Milab Microphones Corporate Blog

Milab DC-96C news

2011-07-15T13:42:00.002+02:00

The Milab DC-96C is our latest model in the DC series. It combines elements from the classic DC-96B with our most modern technology. The DC-96C was released last year at the Frankfurt Messe and is truly on a winning streak. It has just been nominated in the microphone category in the 2011 Resolution Awards and in the latest issue of Tape Op there is a great review. More reviews will follow shortly.

More about the 2011 Resolution Awards: http://www.milabmic.com/news.asp?show=one&id=95 and http://resolution.nodecube.net/vote/nominations.php

The DC-96C review in Tape Op: http://www.tapeop.com/reviews/833/

The Milab DC-96C product page: http://www.milabmic.com/showproduct.asp?id=1138

There is a chance to win a DC-96C in the Recordinghacks Microphone Giveaway contest in September. Check it out here: http://recordinghacks.com/contest/

For the latest Milab news I recommend that you "like" us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/milabmic

Setting up for the LLB Expo in Stockholm

2011-05-17T20:45:00.002+02:00

Sorry about the lack of posts lately. I focus mainly on the the Milab facebook page at the moment: www.facebook.com/milabmic

I am in Stockholm for the LLB Expo and today we have been setting the booth. It is a very nice booth and the location is excellent. I'm sure we will have a great show.

We are showing the new supercardioid capsule for the VM-44 for the first time at this show.

NAMM and more

2011-01-18T03:58:00.002+01:00

I've spent a few days at the NAMM show in Anaheim and met many interesting people there, including guitarist Martin Taylor. I was invited to a guitar concert with some of the world's greatest players on the same stage: Don Alder, Muriel Anderson, Vicki Genfan and several more. And Martin Taylor of course, who used his Milab DC-96 as usual.

Today I drove up to Agoura Hills to visit Joe Vannelli, owner of Blue Moon Studios LA. Joe is probably most famous for producing and playing with his brother Gino, but he has also worked with many other artists over the years. He owns two Milab VIP-50:s and two DC-63:s that were all in mint condition. As I've said before, if you take well care of your mics they will last for decades.

Press release is out: Custom Rycote mount for the SRND 360

2010-12-15T12:30:00.003+01:00

PRESS RELEASE LINK

SDC shootout in Tape Op part 3

2010-12-06T14:01:00.002+01:00

I've written about the massive SDC shootout in Tape Op (No. 72 July/Aug 2009) previously. Part 1 & Part 2.

Andy at Tape Op just informed me that there is an unedited version of the article on reviewer Mike Jasper's website.

The shootout involved some 90 mics and both Milabs (a VM-44 and a DC-96B) were selected as top choices. It was a blind test on acoustic guitar. The competition was very stiff and the way I interpret it, no other brand did as well as Milab.

How to get a free Milab DC-96C

2010-11-30T10:13:00.005+01:00

The contest for a free Milab DC-96C is up at MM:s website (in Swedish):

http://www.musikermagasinet.se/index.php?sida=tavling

Milab Microphones - News - Rycote shockmount for the SRND 360

2010-11-10T12:12:00.000+01:00

Milab Microphones - News - Rycote shockmount for the SRND 360

Win a Milab DC-96C

2010-11-02T10:18:00.002+01:00

In the upcoming issue of Swedish music magazine MM (Musikermagasinet) there is a chance to win a brand new Milab DC-96C! Out November 23.

Mic size comparison

2010-10-28T15:04:00.003+02:00

Neumann U87, AKG 414 (EB?) and PML (Milab) DC-96

Buying a used microphone

2010-10-27T14:32:00.006+02:00

We come across customers from time to time who have bought a used mic at a great price, only to find out that the mic needs a new capsule - which can be quite expensive.

Buying a used mic with a bad capsule is like buying a used car with a broken engine.

I am working on adding a page to our website about general advice when buying a used mic. However, there are a couple of things I can say right away:

#1. If you buy a high-end microphone - like a Milab - and take proper care of it, you will have a great tool for decades. But if the microphone is abused, the capsule exposed to dust, dirt etc., you may shorten it's life-span considerably. So the first thing to look for when buying a used mic is the general impression. If the outside is in bad shape - there is a big chance the inside is just as bad.

#2. Always listen to it carefully. Some problems can be caused by electronic components or be solved by a good cleaning or some soldering, but if it doesn't sound good, chances are there is something wrong with the capsule, which is by far the most complex and expensive part of a condenser microphone.

#3. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions about a used microphone. You may even want to send us the microphone for a check-up before you decide to buy, if it's possible to arrange with the seller.

You can make great deals on used gear, just be careful.

Milab + Rycote

2010-10-21T11:02:00.004+02:00

We've been working with UK based Rycote for a while now. They make some of the best shockmounts and windscreens on the market and they have helped with a new shockmount for the SRND 360 surround microphone.

From now on all SRND 360:s will be delivered with the Rycote mount - which is a custom modified version of the Invision USM. The standard version has received brilliant reviews, e.g. in Sound on Sound: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar10/articles/rycoteinvisionusm.htm

I'm working on a press release to make the collaboration official.

The standard Invision USM.

Press release: Milab appoints Huahui Audio as distributor for China

2010-10-18T10:44:00.001+02:00

I've mentioned it previously on the blog, but now the official press release is out.

Milab DC-96C reviewed in Resolution Magazine

2010-09-30T13:40:00.003+02:00

The latest issue of Resolution Magazine contains a very nice review of the Milab DC-96C.

You'll find some excerpts here (the bottom review): http://www.milabmic.com/showproduct.asp?id=1138&show=reviews

John Bonham

2010-09-22T11:55:00.004+02:00

I found this cool picture on the Prosoundweb forum. It's John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, probably taken around 1969. Members of the forum are trying to determine what mics are on the kit - and the one above the cymbals to the left seems to be a PML/Milab. My best guess is that it is a TC-4, but I'm not sure - it may very well be a different brand altogether.

Click here for the full size picture

Anna with an LSR-1000

2010-08-16T11:15:00.005+02:00

Isn't this a beautiful picture? My friend Anna Ekman singing into a Milab LSR-1000 at an outdoor wedding (the mic is fitted with a windscreen).

Queen

2010-08-11T13:57:00.007+02:00

A great picture of Queen drummer Roger Taylor in action. If I'm not mistaken there are at least three Milab DC-96B:s visible in this shot. See if you can find all three.

http://www.milabmic.com/showproduct.asp?id=1108

New distributor for China

2010-08-10T08:57:00.003+02:00

I'm happy to let you know that Milab has signed an exclusive distribution agreement for the Chinese market with Huahui Audio Technology.

Huahui is a highly regarded company, mainly working with radio, TV and theatres. They have offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Hongkong and have exclusive distribution rights for several high-end pro audio brands including Midas, Klark-Teknik, Adam, Focal and L-Acoustics.

The partnership will be officially presented at the BIRTV tradeshow in Beijing next week.

Full contact info: www.milabmic.com/distributors.asp?region=asia

DC-96C reviewed

2010-08-09T11:21:00.004+02:00

It's been a while since my last post - but after a good summer holiday I am now back at the office and I'm looking forward to a busy autumn.

The first review of the DC-96C was published a few weeks ago in Swedish pro audio magazine MM. In the test the DC-96C was compared to a Microtech Gefell M930 and a vintage AKG C414EB.

Some excerpts:

"Milab's theory about the rectangular capsule seems to be correct. When I turn the DC-96C 45 degrees from the source, the very highest frequencies drop slightly, but not much, and the drop feels very natural and smooth. The two other mics are definitely not bad, but both sound significantly darker in this position. It seems obvious that the DC-96C would be an excellent mic for stereo recording - both for XY and AB setups - probably just as good as a small diaphragm condenser."

(Testing all mics on a drum kit): "I know my C414 well. It delivers what I expect - a clear but nice sounding HF lift, a pretty neutral mid range and a steady low end. But when I switched to the DC-96C recording I almost fell out of the chair. The top is a little softer than the C414, but it's really "there" - and so silky and beautiful! Cymbals and hi-hat shine beautifully and there's not a trace of distortion. [...] But the most obvious difference is the incredibly "juicy" low end. The punch in the kick drum and the toms is "present", fat and full, and the two other mics sound much thinner. Let me be clear: The bottom end in the Milab is huge. Huge."

"I am once again reminded of the good transient response, which is excellent for vocals when you want a clear and natural vocal sound at the front of the mix."

"The steady bass reproduction has been impressive throughout the entire test."

"I gaze at the tiny Milab mic that looks so innocent on the other side of the control room window. It seems as harmless as Clark Kent when I set it up in front of the different sound sources. But when I turn my back on it and make my way to the control room, it transforms itself - and comes out like Superman in the studio monitors."

"With its silky smooth top, its neutral mid range and a low end that can only be described as gigantic - the DC-96C is an extremely useful tool for any serious recording engineer. A matched pair of DC-96C:s ought to be one of the best foundations imaginable for any mic collection."

Not bad huh?

First review of the DC-96C

2010-07-01T14:36:00.002+02:00

The next issue of Swedish Musikermagasinet contains the first ever reivew of the new Milab DC-96C.

The magazine will be out July 13th and i believe it will also be available for purchase/download at their website MMonline. For you non swedes out there I will make sure to translate some excerpts and publish here on the blog.

Back from London and AES

2010-05-27T11:57:00.002+02:00

So I'm back from the AES convention in London.

The "Single-unit surround microphone" workshop went really well. We had some different recordings to choose from, but a Händel concert that I got from Andreas Scholl (german world-class countertenor) sounded absolutely amazing, so we decided to only use that and play a full five-minute piece instead of different short demos as we had intended from the start.

Mikkel Nymand of DPA and Helmut Wittek of Schoeps presented their surround solutions and all in all it was an interesting workshop with some nice sounding demos.

In the afternoon our distributor had arranged a meeting with the BBC (at Maida Vale) and their chief engineer was kind enough to give us a two-hour tour of the studios. Very interesting. They use some of our mics there.

Later that night I was invited to see the musical Jersey Boys and got to sit with the sound engineer, Digby Shaw, for the entire show. It was a great show and for me it was very interesting to get a backstage view of the production and to see Digby work. You need multitask talents to be able to handle that kind of work for sure.

Milab USA website launched today

2010-05-20T12:28:00.000+02:00

North American distributor FDW-Worldwide has just launced a dedicated USA & Canada website for Milab. Check it out at: www.milabusa.com

Pro Sound News Europe

2010-05-12T14:07:00.006+02:00

I'm quoted in an article about microphones for string and brass instruments in the latest issue of Pro Sound News Europe.

Read the article here (pages 40-43): http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1Q4bd700da4f2a7671.cde

There is also a nice image on page 40 of the VM-44 Link fitted on a saxophone with our sax clamp.

Edit: The web version of the article can be found here: http://www.prosoundnewseurope.com/main-content/full/gratuitous-sax-and-violins;jsessionid=1843B8E0BCFD93D96A9EBD792BB780EA

AES Convention in London

2010-05-11T10:37:00.003+02:00

I will be on the panel at an AES workshop on Single-Unit Surround Microphones at the 128th AES Convention in London. The event takes place at the Novotel London West at 9am on the 25th of May. I will present the Milab SRND 360.

The other panelists will be from Schoeps, DPA and Josephson.

http://www.aes.org/events/128/workshops/?ID=2304 (the list of panelists has not been updated after we accepted the invitation)

Ash cloud

2010-04-21T15:38:00.001+02:00

The Icelandic volcano has had a major impact on air traffic in Europe, and some of our long haul deliveries have been delayed - but since we have all our production in-house and most of our sub-contractors in the region, our production has not been affected at all.

DC-96C review

2010-04-19T14:13:00.003+02:00

We are sending out the first DC-96C for a review tomorrow. Which magazine gets the honour? You'll have to wait and see...

BDM-01

2010-03-30T10:17:00.005+02:00

More and more BDM-01:s are reaching end users, and we are getting valuable feedback. Something I've heard from several different sources - including the first review of the BDM-01 (in Audio Technology) - is that it does the job that previously required two microphones. For the kick drum it is quite common to use one microphone for the "bass" and on for the "click" to get a good sound, but it is complicated to find the best mic combo, and using two mics can cause phase issues.

The BDM-01 seems to be able to capture both the bass and the click of the kick drum, a rather tempting solution for all you drummers and engineers out there.

The summary from the review in Audio Technology:

"So… wow! Once upon a time I was quite happy with the results I got just shoving a D112 into the hole of my bass drums, pointing arbitrarily somewhere near the beater. Then at some point, I felt I needed more, so I moved the D112 to the outside head, and would use something like an SM57 or M88 for the detailed ‘click’. The Milab BDM-01 would seem to do a better job than any, or maybe even all, of these combinations. Though a lot more expensive than what we’re used to paying, there wasn’t much I could throw at this mic that it didn’t deliver on. Plus, it feels solid and robust – almost bulletproof, which, for a condenser, is a great thing. That would make it a pretty good investment for any studio I’d expect. And as a live bass drum mic, the ease of use and quality of sound would be a lifesaver in most situations."

A Gearslutz user has reached the same conclusion:

"My normal setup is to use a sennheiser e-602 to get the fundamental and a AT 4047 to get the shell. I have always hoped for a single mic to capture the drum without the phase compromise that is natural in multi mic techniques. Upon placing the BDM-01 in front of a small jazz kit with no hole in the front head I was curious if something so tiny could capture the complexity of this source. Using the on board pres of a ULN-8 as the front end I adjusted the gain and was ready to go. upon listening to playback I was very surprised to hear the transient "knock" fully intact as well as the overtones from the shell of the drum. I will try this mic with some other kits as soon as I am done with this current record. My conclusion is that this mic is a great choice in the kick drum category because it translated the whole of a complex bass drum with ease. If you are like me and always looking for more elegant and simple solutions to make recording less work the Milab really fits the bill..."

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/476268-milab-bdm-01-kick-drum-mic-review.html

See you in Frankfurt!

2010-03-22T13:30:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow morning we are flying down to Frankfurt and Prolight + Sound.

If you want to have a look at our line, check out the new DC-96C and have a chat with me or our R&D manager please stop by Hall 8.0 booth A47.

See you there!

DC-96C exposure

2010-03-17T11:20:00.004+01:00

I'm very impressed by the impact of our press release regarding the new DC-96C. Although I sent it out last thursday, we registered an all time high for website visitors last week.

The DC-96C has been mentioned on most of the major Pro Audio websites and the press release has already been translated into several languages:

Italian: http://www.ziomusic.it/news/viewnews.php?id=26167

French: http://fr.audiofanzine.com/microphone-statique-transistor/milab/dc-96c/news/a.play,n.11977.html

Russian: http://cjcity.ru/novosti/hard/news105.html

Greek: http://www.alive.gr/articles/2/?2123

PRESS RELEASE: Milab presents the DC-96C

2010-03-11T11:45:00.004+01:00

Milab presents the DC-96C condenser microphone

Helsingborg, Sweden – 2010-03-11

The latest addition to the Milab product family is the DC-96C, a side-addressed large membrane microphone designed mainly for studio work, but also for many live applications. The DC-96C is the latest version of the classic DC-96 series - originally released in 1967 - and has been updated with the latest technology. It shares most of its components, including the capsule, with the DC-196, but like previous DC-96 versions, it is cardioid only and has a single layer mesh grid.

The DC-96C is suitable for a wide range of applications, including studio vocals, acoustic guitar and piano, hi-hats and overheads, guitar amps and more.

Features:

* Hand built in Sweden
* Cardioid
* Large rectangular condenser capsule
* 12 dB(A) self noise
* Transformerless
* 12 dB attenuation pad
* 144 dB max. SPL
* Gold plated XLR-connector

Shipped with:

* Individual frequency chart
* Windscreen
* Stand adaptor

The DC-96C will be presented at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, March 24-27. Visit Milab in Hall 8.0, booth A47.

Like all Milab models, the DC-96C comes with a lifetime warranty.

About Milab:

The history of Milab Microphones goes all the way back to 1939 when founder Rune Rosander started building microphones. More than 70 years later, all Milab microphones are still built entirely by hand in Sweden. Every microphone is measured independently and shipped with an individual frequency chart. All new Milab microphones come with a lifetime warranty.

Download the PDF

Download hi-res image

Bo Kaspers and Milab

2010-03-03T11:41:00.003+01:00

The latest issue of MM (the no. 1 Swedish magazine for musicians) contains an interview with Johan Molund, FOH for Swedish band Bo Kaspers Orkester.

They use several Milabs on tour, including VM-44:s for drums and LSR-2000:s for vocals.

Johan talks about a test comparing the VM-44:s to the Sennheiser e604:s:

"The 604 is a very good microphone and easy to use on drums [...] but the difference was really big to Milab's advantage."

"[The VM-44] is really a fantastic microphone that works for pretty much everything."

The Sennheiser is cheaper, but then again, it was made specifically for drums.

My multi-instrumentalist friend...

2010-02-25T14:49:00.007+01:00

My friend and bandmate Jesper just put together a short demo piece in his home studio. Drums and bass were recorded with Milab VM-44:s.

Note that he plays all the instruments himself. He is also a good guitar player and a great singer...

Watch it on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jfF9dU8WaY

Classic albums recorded with Milabs

2010-02-24T12:12:00.006+01:00

One of the most rewarding things in a job like this is hearing that artists you admire are working with your products. One of the most frustrating things is that I will never know of a fraction of the albums that were recorded with our microphones. I'll bring up some of the albums here that I've been informed were recorded with our mics. I'll start out with the great Jeff Buckley:

Artist: Jeff Buckley

Album: Grace

Year: 1994

Mic(s): Milab VIP-50 for vocals

Grace is a beautiful album that is often mentioned as one of the great albums of the 90's. Ironically Jeff holds a Shure 55SH on the album cover, but from what I've learned his amazing voice was recorded with a Milab VIP-50.
There are several haunting tracks on this album, including a cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - that actually peaked charts as late as 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_(Jeff_Buckley_album)

Spotify link: Jeff Buckley – Grace

Visit us in Frankfurt

2010-02-22T12:58:00.005+01:00

Time passes quickly and it is already time to go to Frankfurt.

Milab will share a booth with our German distributor - FBM Audio - and I will be there together with our R&D manager Per Ove Almeflo.

Please let me know if you would like to book an appointment. http://www.milabmic.com/content.asp?page=contact

Visit Milab Microphones in Hall 8.0 - booth A47, March 24-27.

DC-196 for vocals

2010-02-04T10:59:00.006+01:00

The DC-196 is an excellent vocal mic - it would be my first choice for studio work. Still, I find that some are reluctant to consider it for vocal recordings - and I believe it's only because of its size. Funny how the music business can be prejudiced some times.

The DC-196 is a large membrane microphones - and delivers a wonderful, smooth vocal sound - but thanks to the rectangular shape of the capsule it's almost the size of a pencil mic.

Some quotes from reviews confirm the vocal qualities:

"[The DC-196] shines as a vocal mic, capturing a smooth, detailed and full-bodied sound that belies its small stature." - Review in Audio Technology (Australia)

"Vocals: The DC-196 sounds very good with a warm and full 'quality tone' that keeps the voice steady. Once again, the smooth frequency response brings out the midrange which helps create a rich tone." - Review in Monitor (Sweden)

"...even though the mic may look a bit lost in a vocal booth it has a reputation as a very good vocal microphone." - Review in Sound On Sound

Still, both the reviews from Sound On Sound and Audio Technology realized that the small size may be a problem:

"Cons: Diminutive size may put some users off trying it for vocals." - Sound On Sound

"The only problem you’ll have using the DC-196 is the quizzical look singers throw you when you first put it in front of them. I found I only had to ask them to give it a try and once they heard the playback they loved it and forgot about the size factor." - Audio Technology

So, have I convinced you yet? If not, you should contact your local dealer/distributor and take the opportunity to try the DC-196 out for yourself.

New upcoming review of the BDM-01

2010-01-27T12:42:00.003+01:00

I have received word that the BDM-01 has taken part in a shootout between 14 kick drum mics in a German pro audio magazine. The review has not been published yet, so I don't want to leak too much information, but from what I've heard it's another strike for the BDM-01.

As soon as the magazine is in print I will give you more info.

The BDM-01 has sold far better than we had expected, and as a result of this it has been hard for me to get demo mics to send out to magazines. But you can expect more reviews within the next few months.

Full Compass

2010-01-20T23:51:00.002+01:00

I'm in Madison, Wisconsin at the moment briefing the sales staff at Full Compass (which is quite a number of people) on Milab and our products. It's been a great day so far. Everyone is so friendly and have made me feel really welcome. They have fantastic studios here and that means it is a wonderful environment for mic demos.

I've never been to this part of the U.S. before, and now I realize I should have delayed the flight home a day or two which would have given me a chance to look around Madison. It seems to be a very nice city.

NAMM

2010-01-15T03:31:00.003+01:00

The first day of the NAMM show is over. Not as busy as I had expected - but everyone says it will pick up tomorrow and on saturday.

We have some performers in the booth - most interesting for Milab fans are the drum micing workshops by John Emrich. John is considered as one of the best drum recording engineers in the business. He will be using the Milab BDM-01 for kick drum and VM-44:s for toms. John's workshops are at 2.30 pm friday and 3 pm on saturday.

Stop by booth 6630 if you are attending the NAMM show.

See you in California?

2010-01-03T12:06:00.003+01:00

I'm finally booked for NAMM. Leaving for California on the 11th to join the guys from FDW Worldwide in booth 6630. Drop by if you have a chance.

I've also arranged for a couple of days at FDW-W headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin which I think will be great.

Milab down under

2009-12-21T15:23:00.002+01:00

Microphone Solutions Australia, the Milab distributor for Australia and New Zealand, just launched their new website. Check it out at: www.milabaustralia.com

Winter in Sweden

2009-12-18T11:56:00.003+01:00

Winter has hit our part of Sweden really hard. I still had to drive up to Gothenburg yesterday (about 2 hrs) to pick up our new stereo cases for matched pairs. They look fabulous!

On the way, I personally delivered three LSR-3000:s to the singer/guitar player from all girl band Face 84 - an up and coming band who are making a name for themselves. They've been getting some attention on both Swedish and Norwegian TV lately. It's a sign of class that they are willing to invest in proper vocal mics - too many bands just go with the standard dynamics. I suppose many singers don't realize how big the difference really is. Try a high-end condenser and you will never go back!

It's been very intense for us the last few weeks, but the guys in production have been just amazing! Orders have been shipped all over the world - US, Japan, Australia, Germany, Italy, Norway etc...

Our Australian distributor is about to launch a brand new website at: www.milabaustralia.com. I'll let you know when it goes public - hopefully this weekend.

I will get some days off around christmas, but I've got loads of gigs booked for 2010, starting already January first. And we already have several orders that have to be delivered in January, so it looks like 2010 will be busy!

Merry christmas!

Pernilla Andersson nominated for Grammy

2009-12-07T11:55:00.003+01:00

Pernilla Andersson (whom I've written about before) used the DC-196 for "almost everything" on her latest album - Ashbury Apples.

Pernilla has just been nominated for Best Female Artist at the Swedish Grammy Awards. All of us at Milab are keeping our fingers crossed!

Swedish Grammy Awards

Pernilla Andersson Official

Rod Stewart and the LSR-2000

2009-12-02T11:35:00.004+01:00

There were several Milab LSR-2000:s on stage for Rod Stewart's world tour in 1992. Rod's mic is covered in white tape to match the stage design.

If you're used to dynamic mics and how you have to press the microphone against your lips when singing, notice how Rod doesn't have to think about the distance to the mic. Sometimes it's 10 inches from his mouth - without any real noticable change to the sound. Yet another reason to go for a condenser.

And I guess Rod didn't know that we accept custom orders (if he wanted a white LSR-2000). We delivered custom silver LSR-2000 to Swedish band Melody Club earlier this year.

Updated FAQ

2009-12-02T11:14:00.000+01:00

I just added some questions to the FAQ page on our website:

www.milabmic.com/faq.asp

Wisycom and Milab

2009-12-01T15:35:00.005+01:00

Ever heard about Wisycom (Italy)? They are a very exclusive manufacturer of wireless equipment, including wireless microphones. State-of-the-art stuff!

They don't make their own capsules though, and after years(!) of testing they have now been using the Milab VM-44 capsule for their top model - MTH300 - for about a year. It is available both with the VM-44 cardioid capsule (MCM302) and the VM-44 omni capsule (MCM304). The microphone has gone through rigorous testing in both Italy and Sweden and has been approved by both Milab and Wisycom.

This means that there finally is a wireless option for all you hardcore Milab fans. The MTH300 with the MCM302 head is as close as you get to a wireless LSR-3000.

Check out the Wisycom website.

Website visitors

2009-12-01T15:28:00.002+01:00

We now have about twice as many visitors to the website when compared to the same period last year. The increase from the US and Canada is huge - and I assume we owe most of it to our fabolous new North American distributor - FDW-Worldwide. You are doing a great job guys!

Coda takes Milab across Asia

2009-11-25T09:26:00.001+01:00

Our new distributor for Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia - Coda Audio Sales - is up and running:

http://www.proaudio-central.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1382

Flux plug-ins

2009-11-24T12:03:00.002+01:00

Many of the best products on the market are made by small manufacturers who don't get the amount of attention that they deserve - just like Milab.

If you're into high-end plug-ins you should really check out the french company Flux. They remind me of our company - tiny manufacturer but the products are amazing.

http://www.fluxhome.com/

Email problems

2009-11-17T10:17:00.003+01:00

I've recently discovered that we've been having some problems with our outgoing email and that many of the emails that have been sent from the office never reached their target.

The problem has been solved now, but I'm afraid it is impossible for me to find out which emails have gotten lost. I normally answer emails within a day or two, so if you've been waiting for a reply longer than that - please let me know.

FDW-Worldwide booked for NAMM

2009-11-16T12:10:00.002+01:00

Milab distributor for North America, FDW-Worldwide, is booked for the 2010 NAMM show in Anaheim, California (January 14-17). Booth number 6630.

Tim de Paravicini, Ear Yoshino - update

2009-11-09T15:56:00.008+01:00

I have written previously about Tim de Paravicini's custom valve microphones with Milab rectangular capsules, but I have not seen before that there is more info about them on the EAR Yoshino website.

http://www.earyoshino.com/pdesc.php?pid=27

Gig with Bose L1 system

2009-11-09T10:09:00.002+01:00

I had a small gig this weekend at a library (!). I have a duo with my cousin and we tried out the Bose L1 compact system for the first time. Setup: Piano (Yamaha S90ES), acoustic guitar and two vocal mics (Milab LSR-1000 and LSR-3000 condensers).

It was surprisingly easy to get a good sound. The piano sounded a little bit synthetic, but still very good - the guitar was great and the vocal sound was absolutely amazing - and I didn't even touch the EQ, except for the 80Hz high pass filter. But then again, many people underestimate the difference you will get with proper vocal mics.

Michael Jackson and Milab

2009-11-03T15:51:00.004+01:00

People ask me every now and then about Michael Jackson's use of our mics. I thought I'd just put what I know in this post and you can google your way here.

This is what I've been told: Bruce Swedien and Quincy Jones apparently liked the VIP-50 and used it for several projects in the late 80's and early 90's. One was as vocal microphone for Michael Jackson's Dangerous album. There is even a thank you note to Milab in the album credits. I don't know if they also used other Milab models - I would guess so, considering the thank you note, but I'm not sure.

There is also a thank you note to Milab in the credits for the Thriller Special Edition, and I'm guessing they used the VIP-50 for some additional recordings for that album. The original Thriller album was released before the VIP-50.

Rodney Holmes

2009-11-03T11:02:00.003+01:00

I've been working on a Milab artist feature on the website for some time. The first to be published is drummer Rodney Holmes.

http://www.milabmic.com/milab_artists.asp?artist=r_holmes

More artists coming soon...

Milab on Facebook

2009-10-29T15:05:00.000+01:00

Become a Milab fan and see images from AES on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/milabmic

BDM-01 review

2009-10-28T12:04:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Brad Watts of Audio Technology I finally got a copy of the first BDM-01 review. And I've been smiling all morning!

We may not be the largest microphone manufacturer on the planet - and we don't launch new products every other week. But when we do, we try to make sure they are something special. Therefore, this kind of feedback is great motivation for us to keep developing new models.

Read excerpts from the review here.

Read the entire review here.

Now also on Twitter

2009-10-22T12:15:00.000+02:00

http://twitter.com/milabmic

BDM-01 reviewed - finally

2009-10-19T10:16:00.005+02:00

Our latest product release, the BDM-01 bass drum mic, has exceeded all expectations and sold more than we had planned for. Therefore it's been hard for me to get demo units to send out for reviewing. But finally, there is a proper review in the latest issue of Australian Audio Technology (issue 70).

I've had not had a chance to read it myself yet, but according to our Australian distributor, Darren Halifax of Microphone Solutions Australia, it is really good. Thank you Darren for setting up the review.

As soon as I get a copy of the review I will tell you more.

There are more reviews of the BDM-01 in the pipeline, with several prestigious magazines waiting for a demo unit.

Tape Op SDC shootout revisited

2009-10-15T11:44:00.003+02:00

Thanks to Laura Thurmond of Tape Op magazine, I was finally able to get a copy of the magazine with the extensive SDC shootout (Tape Op No. 72 July/Aug 2009, pages 56-58).

As I've written before, the two Milabs in the shootout (VM-44 and DC-96B) both made the cut, as decided by the very prestigious 21-member panel. It was also nice to see that the author of the article, Mike Jasper, picked both Milab mics among his personal favourites.

So what can we learn from this? Choosing your microphone is mostly a matter of taste, but it is clear from a test like this that buying a microphone from the company with the biggest marketing budget or the best known brand name does not mean you will get the best product. Dig a little deeper, make your own blind tests and make sure that you get a microphone that is right for you.

Up and running in New York

2009-10-10T13:39:00.004+02:00

The first day of the AES Convention was a success. The booth looks really great and stands out from the rest (the image below shows the booth just before they let the public in). The people at FDW-W have done an amazing job creating marketing material in such a short time. Everything looks amazing.

We had so many people talking about the products all day and it was hard even finding a little time for lunch.

In the evening we had a press party at the Marriot to celebrate the inclusion of Milab and Audient in the "FDW-W family". This too was a success with many guest, great food and wonderful entertainment.

Visit us at the AES convention in New York

2009-09-28T11:32:00.003+02:00

Milab will be exhibiting at the AES convention in New York City, October 9-12. We will be in booth 673, hosted by our new distributor for North America - FDW-Worldwide. Most of our models will be on display.

I will be going to New York myself, so if you would like to book an appointment, please contact me: mattias.stromberg ( at ) milabmic.com

Pernilla Andersson

2009-09-23T15:32:00.002+02:00

Swedish multi-talented (singer/musician/song writer/producer) Pernilla Andersson just released her new album Ashbury Apples yesterday. Her Milab DC-196 was used for "almost everything", i.e. all vocals, guitars etc. The first reviews have been great, including a 4 (out of 5) rating from Sweden's leading daily newspaper - Dagens Nyheter.

Here is a live performance of a duet with Dregen from her last album. The vocal mics are Milab LSR-3000 and LSR-2000.

Milab at MIAC in Toronto

2009-09-10T14:10:00.006+02:00

Thanks to our new distributor for North America - FDW-Worldwide - Milab was represented at the MIAC (The Music Industries Association of Canada) tradeshow in Toronto recently.

Only the DC-196 and VM-44 were shown, but for the AES show in New York, Oct 9-12, all the important Milab products will be on display. Visit Milab and FDW-Worldwide in booth 673 at AES.

Images from Toronto:

Rare golden VIP-50 on Ebay

2009-09-01T10:28:00.003+02:00

There are several Milabs on Ebay at the moment. Some CM-22:s that have been in the Australian parliament house and a couple of VM-44:s, but most interesting is this golden VIP-50.

There are only a few golden VIP-50:s out there, and as far as I know all or most of them were made as awards for the Golden Microphone Awards that Milab used to hand out to audio professionals.

The Grateful Dead

2009-08-26T11:50:00.005+02:00

Richard Links of California has been kind enough to share some information about The Grateful Dead and their use of the Milab LC-25. I'll repost his email here (with Richard's permission of course):

---------------------

My curiosity began when I recently picked up a video of The Dead at Alpine Valley (1989) and in it, you can see that nearly each vocal is captured by identical microphones on stage. This got my curiosity and I felt I had seen that distinct pick-up structure previously. Then, when I Googled further, I found out that Dan Healey, the former sound engineer for The Dead, commented about their use of the LC-25 for vocals. BTW, I have actually met Dan in-person, since he is also a member of our local California Historical Radio Society. He has a massive collection of antique radios!

Here is just one of numerous clips (Not Fade Away), in which these very Milab microphones are visible:

Richard Links
Links Sound

SDC shootout in Tape Op Magazine

2009-08-25T11:55:00.002+02:00

There is an extensive SDC (Small Diaphragm Condenser) shootout in the latest issue of Tape Op Magazine with as many as 92 microphones included - very stiff competition indeed with AKG, Neumann, DPA, Josephson, Gefell and many others.

21 jury members selected 15 mics each and all models that received more than 7 votes made it to the "most picked" category. The test was only made with acoustic guitar.

Two Milab models were in the shootout (DC-96B and VM-44) and both were selected as "most picked". Neumann had 9 models with only 1 selected, AKG 9 models - only 1 selected, Schoeps had 6 models - only 1 selected, Josephson 3 models - none selected, DPA 3 models - 1 selected, Shure 5 models - 1 selected, Gefell 4 models - none selected etc...

Mics in the shootout:

3 Zigma CHI
AKG Blueline 391
AKG Blueline 393
AKG C 1000 S
AKG C 480 B
AKG C451b
AKG C451EB
AKG C451EB
AKG C460B
AKG D224e
AT 4021
AT 4031
AT 4041
AT 4051
ATM450
AT-Pro 37R
Avantone CK-1
Avenson STO-2
B&K 4011
Beyerdynamic M201
Beyerdynamic MC930
CAD GXL1200
Charter Oak M900
Crown CM-700
DPA 4006TL
DPA 4011TL
DPA 4099
Earthworks QTC40
Earthworks SR30
Earthworks TC30
EV RE15
Fouxman MCA SP-1 mod
Fouxman MK012 mod
Fouxman MXL 603 mod
Gefell M296
Gefell M300
Gefell M70
Gefell M94
Heil PR-35
Jim Williams MCA SP-1
Josephson C42
Josephson C617
Josephson e22s
JZ BT-201
Kel Audio HM-1
Mercenary KM-69
Milab DC-96B
Milab VM-44 Classic
MXL 604s
MXL V67N
Naiant X-M
Neumann KM 130
Neumann KM 143
Neumann KM 184
Neumann KM 83
Neumann KM 84
Neumann KM 85
Neumann KM 86
Neumann KM 88
Neumann TLM50
Nevaton MC49
Oktava MC012
Oktavamod MC012
Oktavamod MCA SP-1
Oktavamod MXL 603
Peluso CEMC6
Rode NT5
Samson CO2
Sanken CO-100K
Schoeps CMC5 with MK5 capsule
Schoeps CMC6 with MK4 capsule
Schoeps CMT 30 FNU M 934 b
Schoeps CMT 30 FNU M 934 c
Schoeps CMT 30 FNU MK241
Schoeps CMT 341
Schoeps/Strasser CM60
SE Electronics SE1
SE Electronics SE3
Sennheiser 421
Sennheiser 441
Sennheiser e914
Sennheiser MKH 8020
Sennheiser MKH 8050
Shure KSM141
Shure SM137
Shure SM57
Shure SM7
Shure SM81
Sony C-535p
Studio Projects C4
T.H.E. KA-04
Violet Finger

Most picked (in alphabetical order):

AKG C451 EB
AT 4021
B & K 4011
Beyer MC 930
Charter Oak M900
DPA 4099
Jim Williams-modded AKG C 460 B
Mark Fouxman-modded Octava MK-012
Mercenart Auio KM-69
Milab DC-96B
Milab VM-44
Neumann KM 184
Nevaton MC49
Rode NT5
Sanken CO-100K
Schoeps CMC/MK5 omni
Shre KSM141
Sony C-535p
Violet Design Gold-Finger

----

I have not seen the actual article - I've only read about it in forums - but I will try to get a copy of the magazine.

Back at the office

2009-08-13T10:20:00.002+02:00

I apologize for my lack of blogging the last few weeks. I'm back at the office now after my vacation and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year.

There are several exciting things happening in the near future: We are launching some very promising distributors (USA, Singapore and Sweden) and there are some interesting magazine reviews in the pipeline. We are awaiting the first reviews for the BDM-01 - and the SRND 360 will be reviewed by an american magazine for the first time.

Visit from Down Under

2009-07-06T13:25:00.003+02:00

Last friday we had the honour of being visited by Mr. Darren Halifax of Microphone Solutions Australia (MSA), the Milab distributor for Australia and New Zealand. Darren has done a terrific job promoting Milab Down Under. Thanks to MSA there are now several respected artists who are using Milab mics live and/or in the studio, and I'm convinced that many more will follow.

Darren is also the owner of Satellite Recording Studio in Perth, one of the finest studios in Western Australia.

Me and Darren

CM-22

2009-06-23T15:37:00.005+02:00

I've been getting several emails lately regarding the Milab CM-22. It was custom made for the Australian parliament house in the 80's - a very big order for a small company like Milab.

The CM-22 is a gooseneck model made specifically for speech. The gooseneck itself can be removed and the front screws directly onto the XLR amplifier.

The CM-22 was not designed for music recording, but as long as the SPL:s are not too high it will make for a different microphone with a unique "colour".

We still carry some spare parts for it.

CM-22 info

SRND 360 review in Resolution Magazine

2009-06-02T15:39:00.001+02:00

The Milab SRND 360 has just been reviewed in the excellent UK pro-audio magazine Resolution. Read more in the news section at the Milab website.

Tim de Paravicini, E.A.R and Milab

2009-06-02T10:12:00.002+02:00

I'm getting questions from time to time regarding the custom E.A.R microphones that Tim de Paravicini built for Kavi Alexander, most famously used for Ry Cooder and V.M. Bhatt's A Meeting by the River.

The microphones were custom made tube mics with Milab 2700 rectangular capsules (the same as in the VIP-50). We normally don't sell capsules separately and I'm not sure how Tim de Paravicini were able to get hold of them, but I suspect that legendary engineer Kavi Alexander (of Water Lily Acoustics) had something to do with it.

If I'm correctly informed no other microphones were used for A Meeting by the River than two E.A.R/Milabs. The album won a Grammy and is widely considered as one of the best sounding recordings ever made. Just read these quotes:

"I'm here to tell you that 'A Meeting by the River' is just flat-out astounding, one of the most uncannily real recordings I've ever heard. I haven't heard the LP yet, but the CD is a mind-blower: mastered directly from a CD-R transfer of the analog master, this is the best-sounding acoustic guitar recording I've ever heard. From the most subtle string-scrape die-offs to the unleashed dynamics throughout "Ganges Delta Blues," the sound just breathes life into the room and makes the best-sounding discs in my rack sound grainy and flat by comparison." - Corey Greenberg, Stereophile

"The splendor of the music is aided in its transmission by the fact that, like all Water Lily Acoustics releases, this album is masterfully recorded; each instrument is clear, distinct, and three-dimensional sounding. A Meeting by the River is a must-own, a thing of pure, unadulterated beauty, and the strongest record in Cooder's extensive catalog." - Daniel Gioffre, Allmusic

Interview with Kavi Alexander where the microphones are discussed.

Andreas Scholl and the Milab SRND 360

2009-05-25T14:59:00.004+02:00

Andreas Scholl is widely considered to be one of the finest classical singers in the world. He is also the owner of a Milab SRND 360 surround microphone.

Andreas was kind enough to write a personal review of the microphone. You can find the review on the Milab website:

Here is a video of a unique recording made with the Milab SRND 360.

Martin Taylor endorses Milab

2009-04-28T10:10:00.006+02:00

Martin Taylor, one of the greatest jazz guitarists in the world, now publicly endorses Milab Microphones. Martin, who is more or less always on tour, uses a Milab DC-96B for his guitar - both on stage and in the studio.

Martin has (among many other awards) won the British Jazz Awards for best guitarist no less than 12 times and is widely considered as one of the finest jazz musicians on the planet. We are very proud to be associated with him.

We are working on a new feature for the website with artists who are endorsing Milab. We are starting out with just a few, but highly respected artists, who have what it takes to be "Milab artists". Stay tuned and I will reveal more names...

Martin Taylor's official website

Martin Taylor on MySpace

Martin Taylor on Facebook

Wikipedia

Melody Club on tour

2009-04-21T15:09:00.002+02:00

Swedish pop/synth rock band (according to Wikipedia) Melody Club starts their spring tour on friday at KB in Malmö, Sweden. FOH engineer Oscar Söderlund uses mostly Milab mics as usual.

For this tour we have even made some custom designed mics to fit their theme.

http://www.myspace.com/melodyclub

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody_Club

Home sweet home

2009-04-07T20:15:00.004+02:00

It's been a very intense week with too little sleep and a lot of work, but still a lot of fun.

It was my first Frankfurt fair and I am of course at awe - it's enormous. I had some really good meetings and I'm glad to say that the BDM-01 got a lot of attention. We've produced it mostly because we felt it was missing from our product range, but we never thought of it as a big seller. But seeing that the first batch was sold out even before we went to Frankfurt, I may have to take back those words. There are not so many high-end bass drum mics around, so maybe this was something that the market was waiting for. Only the future will tell.

I'd like to say thank you to all the people who visited us and who took the time for a proper meeting - a couple of which will result in some very exciting news in the near future. Stay tuned and you will learn more soon!

Next stop Frankfurt!

2009-03-30T16:40:00.002+02:00

After a period of intense preparations for the Prolight + sound fair, we are finally off to Frankfurt tonight.

If you are visiting the fair, please pay us a visit and have a chat with me or our R&D manager, Per Ove. Also take the opportunity to be the first to see the BDM-01 IRL.

We are exhibiting together with our german distributor, FBM Audio, in hall 8.0 - booth C05.

See you there!

Hand held condensers continued

2009-03-18T15:56:00.005+01:00

I'll keep ranting on about hand held condensers a little bit more.

I'm a musician myself and back in the days bought one of the "standard" dynamic mics that everyone else uses. It wasn't until I started working closely with Milab that I realised there was a whole world of microphones to choose from and much better models than the "standard" choice. I find it a bit strange that most musicians spend a fortune on their instruments except for singers, who in many cases just buy a 100$ mic without even testing the competitors. Even a world class mic like the LSR-3000 is still much cheaper than a decent guitar.

I've used the LSR-1000 for a while now and couldn't go back to dynamic again. On one of the first gigs a did with it, I played outdoors on a summer wedding and performed a duet with a female vocalist (we both had LSR-1000:s). After the ceremony a man came up from the audience and told me that it was the best vocal sound he had ever heard and wondered what mics we were using. In 20 years of live performances, that had never happened to me before.

Someone wrote in a musicians forum that condensers are for big artists on big stages with good engineers. I would say the opposite - a condenser often needs less eq and cuts through the mix much better than a dynamic. It makes a real audible difference, even (or especially) if you are performing on a sub-par PA system. That's why, wherever I'm performing, I always bring my own mic.

Historic models

2009-03-17T10:32:00.003+01:00

As you may know, the history of Milab is a bit complicated; It started with PML in 1941 and resulted in two separate microphone companies in the late 70s. I often get email regarding information on older microphone models. We've decided to put only the models who have carried the Milab name on the "Historic models" page on the website, but if you have questions regarding older models just drop us a few lines and we will help you with more info.

We also perform service and maintenance on most older models. Many old Milab/PML mics are still hard currency on ebay and other "used gear-sites". You are always welcome to to send us your used mics for a check-up and lab test. For a small fee we run them in our lab and send them back with a new frequency curve.

Just last week we performed service on a rare VIP-501 (the image), which is basically a VIP-50 without the filters.

Local fair and handmade guitars

2009-03-16T14:31:00.002+01:00

I attended a local fair this weekend in Helsingborg, our hometown. In the booth to our left was an interesting guitar builder, Michael Sandén, who makes acoustic guitars entirely by hand. It is always nice to meet other manufacturers who really care about the details and quality of their products - just like we do.

Sandén guitars recently celebrated 25 years and released a CD with several highly respected guitarists playing Sandén guitars. One of the guitar players was demoing guitars at the fair and I had a word with him. He told me that he used two Milab DC-96B:s for his track on the CD. They were kind enough to give me a copy to take home and listen. It sounds absolutely wonderful.

VIP-50 - a classic Milab

2009-03-09T21:48:00.004+01:00

The VIP-50 is arguably the best known mic ever produced by Milab. It was first released in 1985 and became a big success, despite (or maybe thanks to) it's strange appearance. Ray Charles, who called our american distributor himself to order his unit, used it for vocals on at least three albums.

I've been told that Quincy Jones and Bruce Swedien absolutely loved it, which is why it was used for Michael Jackson's voice on the Dangerous album, and on several other Quincy-productions. Chaka Khan, Manhattan Transfer, Michael McDonald and several others also used it, and I read somewhere that Tori Amos used to bring her own VIP-50 to the studio when recording.

The VIP - as we call it - is still in wide use in studios around the world, and for good reasons.

Hand held condensers

2009-03-06T09:57:00.004+01:00

There are still many misconceptions about hand held condensers. I challenge anyone who thinks dynamic is the only option for live vocals to try an LSR mic. You'll be blown away.

I read in a big scandinavian music magazine recently that hand held condenser started coming out 6-7 years ago - around 2002 I guess. But it should probably be interpreted as when the "big" companies launched their hand held condenser.

Milab did it 25 years ago. The LC-25 was way ahead of it's time and was (and is) used by many great artists. It's been replaced by the LSR series now, but after 25 years we are still getting requests for it and manufacture it on demand. But the LSR-1000 is pretty much the same construction.

This is a clip from the classic Rod Stewart MTV Unplugged concert in 1993. Rod is using a Milab LSR-2000. And this is almost 10 years before "hand held condensers started coming out"...

Early Michael Ruff. Great hair! Great outfit! Great microphone!

2009-03-05T13:11:00.002+01:00

Take a look at this Michael Ruff performance from the 80s. You have to digg that hair and the outfit - and of course the Milab LC-25 mic he is using.

Swedish super drummer Per Lindvall in the background.

Planning for Frankfurt

2009-03-05T12:15:00.002+01:00

As you may already know we are exhibiting at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt in the beginning of April. I'm going together with our R&D manager Per Ove Almeflo and we will share a booth with our excellent german (and swiss) distributor - FBM Audio.

We will bring most of our products along and the spotlight will be on the new BDM-01 - our first dedicated bass drum microphone. But the SRND 360, DC-196, LSR-3000, VM-44 and other models will also be on display.

You will find the Milab/FBM booth in hall 8.0 C05.

Welcome to the Milab corporate blog!

2009-03-05T11:51:00.000+01:00

This is the first post for our new corporate blog. My thought has been to create a more informal forum for connecting with customers, potential customers, distributors, partners etc, than the official Milab website, but also to provide information that doesn't quite fit our official news page.

The official Milab Microphones website is here: www.milabmic.com

/Mattias Strömberg