Hey, any of you guys ever seen one of these?

Question

http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-u2mic.html
So dig this, it's like the rabbit out of the hat some guy pulls over on the Sound. Pro discussion board.
Then boom it's a strafish and gone, but the OP never says that he found it, in fact the opposite. I refreshed the list over there in case it gets posted I'll let you know. But it's molasses at IS's house in January all the time over there so don't hold your breath.
But this is how I'm thinking, it's a choice between a $130 MXL [Marshall] USB mic, a moderate quality mic, and plugging in something as sweet as like my old Shure beta green condenser, and there's no comparison, the latter is a total slam.
PMacG5 2.Ghz iBookg4 1.42 Macbook Pro 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.9) 2.5mem Singin'ShureLynx16x M-AOzonicProKeys88Motu896ARTubesGolden FCS-Lp 7.2.☮

Answer 1

Hi.
It the best mic for the price, hands down.
I won't lie to you, it does not sound "like" a vintage mic, because it is a new microphone. Old battered circuitry can never be really dupplicated correctly. I like to use the word ""vintage" to describe a wine, because that is what the words is for. when I describe a mic, I use the model name. And if it's a old mic, then I try to use the year it was made, as reference.
If you ever see an advert for something that claims to be "vintage" it better be a wine bottle.
so, after my lovely rant about vintage-ness, here' some of my opinion on that Mic (V69):
It does have a great sound of it own, which easily can make vocal recordings sound more present, warmer (ie more low end) and fuller, as it does the proximity effect very nicely. Especially on female vocals.
Another thing I like about it is the fact that it does NOT hype the high end. In true tube mic fashion, it actually attenuates the high end a little, making for a smoother response. You no longer have to either turn up the bass, nor turn down the high end, to make a better frequency balance in you recording.
One typical setup I use them for is an acoustic guitar. In this case I pair one V69 to a pencil condenser, a neumann KM84, and blend the two to a mono track. Here is why I do this:
The V69 takes care of all the low end, and most of the midrange. It captures the fullness of the guitar.
The neumann KM84 is there to capture the high top end, and some more of the upper midrange.
I use the KM84 like the focus dial on a camera lens. Do you want the guitar more "detailed and present"? You add a little more KM84. You want a more "diffuse and ambient" sound? Then lessen the level of the KM84.
But always, the V69 is there to capture the bulk of the guitar sound. It is the one that gets the "meat" of the sound. the KM84 captures the "gravy".
without the good meat, the gravy doesn't mean much...
There's a reason my moniker is "noeqplease": I like to get the sound there before applying an EQ. EQ to me is for lessening unwanted frequencies, like rumble, or too much top end. Or a "honking" note. AFTER having recorded the sound as close to the original as possible. This has always made for a FAR better and easier mixing and mastering experience down the road.
Cheers