[TenTec] But what microphone "sounds sweet"

[Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX]

Rich & company:

The 705 element is a small electrets device.  Typical of very expensive 
instrumentation mikes, B & K etc, are that they are very small diameter 
condensers.  The sensitivity is quite good and frequency response is very 
uniform or flat.  Quite often mikes used in the broadcast and recording 
studio business, although sometimes quite expensive, are really not truly 
flat in frequency response.  They may contribute to a slight frequency rise 
at the low end or even some have a rising response from mid range to the 
upper end with sudden roll-off.  In each case they color the sound, and used 
correctly and creatively, contribute to the creative effect desired.  One 
example is the RE-20 used by many broadcasters and voice-over artists.  By 
no means does this mike have a flat frequency response but contributes to 
the male announcer sound by the wonderful enhanced low end smooth response.

A second factor is the ability of a mike to handle high level sounds.  Some 
perform better than others and in this case, at the same time, the 705 would 
not be a good choice for that application.  Successfully, the "sound of a 
mike" is more attune to matching the mike with the sound source to attain 
the desired effect and result.  All mikes are not created equal.  In my 
professional background, on more than one occasion I have changed mikes on a 
vocalist to get what the producer was looking for in results.  In many 
cases, I have used the same brand and model as no two mikes sound exactly 
the same.

Sitting here on the desk today is a 705 used on the Omni VI+, a Tentec/Heil 
Studio One used on the Paragon II and a very old D-104 on the Collins 
S-Line.  With this combination of mikes on the Tentec radios, time and time 
again I have used the 705 on both Tentecs and get excellent results. 
However, consistently the reports using the Tentec/Heil Studio One on the 
Omni VI+ are bassey or muddy audio while when this same mike is used on the 
Paragon II the reports are excellent audio.  It is a combination of radio, 
microphone and voice that contributes to the overall result.

Don't be put out by the 705 mike.  It is capable of delivering excellent 
results when used correctly.  A word of caution, ...... the foam wind screen 
is a "must use" on this mike.  I have seen where with age, heat and other 
factors the wind screens deteriorate and have been discarded.  One fact, the 
accumulation of saliva residue, cigarette smoke and moisture from one's 
breath WILL change the sound of the mike.  Although it still may output 
audio, the quality will be compromised.

Comment:  as to using broadcast type equipment to feed a SSB radio, remember 
the bandpass, the bandpass ripple, the position of the carrier on the slope 
of the filter contribute heavily to what the radio will pass and sound like. 
Also the method of generating the SSB signal thus the dynamic linear balance 
of the modulator will contribute greatly into a low distortion signal. 
Feeding a 20 Hz to 20 KHz signal into a radio is basically a waste of 
effort, money and energy.  Rarely will one find a SSB radio that will pass 
anything below 200 Hz and very little above 2.6 KHz.  A clean, low noise, 
low distortion signal is one thing, while wide bandwidth is totally 
different.

73
Bob, K4TAX
A connoisseur of fine radios




> Craig,
>
> I have had lots of mikes over the years and had good like with Heil on my
> NON Ten Tec rigs. But, I never could improve on the 705 mike with my voice
> on the Ten Tec gear.
>
> This always frusrated me because I felt like I was using a 35 cent mike on 
> a
> TOTL radio.
>
> The 705s sound good.
>
> Rich
> kd0zv
>
>
>> I'm an old broadcaster and like hearing smooth, rich audio. I also like
>> to transmit it.
>>
>> So, what specific microphones have sounded the best with the
>> Jupiter/Pegasus rigs?  I'm currently using the Model 705 electret with
>> my Pegasus with decent results, but -- I suspect -- I can do better.  I
>> have yet to try running my broadcast gear into my "new" radio, but may
>> experiment with that this weekend.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Craig
>> W3CRR