Here's a little comparison of my two tube LDCs.
I really like both the mics, both have got their qualities and disadvantages.
My opinion on the mics:
often the raw CV4 sounds more pleasing than the raw Arabella. The Arabella is warmer, but can sound a bit wooly around the 400Hz region, which can lead to a "blanket"-buildup, especially when multiple vocal tracks are layered.
On the other hand the Arabella takes processing and EQ VERY well (much better than the VC4 IMO), and with some slight EQ the Arabella can be cleared up rather nicely, but still maintains that intimate warmth and a nice natural sibilance control.
The CV4 also takes compression well, but you'll have to be a bit more careful with EQ, it starts sounding "less natural" quicker than the Arabella, also does it tend to become a bit more sibilant with the EQ....Then again it doesn't really need much.
Usually I prefer the CV4 over the Arabella before I start processing the tracks, but with some processing the Arabelaa tracks often come out nicer than the CV4 tracks....(I'm talking about vocals here).
Both mics are great on vocalists that tend to sound a bit sizzly or have a nasal voice (you know, those high mid heavy singers).
Here's a comparison so you can judge for yourselves, the first half of the video shows the processed tracks, the second half the untreated tracks:
(Vocal chain: Ma Rie ->CV4/Arabella -> BAE 1073 -> Apogee AD16x -> Pro Tools HD
2Bus: Crane Song Phoenix, Smart Research C2, Waves L2)
I really like both the mics, both have got their qualities and disadvantages.
My opinion on the mics:
often the raw CV4 sounds more pleasing than the raw Arabella. The Arabella is warmer, but can sound a bit wooly around the 400Hz region, which can lead to a "blanket"-buildup, especially when multiple vocal tracks are layered.
On the other hand the Arabella takes processing and EQ VERY well (much better than the VC4 IMO), and with some slight EQ the Arabella can be cleared up rather nicely, but still maintains that intimate warmth and a nice natural sibilance control.
The CV4 also takes compression well, but you'll have to be a bit more careful with EQ, it starts sounding "less natural" quicker than the Arabella, also does it tend to become a bit more sibilant with the EQ....Then again it doesn't really need much.
Usually I prefer the CV4 over the Arabella before I start processing the tracks, but with some processing the Arabelaa tracks often come out nicer than the CV4 tracks....(I'm talking about vocals here).
Both mics are great on vocalists that tend to sound a bit sizzly or have a nasal voice (you know, those high mid heavy singers).
Here's a comparison so you can judge for yourselves, the first half of the video shows the processed tracks, the second half the untreated tracks:
(Vocal chain: Ma Rie ->CV4/Arabella -> BAE 1073 -> Apogee AD16x -> Pro Tools HD
2Bus: Crane Song Phoenix, Smart Research C2, Waves L2)
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