Just an "outlandish" thought here with regard to the audio as I am guessing that a tube mic will only truly come into its own if my signal at the receiving end is +20/30dB over S9! The warmth and analog "signature" will really shine under those conditions. Of course, this is a gross oversimplification as there are a slew of other factors that impact the way your audio comes across, including your voice
I have noticed in using FET condensers (the FET condenser I have is really good -
http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_in ... cts_id=200 - that an analog/mic designer called Michael Joly shipped to me 2-3 years ago) that the audio from the mic referenced above comes across really well (based on unsolicited reports on the audio made by fellows who have the receiver bandwidth and flatness required) when my signal strength isn't that strong compared to the tube mic (which isn't too bad either). Somehow, there is more "bite" or "definition" over the entire audio band-width when I am on the FET condenser when the receiving end copies me at S9 or slightly lower strength.
I also have a tube condenser (with a "Made in West Germany" NOS triode in it). It is the MXL-V69ME (I swapped out the Made in China triode which did affect the quality of the audio).
What I am writing above is really an oversimplification and based only on my set-up, antenna, audio chain etc., but I have put an array of mics through their paces and have so far always arrived at the same "conclusion." I have also used some pretty good dynamic mics, including RE-20 and PR-40, but for me, my choice is a condenser as it appears to be able to "re-voice" my voice in a way that I like (and many others it would seem).
I am also now looking at another condenser that appears to have the kind of audio straight out the mic that may not necessitate using any EQ'ing at all. That would be my preference frankly. My goal (it has evolved over the past 4 years) is to generate audio that sounds natural given that my TX bandwidth is max 3.5 kHz, but I am on 3 kHz bandwidth most of the time. I do like the low-end, but given the TX band-width limitation I have, too much in the lows part of the audio spectrum will render my audio sort of "woolly" and "mushy" with the intelligibility not being where it should be.
We all know that audio is highly subjective a matter and what your goal is may also differ from that others have set for themselves so this isn't a "cut-and-dried" type topic to say the least
Also, depending on the TX bandwidth, we're really looking at a completely different pair of boots.....errr, mics
I better stop spending more time on this or I will end up sounding really "odd!"
Cheers,
Juha