Neumann TLM102 Microphones - Drum Overheads

[trugangsta4real]

That Kick sounds NIIIICE

[soundpurestudios]

@trugangsta4real Thanks... totally unprocessed- that's just the raw sound.

[nooneimportant77]

how do you like the 609 on the snare?

[soundpurestudios]

@nooneimportant77 It really depends on the snare. We do a lot of different mic setups and vary the mics we used based on the sounds coming out of the individual snare drum, and blending the snare microphone with the sound of the overheads. For us, having a variety of mics to choose from is essential... in terms of less expensive solutions, the SM57 may be a more popular first choice, but the 609 is a great alternative flavor/option.

[nooneimportant77]

@soundpurestudios Thanks. I've got both, I was just wondering if you thought anything stood out about the 609, making you choose it.

[soundpurestudios]

@nooneimportant77 Just liked it better with this particular setup... nothing beyond that. Thanks for the question

[chrisrave]

Very informative! Thanks! :D

[soundpurestudios]

@chrisrave Thanks... if you'd like to learn more about them, or any other serious recording gear or methods, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We'd be glad to tell you all about our experiences with them, and we are all here to help!

[OfficialDrumsNdSkate]

What mics are being used for the bass drum and the snare?

[soundpurestudios]

@OfficialDrumsNdSkate Sennheiser 421 on the kick and Senn e609 on the snare. Really a simple, unprocessed setup. If we can help in any way with your drum sounds, we are here for you.

[whitefox2131]

@soundpurestudios Could this mic be used to mic a bass drum?

[soundpurestudios]

@whitefox2131 Sorry to not provide you with a simple yes/no answer, but it depends. The TLM102 has reasonably high SPL capability, but depending on the sound and style that the kick drum is used it may not be high enough. It can work on kick drum for quite a number of different things, such as jazz kick drum, but certain styles of music may be too much for it. We'd be glad to talk to you more about your drum mic choices/options, e-mail us at mics@soundpure(DOT)com

[sickonfriday]

how did you guys tuned the snare drum in this video? did you tuned it low? i always have a problem with recording snares, especially when some drummers like to tune it high.

[soundpurestudios]

@sickonfriday It's tough to say how the drum was setup, as we shot this quite a long time ago. We definitely didn't tune it particularly for this shoot, but rather used it based on however it had been setup previously. Since this is out house kit, it gets tweaked frequently. There are a lot of different ways to mic a snare, and we tend to get very expiramental as needed, to deliver the sound that we (or the artists) are looking for. Sorry couldn't answer this one directly...

[Deathrape2001]

In this example, as with all your microphones, compare them 2 a Shure SM57 (or 58 4 vocals), & an Audio Technica 'high end' mic (AKG all suk). That way we have a good 'benchmark' 2 compare against =) U may also show that if U run a condenser from a 'lesser' brand through a tube preamp U can get a similar sound 2 a Neuman, or if U just run it into a Mackie desk or other D/A & stick 'Waves' software processing on it can emulate Focusrite & others. B scientific. B helpful. B real =D

[soundpurestudios]

@Deathrape2001 We would be glad to explain to you why this would not be scientific, and actually could be very misleading. We don't play favorites, rather, we demonstrate the tools that we like to use in a real working professional studio. But, based on your statement, it appears you have received some bad, misinformation. I think we can help you in your pursuit, but first you may want to talk to us in greater depth about the choices we make based on decades of collective experience.

[Deathrape2001]

@soundpurestudios Your unwillingness 2 do the obviously smart thing & rank items against each other in logical fashion is part of Y your channel is not more popular. It's like that 'premierguitar' page. They have a lot of 'videos' that TALK about guitars, but very few actual DEMONSTRATIONS of their SOUND & relative differences.

[soundpurestudios]

@Deathrape2001 If you were on this side of the glass, you would understand where we are coming from. We appreciate your feedback and criticism. Know that we are working extremely hard to make the best possible videos that we can, so that guys like you can watch them, for FREE, if you'd like. If you don't like the way that we are doing things, you can simply choose not to watch them. We aren't sure why you are so invested in stating your criticisms, but they are duly noted.

[Deathrape2001]

@soundpurestudios Oh my god =)) U R still making excuses! Unreal - no wonder your videos R so boring. U can't even grasp the concept that people watching your videos would like 2 actually B able 2 hear the differences between components rather than just a 'sales pitch'.

Yawn

[Johnfrooshlover]

@Deathrape2001 Your not understanding them haha. They are not going to follow your criticisms so stop trying to promote it. Don't criticize them for not doing what you want. Just don't listen. I really like what they are doing, and these videos actually made me go and get a tlm 102 so these videos are satisfying for me.

[HornSpeakersSuk]

@Johnfrooshlover Go on with your anti-scientific BS, troll. The fact they should compare things with popular benchmarks is obvious & correct. There is really no point posting so-called 'test' videos that don't even offer a control. This is sales scamming, not reviewing. It's like people putting hot girls on a car. No, it's not a kunt. It's a dead metal object, & the only kunts who will B attracted by it R much more easily obtained by spending the $ directly on prostitutes instead of loans.

[Johnfrooshlover]

@HornSpeakersSuk Are you the same person on a different account?!?! I'm not the one who is trolling, you are. Don't tell me that I am being anti-scientific. You are providing no data yourself! Science has nothing to do with this actually.... They're simply showing how the mic can sound and be used in a professional environment without any effects. There are plenty of comparison videos so go watch them. Good day.

[soundpurestudios]

@Johnfrooshlover Yes, it is the same guy. Thanks for your comment- we actually blocked this moron on his other account, so he went and created another one. We will block this one as well. At this point, I'm not sure why this guy is cointinuing this, but some people serious agendas, whatever the reason may be. Eveyrone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but to the extent that it derails productive conversations, and upsets people that watch our channel it simply has to go.

[HornSpeakersRGarbage]

@Johnfrooshlover Another clown pretending that science is bad. Go pray 2 your Obama shrine or something, fool. Don't forget 2 rip yourself off even harder by doing biased, irrational research on sound quality =))

[jamesthegreat999]

Isn't that the drummer from Bon Iver?

[soundpurestudios]

@jamesthegreat999 Yes it is, good eyes.

[rootvalue]

I watch this video at least once a month. Great mike placement and the drummer is just flawless. Tons of style and groove, but not he's not showy. This is a perfect microphone review video, and one day I hope to have the bills to pick up my own Neumann set. Thanks for the upload!

[soundpurestudios]

@rootvalue Thanks for saying so... we are trying to get the best we can out there... we have some more drum videos out since then. These TLM102's are very nice... keep in mind that you can always start with one. If you have any setup or use questions, please let us know, but we've got great pricing on the 102's, if/when you are ready! Thanks again for the comment and the support of Sound Pure.

[rootvalue]

@soundpurestudios I'm saving up right now and will definitely be purchasing this microphone from Sound Pure within the next two weeks, mainly just because of your awesome customer service. ;) I can't think of any businesses more friendly to their clients when it comes to musician's parts. Thanks for the help.

[soundpurestudios]

@rootvalue Well, we certainly appreciate your support, and of course we are here for you- glad to help in any way that we can, just let us know!

[greatkid1]

whats a good set of overheads, Preferably LDC ( i like the warmth and detail from them) on the cheaper sides of things up to $300 each

[soundpurestudios]

@greatkid1 We have several good options here, it really depends on the tonal characteristics you are looking for. Typically there is a tradeoff for smoothness and warmth you get if you look at LDC's, whereas with SDC's you will get more articulation, detail, precision. You can get an OK LDC for $300, but you can get some very nice SDC's in that price range. Want to give us a ring to discuss the options? You can reach us at +1-919-682-5552, or e-mail sales(at)soundpure(dot)com

[greatkid1]

@soundpurestudios what SDC do you recommend in that range? also what are the sizes of the drums?

[soundpurestudios]

@greatkid1 There are several different SDC's we could recommend in that category... shoot us an e-mail or phone call and we can get the discussion going. In the meantime you can find the precise details of the drum kit that used on our studios webpage (as it is our house kit). Looking forward to helping you through your next upgrade... in the meantime you can check out both the Charter Oak M900 and Peluso CEMC6 SDC's.

[RichRobinson]

I've stumbled across a few of these review videos and they are really good. Great drummer and a really nice looking live room. Many thanks, puresoundstudios!

[soundpurestudios]

@RichRobinson Thanks for the very nice comment! If we can ever help with your gear selection or sourcing we would love to help. We are constantly testing and challenging the latest recording gear and enjoy sharing our experiences with anyone and everyone that seeks our advice (we've also got great pricing on all the gear that we carry!)

[TgHrOeMeAnS]

Hi, great video! I know this may seem like a bit of a novice question but could you suggest some good high quality XLR cables?

-Tom

[soundpurestudios]

@TgHrOeMeAnS It's actually the RIGHT question to be asking- it's rather amazing what a difference bad cables can make. We sell several different options here, and would be very glad to help you out and discuss the differences. Ultimately, we settled on Mogami cabling throughout our entire studio and have never looked back- we keep Mogami in stock. Give us a call toll free 888-528-9703, if you want to chat, or you can just visit the site if you want to pick some of them up!

[cosmicjazzer]

Ooooh... such a lovely sounding live room you've got there!! I know that when the room's wrong NO mic will work!

[soundpurestudios]

@cosmicjazzer Thanks a lot for the nice comment! This can be very true, as rooms play a very important role particularly as the microphones get further away from the source. Although there are a growing number of mics that work far better than others when the room is bad. At least these beauties are directional (cardioid) which means that they do cancel a lot of room ambiance and reflection as compared to omnis, for example.

[superawesomedrum]

Hey! I was wondering what kit that you used in this video? Lovely playing and quality! Truly Awesome Mic's. I was considering to get either a pair of these, or a pair of SE4400a's. What would you recommend for an all around mic for Vocals, Piano, drums, Guitar amps, etc? Thanks =)

[soundpurestudios]

@superawesomedrum Thanks for the note- we've got a Yamaha Maple Custom Kit here at Sound Pure. We can definitely help you making your mic decision... the TLM102's are incredible for the money- smooth, neutral, and truthful, which makes them a good choice on a lot of applications. Have you seen our other videos on the TLM102's? We can discuss several great options in this price range with you, want to give us a ring? You can call us toll free at 1-888-528-9703, or int'l +1-919-682-5552

[soundpurestudios]

@superawesomedrum Also, I should mention, that if you'd prefer to discuss any thing by e-mail, you can reach us at sales(at)soundpure(dot)com

[gnrfanatic141414]

is that a hammond organ you got stashed in the corner?

[soundpurestudios]

@gnrfanatic141414 Hey, great eyes! Yes... it's a vintage B3. Hopefully it will come out on some vids soon.

[gnrfanatic141414]

@soundpurestudios i've heard using the neumann km series on each side of the horn and using a tube condenser on the bass sounds really good

[boondocksaints556]

Hi, great video. I am wondering whether you set up each of the TLM102s to a stereo track on your recording software...or did you set up mono tracks? Not sure which is the better option when using a pair of stereo mics and would really appreciate some insight, thanks!

[rootvalue]

This is one of the most thorough and helpful videos demonstrating the abilities -- both 'ups' and 'downs' -- of the mikes. Thank you so much.

[soundpurestudios]

@rootvalue Thanks a lot for the very nice comment. Quite honestly, we are doing the best we can.... every time we decide to do one of these videos we are often surprised and impressed in different and unpredictable ways, so the videos come together in different ways reflecting what we actually find. We hope to continue to push the limits of both our own video abilities, and the gear review and engineering technique demonstrations. Thanks again for the nice comment and Merry Christmas!

[rootvalue]

@soundpurestudios You're quite welcome! Thank you for providing such an awesome video.

You've made me fall in love with the TLM102, but it's out of my price range. I'm not sure if you're the guy to ask about this, but if you don't mind, could I ask for your help on a mic buy? My SDC pencils record too harshly, so I'm looking at LDCs as drum overheads approx. $50 - $150 each. I'm considering the MXL V63M, Audio-Technica AT2020, and Shure SM94. What can you recommend? Thank you for your time!

[soundpurestudios]

@rootvalue Well, in that price range, you should probably look at the Studio Projects B3.  It's the only line of lower priced mics like that, that we really stock, and that is the least expensive multipattern mic that they make. In that price range most of the microphones have a harsh high end (SDCs), and the large diaphragm mics tend to be a bit muddy. Both the SP B1 and B3 seem to be a cut above the crowd, and even as you upgrade, they make nice tom mics, electric guitar mics, etc.

[soundpurestudios]

@rootvalue You can get pricing/info right off of our website if you are interested in those- we like them, and it is one of the only cheaper microphones that we keep in our studios for general production use. If you decide to pick up a pair, feel free to give us a call toll free 888-528-9703, or grab them off of our website at soundpure(dot)com. If you have questions, give us a ring, or drop us an e-mail directly at sales(at)soundpure(dot)com. Thanks for the support!

[danmarcelino]

great stick definition i like em =]

[soundpurestudios]

@danmarcelino thanks again- not bad for the lease expensive Neumann LDC ever made!

[danmarcelino]

@soundpurestudios np!! =D and no kidding, thats awesome!

im kinda excited cause i just ordered a Sebatron VMP 4000e mic pre and it should be arriving sometime this week!! i cant wait to get started with it =]

anddddd lol i really like how you guys reply to our comments!!

[soundpurestudios]

@danmarcelino It's our pleasure- and congrats on getting the Sebatron 4000e, hope you got it from us ! ;) The Sebatron really is one of the best values in high end pro audio right now, and unlike most tube preamps, it really has some sonic flexibility depending on the way that you dial it in. We use ours extensively in the studio, and will of course be glad to discuss the ways that we get the best results out of it for different applications...

[danmarcelino]

@soundpurestudios =] thanks!! well i did in fact get it from you guys! =D hahah i was really happy with the price, esspecially for the number of channels!! i was really happy with the sound that you guys made it get from a "flat" setting on your video =]

wow! that would be so great!! i would really appreciate some guidance from some pro's like you guys that have had it for a while!! so thank you Sound Pure Studios for your great service, friendly advice and awesome videos!!

-Dan Marcelino

[soundpurestudios]

@danmarcelino You bet! When you get it, let us know... there are some real nice tricks to getting very different tones out of it, and even some surprises- like the fact that the output knob doesn't really affect the tone. The tone is controlled by the pad-setting. It is actually it's cleanest (believe it or now, at the highest pad setting (-25), because you aren't hitting the front end/tubes quite as hard). The high and low shelving are pretty self explanatory, awesome!

[danmarcelino]

@soundpurestudios awesome!! will do, and that sounds awesome!! i'll let you guys know as soon as it gets to my door! =] thanks for the tips already btw! hmm, why am i always shouting all my sentences?? hahah

[soundpurestudios]

@danmarcelino Anytime we can help, we are here!

[danmarcelino]

@soundpurestudios =]

[BatixProductionsTE]

These sound a little dark to me. It could just be the type of cymbals, but the 102's seem just a tad dark all by themselves.

[soundpurestudios]

@BatixProductionsTE You are probably used to hearing brighter microphones- microphones that have an accentuated and brightened top end. These mics are far more accurate and neutral as compared to a lot of the microphones being made today... they aren't dark, they are just flat- if they sounded dark to you it is that either you find our cymbals to be a bit dark, or you are hearing a lot of bright mics in comparison. The great news is that you can EQ these really well and add top if you want.

[BatixProductionsTE]

@soundpurestudios I gave it another listen and it is just the cymbals. The ride cymbal sounds really thick and dark. (not the mic) I'm a drummer myself and I play very light cymbals so it was just a lot darker in comparison to my cymbals.

[soundpurestudios]

@BatixProductionsTE ahhh... that makes sense, yes. We chose some darker/mellower cymbals because a lot of great drummers don't have a studio style- studio drumming definitely requires more soft/subtle playing than live drumming... so, the more mellow cymbals definitely can help for some players

[MufinManProductions]

k so say i can only do 3 mics. obviously with two as overheads should i mic the kick or the snare with the third? im guessing snare?

[soundpurestudios]

@MufinManProductions That's a very open question- you can do a whole kit with just two mics if the room will suit it and you aren't trying to heavily produce different sounds out of individual drums. That being said, if you decide to use a pair of overhead mics and a single third microphone it would be to enhance whatever you felt like you were missing. Most people would probably say kick, but I don't feel that the answer is so definitive.

[DrumThat1]

If I purchase one of these, and say aim it down at the snare, should I be able to recreate such a great sound? With just one of these? My kit setup is the same as shown. If not, how could I set it up well?

[soundpurestudios]

@DrumThat1 If you are trying to pull of a single-overhead, mon sound, you could a achieve a mono-result similar to our stereo results. Honestly, though, even if your ultimate medium is mono, you really might seriously consider getting a stereo pair- you will get more depth, dimension, accuracy, and overall kit realism/detail. If none of this makes any sense, you should try and give us a call anytime, +1 919-682-5552, we can definitely help make this make sense!

[DrumThat1]

@soundpurestudios I've got Sennheiser e604s on my two toms and snare, so would that add a spacey dimension to it? Any good sound is fine by me.

[bouncychu]

you guys fail to tell us how nice your room probably sounds in comparison to ours but thank you so much for the demo :)

[soundpurestudios]

@bouncychu Well thanks for the compliment regarding the room- that always plays a role in any kind of acoustic miking situation. That being said, rooms, aside, these definitely held up very well, truly remarkable if you consider their cost!

[wakena2003]

I'm thinking of doing your SLATS style wall. Have it got rockwool or anything behind?

Could you tell me the thickness and the width of the slats? and the width of the SLOTS?

[soundpurestudios]

@wakena2003 The slats are 2, 4, 6, and 8" widths (randomly applied) with spacing approx 1" between (the spacing is the depth of the board), the boards are rough cut lumber applied at an angle. There is traditional acoustic insulation behind the slats, but the "magic" happens in the labyrinth of bass traps in the ceiling system. The wall treatment alone helps a lot though... warm reflections with some diffusion, and absorption by the insulation behind the slats. Hope this helps!

[wakena2003]

@soundpurestudios oh! I see. Thats great. This is the second question. I saw there are some ceiling panels at a different height, and I supposed to the reason is the bass traps labyrinth you told. Could you explain me it a little?

[soundpurestudios]

@wakena2003 The dropped areas are actually the HVAC feeds for the room. The rest of the tiles are actually wooden frames covered in a thin fabric (silk) so that they are acoustically transparent, and allow all of the sound to go directly up into the ceiling grid

[greatkid1]

Great sound, can i get the specifications and sizes of the cymbals?

[soundpurestudios]

@greatkid1 All Zildjan, Armand HiHat, 14", Custom K 17" hybrid crash and Custom K 20" Dark Ride. We spent a little time shopping for these and have been really impressed with how they record.

[360DegreesMusic]

so how much would you have to spend if youd buy all the mics ???

[VariousArtists2007]

@360DegreesMusic The TLM102s are like £500 (i think thats $720/600 euros) each so if you brought the pair it would coast £1000 just for the overheads...if you position them right and dont have a massive drum kit they do sound amazing (you may need to compress tho)

[soundpurestudios]

@VariousArtists2007 and now it is all depending on the Euro/dollar conversion.. But I do agree that on a small kit, 2 overheads like the TLM 102's and then a snare and kick mic should get you a very good drum sound, but in my experience, you should do a little comp/EQ on the drums to help them really come alive

[okkio1]

thanks a lot! it's a little surprise....

[soundpurestudios]

@okkio1 Absolutely, we thought so too.... couldn't believe these little inexpensive mics from Neumann would be so powerful, and so useful on so many different applications. They priced it to where lower budget project studios could finally purchase their very first Neumann, but they produced a microphone that sounds good enough to be used in the best-of-the-best studios as well.

[Zebonka]

Sang into one of these a couple of years ago. Shit performance on my part but the mic was definitely not to blame - a great sound.

[danielp321]

thanks for the vids!

[pauloticks]

I would also like to hear a shoot out between the 102 and the Kel Audio HM 1. They seem to have similar characteristics to me. Anyone with both wanna conduct it?

[deadendkid1968]

Id like to see a shootout with a KSM32..and then hear how a mix with several tracks stacked up will mix with this mic.

[demartijnstam]

What I can hear so far is that the TLM's 102 are much more brighter and have more definition than for example the 414's AKG made. However, the toms are also well done, better than using 184's or 140's (Neumann) as overheads. I think they have the best of both; the warmth of the 414 and the brightness of well-known cardiod mic's of Neumann. Well done!

[soundpurestudios]

Thanks. We agree, though they aren't a hyped/bright sound. They are really quite detailed and articulate. Far more so than a 414 which can often sound tinny. That being said they do a have a nice musical smoothness that you would expect from a large diaphragm mic. If you are interested in picking any of them up, we just got them in stock and filled out outstanding backorders! They are finally here and available for purchase!

[TyFord]

To clarify; I have 414 B-ULS here . The TLM 102 are not brighter than the 414 B-ULS. In fact, the TLM 102 are easily as neutral as the TLM 170, U 89.

[soundpurestudios]

Yes, good ears, we agree... they seem to be going with a less-hyped, more balanced, and more neutral sound like the TLM170, U89, (and TLM193 for that matter). I fyou are getting great sounds out of your instruments naturally, these are a great choice for maintaining that great sound in a very un-hyped, and very musical way. You really can't argue with a mic at this price point that performs the way that these do (especially given the fact that they are a Neumann!)

[griesergram]

the 102 is not chinese made.

[soundpurestudios]

Thanks for the comment. Yes, the rooms do sound great, but we've used a lot of mics, and were very impressed by the full range smoothness and balance of the 102. While rooms tend to affect low end more, we enjoyed the way the top end translated, and also felt that the microphones' tight cardioid pattern rejected a lot of the room sound, meaning these should be great in project studios without the acoustics that we have here. We keep testing these-feel free to call our sales line 888-528-9703

[thisnextsongiscalled]

any mic would sound great in that room :)

don't forget kids : the room is much more important than the microphones !

[romodrummerjz]

what brand of mic stands are those on the drums?

[soundpurestudios]

Those are K&M Stands, the model number on those particular ones is the 25600, which have some additional locking capability for heavier mics (not that you need it for these little beauties!) If you are in the market for some stands, we do sell the whole K&M line, as well as some great high end brands for serious studio work. Just let us know!

[rushidgafurov]

Thanks!!!)))

[rushidgafurov]

Nice sound))) and warm))) what kind of pre-amp?

[soundpurestudios]

Thanks! The preamp used was an API 3124+. We were really impressed with the results that these microphones gave. If you ever want to chat about gear with one of our sales experts, please don't hesitate to give us a call toll free at 888-528-9703.