New Mics! My Real Reaction and How I Listen to New Gear - AEA N22, Rode Procaster, AEA N8, RE20

[@aaronsherman421]

This guy should be way bigger, love your work man!

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks man! It's all going to be hard work and lots of videos but I'll get there.

[@RobFraticelli]

Killer man! Love the sound of that N22. Your channel brings such a unique perspective to recording, it continually inspires me in the studio.

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks Robby!

[@Bushwhackee]

It was cool to see your excitement over these mics. I’m REALLY digging that N8. May have to check one out for myself.

[@mateuszhulboj4347]

Recently I was recording vintage guitar amp and vocals using N22 and I was totally impressed. These are both amazing mics!!!!!!!!!

[@KevDKR666]

Yes! Great video Ryan. Kid in a candy shop, my face glows when a well researched investment/purchase lands at the door, hook it up and it purrs. Magic.

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks!

[@justincarrasco3680]

Dude, I know you're not into dual microphones on guitar, but the N22 and N8 sound like they would be a great mix! Maybe for like a stack that's got a fuzz pedal; one bright, one dark, and blend them together? I'm a metalhead though, so I always want stuff to have 12 tracks of guitar haha.

[@mattd7650]

I was going to say he should mix the two mics also.

[@perpetualgrimace]

I was thinking the same.

[@DaveZula]

That was amazing. Every time you had a reaction to one of the mics, I had just been thinking the exact same thing.

[@creativesoundlab]

Ha, yeah. I do so much testing off camera and wanted to capture it this time.

[@mrpeanut268]

the RE20 is my favorite mic; its insane on Bass and Vocals, but great on Kick and guitars too. Would be my desert island mic for sure.

The bite on that N22 it's amazing, that mechanical hi pass does a lot for the sound

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, it really is nice. Did not expect that.

Something out of topic, i just saw that audient asp800 behind you, I hope you do a demo, it would be great hearing them in a dirty rock context!

[@AidenBradley95]

Fantastic rack. I've been using my ASP800 for about six months now and I'm thrilled with it.

[@chaosoach]

Wow! N22's gonna be my first ribbon mic. Great video thanks for the insight.

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks for saying that. It's cool when I get feedback like that. Ribbon mics changed my studio forever.

[@mrdanjames]

Cool mics. I recon the N8 sounds fantastic and would work well with a 57.

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, I thought of you while doing this. I havn't tried putting a 57 way out where the N8 is, but I kinda think I would rather put a 57 with a n22 so it's close.

[@mrdanjames]

I would put the N8 a little closer to exaggerate the proximity effect, more towards the centre of the cone. You lose top end but you get it back from the 57 (which is further back but right on the edge of the cone). Individually, each mic sounds wrong, but together they paint an amazing picture. I think the 57 and the n22 will result in two mics fighting for the same space.

[@FASTFASTmusic]

that n22 was like taking a blanket of your head

[@creativesoundlab]

Yes, way more open because of the reduced proximity effect.

[@JRP3music]

I record a stereo rig and recently tried a pair of condenser mics 23" behind the left mic and 20" behind the right mic. The result was really wide sounding. The direct mics were Sennhieser e609s and CAD GXL 3000 and Audix F15. The cabs were 1x12s.

[@robertoj.fernandez2189]

Great video and thanks for sharing. I could apply any of this on anything cause they are amazing. 20 years ago I worked on a studio that had very limited resources. Mic, fx processors console, etc. The Beauty of the R20 is that is very versatile mic for old and new sound productions.

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, personally I find the mic to be almost too bright in the upper highs, which the kick didn't have. It's strange, sometimes it's bright and sometimes dark sounding.

[@JRP3music]

I eventually will upgrade and collect more mics for my studio. Never tried ribbon mics before.

[@dannon2010]

Great work. Love it.

[@MrBeblis]

I agree, blending n8 and n22 would be great

[@i.shadrin]

That would be super usefull to compare that new AEAs with 121. Nobody did that yet publicly

[@creativesoundlab]

My friend Eric has one. I'll have to do that.

[@0BeatFlaT0]

Always Love to See a Video from U .. next month i will start Support U .

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks Luis, I really appreciate that!

[@michaeljensen1625]

Holy CRAP that sounded good. I am SOLD on the N22. I've been eyeing it up for more than a year now because I'm in school. Oh man, my post-graduation gear list is getting ridiculous. I agree with Big Snoops though, it would have been cool to hear the N8 and the N22 blended.

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks man. Yeah, I was so bend on learning the N22 that it never crossed my mind! Can't believe I didn't pull up them both.

[@robertsimpson5801]

Interesting difference between the RE20 and the Røde. It would interesting to hear the difference between an RE320 and the Røde, as well!

[@danadrian2752]

I’m with you on Mics being in their optimal position for a proper shootout, do we compare two boxers when one is in optimal condition and the other in the emergency room? No. Yet for some reason a lot of people insist on them being equal. The N22 definitely sounded way better on its own but who knows, in the mix the N8 might find itself in a cozy pocket depending on where the other instruments call home. I’m always game to try things that shouldn’t work as well because ya never know.

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, great insight! I didn't record any of this test, it was all live monitoring, so I'll have to go back and try blending the two mics.

[@theCFXchannel]

You should have definitely tried both mica together when they were in the same position... I'm very curious about hearing the balls of the black one combined with the snap and mids of the grey one! Anyway, thanks for the very honest review Ryan! Mics should indeed be tested like in real life situations!

[@underpressureman]

Hey dude, just a request, but no pressure, I know you would have to get your hands on some, but Id love to see a shootout of the N8 and the Coles 4038 on drums, mainly OH's, and maybe front of kit! I'm going to be investing in a pair of ribbons in the next few months and was also considering the r84's aswell, but I really like how with the N8's you get the Sterio bar and blumline is easy to set up! Even just a video showcasing the n8 on drum OH's would be rad, unless I missed it and you have already?

[@JRP3music]

I would like to hear a blend of 2 amps!

[@coreyreynolds3585]

I've never seen the kick drum hole placed hi like you have it. Any nuggets worth sharing as to why you like it that way? I love what you do, keep it up!

[@creativesoundlab]

So you can get a mic stand in there easier. Just loosen the head, and turn it so the hole is better for the boom arm to get in there.

[@coreyreynolds3585]

That makes a ton of sense. No need to use a squatty stand and save your back/knees. I wonder if that makes a sonic difference though? If you use a pillow or muffling in the bottom of the kick it might sound different being captured closer to the absorption than further away. I guess I'm gonna have to try it both ways and see :-)

[@creativesoundlab]

It matters a lot if you just put a hand towel in there. And if the mic can't see the point of impact I have noticed a change in sound. Now, for the hole being up or down, I would say it's a matter of how far it is from the center. Close to the edge is important so you don't loose too much resonance. The location on the edge I've always thought was going to be what is easiest for me.

[@clintonmaher6930]

That N22 gives a perfect sound for a guitar cab really I'd say! Procaster is a good all around dynamic mic I think, maybe not many people use it on amps or drums because of it's name but I think it's good at those things, as is the RE-320 I have.

[@creativesoundlab]

Very cool. I haven't tried the RE-320 but I should.

[@clintonmaher6930]

Creative Sound Lab I find the RE320 to be a brighter/more airy version of the RE20 which is cool for a lot of things, and sounds good "out of the box". The other bonus is it's much higher output but there might be some times when the more nuetral tone of the RE20 is better I'm sure.

[@LuthorHuss2]

Realy nice video, great analysis ! Both mics are sounding great... Unfortunately a bit too much expensive for my home studio *sob*

[@creativesoundlab]

Check out the used market. The R84 is a modern classic with tons out there that you could pick up for a few hundred. I'd say a ribbon is more versitile over a cheap LDC thats for the same price new.

[@UltraSteaKME]

Hey guys the 22 sounds amazing ! Sure both are great, but « bright » ribbons are few, so it’s always good to hear one :)) I agree with many here, would be cool to blend them ;)

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, I'll have to try that.

[@alanshewitt]

Any particular reason the ribbon mics are positioned on an angle? I’ve seen folks do this, but I don’t notice a difference in practice. I’d love to know the theory behind this.

[@frankrotthier4392]

Hey Ryan! the N22 on guitar in your video just sounds perfect! No processing required at all! On both amps it was pointed at the center of the cone, right?

[@frankrotthier4392]

N8 sounds great too at the right distance! damn, love my AEA mics!

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, at the center. Yes...the distance helps and makes it a lot more fair and real life, as we would just move the mic as needed.

[@MrChazmuz]

Almost got an N22 and went with an R92. Might still get an N22.

[@creativesoundlab]

I laid hands on one, but didn't get to plug it in or try it out.

[@MrChazmuz]

Every other online demo I've viewed online, I was highly impressed with the N22.

[@MrAlFuture]

Thanks Ryan, another great video. Does the N22 have a tailored/different front versus back response? Would be interesting to hear if the lobes of the figure 8 offer a different perspective on the source.

[@creativesoundlab]

As far as I know it does not. I think I read that on the website.

[@jaybirdgoody]

the mics sound amazing but so does that TEX amp... which one is it?

[@creativesoundlab]

Not sure, it just says "5 Watt" on the front. I can't find it on the website, but I know it's very new with only a few hours on it.

[@thecheesewizard]

I do the exact thing Ryan. Just make sure not to run any horns through those ribbons without a pop filter lol

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, true.

[@arbitermatt]

You tried the procaster on the guitar amp?

[@creativesoundlab]

I don't think I have yet. It is a little bright, so it may not be ideal for that.

[@allenlocke1935]

The Electro Voice seems to have more girth overall

[@guitari-guitartuition1369]

Yeah mic shootouts kinda annoy me just for this reason! Nice video, and nice enthusiasm for sonic glory!

[@creativesoundlab]

Nice! I'll keep it up!

[@angeloboltinimusic]

How was the kick recorded at 2.32? Camera mic?

[@creativesoundlab]

That's the overhead dialogue mic at the desk

[@panhandlegeardemos6837]

A TEX amp! Nice!

[@bishlap]

the real winner here is that TEX amp--what a screamer.

[@dalerschmitt]

Blend them!