SDC shootout in Tape Op Magazine

There is an extensive SDC (Small Diaphragm Condenser) shootout in the latest issue of Tape Op Magazine with as many as 92 microphones included - very stiff competition indeed with AKG, Neumann, DPA, Josephson, Gefell and many others.

21 jury members selected 15 mics each and all models that received more than 7 votes made it to the "most picked" category. The test was only made with acoustic guitar.

Two Milab models were in the shootout (DC-96B and VM-44) and both were selected as "most picked". Neumann had 9 models with only 1 selected, AKG 9 models - only 1 selected, Schoeps had 6 models - only 1 selected, Josephson 3 models - none selected, DPA 3 models - 1 selected, Shure 5 models - 1 selected, Gefell 4 models - none selected etc...

Mics in the shootout:

3 Zigma CHI
AKG Blueline 391
AKG Blueline 393
AKG C 1000 S
AKG C 480 B
AKG C451b
AKG C451EB
AKG C451EB
AKG C460B
AKG D224e
AT 4021
AT 4031
AT 4041
AT 4051
ATM450
AT-Pro 37R
Avantone CK-1
Avenson STO-2
B&K 4011
Beyerdynamic M201
Beyerdynamic MC930
CAD GXL1200
Charter Oak M900
Crown CM-700
DPA 4006TL
DPA 4011TL
DPA 4099
Earthworks QTC40
Earthworks SR30
Earthworks TC30
EV RE15
Fouxman MCA SP-1 mod
Fouxman MK012 mod
Fouxman MXL 603 mod
Gefell M296
Gefell M300
Gefell M70
Gefell M94
Heil PR-35
Jim Williams MCA SP-1
Josephson C42
Josephson C617
Josephson e22s
JZ BT-201
Kel Audio HM-1
Mercenary KM-69
Milab DC-96B
Milab VM-44 Classic
MXL 604s
MXL V67N
Naiant X-M
Neumann KM 130
Neumann KM 143
Neumann KM 184
Neumann KM 83
Neumann KM 84
Neumann KM 85
Neumann KM 86
Neumann KM 88
Neumann TLM50
Nevaton MC49
Oktava MC012
Oktavamod MC012
Oktavamod MCA SP-1
Oktavamod MXL 603
Peluso CEMC6
Rode NT5
Samson CO2
Sanken CO-100K
Schoeps CMC5 with MK5 capsule
Schoeps CMC6 with MK4 capsule
Schoeps CMT 30 FNU M 934 b
Schoeps CMT 30 FNU M 934 c
Schoeps CMT 30 FNU MK241
Schoeps CMT 341
Schoeps/Strasser CM60
SE Electronics SE1
SE Electronics SE3
Sennheiser 421
Sennheiser 441
Sennheiser e914
Sennheiser MKH 8020
Sennheiser MKH 8050
Shure KSM141
Shure SM137
Shure SM57
Shure SM7
Shure SM81
Sony C-535p
Studio Projects C4
T.H.E. KA-04
Violet Finger

Most picked (in alphabetical order):

AKG C451 EB
AT 4021
B & K 4011
Beyer MC 930
Charter Oak M900
DPA 4099
Jim Williams-modded AKG C 460 B
Mark Fouxman-modded Octava MK-012
Mercenart Auio KM-69
Milab DC-96B
Milab VM-44
Neumann KM 184
Nevaton MC49
Rode NT5
Sanken CO-100K
Schoeps CMC/MK5 omni
Shre KSM141
Sony C-535p
Violet Design Gold-Finger

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I have not seen the actual article - I've only read about it in forums - but I will try to get a copy of the magazine.

Back at the office

I apologize for my lack of blogging the last few weeks. I'm back at the office now after my vacation and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year.

There are several exciting things happening in the near future: We are launching some very promising distributors (USA, Singapore and Sweden) and there are some interesting magazine reviews in the pipeline. We are awaiting the first reviews for the BDM-01 - and the SRND 360 will be reviewed by an american magazine for the first time.

Visit from Down Under

Last friday we had the honour of being visited by Mr. Darren Halifax of Microphone Solutions Australia (MSA), the Milab distributor for Australia and New Zealand. Darren has done a terrific job promoting Milab Down Under. Thanks to MSA there are now several respected artists who are using Milab mics live and/or in the studio, and I'm convinced that many more will follow.

Darren is also the owner of Satellite Recording Studio in Perth, one of the finest studios in Western Australia.

Me and Darren

CM-22

I've been getting several emails lately regarding the Milab CM-22. It was custom made for the Australian parliament house in the 80's - a very big order for a small company like Milab.

The CM-22 is a gooseneck model made specifically for speech. The gooseneck itself can be removed and the front screws directly onto the XLR amplifier.


The CM-22 was not designed for music recording, but as long as the SPL:s are not too high it will make for a different microphone with a unique "colour".

We still carry some spare parts for it.

CM-22 info

SRND 360 review in Resolution Magazine

The Milab SRND 360 has just been reviewed in the excellent UK pro-audio magazine Resolution. Read more in the news section at the Milab website.

Tim de Paravicini, E.A.R and Milab

I'm getting questions from time to time regarding the custom E.A.R microphones that Tim de Paravicini built for Kavi Alexander, most famously used for Ry Cooder and V.M. Bhatt's A Meeting by the River.

The microphones were custom made tube mics with Milab 2700 rectangular capsules (the same as in the VIP-50). We normally don't sell capsules separately and I'm not sure how Tim de Paravicini were able to get hold of them, but I suspect that legendary engineer Kavi Alexander (of Water Lily Acoustics) had something to do with it.

If I'm correctly informed no other microphones were used for A Meeting by the River than two E.A.R/Milabs. The album won a Grammy and is widely considered as one of the best sounding recordings ever made. Just read these quotes:

"I'm here to tell you that 'A Meeting by the River' is just flat-out astounding, one of the most uncannily real recordings I've ever heard. I haven't heard the LP yet, but the CD is a mind-blower: mastered directly from a CD-R transfer of the analog master, this is the best-sounding acoustic guitar recording I've ever heard. From the most subtle string-scrape die-offs to the unleashed dynamics throughout "Ganges Delta Blues," the sound just breathes life into the room and makes the best-sounding discs in my rack sound grainy and flat by comparison." - Corey Greenberg, Stereophile

"The splendor of the music is aided in its transmission by the fact that, like all Water Lily Acoustics releases, this album is masterfully recorded; each instrument is clear, distinct, and three-dimensional sounding. A Meeting by the River is a must-own, a thing of pure, unadulterated beauty, and the strongest record in Cooder's extensive catalog." - Daniel Gioffre, Allmusic

Interview with Kavi Alexander where the microphones are discussed.

Andreas Scholl and the Milab SRND 360

Andreas Scholl is widely considered to be one of the finest classical singers in the world. He is also the owner of a Milab SRND 360 surround microphone.

Andreas was kind enough to write a personal review of the microphone. You can find the review on the Milab website:

Here is a video of a unique recording made with the Milab SRND 360.