w5kai wrote:Hi Gang, After using the heil pr-40 for 2 years I must admit. I HATE THIS FRIG"N MIC.

The preamps can't give it proper gain,I tried several, The hhb radius 20 is the only eq that i found will tame the lows and the proc effect is so small I need a neck brace to talk on the radio.
I'm looking at the Karma k58 and also the oktava mkl 2500. All the recording studio reviews sound great,but this is Hammy radio we're talking.
Any suggestions.
I don't know of anyone that hates their PR-40. First time I heard such a thing. Not much difference between a PR-40 and the ElectroVoice RE-20 or RE-27. Which are both outstanding and specifically engineered for broadcast use.
Let me get this right; you can't get the right gain structure out of it ?
Can you be a bit more specific?
One mistake that is often made with audio gear are the compressor settings. Often overdone by not letting enough dynamic range in before compression begins to take over. Back off the threshold so that it only barely affects the peaks. 4 to 1 ratio. Compression is often misunderstood and many think that more is better. More isn't better; it needs to be used judiciously. Much of the human voice's natural sounds can become unnatural by too much compression.
I use either a MXL V-88 or a V-69 mic and prefer them both because of cost and sound quality to a dynamic mic. Not the sharpest tools available. But I got them to work outstanding. Of course, I studied in a recording studio and did pro live sound. But the real means to make these mics work - or any mic for that matter - is to impose as little EQing as necessary and then work with the compressor. The better the mic; the less one should impose EQing. Pick the mic to suit the voice; not the other way around.
I have a local friend that uses a ElectroVoice RE-27 and it took him a while to get it to sound right and to his liking. He had the 'compressor blues' until he bypassed it and slowly added compression. Happy camper now.
Don't punt it yet; it really is a keeper. Work with it a bit more. Start with just the mic and preamp and then the EQ. The compressor should be the last thing to adjust.
Just some thoughts . . .