Tracked through a Millennia Media
HV3-D preamp on a song with my usual
test instruments of cajón, dreadnought
acoustic guitar, shakers, tambourine,
and vocals, the Peluso P-28 and RØDE
TF-5 couldn't be more opposite in their
capture. The TF-5 is all about forward
clarity and ultra-extended detail, especially in the 12kHz range, while simultaneously downplaying the 6kHz
mid-tones. Switching to the P-28 brings
Recording - May 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - May 2020
No label
Fade In
Fast Forward
That One Instrument Mic
Plugin Outlet: Chandler Limited Germanium Compressor by Softube
Incidents in The Sound Lab: Recording and Mixing The String Cheese Incident
Peluso P-28 Pencil Tube Condenser Microphone
Austrian Audio Hi-X55 Professional Over-Ear Headphones
Creative Miking Techniques for Flute, Snare, Piano, and more!
The Do’s and Don’ts of Flute Recording
Stereo Snare and Fun Room Miking Tips
Recording Piano Wrong
Plugin Outlet: Silo Soundlabs Trident EQ plugins
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: miking and making Nick D’Virgilio’s
Samar Audio Design AL95 Passive Ribbon Microphone
Heiserman H47tube Microphone
Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Microphone and Preamp Modeling
Readers' Tracks
Plugin Outlet: Polyverse Comet
Recording - May 2020 - No label
Recording - May 2020 - Cover1
Recording - May 2020 - Cover2
Recording - May 2020 - 1
Recording - May 2020 - 2
Recording - May 2020 - 3
Recording - May 2020 - Fade In
Recording - May 2020 - 5
Recording - May 2020 - 6
Recording - May 2020 - 7
Recording - May 2020 - Fast Forward
Recording - May 2020 - 9
Recording - May 2020 - That One Instrument Mic
Recording - May 2020 - 11
Recording - May 2020 - 12
Recording - May 2020 - 13
Recording - May 2020 - 14
Recording - May 2020 - 15
Recording - May 2020 - 16
Recording - May 2020 - 17
Recording - May 2020 - 18
Recording - May 2020 - 19
Recording - May 2020 - Plugin Outlet: Chandler Limited Germanium Compressor by Softube
Recording - May 2020 - 21
Recording - May 2020 - 22
Recording - May 2020 - 23
Recording - May 2020 - Incidents in The Sound Lab: Recording and Mixing The String Cheese Incident
Recording - May 2020 - 25
Recording - May 2020 - 26
Recording - May 2020 - 27
Recording - May 2020 - 28
Recording - May 2020 - 29
Recording - May 2020 - 30
Recording - May 2020 - 31
Recording - May 2020 - 32
Recording - May 2020 - 33
Recording - May 2020 - Peluso P-28 Pencil Tube Condenser Microphone
Recording - May 2020 - 35
Recording - May 2020 - Austrian Audio Hi-X55 Professional Over-Ear Headphones
Recording - May 2020 - 37
Recording - May 2020 - Creative Miking Techniques for Flute, Snare, Piano, and more!
Recording - May 2020 - 39
Recording - May 2020 - The Do’s and Don’ts of Flute Recording
Recording - May 2020 - 41
Recording - May 2020 - Stereo Snare and Fun Room Miking Tips
Recording - May 2020 - 43
Recording - May 2020 - Recording Piano Wrong
Recording - May 2020 - 45
Recording - May 2020 - Plugin Outlet: Silo Soundlabs Trident EQ plugins
Recording - May 2020 - 47
Recording - May 2020 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: miking and making Nick D’Virgilio’s
Recording - May 2020 - 49
Recording - May 2020 - 50
Recording - May 2020 - 51
Recording - May 2020 - 52
Recording - May 2020 - 53
Recording - May 2020 - 54
Recording - May 2020 - 55
Recording - May 2020 - Samar Audio Design AL95 Passive Ribbon Microphone
Recording - May 2020 - 57
Recording - May 2020 - Heiserman H47tube Microphone
Recording - May 2020 - 59
Recording - May 2020 - Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Microphone and Preamp Modeling
Recording - May 2020 - 61
Recording - May 2020 - 62
Recording - May 2020 - 63
Recording - May 2020 - 64
Recording - May 2020 - 65
Recording - May 2020 - 66
Recording - May 2020 - 67
Recording - May 2020 - 68
Recording - May 2020 - 69
Recording - May 2020 - Readers' Tracks
Recording - May 2020 - 71
Recording - May 2020 - Plugin Outlet: Polyverse Comet
Recording - May 2020 - Cover3
Recording - May 2020 - Cover4
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