I have a long background in sound. When I was younger and it mattered more, I was an “audiophile”, which meant basically someone who spent far too much time chasing perfect sound (sound like a pattern forming here?).
Class “A” output, valve amps, ultimate turn table needles (on the “oil rig” that was the Nakamichi Dragon turntable, for a short while), speaker cable as thick as a finger, kevlar drivers, treated rooms. Yep I was deeply obsessed.
My obsession broke at some point (maybe about the time CD’s became all pervading, pushing vinyl and tapes away, but were not yet perfected and long before the vinyl rebirth) and I became just a regular listener. Lesson learned (or maybe not), I was content. This video thing has stirred a latent monster though.
I have never been a musician, but I love music and musicians.
The Beast on steroids. The EXH-6 is next level in build quality.
I got the first of my new kit dribbling in today.
The EXH-6 is a tank-like attachment that allows me to add two dynamic XLR mics (no phantom power for condensers), each with their own gain dial and 20db pad. I can now run 4 XLR mics at once. That is rough band coverage, a school orchestra both high and low in stereo, a vocalist with instrument and/or accompaniment, a full drum kit.
When it came, so did the first dynamic mic, the sE V3, my ‘light and bright” presence boosted, hand held vocal.
When researching it, one negative Amazon reviewer said it “smelled funny so I returned it”. The red pop filter does have an odd chemical smell, but the black does not. Maybe that was it?
They do make pretty sexy mics and it feels gooood in the hand.
At the same time, I got the 2x 600 and 2x 460mm Gravity Ma Goose gooseneck arms.
These allow me to turn an ordinary light stand, something I have plenty of, into a handy mic or light weight light stand. For just $20 each they provide flexible, solid and portable support, better I feel than a cheap mic stand and I am not in the mood to add several better ones.
The stand is a 2.1m Neewer with a 60cm Gravity gooseneck. This could go nearly three meters up, but also it could reach over a drummer or up from the stand with only one section used, so out of the way and in close It can also go low for an amp or kick drum. If I shake firmly this it does not move.
Solid and weighty, a good start.
Easy as that.
Oh, and it sounds great.
So, it starts, soon to be completed.
To be honest, if I buy any more mics, I will have to get a multi track interface, so I could actually mic up a full band and hear the subtle differences. The AMS-44 is tempting, allowing me to run 4 XLR mics into the H5 with its 4 and the X/Y capsule just for kicks, but for a little more I can get the Zoom H8 on clearance or spring for the cleanest option, the F6.
All images Pen F and 25mm f1.8 wide open.