2 Mics Too Nice

[CrimsonKindred]

I am ignorant to mics . People who know please guide me.

I want one mike for vocals, and one mic for recording a saxaphone.

I am looking for a versitile vocal mic to capture pure, clear energy with a dim to medium tone, and the mic for the sax needs to capture the brightness and fire.

Budget: $1000

Price wise should I split it 50/50? 60/40 one way or the other?

make and model suggestions?

Take Good With You,
Crim

 

[wheelema]

I would vote for a Shure SM7B dynamic ($320) for voice, and a matched pair of Josephson C42 small diaphragm FET condensor ($900) for the sax. If going $220 over budget hurts too much you might consider a pair of Studio Projects C4s or a single Josephson (although I feel strongly about have two small condensors).

Okay... just thought of this... the SM7B needs a good preamp... you aren't going to be able to drive this thing with just anything... our Mackie board can't drive it, though the M-Audio 1010LT can. Saving up for a Speck MicPre 5.0 which when paired with the SM7B is alleged to produce an amazing sound.

Luck.

 

[Adam P]

If I'm not mistaken, Han, who's one of the more knowledgeable folks around here and has plenty of high end gear, likes the Sennheiser MD441 on saxophone. If that's the case and I'm not mistaken, you could probably pick one of those up and still have plenty left for an usable vocal mic. Try the search feature searching for "sax* and md*441"

 

[CrimsonKindred]

thanks folks. Very helpful. Especially the preamp info!

 

[mrface2112]

do you need to record the sax and vocals at the same time?

if not, you might be well suited picking up an EV RE20 and having it handle both duties. that'll run you around $450 or so new, and you've got $500 for a decent preamp.


cheers,
wade

 

[Big Kenny]

do you need to record the sax and vocals at the same time?

if not, you might be well suited picking up an EV RE20 and having it handle both duties. that'll run you around $450 or so new, and you've got $500 for a decent preamp.


cheers,
wade

yup, great mic for lotsa stuff

 

[CrimsonKindred]

Very good to know I can use all the help I can get. Im taking notes people. I will be reasearching what is posted. Looking good so far. I really appreciate the help. God Bless Always.

Take Good With You,
Crim

 

[pohaku]

do you need to record the sax and vocals at the same time?

if not, you might be well suited picking up an EV RE20 and having it handle both duties. that'll run you around $450 or so new, and you've got $500 for a decent preamp.


cheers,
wade

I'll third that. The Re-20 is great on sax and is a wonderful vocal mic as well. Doesn't require as much gain as an SM7 which could also do duty for both tasks. Find a nice pre to go with it and you are in business.

 

[qbert1]

You mentioned saxophone "fire" and I thought I'd throw in by 2 bits. I've been recording my tenor sax lately with an Earthworks SR71 (today's SR30?) and it translated the energy well. Other times, the NTK has been a winner too. Though I'd share.

 

[jbroad572]

CrimsonKindred, another sax player?
I was in the same predicament...
Hope my thread can help you out somewhat...
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=176120&highlight=re20

I've seen the 421 is very popular, but quite a few people on Saxontheweb.net prefer the re20 to the 421. I went for the RE20 and a DMP3 preamp. I haven't hooked it up yet, been too busy.
Keep us posted on what you will do.

 

[CrimsonKindred]

I will be sure to keep you posted to what I decide. I play the tenor and the alto sax. I love Jazz and Rap. I am working on a design for a sound booth too. I just found a house to move into and the basement is for music, storage and laundry . Gotta find the right mic's. You folks are a wealth of info me to get looking for the right gear (well, alot of the other stuff I'm set with, but mics and amps are key). So, keep it coming folks!

 

[usekgb]

Personally, I think the RE20 is better on sax than the MD421. If you get the SM7 for vocals and the RE20 for sax, you would be right around $900. Just make sure that you have a pre wwith at least 60 dB of clean gain for the SM7. It has a very low output and you need a high gain pre to use it.

Cheers,
Zach

 

[CrimsonKindred]

Thank you all

I couldn't have gotten a more thoughtful group of responses. Thank all of you.
God Bless,
Take Good

Arlen

 

[frankieballsss]

I would probably go for just one good mike thats capable of handling vocals and sax if you dont need to record both simultaneously. Ive heard the akg c414 series record brass instruments pretty damn well, and its primary use is vocals. That mic goes for around 900, and is well worth it. I think its a much better deal to go for this mic only, over buying a 500 dollar mic and an OK preamp. Buy the preamp later if you dont already have one, you will still be able to get great stuff out of this mic without one.

 

[Han]

Yeah, it's me who likes the MD441 on sax, the Neumann M149 is better, but too expensive for most of us.

The MD421 is a lot hotter and the question is whether you like that or not, the MD441 is much smoother.

And please don't forget about ribbons, ribbons are smooth like hot butter, an M160, M260 or M500 (Beyerdynamic) may please you like a Chinese woman.

 

[CrimsonKindred]

It looks like I am going for the RE-20 for Sax and the SM7 for vocals...... I will do some more research on both but that is where I am at right now for anyone who cares to know...

I'll be continuing to find the best preamp(s) for the both of them any suggestions would be great.


Take Good,
Crim

 

[Big Kenny]

get the re20 and try it out on vox b4 you get another dynamic. there are many flavors out there friend!

 

[guitar junkie]

Nady has some great Ribbon mics for about $250 or so and i hear great stuff about them.. if a Ribbon mic is what they used to record horns in the old days and its on all the Peggy Lee recordings i love so much then i would try for one of those! i do not know what kind of vocals you plan on recording but try looking into the Nady and read some of the stuff about it... it might be worth getting a Nady and a nice pre and calling it a rig.

 

[CrimsonKindred]

Good Stuff, I have not purchased a mic yet (wont for a few months) so if you HAVE to convince me of something you feel is better hit me with it.

Take Good,
Crim