note: to fully utilize these comparisons, you will need the shareware REAPER (click here), and a file-unzipping utility, which is standard in all versions of windows since XP. I am fairly certain mac users have this as well.

Here are some comparisons I did between these two microphones. I was searching for a tone which was clear, full, but slightly rounded and not as sterile as certain condensor microphones I had previously. I appreciate these mics for what they can do but wanted something that would translate a little differently. So I borrowed my friend's Studio Projects T3 microphone. He also owns quite a few other mics by Nuemann and AKG, so I figured there might be a reason he has this mic in his arsenal.

I appreciated it immediately. It had a slightly more forgiving tone on my vocals, and acoustic lead guitar sounded full and beefy.

I ordered one, but found it was back ordered. So I eventually found an Avantone CV-12 B-stock. I jumped on it, noting it had a 30 day money back guarantee.

So I set out attempting to compare the microphones. I figured if the Avantone would prove itself more useful than the T3, I could save money. However, I ended up finding the T3 B-Stock as well, which meant I got both of the microphones for the same price as the T3 new. So I might just end up keeping one after all.

Here is the first decent comparison I did, using Neil Young's "powderfinger"

Next, I recorded a female vocal:

Afterwards, I wanted to see how MS configuration would work with these mics. This is the order in which I tested:

1. T3 - side mic, Avantone - mid mic

2. T3 - side mic, MXL 604S - mid mic

3. Avantone - side mic, MXL 604S - mid mic

4. Avantone - side mic, T3 - mid mic

Then, I re-recorded the powderfinger test using slightly better positioning

Here were some other quick tests: