$250 or less...

[guitar junkie]

So I am looking to get a better vocal sound again, now that my voice has settled down a bit more (puberty did a number on me for a while) I am looking for something cleaner, and smoother, but still mellow and darker than a few...

I have an AT4040 hate it on my voice!

also have a ribbon mic also, and I love it but it is not always the choice for me, because of the way I am recording guitar and vocals at the same time.

I have a MXL V67g that I like well enough but I want something smoother sounding....

Just found a used Rode NT2 for $250, not a bad mic at all! I sat up with that mic through a M-Box and headphones and I was happy with my vocal sound... Had a little more "air" than I thought I might want... But having a mic that would go into Omni mode might be a nice thing sometimes anyway....

But what about tube mics? Again... I don't have a whole lot of money to spend here... $250 being at the top of my budget end... The threads about the MXL960 look interesting for sure, are there any other mics I should look at in the price range? If I can maybe low ball on the mic and still get a good one, then maybe I can get a better preamp as well... I have firepod preamps, which have nothing special to offer me....

 

[guitar junkie]

What about AVANT mics? I was checking stuff out on Front End Audio, and saw them... anybody know them at all? I never heard of em, but they seem nice and the prices are good...

 

[Harvey Gerst]

What about AVANT mics? I was checking stuff out on Front End Audio, and saw them... anybody know them at all? I never heard of em, but they seem nice and the prices are good...

The Avant mics are all very nice sounding mics.

 

[dgatwood]

Look into a nice tube mic.

Tell us what you didn't like about the 4040 and it will give us a better idea of what to suggest.

 

[guitar junkie]

The AT4040 sounds too clean and steril without any real tone going on. kind of hyped in the highs and too much sparkle for a folk singer like me...

I sing really retro stuff so a vintage flavor seems in store. I guess I want clear mids and low mids, but not harsh ones

 

[Webb]

For tube mics in that price range, you might want to check out the MXL v69 Mogami, or a Rode NTK. Both should give you pretty good results.

 

[mrface2112]

ya know, i haven't given it a thorough run-through, but in the 30 minutes or so i got to fiddle with it last night, i *really* liked the MXL 960. Musician's Friend is running a bit of a sale on them at the moment, i got mine for $149 this past monday, but it seems they've raised the price back up since then.

anyway, in limited vocal tests, it sounds nice, round and fat. and *nothing* sounds round OR fat on my voice.

anyway, just from my brief time with this mic so far, i'm *very* impressed and will say that it FAR out-performs the buck-fiddy i paid for it.

i will say, though, that the stand mount SUCKS ASS. this mic is really heavy and needs a good stand as well. so budget for a shockmount and a good stand.


cheers,
wade

 

[Daisy]

Another mic
U might consider is a good
Dynamic like a Shure SM7.
It won't sound as crispy.
Or as accurate.

AND
ANother option
ARe ribbons.
CHoose carefully.
You will have to live with this mic for a while.
.COMe to Guitar Center sometime and check out some different options.

 

[Blue Groove]

How about an OktavaMod? $329 for a 219 w/ standard electronics...

If that's too pricey, look at the Cascade mics.

The Elroy (multipattern tube) $299 is cool, the Victor sounds nice and is $169.

 

[up-fiddler]

Another mic
U might consider is a good
Dynamic like a Shure SM7.
It won't sound as crispy.
Or as accurate.

AND
ANother option
ARe ribbons.
CHoose carefully.
You will have to live with this mic for a while.
.COMe to Guitar Center sometime and check out some different options.

"You must spread some reputation around before giving it to Daisy again." But I liked your acronym.