Avantone CV-12 Multi Pattern Tube Condenser Microphone

It is the best Mic for under $1500 for real. A bit gainy and scratchy compared to the U87 but worth the money for how cheap it is. I bought a small compressor shortly after receiving this mic and it takes care of a lot of that. However, mine was definitely a send back. Had the re-inspection label in it and everything. The carrying case was dented and the tube box was scratched coming straight out of the package. Everything worked right so I saw no need to send it back for something so minor. I have tried a lot of lower cost mics and this one is the best for sure. Still, Ill stick with my U87 for mine, but I found the extra gain and thinner highs is excellent for female vocals. Even more so than the U87 I think. One thing Im going to say about it for a new consumer. That polarize switch that comes with the tube box. I'm not sure how valid that is. It seems more to me that all that "switch" does is turn the tube hotter or colder, making the sound thinner (hot) or thicker (cold). Just my opinion though as I am not a specialist.

I bought this studio mic on the strength of the positive reviews I read on the internet and I can confirm that this mic is brilliant for the money. The warmth of the recording from this mic is nothing short of stunning. The mic itself uses a 7 pin cable (supplied) that connects to its own dedicated power supply. The output from the power supply is a standard 3 pin XLR (mic) socket. The 9 different polar patterns allow for any recording situation and situated on the power supply and not on the mic is a real help for the engineer. The quality extras such as the shockmount, Padded wooden mic box all inside a tough aluminium case makes this excellent value for money. To all aspiring vocalists and recording engineers, do yourself a favour and buy this mic. You won't be dissapointed.

My first tube mic, so I don't have much to compare it to. This was an upgrade to my MXL990 to say the least. I can't detect any appreciable noise from it, and the vain side of me loves the look of the mic. The CV-12 seems a little hyped in the mids/upper mids and really picks up hard consonants like 'K' and hard 'G' sounds. I'm sure that my mic positioning and technique need some work so it's hard to blame the mic. Otherwise, it sounds great on vocals and acoustic guitars. I might get brave one day and try swapping out the stock tube for something a little more musical sounding. This mic also uses a very common Chinese design and if you're a modder, you can find all sorts of ways to modify this mic to suit your needs. The packaging and presentation of the mic is impressive. It comes in an aluminum suitcase with a formed foam rubber interior that tightly hugs all of the accessories. The provided shock mount is solid and sturdy, and the mic itself has it's own wooden hinged box. The provided 9-pin cable is nice and long, and should accommodate just about any mic position in a home studio. The only knock I have is the way that the shockmount attaches to the mic. It has 2 thumbscrews that secure it in place, and it took a little household lubricant to let them move easily enough to actually be loosened/tightened by hand. Otherwise I have to keep a screwdriver handy every time I want to put away the mic. This is my first semi-pro mic, so maybe this is standard for mics in this price range. Also, the mic itself is pretty heavy. I'd recommend getting a nice, sturdy, heavy-based mic stand or else you could end up tipping the whole thing over pretty easily since it's top-heavy. I've already had a couple of close calls with my cheapo mic stands.

Fantastic and unbeatable for this price, it should cost at least 3-4 times of what you get out of it. I've had countless condensers (no tube) and they were all better than dynamic for vocals, but this is a step up from say an AT 4033 or Rhodes NT1A for sure. No sibilance to speak of, warm overall Charakter, I am making this my #1 vocal mike for my home studio. I am running this through a tube mic preamp (Behringer) and it's phenomenal. Build quality is first class and I can't imagine what more I would want in a vocal mic. Uncolored, no extreme high boost, just warm feelings here. Update- mic parts.com sell a much better capsule for around $170 and after the swap it is not harsh anymore and indistinguishable from my Neumann TLM103 for less than half the price. Might get a second one now and do the capsule swap in order to have a stereo pair

The increase in signal gain alone is worth the price of admission. On top of it, the microphone does real well for male vocals (like my own) with strong mids. I was particularly impressed with the level of detail that the mic picks up. Small intonations, softening of the voice, etc. is picked up by this microphone. Very happy; one of the best additions to my mic cabinet. IMPORTANT: As shipped, the unit I received contains a shock mount that will not fit standard American mic stands/boom stands. Rather it is fitted with a European thread piece for a smaller mount. You do not need to buy an adaptor. Rather, you have to remove the European insert piece yourself (a large head standard screwdriver should to the trick fine). Once you remove the European mount, the shock mount will fit American mic stands.