Bluebird Mic - any recommendations?

[davekershaw]

OK, maybe you can help on this:

I've got the Summit 2BA-221 going through input three on the rear of the Saffire Pro 40, with the Saffire gain on that input set to zero. This apparently bypasses it's own pre-amps.
I've only used mics with Phantom Power up to this point, and they've been fine just using the Summit.
With the SM7, and using the gain on the Summit alone, I get the low signal.
I today found that if I turn the Saffire input three gain up to around 4.5, which I think is unity, I get a good signal.

Is this how it should work?

[Dwayne Russell]

OK, maybe you can help on this:

I've got the Summit 2BA-221 going through input three on the rear of the Saffire Pro 40, with the Saffire gain on that input set to zero. This apparently bypasses it's own pre-amps.
I've only used mics with Phantom Power up to this point, and they've been fine just using the Summit.
With the SM7, and using the gain on the Summit alone, I get the low signal.
I today found that if I turn the Saffire input three gain up to around 4.5, which I think is unity, I get a good signal.

Is this how it should work?

Sounds like you fixed it. I am not familiar with the Safire.

[mojobone]

OK, maybe you can help on this:

I've got the Summit 2BA-221 going through input three on the rear of the Saffire Pro 40, with the Saffire gain on that input set to zero. This apparently bypasses it's own pre-amps.
I've only used mics with Phantom Power up to this point, and they've been fine just using the Summit.
With the SM7, and using the gain on the Summit alone, I get the low signal.
I today found that if I turn the Saffire input three gain up to around 4.5, which I think is unity, I get a good signal.

Is this how it should work?

Yes, with the knob set at zero, you're most likely attenuating gain at the interface. Problem solved!

[davekershaw]

BRILLIANT!

Thanks for your help Dwayne and Mojo.

[jonathansorensen]

Hi all,

I wanted to follow up. I've used the bluebird a few times on acoustic guitars and I've run my own vox (male midrangy Jack Johnsonish) through it. Honestly, 99% of the time, I fall back on the SM7 or the SM57 or even one of the Gauge mics. I'm not saying it's a bad mic. Just saying, it gets pretty harsh on the high end, and can lack body and fullness.

That's my two cents. Spend how you like

Jon

[jonathansorensen]

Guess what? I still have not used a single track with the bluebird . . . it sounds really really shiny and crisp when I'm tracking but when I get to mixing, it never quite has the body that I need. Maybe it's just my style. My tracking/mixing has gotten WAY better in the last 2 years. I use my mic pres and compressors/EQs pretty competently but I still get the best results from a 100 dollar SM57 and the SM7b I bought used for 150. I've been through the Mojave Audio 200 (around 900 I think), I had the Neumann TLM 103 (got used for 450). It seems like if you're going with large diaphram mics, you do have to spend some money.

I have gotten really stellar female vocals from the Gauge ECM-87 though it hasn't worked for me for male vocals.

I don't know, what does everyone think? Do I sell it (the bluebird)?

Jon

[jdhogg]

What happened to the TLM 103? What did you think of it?

re the bluebird - I have never used one but it must have a use?

I sometimes use 2 mics - 1 dark 1 bright when tracking eg a gtr cab and mix to get the right balance.

or use the bright one as the ambient one to catch the air.

[jonathansorensen]

What happened to the TLM 103? What did you think of it?

re the bluebird - I have never used one but it must have a use?

I sometimes use 2 mics - 1 dark 1 bright when tracking eg a gtr cab and mix to get the right balance.

or use the bright one as the ambient one to catch the air.

The 103 was pretty big but muddy. To be honest, I sold it because I had a consult with a really good engineer/producer and he said, it just wasn't high quality, certainly not for the price. Back then I didn't have the ears to really judge it so I can't really speak to that. I just took someone's advice. I've been quite impressed with the gauge mics. I really really badly want a Neumann but fear it's not in the cards for at least 2-3 years. I just can't justify spending that kind of dough when I don't do a lot of work as an engineer and producer.

JS