I need a new vocal mic

  • Thread starter Thread starter Greg_L
  • Start date Start date
moresound said:
Are you sure Greg?
From what I've heard on your recordings ~ all is fine.
Just board (:D) with what you have for a microphone set up?








:cool:
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All I have for an LDC is a crappy AT2020, and it's acting weird. It seems to sound thin now. I have to cut a lot of highs out of it. I've always paid close attention to drum and instrument mics, but have never given a second of thought to what's a good vocal mic.
 
Have you ever auditioned vocal microphones in other studios?






:cool:
 
moresound said:
Have you ever auditioned vocal microphones in other studios?






:cool:
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No. I don't go to studios. I'm a home recorder. I don't even know any other home recorders besides you anonymous online screen names.
 
Yeah we are all invisible internet friends .... what would Sigmund Freud think of that?
It was just a thought.

Hey your what .....6 hours from Harvey? I think it's time you two meet!
Give him a call and set a time and date and go through his microphone collection and then make a choice.







:cool:
 
moresound said:
Yeah we are all invisible internet friends .... what would Sigmund Freud think of that?
It was just a thought.

Hey your what .....6 hours from Harvey? I think it's time you two meet!
Give him a call and set a time and date and go through his microphone collection and then make a choice.







:cool:
Click to expand...

Or how about this....just give me some suggestions.
 
A U87 is to mics what a Supra is to snares.

The best vocal mic I've used was a vintage U48 but those are ultra expensive. A U87 is like a Supra - the cheapest one that you can finally say "it's good enough".

I see them for $1500 on eBay, and as cheap as $1000. If you don't like it you can sell it and make $200, try doing that with an M-Audio mic.
 
dintymoore said:
A U87 is to mics what a Supra is to snares.

The best vocal mic I've used was a vintage U48 but those are ultra expensive. A U87 is like a Supra - the cheapest one that you can finally say "it's good enough".

I see them for $1500 on eBay, and as cheap as $1000. If you don't like it you can sell it and make $200, try doing that with an M-Audio mic.
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I second the U87. I could live with only this mic if I had to. That is why they are a studio staple and have been for a long time.
 
I need a new vocal mic too......been using a beyer m-500 ribbon and I'm very pleased with it, but I'm thinking of ordering a shure sm-7b....I've always heard that they're good vocal mics; just thought I'd like to try one out for myself....
 
Random guesses:

AT4047
Beyer M88

I think the KSM27/44s were boring although a lot of people like them. I would also avoid any cheap ribbon, yes that includes the Fathead. Maybe the Shinybox is OK, but the cheaper ones sound like poo to me. So Beyer or higher for ribbons.

The cool people all use AT3060s, but there are very very few of us. Most normal people don't like it.

kidvybes and MichaelJoly think you should buy an MXL2003A, and they just might be right :confused:

Just maybe the Baby Bottle, but only if you can beat up some scrawny kid and take it. I'd volunteer, but I sold mine years ago . . . :o
 
Why not double up? AT 4040

I'd rather have a 4050, but to each their own.

EV RE-20, SM7b, and the usual U47 / U87 types.

KSM44(a?)

Lots of options at that price point.
 
You wont go wrong with a SE 2200A - think they list for $300 new and they're a very neutral mic. If you're open to dynamics, an SM7B might be a good choice for more aggressive male vocals. Same with EV RE20
 
OK- suggestions: AT4047SV, B.L.U.E. Baby Bottle, Shure KSM32, Oktava MK319 (but only from www.oktava.com.). Based on the issues you stated above w/ highs, I wouldn't generally recommend Rode NTK or AKG C214 to you, although they work for a lot of people with different vocal needs. You should also consider a top dynamic, such as Shure SM7b or Electrovoice RE20. Hell, you could buy the Oktava *and* the RE20 and come in well under $1000 for the pair. Just my best guesses.-Richie
 
Greg_L said:
All I have for an LDC is a crappy AT2020, and it's acting weird. It seems to sound thin now. I have to cut a lot of highs out of it. I've always paid close attention to drum and instrument mics, but have never given a second of thought to what's a good vocal mic.
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AT2020 is a small diaphragm condenser, or at best medium. It's a great instrument mic, but it isn't a great vocal mic for most voices.
 
I have a U87. A nice older one - pre AI. Interestingly, when we shoot out mics for vocals, it usually gets beat out by an SM7. Good instrument mic though. In fact, for Rock and Americana, the SM7 usually beats out most other vocal mics I have including the aforementioned U87, AT4050, AKG C414B-ULS, Gefell M71, AKG C535 and some older GT LD tube mics. The RE-20, the older RE-18 and RE-15, the Sennheiser MD441 and the Beyer M500 and M88 will get picked sometimes, but usually it's the SM7. You might want to start there. Especially if your recording space is less than perfect. It is a pretty forgiving mic compared to most LD condensers.
 
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