Why a tube in a (condenser) mic is a big deal?
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:52 pm
Hi y'all AudioPhiles and VooooooDooooooo Heads!
As a "reminder," I am using a TS870 and feed audio in through ACC2 on back of rig (cap mod done), use a B1 Behringer condenser mic (going to my PR40 off and on) and Behringer outboard gear.
I keep reading that folks replace tubes in mics. Now, could someone explain why exactly that makes a real difference?
a) Is changing a tube to one that offers a lower gain factor somehow better as there will be more headroom ?
b) Is more headroom in hammy radio important and if so why?
c) Is changing a tube in a condenser mic to one with a lower gain factor better from a sensitivity perspective? Will the condenser then be less "hot" and perhaps easier to tame using a de-esser or a multi-band compressor?
d) Won't changing a tube to one exhibiting a lower gain factor make the power supply work harder?
e) If the power supply above works harder I would think that that fact alone will cause the audio through the mic to be "shaped" or "sculpted" differently?
f) Why would say a 12AU7 by Telefunken be better than the "same" tube by another company?
g) Why is the length of a plate in a triode important for an application in hammy radio? "Short" versus "long"?
h) Does changing the tube in a dynamic mic versus condenser mic (yeah, this question is impossible to answer.... ) somehow provide relatively smoother sonic characteristics?
i) If one were to upgrade an inexpensive mic (dynamic or condenser), what is more important, replacing the tube or the mic capsule and why exactly? Again, keeping in mind that we're talking hammy radio and relatively reduced transmit bandwidth (even at 6 kHz) compared to say AM radio?
j) Is replacing capacitor(s) in condenser (dynamic?) mics that have different dielectrics between the plates important with regard to how "smooth" the audio sounds? If it is, I would think it won't be significant in hammy radio?
Just a short list of questions that came to mind and again, these tube questions are only ones that came to mind when thinking of their usage in mics! Tube based EQ, pre-amp, compressors etc. would be a topic that I "know" even less about
Sure would like common sense responses
Cheers!
JJ
P.S. I need a compass to navigate through the ever darkening waters of the VoooooooDooooooooo maze............the search for "perfection" continues.
As a "reminder," I am using a TS870 and feed audio in through ACC2 on back of rig (cap mod done), use a B1 Behringer condenser mic (going to my PR40 off and on) and Behringer outboard gear.
I keep reading that folks replace tubes in mics. Now, could someone explain why exactly that makes a real difference?
a) Is changing a tube to one that offers a lower gain factor somehow better as there will be more headroom ?
b) Is more headroom in hammy radio important and if so why?
c) Is changing a tube in a condenser mic to one with a lower gain factor better from a sensitivity perspective? Will the condenser then be less "hot" and perhaps easier to tame using a de-esser or a multi-band compressor?
d) Won't changing a tube to one exhibiting a lower gain factor make the power supply work harder?
e) If the power supply above works harder I would think that that fact alone will cause the audio through the mic to be "shaped" or "sculpted" differently?
f) Why would say a 12AU7 by Telefunken be better than the "same" tube by another company?
g) Why is the length of a plate in a triode important for an application in hammy radio? "Short" versus "long"?
h) Does changing the tube in a dynamic mic versus condenser mic (yeah, this question is impossible to answer.... ) somehow provide relatively smoother sonic characteristics?
i) If one were to upgrade an inexpensive mic (dynamic or condenser), what is more important, replacing the tube or the mic capsule and why exactly? Again, keeping in mind that we're talking hammy radio and relatively reduced transmit bandwidth (even at 6 kHz) compared to say AM radio?
j) Is replacing capacitor(s) in condenser (dynamic?) mics that have different dielectrics between the plates important with regard to how "smooth" the audio sounds? If it is, I would think it won't be significant in hammy radio?
Just a short list of questions that came to mind and again, these tube questions are only ones that came to mind when thinking of their usage in mics! Tube based EQ, pre-amp, compressors etc. would be a topic that I "know" even less about
Sure would like common sense responses
Cheers!
JJ
P.S. I need a compass to navigate through the ever darkening waters of the VoooooooDooooooooo maze............the search for "perfection" continues.