Najbolji vintage mikrofoni – 10 najboljih odabira 2022. godine

Ovo je zanimljiva tema, ali morat ću odrediti neke parametre prije nego što počnem. Prvo, što točno mislim kad kažem najbolji vintage mikrofoni?

Pa, mnogi od mikrofona koji bi se mogli smatrati "najboljima" više nisu dostupni. Mikrofoni postoje davno, a mnogi su ukinuti, zamijenjeni nadograđenim i malo drugačijim verzijama.

Dakle, što točno znači berba?

Očito, to ima neke veze s godinama, ali je malo više od toga po mom mišljenju. Da bi bio stavljen u kategoriju 'vintage', također mora steći status ikone. Biti cijenjen mikrofon koji su koristili, iu većini slučajeva, još uvijek najbolji.

Stoga sam napravio svoj popis na temelju njihovog statusa kao i njihove izvedbe. Ali također i na njihovu trenutnu dostupnost ili dostupnost nadograđenih verzija.

Počnimo s klasikom,...

10 najboljih vintage mikrofona na tržištu u recenzijama 2022.

1. AKG Pro Audio C414 XLS instrumentalni kondenzatorski mikrofon – najbolji svestrani vintage mikrofon
2. Vokalni mikrofon Shure SM58 – najbolji vintage vokalni mikrofon uživo
3. Shure SM-57 kardioidni dinamički mikrofon za instrumente – najbolji Snare Vintage mikrofon
4. Neumann U 87 – najbolji starinski vokalni mikrofon
5. Kultni vokalni mikrofon Unidyne Shure 55SH serije II – vintage mikrofon najboljeg izgleda
6. Electro-Voice RE-20 kardioidni mikrofon – najizdržljiviji vintage mikrofon
7. Sennheiser MD 421 – Najbolji Vintage Tom mikrofon
8. Neumann TLM 102 kondenzatorski mikrofon – najbolji moderni vintage mikrofon
9. Sennheiser MD 441-U – najbolji vintage vokalni mikrofon za ženske vokale
10. AKG C12VR Referentni cijevni kondenzatorski mikrofon s više uzoraka – najbolji starinski cijevni mikrofon

1 AKG Pro Audio C414 XLS instrumentalni kondenzatorski mikrofon – najbolji svestrani vintage mikrofon

Ima mikrofona, a ima i mikrofona. C414 je jedan od onih koji ljudi koji snimaju za život smatraju legendom. Ako odete u bilo koji ozbiljan studio za snimanje diljem svijeta, vjerojatno ćete pronaći jedan, ako ne i mnogo njih.

Samo recite ime

Od svog osnutka u Austriji neposredno nakon drugog svjetskog rata, AKG je izgradio zavidnu reputaciju. Ovo je sada na razini na kojoj samo trebate izgovoriti ime i bit će znakovito kimanje glavom. Prihvaćam da radite s najboljima.

Studio je u pokretu

S glazbenom eksplozijom u 60-ima, proizvođači svekolike glazbene opreme, a posebno onih za snimanje, morali su podići svoju igru. Mercurial 414 bio je proizvod tog vremena.

Izdan 1971., od tada su ga mnogi pokušali kopirati. Neki su ga čak pokušali oponašati. Nisu se trebali zamarati. 414 je još uvijek jedan od najboljih mikrofona možeš kupiti. A C414 XLS, najnovija inkarnacija, održava standarde.

Kondenzator s više uzoraka

Ovo je višestruki kondenzatorski mikrofon koji je proizveden od najkvalitetnijih komponenti i materijala. Sa svojih devet polarnih uzoraka postavlja nove standarde. Što god želite snimiti, postoji odgovarajući uzorak. Sve je naravno podržano AKG kvalitetom, performansama i pouzdanošću.

Dodana su četiri nova uzorka koji se nalaze između pet izvornih uzoraka. Ovo proširuje opseg snimanja zvuka. Što god da snimate, pronađite svoju postavku i krenite.

Više kontrole zvuka

Postoje neki dodatni ugrađeni parametri za kontrolu zvuka koji vam pomažu u stvaranju zvuka. Postoje jastučići za prigušivanje na -6, -12 i -18 dB, kao i tri odvojena bas filtera. Kako bi se spriječilo bilo kakvo isjecanje, tu je LED svjetlo i ima fantastičnu razinu zvučnog tlaka (SPL) od 140 dB.

Reprodukcija zvuka je zajamčeno bogata i topla, zahvaljujući dizajnu velike dijafragme.

Nije jeftina opcija

Nije jeftino, naravno, ali očekivali biste da jest? Ova kvaliteta se mora platiti, a kvaliteta je takva kakva jest. Svakako, jedan od najboljih mikrofona za snimanje ikad napravljen.

Stoga, ako tražite najbolji vintage mikrofon, ovo će vam trebati malo premlaćivanja. Ali to će se odnositi na većinu na ovom popisu.

Prednosti

• Kvalitetan dizajn s izvrsnim komponentama i vrlo dobro izgrađen.
• Prava kvaliteta jednog od vrhunskih proizvođača.

Protiv

• Nije jeftino.

2 Shure SM58 vokalni mikrofon – najbolji vintage vokalni mikrofon uživo

Sljedeći u mom pregledu najboljih starinskih mikrofona, idemo od jednog poznatog imena u mikrofonima do drugog. Ni Shure nije na lošem glasu, zar ne? Još jedan mikrofon koji je rođen iz eksplozije glazbe 60-ih. Oni su u to vrijeme bili nešto malo drugačiji od većine drugih proizvođača mikrofona na mnogo načina. Još uvijek jesu.

Izvorno iz Chicaga, mikrofoni se sada proizvode u Meksiku i još uvijek pružaju ono po čemu je Shure poznat. Kad bendovi i pjevači svih razina stupe na pozornicu, glazba može biti drugačija. Ali jedna stvar koja će vjerojatno biti ista jest da koriste SM58.

Imate li nešto novo za reći?

Ne postoji zapravo postoji; sve je već rečeno. Ima kardioidni polarni uzorak koji je izvrstan za izolaciju zvuka od ciljnog izvora, obično vokala, posebno uživo. I smanjuje sve neželjene okolne zvukove.

Dodatno uklanjanje neželjene okolne buke dodatno je smanjeno ugrađenim sferičnim filtrom. Ovo pomaže u sprječavanju smetnji od buke vjetra ako ga koristite vani. I također smanjuje 'pucanje' od pjevača.

Nije jedan trik poni

Tijekom godina, postao je jedan od omiljenih mikrofona za mnoge pjevače (Bono iz U2 i Chris Martin (Coldplay) u studiju, i svaki pjevač kojeg možete sjetiti kada pjeva uživo). Ali u ormariću ima više od toga za ovaj mikrofon. Istina je da ima frekvencijski odziv koji je idealan za vokale, ali može se vrlo dobro nositi s većinom stvari.

Što se tiče zvuka, SM58 ima svjetliji odziv srednje frekvencije od većine. Također ima bas roll-off. To znači da se zvuk ovoga može lako prilagoditi izvedbi pojedinca.

Njegova prikladnost za pozornicu i upotrebu u ruci poboljšana je njegovim sustavom za montažu na udarce, smanjujući buku pri rukovanju. A ovih dana također možete nabaviti SM58 s prekidačem za isključivanje i uključivanje. Nešto što nije bilo dostupno na ranijim modelima.

Daltrey-Proof

A ako mikrofon zasluži to priznanje, onda mora biti težak. I to je jedna stvar koju svi Shure mikrofoni imaju. Oni su napravljeni da podnose bilo što, uključujući Who izvedbu, i to nešto govori.

I zadnja pozitiva. Provjerite cijenu. Možda ćete morati dvaput pogledati. To bi mogao biti najbolji pristupačni vintage mikrofon dostupno, s obzirom na nevjerojatnu cijenu.

Prednosti

• Svestrani odličan mikrofon po izvrsnoj cijeni.
• Dobro izgrađen uz legendarnu kvalitetu.

Protiv

• Ništa.

3 Shure SM-57 kardioidni dinamički mikrofon za instrumente – najbolji vintage mikrofon za snare

Ostajući uz Shure, uključimo još jedan od njihovih kultnih mikrofona, SM57. SM58 može biti izbor za izvođenje i snimanje vokala. Ali SM57 mi je najdraži za korištenje s instrumentima. Iako se mora reći da oba mogu biti prilično dobra, na primjer, SM57 je omiljeni mikrofon Paula Rogersa iz Freea, kao i Lemmyjev iz Motorheada!

Još jedan industrijski standard tvrtke Shure, mogao bi se smatrati jednim od najpoznatijih mikrofona koji postoje. Nema puno pjevača ili glazbenika koji u jednom trenutku nisu koristili jedan. A isto vrijedi i za snimatelje; zapravo, većina kvalitetnih studija imat će deset ili više dostupnih za svaku sesiju.

Radni konj od mikrofona

Ovo je jedan od onih sjajnih mikrofona koje možete koristiti bilo gdje i za bilo što. Izvrstan je na pozornici i ne smeta mu gruba uporaba. Ali jednako je kao kod kuće u studiju. Dobro radi snimanje bilo čega, od vokala do mikrofoniranja pojačala do bubnjeva, posebno zamki, za koje se računa da više od 98% svih zamki ikada snimljenih na hit pločama bili sa SM57.

Dizajniran da zadovolji

Njegov kardioidni polarni uzorak omogućuje njegovu upotrebu na mnogo načina i tako je i dizajniran. To je mikrofon koji biste imali u studiju ne samo za korištenje, već i kao zadani mikrofon za pristup.

To što se može nositi s gotovo svime učinilo ga je čvrstim favoritom. Čak iu situacijama uživo na pozornici, zvuk svih instrumenata u blizini je minimalan. Ovo također pomaže u smanjenju potencijala za povratne informacije, stoga vam daje dodatnu dobit ako vam je potrebna.

Zvuk

Frekvencijski odziv od 40-15 kHz i prirodna prisutnost pomažu u stvaranju izvrsnog zvuka. I to se ne odnosi samo na instrumente nego i na vokale.

Mogli biste očekivati ​​da bi mikrofon koji može učiniti toliko pri tako visokoj kvaliteti bio skup. Ali baš kao i njegov rođak iz '58, predstavlja veliku vrijednost; zapravo, to je vintage mikrofon s najboljim omjerom cijene i kvalitete možeš kupiti. I bilo bi teško pronaći nešto tako svestrano što je tako dobro po boljoj cijeni.

Uobičajena Shure konstrukcija

Budući da smo Shure mikrofon, svi znamo što to znači. Da možete baciti gotovo sve na njega, a ono će se vratiti po još. Čvrst i robustan, izdržat će cijeli niz.

Izvrstan mikrofon koji je zaslužio svoj legendarni 'vintage' status. Nemojte ni razmišljati o tome; kupi jedan; svatko treba barem jedan 57.

Prednosti

• Svestran i izvrstan s vokalima i instrumentima.
• Shure kvaliteta izrade po povoljnoj cijeni.

Protiv

• Ništa.

4 Neumann U 87 – Najbolji starinski vokalni mikrofon

Sljedeće u mojoj recenziji najboljih vintage mikrofona, s obzirom na njihovu povijest, čini se čudom da uopće imamo Neumann mikrofone. Osnovana u Berlinu 1923. godine, 1943. tvornica je bombardirana zapaljivim bombama i preseljena istočno od grada. Nakon rata pao je u sovjetski sektor i postao komunistički 'državni' posao.

Tek nakon ponovnog ujedinjenja konačno smo vidjeli za što su sposobni. I vrijedilo je čekati. Impresivni su, u najmanju ruku. U47, uz pomoć Telefunkena, bio je jedan od mikrofona koji su rano ostavili traga. Nakon prvog izdanja 1967., redovito su ga koristili neki umjetnici, ali nitko od veće važnosti.

Samo Sinatra, Presley. Bing Crosby i ona četiri tipa iz Liverpoola. Beatlesi ili tako nešto? Not a bad CV to have.

The U87

They are most known today for producing some of the greatest music we have seen. And the U87 probably sits at the top of the pile. This is a remarkable microphone, is used in studios all around the world, and has probably been used to record more hit record vocal performances than any other microphone.

The Design

It is a pressure-gradient transducer large-diaphragm condenser mic with a double membrane capsule. It has three directional patterns available to give it a variety of options for use. There is the standard Cardioid, plus a Figure of 8 and Omnidirectional. There is a 10dB pre-attenuation switch and a roll-off for lower frequencies which is also switch controlled.

Being a condenser mic, it will require phantom power, of course.

For Most Applications

The way it is designed is suitable for most studio applications. But it is with vocals and especially instruments like a grand piano it is famous.

It comes in a wooden box for safety, a shock mount, and a pop filter. And you are right about what you are thinking. It isn’t cheap. But as I have already said about another mic, if you want the best…

Prednosti

• Recognized as excelling in studios covering most recording applications.
• Well-designed with plenty of quality and features.

Protiv

• Price will scare some away.

5 Shure 55SH Series II Iconic Unidyne Vocal Microphone – Best Looking Vintage Microphone

The Unidyne was the first professional mic that I can remember. It was lent to us when someone felt pity on us for what we were using. By then, it had already been around for a while. It was first introduced in 1939 but only made a limited impact. Marketing and Sales were different then. It was Billie Holiday’s mic of choice for a while.

That meant something and may have been a contributing reason why Mr. Presley picked it up in the 50s. It was when he got hold of it people began to take notice.

Not his favorite mic

It wasn’t Elvis’s favorite mic . That was his beloved Electro-Voice RE-15. But those iconic images of him strutting his stuff with the Unidyne will never fade.

The mic is still available if you want a bit of nostalgia in your studio. Along, of course, with a great sound. The shape is the same, but the internals are full of modern technology, which only enhances the sound. But when you see it, it still screams ‘Jailhouse Rock,’ even though many diverse singers, including James Hetfield of Metallica, use one as their main live vocal mic.

Something Old Something New

That is one of the things that appeals about this mic. It doesn’t have to try to be vintage; it just is. One look is all it takes. But while it has the visual inside are the ‘goodies’ that make it a great mic to own.

Inside is a Cardioid polar pattern and a frequency response of 50 to 15,000 Hz. It has been designed to be a vocal mic. Inside the metal grille is a foam filter to reduce plosives and fricatives. There is also a built-in internal shock-mount system if you do use it handheld.

But all that internal sound reduction doesn’t mean it can’t be put to work in the studio with instruments as well.

As Good As The Gym

If it has a downside, it is that it weighs just under two pounds. That makes it a heavyweight in terms of the weight of modern mics. And at 7.5 by 2.18 by 3.1 inches, you could call it substantial. After two hours on stage with this, you won’t need the gym.

Maybe these days, it might not suit a handheld performance on stage. It might be better confined to a stand in a studio.

The Shure Build

That goes without saying, of course, with its rugged die-cast metal casing; it is a tough mic. Don’t drop it on your foot. You will come off worse. It has been given a self-tensioning swivel mount. It tilts 45 degrees and will move 80 degrees backward. And the off and on switch can come in useful if feedback is an issue.

A great mic with plenty of nostalgia attached to it.

Prednosti

• Strong, secure build with swivel mount and plenty of the look.
• Attractive price point for such a good vocal mic.

Protiv

• Rather heavy to be used by hand.

6 Electro-Voice RE-20 Cardioid Microphone – Most Durable Vintage Microphone

Founded in Minnesota in 1930, Electro-Voice is another company with a reputation for producing popular mics. The RE-20 first arrived in 1968, about the same time as Electro-Voice was sold to Bosch.

Ready For Anything

The thinking behind the design and the build of this mic must have been an interesting meeting to be at. We usually recognize Shure as being the rugged, road-ready mics, but this one goes a stage further.

It is made from steel and has tough grilles that look like they could withstand just about anything. Its tough build has made it one of the preferred mics for those conducting outside broadcasts.

The Design

It has a Cardioid polar pattern with a frequency range of 45Hz-18kHz. The design of the microphone is interesting in that it is omnidirectional in its use options. This is because it has been given all-around acoustic openings.

Behind every opening is a tough wire metal grille. This protects the wind and blast filters that are built-in. They also allow you to use the mic near the mouth without getting too many plosives. The filters, in turn, reduce most of the ambient noise and any unwanted external sounds. A great advantage in outside broadcasts. And to remove any localized interference or hum, a special coil is fitted.

Where is it At its Best?

As I have already said, it excels in outside broadcasts  because of its build and internal design. Internally it has Variable-D technology. This has positive effects, but it has a downside. If you are too close to the target source, it can dissipate the bass frequencies. Something to bear in mind if you are using it in a studio to mic up.

But if you want to record more than one voice on a mic, it is excellent. The omnidirectional design could take up to three vocalists at the same time and still produce great results.

Widely used…

It is the preferred studio and unusually live microphone of Thom Yorke from Radiohead, and Joe Strummer from the Clash also loved it. It’s also amazing on kick drums and bass cabinets. Plus, along with the Shure SM7, it is the most widely used microphone  in radio stations.

Prednosti

• Tough build and omnidirectional design that gives it plenty of options for use outside.
• Some very good internal noise reduction features.

Protiv

• Not cheap.

7 Sennheiser MD 421 – Best Vintage Tom Microphone

Next, in my review of the Best Vintage Microphones, we have another name in the microphone world that needs little introduction. Some would say legendary German engineering at its best with products found in the best studios all around the world.

Released to Much Acclaim

When it was first released on the market in 1960, it received wide acclaim. The Cardioid pattern is tight, bordering on being Supercardioid. The frequencies across all the ranges were clear, and the sound was superior to just about everything else available at the price.

It has since become one of their most respected and popular mics, partly because of the quality of the reproduction. But also because of its versatility in different recording situations.

More Than Just a Vocal Mic

It has a reputation for being a great mic for vocals and can also be used for group singing. But it goes further than just the vocal booth.

It has a Cardioid design with five settings for bass control. This gives you plenty of room to use it with a variety of instruments, and on toms, it is the undisputed world leader. Even when the mic is placed close to the target source, the results have a natural and very clear sound. The frequency response is 30-17,000 Hz.

Great Performance

Its rejection of feedback is very good, and the polar pattern ensures that any wanted sounds are reduced to almost nothing. Sennheiser always prides themselves on the sound quality of their mics, and this certainly delivers.

Even though it can be used with a wide variety of instruments, it is for its performance with vocals it is noted. The five-way bass roll-off we mentioned offers a range of tonal options. This makes it suitable for any voice type.

The high SPL capability makes this a suitable mic for recording instruments that have a high transient response.

Gradnja

Made from steel and hardened glass composite, it is a rugged and secure mic. If there is a downside that may affect some people, it is the size. It is quite large and not lightweight either. But on a stand in a studio, you aren’t going to notice that.

The other downside is the insanely over-engineered microphone clip. It is totally unnecessary and super prone to leaving the microphone drop to the floor like a stone. You will actually struggle to find a vintage used one that doesn’t have severe dents in the front grill because of the stupid design. Thankfully they keep on working just fine, just look a bit worse for wear.

Not a cheap option but a great addition to any studio.

Prednosti

• Versatile mic is famous for its ability to record toms and its vocal sound.
• Excellent bass roll-off and feedback rejection.

Protiv

• Quite large in size, as is the price point, which might put some off.

8 Neumann TLM 102 Condenser Microphone – Best Modern Vintage Microphone

I am going to bend the ‘vintage’ description rules a little here to allow me to include the Neumann TLM 102. I don’t need to emphasize the quality of Neumann. Everybody already knows who they are and what they can produce.

Why the TLM 102

It was first released in 2009. Hardly vintage then, and you would be right. But the concept of the directional patterns still used in this mic were invented by Georg Neumann in the 1920s. That was before he had even formed the company.

It may have changed in size, shape, and even color. But the principle behind the mic is very much vintage in my book.

A Different Approach

Most of the ‘big’ guns aim their mics at the high-end professional market. Most for studio use. Neumann has taken a different approach with this mic. This is marketed at the consumer and not the professional studio.

Top studios, of course, will get great service from it. But if you have a small or even home studio, you won’t find much better in terms of recording vocals at the price point.

What Is It All About?

The 102 is a large diaphragm mic that will give you a big, warm sound. It has a Cardioid pattern in its compact build. There are a lot of features built-in that make this mic stand out.

• High Sound Pressure Level of 144dB.
• Slight boost in presence over 6kHz gives the vocals a great sound.
• Frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
• Can handle lower volumes with its fast transient response rate.

Gradnja

As you might expect, it is well built with its metal casing. It has a compact build and sits in its bracket, which attaches to the mic stand. Internally it sits on elasticated suspension to remove any handling or mic stand noise. There is also a pop screen built-in.

Being a condenser mic, you will need phantom power.

Prednosti

• An excellent mic that is perfect for a newer and growing studio.
• Excellent performance for both vocals and voiceovers.

Protiv

• Some may need a higher presence boost.

9 Sennheiser MD 441-U – Best Vintage Vocal Microphone for Female Vocals

One more from the Germans. No apologies; they have been making some of the best mics for quite a few years now. This mic, though, has a slightly different look and design.

Supercardioid Pattern

This has been given the Supercardioid polar pattern as against the usual Cardioid. That means it has more focus on the sound source. So while the Cardioid does cut out peripheral sound from the sides, this will reduce that even more. That will also help to reduce any feedback.

As with all things, there is a negative aspect. For this mic, it can be hard to get it in the best position to record sometimes.

The Design

It has a bass roll-off that has five settings and to remove the possibility of any hum, a ‘humbucking’ coil. As it is a mic that has been designed to hold if you choose, there is a built-in shock suspension system.

The numbers stack up as well. The frequency range is 30Hz to 20kHz, and there is an impressive signal-to-noise ratio. Separation is also good due to the supercardioid design and isolates what is being picked up at the front of the mic.

Vintage Design

This mic has managed to keep its vintage look in its design and shape. It has a very rugged design with a nickel-plated all-metal body. There is also a very strong wire mesh over the head.

As you might expect from Sennheiser, a very good mic, but especially for recording vocals, and even more so, female vocals, Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac even used one live, even though it is very, very long. But it is also excellent with acoustic instruments like the piano or acoustic guitar. And as an added extra, it can even handle drums. A very classy mic indeed.

Prednosti

• Very good build with some very good internal; features.
• Great for vocals, especially female, but versatile to be used with other instruments.

Protiv

• Nekima bi moglo biti preskupo.

10 AKG C12VR Reference multi-pattern tube condenser microphone – Best Vintage Tube Microphone

Let’s end this look at the best vintage microphones with the AKG C12VR. King Arthur, in British folklore, made it his quest to find the Holy Grail. He was a few hundred years too early and in the wrong place. It was in Vienna, Austria, all the time, and AKG brings it to you.

The Holy Grail of Microphones

The C12 is considered by many the Holy Grail of microphones . One of the great mics. It was first built in the 1950s, and it became one of, if not the, most revered tube mic ever.

Its original life span was between 1953-1960. Its successor today is the C12VR. Handcrafted in Vienna, complete with the original 6072A vacuum tube and the CK12 tube.

Multi-pattern

It has nine polar patterns that are chosen by remote control. This gives this mic the ultimate in flexibility and sound management. But these are not a variety of patterns to make up the number.

Each one has a significant function to produce the best sound you may have ever heard. The original designs supported by today’s state-of-the-art components guarantee low-noise excellence.

What More Can You Say?

AKG and their C12 rocked the world in the 60s. And this time it’s back… and it’s better. Nothing more needs to be said except maybe an apology to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Sorry fellas, it was in Vienna all the time.

Prednosti

• One of the greats reincarnated and improved (if that was at all possible).
• Uses the original 6072A vacuum tube and the CK12 tube.

Protiv

• Sit down before you look at the price point.

Looking for more great microphone options?

Then take a look at our in-depth reviews of the Best XLR Microphones, the Best Kick Drum Mic, the Best Dynamic Microphones, the Best Shure Microphones, and the Best Wireless Microphones currently on the market.

Or, if you’re looking for a mic for a certain job, then check out our reviews of the Best Microphones Recording Electric Guitar, the Best Microphones for Recording Rap Vocals, the Best IOS Microphones, the Best USB Microphones, the Best Vocal Mics, the Best Dynamic Microphones, as well as the Best Microphones for Youtube you can buy in 2022.

You may also enjoy our comprehensive review of the Best Microphone Preamps to really make your next microphone shine.

So, which is the very best of the Best Vintage Microphones?

Every one of these microphones is a legend in its own right. They have all played their part in music and classic recordings in so many ways. Both in the studio and on stage, from their brutal toughness to their nuanced excellence of sound.

For me, to choose one is nearly impossible, but if money is no object, it would have to be the…

AKG C12VR Reference multi-pattern tube condenser microphone

Nothing else comes close to this in terms of quality on the right singer, so start saving now!

Sretno snimanje!