Revisiting Shure SM59

This microphone sounds amazing.


For close distance it was tried with a Pleiades (130Ω,40mH) gentle slope low cut. It sounds flat frequency response from producer's brain to listener's brain.


For larger distance it was tried on its own but acoustics sound boomy. It may sound amazing outdoors or with better LF absorbing (elastomer membrane panels?) acoustics.


This microphone sounds almost like a ribbon.


It is low output and perhaps this is exactly why it sounds amazing. It has a small light diaphragm. Possibly a lightweight coil. Like those brilliant MC low output phonograph cartridges.


No s problem while having amazing transient detail.


Possibly one of the best microphones ever made so far on this planet,

Finding the bass (base) in music, Βρίσκοντας την βαςη (μπαςο) στη μουσικη

The word bass comes possibly from the Hellenic word βάση meaning foundation. [Bach, Niedt].


Finding the bass in a song or other musical composition is easy.


It is like playing a chance game. There are only 7 possibilities.


If it is not C (Do) it will be B (Si), if not A (La) etc.


Then the mystery of music is unlocked.


How?
If we know the bass which is at any time a single deep note then harmony follows by choosing the notes 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 steps above bass.


For example Hey You - Pink Floyd written in E minor starts with bass E and this first bass is given by tye composers the code E9. So the right hand plays F (remember F is sharp), G which is the 3rd with respect to the bass, B which is the perfect 5th with respect to bass or whatever else sounds right. (F is 9 notes above bass E). [Bach, Niedt]


Of course there are flats or sharps, for example B flat, but it is still a B and whether it is flat, natural or sharp depends on the key the song is played. For example the key of E minor or scale of E minor has all natural notes except F (Φα) which is sharp.


Reference:


Bach Bass Rules - Bach, Niedt - PDF


Harmony - Piston

Hello to Ukraine and Hellas

AKG D590 microphone

It is a gooseneck microphone that looks like a D190 with its beautiful sintered bronze cap.


However as it arrived today it was opened and surprise, a different capsule had been found. Grey blue color, smaller diameter than the one used on the D190. It's cover has 5 small holes so it looks a genuine AKG.


This microphone sounds very nice.


Signal path:


male singer's brain - male singing voice - AKG D590 - Sony TC-D5 Pro - Sennheiser HD580 - listeners's (singer's) ears, brain


It does not need a Pleiades gentle slope low cut filter as there is no bass heaviness on speech or singing.


For a high male singing register mic distance can be higher at about 3-4 inch.


There are no s problems compared to D190 which sometimes may have, indicating a better transient response.


An amazing microphone made to approach the so important flat frequency response from producer's or singer's brain to listener's brain stipulated in Hollywood. [Lowe, Morgan]


They way it seems to work is the following: As can be seen in a frequency response curve of a D590 it compensates for the proximity bass, mid boost effect. Then the singer can adjust the sound by altering the mic mouth distance.


Next day's addition:
Retested after cleaning the mic membrane with a very soft natural hair artist painting very little brush. There were deposited disintegrated foam particles. Not sure after the cleaning if it sounds better. It may even sound a bit worse. Hopefully the membrane was not damaged. Comparing with a D190 + Pleiades (130Ω,40mH) gentle slope low cut filter the latter mic has more HF content.


Reference:


Sound Picture Recording and Reproducing Characteristics - D. P. Lowe, K. F. Morgan - Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers


http://lcweb2.loc.gov/master/mbrs/recording_preservation/manuals/AKG%20D-510,%20D-558,%20D-590%20Dynamic%20Microphones.pdf

Fostex M80RP

Possibly the best microphone in the Pleiades collection.


Also the M88RP.

If you can't control the environment change it - Harold Geneen

In his book Managment

Philips EL 1979

A stereo dynamic mic with 2 cardioid elements.


Membranes are made of very thin (aluminum?) foils.


It sounds very nice. Low noise, high detail, no s problems, perhaps one of the great mics in that respect.


The foam that holds the mic in place had deteriorated and was removed.