Podcastage

Video: https://youtu.be/t8X-Is7naeU

Today i review the Warm Audio WA251, a clone of the legendary Telefunken ELAM 251. This is a slightly V-shaped sounding microphone with a bump in the bass and low mids and a lift in the treble and air. It offers a relatively smooth sound character and a low noise for a tube mic of 12dBA.

RECORDING SETTINGS:
Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen
Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz
Gain: ~1:00
Boosted in Post: +6dB

SPECS:

Polar Pattern: Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8

Freq Response : 20Hz - 20khz

Self Noise: 12dBA

S/N Ratio: 80dBA

Max SPL: 132dB

Impedance: 200 Ohms

Buy the Rode NTK (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/wa251
Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/wa251
Thomann:

Buy the Focusrite 2i2 (3rd Gen)- Same Performance as 18i20 (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/2i32rd
Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/k6g4d
B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/42lcWDF
Thomann: https://www.thomann.de/intl/focusrite_scarlett_2i2_3rd_gen.htm?offid=1&affid=2060

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

00:00 - Intro / Setup
00:27 - What’s in the Box
00:54 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
02:08 - Specifications
02:22 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
03:42 - Plosive Test
03:54 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
04:16 - Background Noise Test
04:31 - Untreated Room Test
04:54 - Shock Rejection Test
05:12 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
05:26 - Intro to Comparison
05:50 - Audio Technica AT2020 Comparison
06:14 - Neat King Bee v2 Comparison
06:42 - Earthworks SR117 Comparison
07:16 - Rode NT1 5th Gen Comparison
07:41 - Avantone CV12 Comparison
08:16 - Warm Audio WA67 Comparison
08:53 - Warm Audio WA47 Comparison
09:29 - Neumann U87 Ai Comparison
10:06 - Neumann U67 Reissue Comparison
10:41 - Music Test
11:56 - Pros & Cons
12:55 - Overall Thoughts
14:39 - Recommendation
16:03 - Outro

Voicing 1 Comparison: https://youtu.be/00Fl2m_J-q0

Today i review the Aston Apex, a handheld dynamic. This mic has two different voicings giving you different EQ curves, active electronics giving the mic a very healthy output level, and it offers a unique and robust feeling build quality. The sound is either V-shaped or upper mid focussed depending on the voicing you use. I found that it suffered in two primary areas: plosive rejection and handling noise rejection.

RECORDING SETTINGS:

Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen

Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz

Gain: 40dB (+48v Phantom Power On)

Boosted in Post: +10dB

SPECS:

Polar Pattern: Cardioid

Freq Response : 20Hz - 16khz

Sensitivity: -62dB to -50dB (depending on active/passive & switch position)

Max SPL: 115dB to 147dB (depending on active/passive & switch position)

Equivalent Noise Level: 5dB

Buy the Aston Apex(Affiliate Link)
Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/apex
Thomann: https://thmn.to/thoprod/594390

Buy the Focusrite 18i20 4th Gen - (Affiliate Links)
Amazon: https://geni.us/18i204th
Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/18i204th
B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/3DLyvHf
Thomann: https://thmn.to/thoprod/596531

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

00:00 - Intro
00:26 - What’s in the Box
00:44 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
01:16 - Specifications
01:28 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
01:43 - Plosive Test
02:03 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
02:21 - Background Noise Test
02:34 - Untreated Room Test
02:54 - Shock Rejection Test
03:15 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
03:31 - Handling Noise Rejection Test
03:51 - Cup the Mic Test
04:10 - Voicing Switch Demo (Voice 1 vs. Voice 2)
05:33 - Shure SM58 Comparison
05:56 - Sennheiser E835 Comparison
06:21 - sE Electronics V7 Comparison
06:46 - Shure Beta 58a Comparison
07:13 - Audix OM3 Comparison
07:42 - Mojave MA-D Comparison
08:10 - Sennheiser E935 Comparison
08:38 - Beyerdynamic TG V70d Comparison
09:14 - Audio Technica AT2010 Comparison
09:43 - Lewitt MTP350Cm Comparison
10:09 - Earthworks SR117 Comparison
10:33 - Neumann U87 Ai Comparison
11:03 - Music Test (voicing 2)
13:03 - Pros & Cons
14:41 - Overall Thoughts
16:48 - Recommendation

Today i review the CAD M179, a relatively affordable multi-pattern condenser mic ranging from Omni to Cardioid to Figure 8 or anything in between. The mic gives a slightly more V-shaped sound with a high frequency boost and deep extension into the bass frequencies.

RECORDING SETTINGS:

Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen

Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz

Gain: ~12:00

Boosted in Post: +7dB

SPECS:

Polar Pattern: Cardioid, Fig-8, Omni (anyhthing in between)

Freq Response : 10Hz - 20khz

Sensitivity: -36dB

Self Noise: 11BA

Max SPL: 143dB

Impedance: 200 Ohms

Buy the CAD M179 (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/cadm179
B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/3KDg4o9
Thomann: https://www.thomannmusic.com/cad_audio_m179.htm?offid=1&affid=2060

Buy the Focusrite 2i2 (3rd Gen)- Same Performance as 18i20 (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/2i32rd
Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/k6g4d
B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/42lcWDF
Thomann: https://www.thomann.de/intl/focusrite_scarlett_2i2_3rd_gen.htm?offid=1&affid=2060

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

00:00 - Intro / Setup
00:26 - What’s in the Box
00:52 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
01:32 - Specifications
01:46 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
02:47 - Plosive Test
03:02 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
03:21 - Background Noise Test
03:36 - Untreated Room Test
03:57 - Shock Rejection Test
04:18 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
04:32 - High Pass Filter Test
04:56 - Pad Test
05:16 - Selfless Shame Promotion
05:45 - Intro to Comparison
06:16 - CAD E40 Comparison
06:44 - Lewitt LCT240 Comparison
07:16 - Earthworks SR117 Comparison
07:43 - Shure PGA27 Comparison
08:11 - Audio Technica AT2050 Comparison
08:43 - Rode NT1 5th Gen Comparison
09:10 - Sennheiser MK4 Comparison
09:37 - AKG C214 Comparison
10:12 - CAD E100s Comparison
10:48 - Neumann U87 Ai Comparison
11:23 - Music Test
13:11 - Pros & Cons
15:11 - Overall Thoughts
17:03 - Recommendation

Video & HQ Audio: https://podcastage.com/rev/mv7plus

Today I review the new Shure MV7+ an XLR & USB dynamic microphone with a lot of DSP processing available over USB. The sound of the XLR is great with a supportive lowend, somewhat mid focussed but pleasing sound, and a non-aggressive upper frequency range. Over USB the sound is a bit different with a somewhat hollow sound with congested mids and a tame top end. The DSP processing is all very nicely implemented and it stores all the settings on device so you can use this on a computer without Shure's softrware as well.

Buy the Shure MV7+ (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/mv7plus

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

RECORDING SETTINGS:
Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz
Gain: -6dB
Boosted in Post: +8.5dB

SPECS:
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Freq Response :50Hz - 16kHz
Sensitivity: -55dBV (XLR)
Max SPL: 128dB (USB)
Impedance 350 ohms
Bit Depth: 24
Sample Rate: 48khz

00:00 - Intro / Price / Disclaimer
00:21 - What’s in the Box
00:42 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
01:42 - Specifications
01:55 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
02:14 - Plosive Test
02:43 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
03:06 - Background Noise Test
03:21 - Untreated Room Test
03:42 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
03:56 - Shock Rejection Test
04:12 - Mute Button Test
04:27 - Processing Walkthrough / Demo
10:39 - Demo on iPhone
11:29 - Are DSP Settings Stored on Mic?
12:11 - Shure MV7 vs. MV7+
13:40 - USB vs. XLR Output
14:12 - Intro to Comparison
14:42 - Samson Q2u Comparison
15:07 - Fifine K688 Comparison
15:38 - Elgato Wave DX Comparison
16:07 - Shure SM58 Comparison
16:31 - sE Electronics V7 Comparison
16:58 - Audio Technica AT2040 Comparison
17:25 - sE Electronics DCM6 Comparison
17:53 - Earthworks SR117 Comparion
18:19 - Rode Podmic USB Comparison
18:49 - Rode Procaster Comparison
19:19 - Shure SM7b Comparison
19:48 - Electro Voice RE20 Comparison
20:17 - Neumann U87 Ai Comparison
20:44 - Music Test
22:21 - Pros & Cons
24:45 - Overall Thoughts
26:12 - Recommendation

Thanks for an amazing 2024. Simply put there weren't enough reviews to compile a good box throw video, so I figured this would be a fun way to wrap up the year. If this is dumb, let me know and we won't do it again.

00:00 - Intro
00:34 - #5. Shure 565 SD - 19 NOV 2024
01:44 - #4. Warm Audio WA47 - 22 OCT 2024
03:29 - #3. Art Tube MP - 23 JAN 2024
04:22 - #2. Shure Nexadyne- 1 OCT 2024
06:04 - #1. Peluso P414 - 7 NOV 2024
08:09 - Wrap Up