AT4047, AT4050 or AT4060??

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frequency_

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Hello, i am looking for a good vocal mic, and i m between the AT4047, the AT4050 and the at AT4060, i ve not worked with any of these three mics, i guess the AT4060 is more expensive but if its worth it i ll go for it...does any of you guys have any experience with these mics? thanx
 
Well let's see, we have the 4047, which I think is a FET version.
The 4050 is a multipattern.
The 4060 is a tube version.

Three different mics - all be would be a great addition to any mic locker. Which one is right for your voice? The only way to find out is to demo each.

The 4060's tube COULD be great on your voice. I've used it on guitar cabs but not on voice.

I'm not sure why you would need a multipattern mic for your voice (but the 4050 would have a lot of other uses around the studio).

The 4047 "might" get you in the ballpark of that U47 vibe, which is very popular for vocals. BUT-

The only way to find out is to demo each.
 
well, i m not a singer myself, so ill be using the mic to record other people s voice, so guess i m looking for a mic that will be suitable for many diferent voices...males and females.
 
You need to build a collection of mics to suit different vocalists. If you have no mics and are looking for a nice mic that "never hurt no one", I'd suggest an SM 7. If you are looking to begin a locker, AT 4050 will always find a way into a recording. AT 4040 is also a great mic with multiple applications, vox being one.
 
I've had success on a variety of voices with the 4050. Like Big Kenny said, it would be a valuable asset to your locker as a mic for other instruments, too.
 
As indicated - 3 different types of mics, so it is not an apples to apples comparison.

Of the three mics you mentioned - I have only used one - the 4047 (which I own and use all the time.) I think it is a very good vocal mic (the only application I choose to use it for). I find it well suited for female vocals or males who sing in a higher register.

Phrases such as "warm sounding" can be rather ambiguous - but I find the 4047 does have a "warm" sound which helps to controls some of the high end vocal regiter "harshness" that can occur with female vocals (and guys who singer like Geddy Lee).
 
RezN8 said:
I'm not sure why you would need a multipattern mic for your voice
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I you own a mic that does muliple patterns, you should try them sometime. Using an omni pattern for vocals can be really nice. In most mics, switching to omni will reduce the amount of proximity effect which allows you to use more of the mics true tone while still staying tight to the mic. Basically, it makes it a whole different mic whne used like this. Often times mics will exhibit at least a slightly different response from the same location when switched into a different pattern. It's good to learn what the typical changes are in your mics so that you can use them when the situation calls for it.
 
xstatic said:
I you own a mic that does muliple patterns, you should try them sometime. Using an omni pattern for vocals can be really nice. In most mics, switching to omni will reduce the amount of proximity effect which allows you to use more of the mics true tone while still staying tight to the mic. Basically, it makes it a whole different mic whne used like this. Often times mics will exhibit at least a slightly different response from the same location when switched into a different pattern. It's good to learn what the typical changes are in your mics so that you can use them when the situation calls for it.
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Yes I totally agree but it really boils down to the environment in which one records vocals.
 
AT 4047 is a very good bang for the buck vocal mic that will work in many different applications. Vocals do have a nice shimmer that is not harsh at all and I've mic'd bass and guitar cabs with it and an MD421 with pleasing results.
 
I agree, environment is a factor, but I was replying to your statement as to not knowing why you would need multipattern for vocals. Also, regardless of environment, I would still give things a chance. You may just be surprised;)
 
xstatic said:
I agree, environment is a factor, but I was replying to your statement as to not knowing why you would need multipattern for vocals. Also, regardless of environment, I would still give things a chance. You may just be surprised;)
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Absolutely. If the difference between a cardioid and omni is the difference between having to be two or three feet from the mic and being able to eat the mic (because of proximity effect on the cardioid side of things), you will probably have less room noise in omni mode.

Energy should fall off with the square of the distance, so if you quadruple the distance, you have a sixteenth the volume, or a 12 dB increase in power. A typical cardioid pattern only has 12 dB or greater rejection for about 45 degrees to either side of the exact back of the microphone, so room noise and reflections are cut... maybe 6 dB on the average....
 
At 4040

I've heard "mixed" reviews of the AT4040 for vocals especially female vocals. Anyone have comments or suggestions? I need a good "for everything" mic, but I'll be recording MOSTLY vibraphone, marimba, drums BUT... I have to have a "reasonable" mic for vocals too. (same ole problem right?)
thanks!
dennyc765
 
4050

I own the 4050 and have used the other two as well... That said I echo what others here have said. it really depends on the environment and the voices recorded as to what will work best. The 4050 however is going to have more flexibility in that you can use it for many applications and should get decent results for most. A note on voices: I was recording a female vocalist at school once and had access to a number of mics including the Manley Gold Reference.....of all choices we went with the 4050, simply sounded best with her voice. No measuring stick for that sort of thing.
 
I was told by a very prominent producer that if you want good results from a cheaper mic(as opposed to neumann etc) the 4047 is the way to go so I bought one Friday from EBAY and am just waiting for my delivery. I was also told that the 4060 is also very good but not necessary in my case as I have a tube preamp.

Please Visit Kharen.ca
 
I was told by a very prominent producer that if you want good results from a cheaper mic(as opposed to neumann etc) the 4047 is the way to go so I bought one Friday from EBAY and am just waiting for my delivery. I was also told that the 4060 is also very good but not necessary in my case as I have a tube preamp.
Please visit kharen.ca
 
Having a tube pre doesn't really "make up" for using a solid state mic over a valve-based mic, but you are simply wrong in assuming that you need to use any valve-based circuitry in your signal path to get a good vocal line recorded. You can get a beautiful, warm sound out of solid state gear just as you can with tube - the fact that vacuum tubes get physically warm doesn't mean your sound will do the same :)

What kind of preamp and converter/interface are you using, anyway? I couldn't seem to find that info in the post, but I was just curious. Anyway, I wasn't trying to knock you for the valve-mic thing, just explaining that a good mic and good preamp are "good" if they provide the sound you're looking for - and that can easily be acheived by either solid state or valve-based systems.
 
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