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Set Your 'Bird Free
If you're looking for a more mid-ranged focused "Neumann-esque" sound, the Blue Bluebird is an excellent candidate for a re-voice modification. The stock 'Bird has excellent circuit design, but the stock capsule / headbasket design produces a huge proximity effect, scooped midrange and strong HF peak right in the sibilance range.
This is Michael Joly writing, founder of OktavaMod. Read on to learn how your Bluebird can be re-voiced. Then click "buy now" to purchase a full suite of modifications developed for your 'Bird. Questions? Just click "Contact Me" below.
Michael Joly mod'd Bluebird
(With MJE-K47 capsule, signal path and acoustical upgrades )
Remove the scoop
Lets get right to the heart of the capsule / headbasket system.
Hold your Bluebird up to a strong light so you can get a good look at the front and back sides of the capsule. Notice the front diaphragm is edge-terminated (like an AKG capsule) and the backplate hole pattern is the familiar Neumann K67-style.
Now look at the headbasket - notice the flat face of the headbasket is parallel to the gold diaphragm (active side) and the rounded grille is installed at the back of the mic.
OK. Three design choices that give this bird its singing voice - an edge terminated diaphragm (more top end than a center terminated style), K67-type backplate design (with designed-in 8kHz peak) and parallel-face headbasket design (even more HF boost due to standing waves). The combination of these three design choices produces a strongly accentuated LF, a scooped midrange and bright top end.
Headbasket Modifications -
The parallel grille and diaphragm in the stock mic produces HF standing waves that accentuate the HF boost created by the edge terminated / K67 backplate style capsule.
The first task is to reverse the headbasket so the rounded grille face is installed at the front (active) side of the capsule and the flat face is placed on the rear side of the capsule. Your mic's headbasket will also be converted to my signature single-layer style. These two headbasket changes provide greater openness, elimination of parallel face standing wave coloration and reduced HF boost.
Capsule Modifications -
The MJE-K47 (Michael Joly Editions K47-style) capsule is the result of my painstaking search to find a capsule producer who could manufacture a flatter, K47-style capsule to my quality control standards - and do so at an affordable price.
 Actual Unsmoothed MJE-K47D Capsule Frequency Response
Note Classic "47" Timbre-Balance
(180 degree response shown below on-axis response)
Each MJE-K47 capsule is individually tested in an anechoic chamber and tracks an actual K47 capsule response within +/- 1.5 dB across the audio spectrum. Your mic will be returned to you with a modification Certificate of Authenticity and your individual capsule's anechoic chamber response.
The MJE-K47 capsule will re-voice the Bluebird by removing the 8-10kHz peak created by the stock capsule and shift the timbre balance to a more midrange-focused "Neumann-esque" sound with a subtle "presence mound" instead of a sharp HF peak. In addition, the MJE-K47 capsule has smoother and more vocally-appropriate low end proximity like a classic K47-equipped mic.
The modified headbasket and MJE-K47 capsule will work together as a system to provide a more balanced and natural frequency response. This means better vocal projection without excessive LF and HF rise or a scooped midrange.
Great Results, Easy to Order -
Finally, with signal path improvements that come from replacing polarized electrolytic capacitors your Bluebird will be transformed into a boutique mic that oozes classic midrange-rich voicing without excessive high end boost. Your vocal and instrument recordings will be smoother and less edgy as a result.
Click "Add to Cart" below to purchase the OktavaMod MJE-K47 mod suite developed for your Bluebird. The introductory price is only $349.
This price includes: headbasket modification, installation of a new MJE-K47 capsule and upgrade to all non-electrolytic signal path capacitors. Once you order you'll get an immediate confirmation email. By the close of the next business day you'll receive a personal email with your scheduled modification and return ship dates. Questions? Just click "Contact Me" - best, Michael
New MJE-K47H Large Diaphragm capsule head for SDC bodies
Award-winning Microphone Design by
Michael Joly
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