I sometimes fear that I've only been _conditioned_ to like Neumann mics. I feel like every audio person goes through a never-ending love-hate cycle between adoring Neumann, and thinking they're overrated, and flipping between those two states every few months. To that end, the KM184 seems to have better “separation” in the mids (~400-2000 Hz), with each note feeling more clearly represented and discernible. While the WA-84 feels like one big piano, the KM184 feels more like several keys playing together. On the guitar, it creates a jangly sound which borders on distracting… MKBHD has a great quote that I think also applies to recording gear: “Good tech is getting cheap. And cheap tech is getting good.”
That quote couldn't be more spot on. What we have today for the prices we can get it, its just mind blowing. For a "good" condenser mic back in the 80s and even early 90s was astronomical (even when NOT accounting for inflation). We have a really interesting video coming up that addresses the whole financial aspect of recording coming soon. As to the Neumann statement... Yeah, I feel ya. As much as I'd love to see those fun colored badges on mics, the wallet just can't justify it being the other choices that are out there now.
@@meistudiony I'm super excited about that video! Can't wait to see it! Until then, I'll enjoy this wash of SDC content With AKG and Neumann being purchased by Tech Conglomerates, I wonder if this recent shift away from “the old” has any direct correlation 🤔
@@DapperDanLovesYou the only direction i see now is profit margin. Gone are the days of innovation and experimentation. This is why companies like Røde and UA are at the forefront of innovation. Everyone else just follows the leader to try and follow the dollars. Imagine what could be accomplished with the financial strength of a big company that WASNT worried about shareholders over making contributions to the tech/art.
Another nice video. I still Love the sound of that piano. All the mics sound beyond usable for the applications. Pretty much all I have to say about that. I enjoyed your breakdown of the WA story as well. Of course I want all their products.🤤⬅️Thanks!
Great video and further proof that a lower price tag on a microphone doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't hold up to higher priced competitors. I definitely think the WA84 and the KM184 sound very similar and in a lot of ways I actually prefer the WA84
They all sound good, and I think you're right about "nothing a little EQ couldn't even out". I did like the Neumann's the best, and not because I own a matched pair. They just sounded the best. The Shure was really flat, and the Warm Audio was super warm. But like you said, in a mix no one is going to say, oh, that's definitely a Neumann KM184. haha. But man, that piano with the Neumann was sweet.
Thanks for the comment and for checking out the video. The km184s seem to have a little more definition in the midrange. It was made more apparent to me on the acoustic guitar. But yeah… in any given situation… any of these so far can do the job. We do have a pair of sdcs that do the job pretty poorly. Were not going to make a dedicated video for them but we’ll add them in the round up we have planned at the end of the SDC video run.
I dunno, I liked the SM 81’s when they were used, but over all, they all sounded fine. I definitely don’t have the ears to pick any out in a blind test. One exception is the OH’s, very brittle crash on all mics. Not related, but kinda… could you PLEASE ask your bassist to finish the chorus and not stop on the ii chord? I can’t sleep for days due to it all being unresolved! 😁
hahah thats me... sorry. I'll try to resolve it in the future. I agree FWIW on the overheads. I usually use a stereo ribbon mic (the R88 from AEA) for overheads. It rolls off that harshness on the cymbals and just makes it way more listenable. Thanks for checking it out!
@@meistudiony Yeah, as a drummer, ribbons for OH's for sure. So you're a bassist as well? You must be, intonation is great! The upright is not an instrument one plays casually, it's a very physical instrument. But yeah, just 4 more bars!....well, 5 if you resolve to the root, beat 1 top of the chorus. 😊 And thanx for all these shootouts, history etc. Love it. ✌from the Great White North, eh?
Best and most comprehensive content I've seen for the WA-84 good job. I think this vid made me decide to pull the trigger and buy one. Is the wa-84 better than the se8?
We have a pair of the sE5s which apparently arent too far off sounding from the 8s. Theyre very full bodied sounding but they have a LOT of top end (our se5s do at least). If youre in the market, the wa84 is a great buy if youre looking for something more tame. Se is great if you like it bright.
There are no major difference IMHO. The most obvious differences are on the guitar vs 184, 184 being a tad brighter. And the Hi hat sounds was smoother with a less pronounced attack with the sm81, I defintely prefered the sm81 on the hats. Thanks for the excellent video, I didn't know Warm Audio started as a diy gig, that's impressive how big it is now, they probably had massive leverage from the get go.
I'll pay the double for those Neumanns for that piano, hat, and guitar sound. The 184s just slap transients better than the W84s do. The W84 sound mushy in comparison.
The 184s are fast and bright, ill give them that. The WA sounds closer to what the original KM84's sounded like. A bit more tame in the high end and the bottom end was huge. Completely different sounds, but it's good to have options! Thanks for checking out the vid!
How does the UA Sp1 sound without the modeling? I prefer the WA84 on the drum sample, a bit smoother in the top end than the SP1 with the KM84 modeling.
The video for the UA SP1 has the mic without the modeling. Im also going to be putting out an extra video with ALL the SDC's we used similar to what i did with the kick drum shoot out (probably right after new years). ua-cam.com/video/I1g9gE87Ef0/v-deo.html
I like some of the Warm mics, and own some of their outboard gear. Honestly not too impressed on the WA84 for the price, based on any videos and sound examples I've heard so far. It's fine, but it definitely needs EQ on virtually every source I've heard it on, being kind of boxy and muffled by default.
I don't like bright mics either (unless super clean brightness and for certain vocalists), and most mics of this style are very bright. So I appreciate these for not going that route. Even so, the WA84 isn't quite to my taste raw (granted, I haven't had them in my hands to test personally)... maybe a hardware Pultec high boost of a couple dB would do the trick on them in the mix. Warm Audio has plenty of my money already, so they'll survive me being lukewarm on this mic ;-) [I'm in the market for another SDC, so doing research at the moment]@@meistudiony
@@FreakinOutOnAudio ive still yet to find something i like better than the sm81 from shure. Although i will say i am thoroughly impressed at the Se SDCs we have. They are on the brighter side of things but its not a broken glass in the ear type of bright.
SM81 is a great neutral mic, and I like and have used them quite a bit, but never owned one. Funny to think that they were once the only obtanium sdc. By Se, do you mean the Se7's or Se8's? @@meistudiony
This was a very well done video I had to come back and give it one more watch 🎉💪🏾
Thank you for checking it out.... AGAIN! lol
I sometimes fear that I've only been _conditioned_ to like Neumann mics. I feel like every audio person goes through a never-ending love-hate cycle between adoring Neumann, and thinking they're overrated, and flipping between those two states every few months.
To that end, the KM184 seems to have better “separation” in the mids (~400-2000 Hz), with each note feeling more clearly represented and discernible. While the WA-84 feels like one big piano, the KM184 feels more like several keys playing together. On the guitar, it creates a jangly sound which borders on distracting…
MKBHD has a great quote that I think also applies to recording gear: “Good tech is getting cheap. And cheap tech is getting good.”
That quote couldn't be more spot on. What we have today for the prices we can get it, its just mind blowing. For a "good" condenser mic back in the 80s and even early 90s was astronomical (even when NOT accounting for inflation). We have a really interesting video coming up that addresses the whole financial aspect of recording coming soon.
As to the Neumann statement... Yeah, I feel ya. As much as I'd love to see those fun colored badges on mics, the wallet just can't justify it being the other choices that are out there now.
@@meistudiony I'm super excited about that video! Can't wait to see it! Until then, I'll enjoy this wash of SDC content
With AKG and Neumann being purchased by Tech Conglomerates, I wonder if this recent shift away from “the old” has any direct correlation 🤔
@@DapperDanLovesYou the only direction i see now is profit margin. Gone are the days of innovation and experimentation. This is why companies like Røde and UA are at the forefront of innovation. Everyone else just follows the leader to try and follow the dollars. Imagine what could be accomplished with the financial strength of a big company that WASNT worried about shareholders over making contributions to the tech/art.
Another nice video. I still Love the sound of that piano. All the mics sound beyond usable for the applications. Pretty much all I have to say about that. I enjoyed your breakdown of the WA story as well. Of course I want all their products.🤤⬅️Thanks!
That ampex tube pre has been calling my name since it came out. Thanks for watching!
Great video and further proof that a lower price tag on a microphone doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't hold up to higher priced competitors. I definitely think the WA84 and the KM184 sound very similar and in a lot of ways I actually prefer the WA84
Yeah... its just crazy how far everything has come. I still love me some SM81 on hats though... the cut off on the top end is just right to me.
Mass production of products is more efficient in Asia so that can be one of the reasons why prices can be lower
without a doubt! @@ramencurry6672
Awesome video--thanks!
Thanks for checkin it out
They all sound good, and I think you're right about "nothing a little EQ couldn't even out". I did like the Neumann's the best, and not because I own a matched pair. They just sounded the best. The Shure was really flat, and the Warm Audio was super warm. But like you said, in a mix no one is going to say, oh, that's definitely a Neumann KM184. haha. But man, that piano with the Neumann was sweet.
Thanks for the comment and for checking out the video. The km184s seem to have a little more definition in the midrange. It was made more apparent to me on the acoustic guitar. But yeah… in any given situation… any of these so far can do the job. We do have a pair of sdcs that do the job pretty poorly. Were not going to make a dedicated video for them but we’ll add them in the round up we have planned at the end of the SDC video run.
If you want a cool preamp to check out from Warm then look at their Tone Beast. Only downside is it doesnt come in orange anymore.
I dunno, I liked the SM 81’s when they were used, but over all, they all sounded fine. I definitely don’t have the ears to pick any out in a blind test. One exception is the OH’s, very brittle crash on all mics.
Not related, but kinda… could you PLEASE ask your bassist to finish the chorus and not stop on the ii chord? I can’t sleep for days due to it all being unresolved!
😁
hahah thats me... sorry. I'll try to resolve it in the future. I agree FWIW on the overheads. I usually use a stereo ribbon mic (the R88 from AEA) for overheads. It rolls off that harshness on the cymbals and just makes it way more listenable. Thanks for checking it out!
@@meistudiony Yeah, as a drummer, ribbons for OH's for sure. So you're a bassist as well? You must be, intonation is great! The upright is not an instrument one plays casually, it's a very physical instrument. But yeah, just 4 more bars!....well, 5 if you resolve to the root, beat 1 top of the chorus. 😊
And thanx for all these shootouts, history etc. Love it.
✌from the Great White North, eh?
Best and most comprehensive content I've seen for the WA-84 good job. I think this vid made me decide to pull the trigger and buy one. Is the wa-84 better than the se8?
We have a pair of the sE5s which apparently arent too far off sounding from the 8s. Theyre very full bodied sounding but they have a LOT of top end (our se5s do at least). If youre in the market, the wa84 is a great buy if youre looking for something more tame. Se is great if you like it bright.
There are no major difference IMHO. The most obvious differences are on the guitar vs 184, 184 being a tad brighter. And the Hi hat sounds was smoother with a less pronounced attack with the sm81, I defintely prefered the sm81 on the hats. Thanks for the excellent video, I didn't know Warm Audio started as a diy gig, that's impressive how big it is now, they probably had massive leverage from the get go.
Well theres a BIG difference in the price tag! lol But sound wise, yeah, you got it!
The price is relatively low, I probably will buy a par since I do not own any luxury small diaphragm condenser mics
SM81 is a longtime standard hihat mic, even on the expensive sessions at big studios back in the day.
I'll pay the double for those Neumanns for that piano, hat, and guitar sound.
The 184s just slap transients better than the W84s do. The W84 sound mushy in comparison.
The 184s are fast and bright, ill give them that. The WA sounds closer to what the original KM84's sounded like. A bit more tame in the high end and the bottom end was huge. Completely different sounds, but it's good to have options! Thanks for checking out the vid!
How does the UA Sp1 sound without the modeling? I prefer the WA84 on the drum sample, a bit smoother in the top end than the SP1 with the KM84 modeling.
The video for the UA SP1 has the mic without the modeling. Im also going to be putting out an extra video with ALL the SDC's we used similar to what i did with the kick drum shoot out (probably right after new years).
ua-cam.com/video/I1g9gE87Ef0/v-deo.html
I like some of the Warm mics, and own some of their outboard gear. Honestly not too impressed on the WA84 for the price, based on any videos and sound examples I've heard so far. It's fine, but it definitely needs EQ on virtually every source I've heard it on, being kind of boxy and muffled by default.
I don't disagree with you on that. I did like them better than the neumann KM184s though overall, but I'm not a fan of bright mics.
I don't like bright mics either (unless super clean brightness and for certain vocalists), and most mics of this style are very bright. So I appreciate these for not going that route. Even so, the WA84 isn't quite to my taste raw (granted, I haven't had them in my hands to test personally)... maybe a hardware Pultec high boost of a couple dB would do the trick on them in the mix. Warm Audio has plenty of my money already, so they'll survive me being lukewarm on this mic ;-) [I'm in the market for another SDC, so doing research at the moment]@@meistudiony
@@FreakinOutOnAudio ive still yet to find something i like better than the sm81 from shure. Although i will say i am thoroughly impressed at the Se SDCs we have. They are on the brighter side of things but its not a broken glass in the ear type of bright.
SM81 is a great neutral mic, and I like and have used them quite a bit, but never owned one. Funny to think that they were once the only obtanium sdc.
By Se, do you mean the Se7's or Se8's?
@@meistudiony