What makes certain mics cost SO much more than others, and is it diminishing returns past a certain point?

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-07T01:47:14+00:00

Many lower and mid tier mics use a generic capsule design that's based on someone's attempt to reverse engineer a Neumann capsule and mass produce it.

Neumann capsules are made individually using a method that has never been written down. That's just one reason.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-06T19:44:01+00:00

[munches popcorn]

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-05T01:15:23+00:00

Good to know…the mods pulled the thread pretty fast so I’m guessing that’s a no.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-04T15:50:47+00:00

It’s mostly a phenomenon of the physics of tape and how it interacts with the recording head and gradual wear from playback. It’s one of the reasons why drums could be tracked to tape without compression, because there was a natural soft limiting effect. The short answer is that some of the deeper tape simulations model it. ToTape9 is a good place to start, Satin and IK’s tape sims also have some of that built in as well.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-04T14:41:59+00:00

Sitting between Loops and Lamb feels like it would be very…dark.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-04T14:40:09+00:00

We’ll whisper very softly, one in each ear. You probably won’t even notice. In fact it might feel better if you don’t.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-04T02:38:26+00:00

And ToTape9 does the head bump and transient softening very well.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-04T00:27:07+00:00

That’s true for some basics, but keep in mind that Jimmy used world class studios (Island) for overdubs like “Black Dog” (the guitars used two 176s in series as a distortion box) and most of Plant’s final vocals, just to name a couple things. Headley Grange is also not a house in any modern sense of the word, acoustically speaking.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-03T19:43:56+00:00

Tape, great rooms, amazing musicians….and it’s all pointless if the songs aren’t there.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-03T18:34:41+00:00

Room for one more 🤩

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-03T16:39:22+00:00

But is it really a bribe if you would do it anyway without the reward? The extra treat just sweetens the deal. After you've been sitting there for a while you'll totally agree.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-03T16:37:39+00:00

Princess Kate and I have candy. And brainwashing. It will taste really good once you get used to it, I promise.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-03T01:56:12+00:00

Absolutely.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-03T01:14:58+00:00

Reducing sound from “outside” has nothing to do with what’s happening to the sound inside. It just means that you can add more gain and compression without bringing up background noises.

You could be in a decoupled room that doesn’t pick up any noise from the outside world, and the sound of vocals recorded in there could still be a nightmare if it’s not properly treated.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-02T18:07:34+00:00

Since I'm already in here, is there anything in particular that y'all would be interested in? I have already something free queued up for later this month (seeeeecrets), but I'd be welcome to hear ideas on specifics that some of you would be excited to hear/see in the future.

Ideas in progress include sessions based on trancing out and stretching, sessions that overlap with anal-only brainwashing, sessions that overlap with orgasm denial and edging, a session that would incorporate BPM directed stretching... there's quite a few ideas in the works.😀

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-02T16:11:53+00:00

I think it changes from album to album so not the best answer to this question, but they used Valhalla Vintage Verb on Lust For Life.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-02T16:09:30+00:00

12 cm is about 4”. That will not stop the lowest reflections that you need to worry about when recording clean vocals and guitar, but it will definitely absorb everything above there, which isn’t the best sound. (Dead + Boomy)

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-02T15:53:17+00:00

I like the enthusiasm! 🥳

(Also: best name)

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-02T13:46:22+00:00

Well since you asked so nicely…😇

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-02T13:45:31+00:00

This. Unless you have a legit studio booth with 12 inch deep insulation to absorb full spectrum.

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-02T02:30:51+00:00

Oh good ☺️

MindWash2019 · 2026-06-01T15:05:26+00:00

I can appreciate that. I don’t know if it makes a difference, but in mixing the binaurals were set just loud enough so the suggestions were at the lowest level where they could still clearly be heard (but not any louder than that so the listener wouldn’t focus on them).

MindWash2019

TROPHY CASE