Youd be hard pressed to find a microphone that does a better job at capturing the truth of your voice. Reference tube condenser microphone with fixed cardioidonly capsule with a thicker. Interestingly, the second capsule of the stereo version can. Manley reference cardioid microphone in action youtube. Manley reference cardioid refcard valve microphone. Known for vocals, this mic performs well on a variety of instruments as well. If you find yourself always boosting 5 or 10 khz, then the reference mic will be up your street. The manley reference cardioid is forward, clear, very clean, and nearly a perfect microphone. The gold reference series employ manleys own design of large capsules 1.
Sony c800g vs manley cardioid reference microphone shootout when it comes to modernsounding microphones, two come to mind. The manley reference cardioid microphone is one of the mostgorgeous sounding microphones youll come across. An online microphone test to check if your mic is working and properly configured. New manley labs reference mono gold tube microphone. The manley reference is a super, high end, studio condenser that is a great alternative to u87. A tube mic with the highly soughtafter qualities of vintage european studio mics. Sony c800g vs manley cardioid reference microphone shootout. In this video, we put four different types of microphones up against each other on female vocals. Manley labs reference cardioid tube microphone reverb. Manley reference mono gold microphone atlas pro audio. Whether you know it or not, youve heard the manley. Everything you put in or record, you will hear with lots of. The rich tonal balance and liquid character make this centerfixed cardioid mic an excellent choice for recording guitars, drums, brass and especially vocals.
Only the front membrane is metallized as the rear half has a clear membrane. The capsule is a 34mm k67 design which has a dual backplate. With the similar film thickness and construction, similar high frequency resonance a little edge, similar proximity effect and pretty good immunity from pops and. Rich tozzoli takes a look at the manley reference cardioid tube mic. Manley core reference channel strip microphone preamplifier. Pricey, highend and well worth it, thats what sums up the manley reference cardioid. Manley reference cardioid is a tube condenser microphone built by. Manley reference cardiod microphone audio chocolate. Manley reference cardioid tube condenser microphone. Sos forum manley labs reference cardioid tube microphone. Manley reference cardioid mic black thomann united states. These are all great pieces of gear that have their strengths, but i found a winning combo with the manley reference cardiod and the portico ii.
Manley reference cardioid microphone and they also describe the similarities and differences between the gold reference and reference cardioid on that same pageincluding how it more closely recalls how many of the vintage european tube mics such as the beloved u47 sounded like when they were new. The reference cardioid microphone from manley labs is a large diaphragm condenser offering a wide frequency response and accurate transient performance without coloration or any perceivable sonic signature. Manley labs reference cardioid tube microphone refcard. Manley reference mono gold tube microphone lunchbox audio. The reference cardioid and reference gold are handbuilt tube mics suitable for critical recording applications. Manley core reference premaplifier building upon its 25year legacy producing revered recording studio equipment, manley labs has distilled its core technologies from this lineage. The reference cardioid microphone shares the same electronic attributes as the gold reference series, but has a centerfixed cardioidonly capsule with a.
Check out our manley mic comparison and find the one that best fits your needs. This manley reference cardioid microphone is one of the finest pieces of gear you can ever find in a music studio. Manley reference cardioid tube condenser microphone vintage. Manley reference microphones tube mic voiceover test. The manley reference cardioid is a studio tube microphone featuring a centerfixed cardioid only capsule with a 6 micron gauge gold sputtered diaphragm. The manley has a high max spl of 150 db, which is unique. If it does not pass their rigorous tests, the capsule gets discarded.
It is also widely compared with the gold reference series due to its similar features. Manley reference cardioid tube mic the manley reference cardioid microphone shares the same electronic attributes as the gold reference series, but has a centerfixed cardioidonly capsule with a thicker gauge 6 micron gold sputtered diaphragm. Manley reference cardioid microphone guitar center. Manley reference cardioid microphone limited edition. The reference cardioid ships in a padded metal suitcase with its power supply and cables, a very slick compact swivel adapter, a leather dust cover for the top half of the microphone, and the. The manley is the first tube mic ive owned and i love the sound of the manley the most for voice compared to the other two mics. To add additional warmth and smooth out the tone i use the rupert neve portico ii channel strip with the manley reference cardiod. When fidelity is the goal, the manley reference gold mic is the solution.
The gold reference series employ our own design of large capsules 1. Manley labs test procedure includes comparison of every new mic against the original reference microphone to ensure consistency of performance. Here is the manley reference cardioid, an all tube condenser microphone, designed to be the successor of the ultra rare u47. Manley labs looked to nail down the best qualities of the most soughtafter european mics from the 50s and 60s when designing a new microphone, and the reference cardioid is the. Seriously, if youre after a microphone designed to simply cut a vocal right up the middle and out front with the smooth, detailed clarity of a vintage 47voiced classic that has been refined into a quiet rocketship of a microphone. Manley reference cardioid is a tube condenser microphone built by manley labs since 1990. Manley tube microphones for voiceover recording hacks. Studio tube condenser microphone cardioid, alltube triode design 12ax7, 10 db pad switchable, frequency range. Manley labs reference cardioid studio economik pro. The reference gold is available in mono and stereo variants, with the only meaningful difference being channel configuration. The manley reference silver microphone offers a mechanical selector on the rear of the head basket that is switchable between cardioid and omni pickup patterns.
We have recently switched to a dualtriode 12at7 tube, easily obtainable and replaceable, mounted in a ceramic socket. Its nimble ck12style americanmade capsule, open grille, and continually adjustable pickup pattern design allow it to hear deep into a room, capturing nuances and subtleties that other mics miss. While not a vintage microphone, the ref c is certainly a studio classic. The manley core is an innovative channel strip that combines manleys greatest hits with fresh technology. Manley reference cardioid if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. The alltube electronics in the manley reference series microphones are built around two triodes in cascade forming an entire gainblock. Review of my manley ref c and empirical labs distressor el8x. It recreates the same smooth, clear and thick sound of the u47 but with all of the advantages of a modern build. Manley labs reference cardioid tube mic microphone reverb. The 251 has a ck12style capsule, like the manley gold, whereas the 507 has, more or less, the amplifier circuit of the u47 we were on a tight schedule, though, and the only bock mic available was the 195 a.
My original concept for this test was to put the manley tube mics against a bock audio 251 or 507. Manley reference cardioid so, to sort of set the tone last i had any recording equipment was in the early 90s when 4 track tapes made of bounced tracks with nothing more than a few sm57s meant you were a genius, toy instruments sufficed, jazzmasters and jaguars were still cheap and elector harmonix and univox pedals could be found throughout americas heartland for a few bucks at any old pawn shop. The manley reference cardioid microphone shares the same electronic attributes as the gold reference series, but has a centre fixed cardioidonly capsule with a thicker gauge 6 micron gold sputtered diaphragm. Online mic test microphone test check your mic with. Manley reference silver large diaphragm cardioidomni tube. The manley gold reference multipattern microphones are a statement, quite simply, of the finest microphones that money can buy in the pursuit of truly accurate musical recordings. Download a zip archive of all the original audio files.
The manley reference cardioid tube microphone has that finished sound right out of the box, making it the favorite vocal mic of top producers and voiceover artists alike. The manley reference microphone serial number is located on the inner face of the mic suspension plate flanking the hole where your mic stand attaches to the mic suspension. To most audio engineers, manley labs is best known for its rack gear. The manley reference cardioid microphone shares the same electronic. The reference cardioid microphone shares the same electronic attributes as the gold reference series, but has a centerfixed cardioidonly capsule with a thicker gauge 6 micron gold sputtered diaphragm. Its tone is nice, bright and detailed and will sit in a mix without a lot of additional eqing. I need a frequency response plot and a polar response chart. Boasting a mic grade 5670 vacuum tube, manley iron transformers, and a lownoise switch mode power supply, the manley reference silver microphone is a studio workhorse. This testing yields very few tubes suitable for use in the microphones. The manley reference cardioid tube microphone has that finished sound right out of. Out of the gate it has a great warm sound that complements my voice.
Like all large diaphragm condenser mics, this one is also sensitive to breath pops, so i recommend a pop filter with it for vocals. Manley reference cardioid microphone musicians friend. In all of the tests i have thrown at this thing, it has been truly remarkable. The manley reference cardioid microphone shares the same electronic attributes as the gold reference series, but has a centerfixed cardioidonly capsule with a thicker gauge 6 micron gold sputtered diaphragm. Manley reference mono gold condenser microphone vintage king.
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