A Vocal Studio Microphone That Can't Go Wrong?

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Meliha

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Whats a good studio vocal mic for a good price that cant go wrong? and also whilst looking for a mic what are the basic stuff that i have to look at whilst buying one?
 
Best to audition mics when possible.
Look at the wide range of voices from Barry White to Michael Jackson; a mic that flatters one will not neccesarily flatter the other -- or yours.

There is no 'one solution'.
 
Not only what Tim said but a microphone that does sound good for your voice today may not be the one that will best suit you a few days later.
The situation and your voice will vary from time to time.
 
Vocal mic that can't go wrong? No such thing. There is no vocal mic so good, or so expensive, that it can't make somebody sound awful. The worst thing? There's *no way* to predict what will work, either for a specific voice, or a specific context. If there was such a thing, major studios would not have multiple main vocal mics. They'd just have one. There's really only a few things you can do. First, never miss a chance to sing through a mic you haven't used before. It might be the holy grail, even if you didn't think it was for vocals. Two, buy mics that work for a lot of other people. Three, buy respected microphones that you find on the equipment lists of major studios. That way, if it doesn't work put for you, you lose less when you re-sell it. Also, if it's on the equipment lists of lots of studios, you can be pretty sure it'll be good for recording *something*, or all those people wouldn't keep it around. I generally recommend a top dynamic and a good cheap condenser. Not many people can afford a top condenser. For dynamics, I would recommend:
Shure SM7b
Electrovoice RE20

For condensers, I like:
Marshall Electronics MXL V67G
AKG C2000B
B.L.U.E. Bluebird, and Baby Bottle
Neumann TLM102
Oktava MK319
Rode NTK

The mics above range from $100 to about $700 new. While none of the listed condensers is actually a studio standard (the dynamics *are*), you will find all of them on the B and C room lists of a lot of studios. I wish I could tell you what you want to hear- that there's a perfect universal vocal mic, *BUT THERE ISN'T*! Good luck-Richie
 
I like the TLM 103. Sounds full and detailed and compliments nearly everything that i have used it with.
 
Meliha,

I won't say can't go wrong but if you're looking for a safe pick choose a quality cardiod dynamic.

Most vocalists are used to singing through this type of mic because it's what's used on stage. You're much less likely to have a problem like a vocal mismatch, harshness, excessive bleed, sibilance and pops than with a condenser mic no matter how expensive the condenser.

Be sure you use a pop filter. I always try to use a shock mount with the rubber bands. I make my own pop filters and shock mounts.

The mics listed above, the RE20 and SM7, are considered top of the line. I don't have either. I do, however have some less expensive dynamic cardiods that I could afford used. So I'll recommend them.

EV PL80
Beyer M400 Soundstar Mark II
Beyer Opus 69
AKG D321
AKG D770
Peavey 520i
Shure SM57 (or 58)

A good condenser can deliver excelent vocal results. But they can be tricky. A dynamic is more likely to be usable across a wide range of vocalists and environments.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
Larry is on the right track. The Shure SM5 is not the industry standard for nothing. You "can't go wrong" with it insofar as it WORKS, and is well-known and regarded. Also durable as hell- I have heard of people literally driving nails with them, and they still worked.
 
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