Avantone CV-12 Multi-Pattern Tube LDC Microphone - Used From Avantone

If you're looking for an intimate, modern-voiced microphone with a lush, tube 'sheen', the CV-12 is your mic!. In Used, Excellent Condition

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What We Think

I would imagine a majority of user experiences with “budget friendly” large diaphragm condenser mics to be somewhat similar. They provide you with a decent amount of detail, but often have a thin quality that lacks richness and warmth. The Avantone CV-12 was designed to provide the opposite experience and sound while remaining within a very accessible price point, making it one of the best vocal and instrument microphones if you’re working on a budget.

The CV-12 received a ton of notoriety as the “Taylor Swift mic”, being used on her Speak Now album to achieve a shimmery, rich pop-vocal. I can say after trying it on a handful of sources this application and context is probably the mic’s greatest strength. Being based off of the legendary AKG C12, the CV-12 boasts a similar powerful bottom-end and of course the famous present yet very smooth top-end. That said, it’s no surprise it performs excellently in a modern pop context as a forward yet smooth vocal mic, but don’t view this mic as just a one trick pony. Just like the C12, the CV-12 is an excellent workhorse mic; I loved how it captured the body and shimmer of a rhythm acoustic guitar and as a mono overhead it accentuated the cymbals while its smoothness controlled any brash frequencies and transients.

All in all, my experience with the CV-12 revealed that the days of only having access to thin, lifeless LDCs while working on a budget are now over. If you're looking for an intimate, modern-voiced microphone with a lush, tube 'sheen', the CV-12 is your mic!

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Manufacturer's Description from Avantone

The Avantone “Cabernet (C-series)” mics are designed to offer true professional performance. They will meet or surpass the performance and specifications of much higher priced mics. The CV-12 is truly a gorgeous looking and sounding microphone. The design, character and performance is comparable to some of the fine vintage tube mics of the 1950’s & 1960’s…but at a fraction of their cost!

Our rugged CV-12 microphone body and capsule assembly are precision machined of brass. Aesthetically, it features an elegant Cabernet Wine-Red finish, accented with polished nickel trim and grill. The transformer coupled tube circuitry has its origins in famous European vintage designs. Any studio can proudly offer the CV-12 as a primary vocal mic…It exudes class visually as well as sonically. Manufactured using the finest materials yielding a very solid feel, superb structural integrity and rugged reliability.

The versatile CV-12 mic is able to produce professional results with a warm, pleasing sonic character. The included Custom Retro Shockmount is superb in allowing a precise positioning of the mic while inhibiting the transfer of unwanted vibrations up into the mic. This isolation allows for superior professional results.

About Manufacturer

Avantone is a creative vehicle, enabling our core team to bring to market the things we see as missing in the industry. This can be as simple as a certain price point we feel should be met to give excellent quality for reasonable pricing. At other times, it may be an item that simply does not exist until we build it. We don't use the shotgun approach in creating a product line. Each and every product we create has passion and purpose behind it, whether it costs $20 or $1000. QUALITY: We do 100% Inspection of our mics right here in the USA. Most of our competition skips over this entirely or at best run "spot-checks". This takes us extra time but we want to do it. We care!