Upright Piano Mic Shootout 2/5 - Pencil Mics: Neumann KM84, KM184, Sontronics STC-1S, Calrec 1050

The second of five videos from our recent upright piano studio mic shootout. This time small diaphragm condenser mics (SDC).

Mics compared (all pairs):
- Neumann KM84
- Neumann KM184
- Sontronics STC-1S
- Calrec 1050

The obvious comparison everyone makes is between the 84/184 and you can hear the lift in the high frequencies with the 184 when the video goes between the two. Unlike most people though who love to love the 84s and bash the 184s, I am a big fan of the 184s and can see why Neumann made the changes; I use them as a detail catcher and mostly as overheads (drums/piano/stage) where I want the clarity in the high end. If I was using 84s for this purpose I would always need to boost the high end. I can see that if you are using one as a pencil mic however, such as for a guitar or a string instrument then the 84 would be preferable. But then I would probably use a combination (ribbon/pencil/midside array) and still opt for the 184.

This was the first time I’ve been able to compare the 84s (borrowed) with our newly acquired but vintage Calrecs and the two mics are so similar I no longer feel we need to pick up a pair of (now overpriced) 84s.

The Sontronics were our first SDC pair and have always impressed. No change here, I think they stand up very confidently next to the 184s, there is certainly not the difference that the price would suggest. The Sontronics levels are a bit less predictable which you need be mindful of when positioning and setting levels, but that can also just mean they are more sensitive to source.

We ended up choosing the 184s as our go-to SDC for piano when used in combination but the Sontronics would do the job admirably. If I was buying my first SDC pair I wouldn’t hesitate with the STCs. British design and service too.

Let me know your thoughts and please subscribe to the channel for notifications of the next videos.. Cheers!

Update 2021 - I have found since making this video that the 184s can be very bright on sources and actually sold my pair, but for some uses they are incredible. These days I tend to reach for my Schoeps for pianos and the Calrecs for drum O/H but it does depend on the source and player of course. I tend to think of them as: the Sontronics are amazingly good value mics and recommend them as a first pair of SDCs, the Schoeps very natural, and the Calrecs a little darker (more 84-like). I also picked up a pair of SM81s recently following my US trip where they seem to crop up everywhere, as I love them on hi-hat, but haven’t had chance to A-B them yet with our other SDCs..

Видео Upright Piano Mic Shootout 2/5 - Pencil Mics: Neumann KM84, KM184, Sontronics STC-1S, Calrec 1050 канала repmusic