Learning materials from Audio Masterclass
and Record-Producer.com

From Home Recording Studio to PRO Recording Studio

 

THIS OFFER IS NOW CLOSED - these tests are available as part of the Audio Masterclass Music Production and Sound Engineering Online Course

The Abbey Road Microphone and Preamp Tests

Test 1 - Nine microphones, vocalist Chilli Gold


Nine microphones tested on female vocal

  • Neumann U47 vintage tube
  • Neumann U47 vintage tube
  • Neumann U47fet vintage large-diaphragm
  • AKG C12 vintage tube
  • AKG C12 vintage tube
  • AKG C12VR modern vintage tube replica
  • Neumann U87 vintage large-diaphragm
  • Neumann U87Ai modern large-diaphragm
  • Bruel & Kjaer (DPA) 4011 modern small-diaphragm

Download includes...

  • 9 x 96 kHz, 24-bit .WAV 'Studio Master' microphone test files (278 megabytes).
  • Backing track in 96/24 .WAV format
  • 9 x 44.1kHz .WAV microphone test files (the original .WAV files converted for slower bandwidth connections and playback software that can't work with 96 kHz files (128 megabytes).
  • Backing track in 24/44.1 .WAV format
  • 9 x AAC .m4a microphone test files (the original .WAV files converted for media players and fast download)
  • Backing track in AAC .m4a format
  • 27-minute multi-camera session video (MP4 format - 300 and 70 megabyte versions)
  • PDF file notes

Test 2 - Nine microphones, vocalist Charlotte Roel


Nine microphones tested on female vocal

  • Neumann U47 vintage tube
  • Neumann U47fet vintage large-diaphragm
  • AKG C12 vintage tube
  • Telefunken M 12F modern vintage tube replica
  • Neumann U87 vintage large-diaphragm
  • CAD M9 budget modern tube
  • Golden Age R1A budget modern ribbon
  • Shure SM57 budget modern dynamic
  • Neumann M147 modern tube

Download includes...

  • 9 x 96 kHz, 24-bit .WAV 'Studio Master' microphone test files (166 megabytes).
  • Backing track in 24/94 .WAV format
  • 9 x 44.1kHz .WAV microphone test files (the original .WAV files converted for slower bandwidth connections and playback software that can't work with 96 kHz files (77 megabytes).
  • Backing track in 24/44.1 .WAV format
  • 9 x AAC .m4a microphone test files (the original .WAV files converted for media players and fast download)
  • Backing track in AAC .m4a format
  • 31-minute multi-camera session video (MP4 format - 400 and 75 megabyte versions)
  • PDF file notes

Test 3 - Five microphone preamplifiers, vocalist Anna Neale


Five microphone preamplifiers tested on female vocal

  • Avalon M5
  • Focusrite Octopre LE
  • Universal Audio Solo/610 (tube)
  • Neve 1073
  • Behringer MIC100 (tube)

Download includes...

  • 5 x 96 kHz, 24-bit .WAV 'Studio Master' microphone preamplifier test files (166 megabytes).
  • 4 x additional direct comparison Avalon M5 test files in 24/96 format
  • Backing tracks in 24/96 .WAV format
  • 5 x 44.1kHz .WAV microphone preamplifier test files (the original .WAV files converted for slower bandwidth connections and playback software that can't work with 96 kHz files (77 megabytes).
  • 4 x 44.1 kHz .WAV additional direct comparison Avalon M5 test files
  • Backing tracks in 24/44.1 .WAV format
  • 5 x AAC .m4a microphone preamplifier test files (the original .WAV files converted for media players and fast download)
  • 4 x AAC .m4a microphone preamplifier direct comparison Avalon M5 test files
  • Backing tracks in AAC .m4a format
  • 22-minute multi-camera session video (MP4 format - 200 and 46 megabytes)
  • PDF file notes

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Test Highlights

Test Highlight - Hear the Telefunken M 12F in Test 2 - a modern recreation of the AKG C12 that you can buy today. (AKG made a very similar microphone which was sold in the USA as the Telefunken ELA M251). Compare it with an original AKG C12 microphone...

Telefunken M 12F - a modern recreation of the AKG C12 vintage vacuum tube microphone

 

Neumann U47 vintage vacuum tube microphoneTest Highlight - Hear an original Neumann U47 vintage vacuum tube microphone in both mic tests. Compare it with another original U47 from the Abbey Road collection in Test 1 (they sound VERY different).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Test Highlight - Hear an original AKG C12 vintage vacuum tube microphone in Test 2. Compare it with another original C12 from the Abbey Road collection in Test 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Test highlight - Hear the Avalon M5 ultra-high quality microphone preamplifier. Compare it with other tube and transistor preamps, including one that costs less than $40!

 

 

All tests conducted by David Mellor, Publisher of Record-Producer.com and Course Director of Audio Masterclass, at Abbey Road Studio 3 on June 2, 2008.