Best rap mics under 5k?

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What are the best rap mics in the 1-5k range?

Currently, I have an NT1-A that I run through a cheap tube amp. I like the brightness, but the highs are very thin/metallic/harsh.

I had a AT4040 as a kid and really liked it. Thought it had a nice shine to it.

I had a SM7B and hated it. My vocals sounded lifeless.

I've been reading about the WA-8000 Sony clone. It appears some people really like them, but others think they sound like crap? I can get one new for under $1,000.

I'm not totally against spending the money and getting a real Sony, but who I'd order from is out of stock and has been for awhile.

What are the best options? I rap aggressive, but I'd say the tone of my voice is closer to rockers like Marilyn Manson. Like it has that top end rasp.

I want something that has a high energy factor.

Thanks for your opinions.
 
First off, you're unlikely to get a C800G for under $10K. I think there's something like a 2 yr waiting list for new ones. Used ones are going for what I call "stupid money".


Take these comments with the understanding that I haven't used any of the suggestions below. My LDC mics are currently an NT1, Miktek MK300, Warm 47jr, plus a pair of SP B3s and a V67G which I think punches well above it's weight. I don't do rap and don't have a raspy voice. Of the mics I have the NT1 is natural sounding to me, the MK300 is very open sounding, and the 47jr is pretty crisp. The B3s and V67G both sound surprisingly good for the low cost mics that they are.


If you think you like the sound of the Sony, you might check out the Sony C80 for $500, or the C100 that has dual capsules like the 800G, but runs about $1200.

For $3K, you should be able to find a U87ai which is an all around industry standard. Its pretty much a guarantee that you'll find one in every commercial studio. If you can't do a good recording with that, it's probably not the mics fault.

Another option I would look at is the UT87 Twin. I've heard a number of comparisons to a real U87 online and they sounded very close. You've got both a "vintage 87" sound and the "modern 87ai" sound in one mic. For $600 that's a pretty nice option.

The Lewitt 441 Flex sounds very crisp to me in the tests that I've heard. Clean and detailed but not harsh. For $400, its one I would consider.

And then there is the WA-8000, which is generally considered to be a very clean, bright sound. Yeah, some people like them, some people have a thing about bashing Warm Audio. I've heard lots of people bash the 47jr, but I don't think it's bad. You're not going to get a perfect vintage 47 tube mic sound for $300, so bashing it because it doesn't sound the same as a mic that many have never used is simply ignorant. Judge it on it's merits.

Fortunately, there are a TON of mics in the under $3000 range. Unfortunately, there are a TON of mics in the under $3000 range. Sometimes having too many choices is a bad thing.
 
With your budget, hire a few at the same time and experiment on your voice, some will be right for you.
 
TalismanRich said:
First off, you're unlikely to get a C800G for under $10K. I think there's something like a 2 yr waiting list for new ones. Used ones are going for what I call "stupid money".


Take these comments with the understanding that I haven't used any of the suggestions below. My LDC mics are currently an NT1, Miktek MK300, Warm 47jr, plus a pair of SP B3s and a V67G which I think punches well above it's weight. I don't do rap and don't have a raspy voice. Of the mics I have the NT1 is natural sounding to me, the MK300 is very open sounding, and the 47jr is pretty crisp. The B3s and V67G both sound surprisingly good for the low cost mics that they are.


If you think you like the sound of the Sony, you might check out the Sony C80 for $500, or the C100 that has dual capsules like the 800G, but runs about $1200.

For $3K, you should be able to find a U87ai which is an all around industry standard. Its pretty much a guarantee that you'll find one in every commercial studio. If you can't do a good recording with that, it's probably not the mics fault.

Another option I would look at is the UT87 Twin. I've heard a number of comparisons to a real U87 online and they sounded very close. You've got both a "vintage 87" sound and the "modern 87ai" sound in one mic. For $600 that's a pretty nice option.

The Lewitt 441 Flex sounds very crisp to me in the tests that I've heard. Clean and detailed but not harsh. For $400, its one I would consider.

And then there is the WA-8000, which is generally considered to be a very clean, bright sound. Yeah, some people like them, some people have a thing about bashing Warm Audio. I've heard lots of people bash the 47jr, but I don't think it's bad. You're not going to get a perfect vintage 47 tube mic sound for $300, so bashing it because it doesn't sound the same as a mic that many have never used is simply ignorant. Judge it on it's merits.

Fortunately, there are a TON of mics in the under $3000 range. Unfortunately, there are a TON of mics in the under $3000 range. Sometimes having too many choices is a bad thing.
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Thanks for the info. I haven't heard of some of these.

The pricing from the company that I usually order from is $8,400, but they are out of stock. I didn't know about the two year wait. It says to "contact for assistance." I'm not going to wait 2 years... Lol....

I can get a C100 for $1,000. What's the primarily differences?

I presumed I could buy a C800G, record my project, and then sell it for nearly the same amount as I paid due to the discounts.

I've considered the U87ai, but wasn't sure it was right for rap or not. Maybe I should rent one.

Know anything about the Stam brand? They claim to have a replica mic that sounds identically to the C800G and one that possibly sounds better?

I just want something very clear, fat, that sits upfront nicely.

I like my NT1-A, but it sounds too sharp/thin/metallic at times. Especially the last few songs that I've made, but that could have been my amp, interface, or mic going bad. Hard to say because I don't have additional equipment to test. But I really liked the vibe/energy it produced when I first got it.
 
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Seriously, there is no such thing as a "rap" mic.

Microphones record sound, they don't have attitudes like people. What they have are variations in linearity because they are translating air pressure changes into electrical signals. The parts (capsules, bodies, electronics) have physical properties, they aren't perfect in their operation. The designers try their best to make things linear and as close to even as they can.

People try to find a microphone that flatters a person's voice (or a particular instrument). A voice that is bright, thin, sibilant might benefit from a mic that has a soft top end and a boosted lower range. A dark booming voice might work with a mic that doesn't have a lot of bass or proximity effect. But you'll find that regardless of the mic used, you're going to sound like you. It's like a guitarist who picks up a Les Paul because they want to sound like Jimmy Page or Duane Allman, only to find that they sound like themselves.
 
You liked the AT4040 so why not try one of their higher end LDC mic's?
 
What would you recommend? I've read reviews for some of their more advanced models and they mentioned recordings sounding flat.
Like good for acoustic stuff but not necessarily energized vocals.
There were two things I didn't like about the 4040. Sibilance was strong and recordings sounded bad in an untreated setting.
In the right setting, I'd argue my recordings were better than $1,000+ mics, but in a room that echo's/bounces noise, recordings sounded like a $50 mic was used.
 
This is a bit silly. Price has very little to do with it, it's all about tone, and 'fit'. A voice has a huge frequency response but speech far less, and rap is essential volume without precise pitch, so it's all about the critical elements of speech so it's those dipthongs, plus the percussive elements - the p's, v's, k's etc. So if your voice has excess of any of these, a mic that emphasises them is a bad fit. If on the other hand you have trouble with the percussive elements, then a mic that highlights them is better. You hear it all the time on the radio when some presenters cut through, and others you struggle with. You mention sibilance was an issue, so you want a more mellow mic, or just a better shield between you and the mic. The worst spend I made was when I finally bought a U87 and discovered it was not 'magic', certainly on the stuff I record. You need to try a few and see what works on you. A $50 mic can sound brilliant on the right person or instrument when they compliment each other. I only ever used one of those Sony's years ago when I was in a broadcast studio. Back then maybe I didn't know what to really listen for, but while it looked cool, it just sounded ordinary.

You then hit the nail on the head - no mic sounds good in an untreated space. maybe fixing that is a better spend of your five grand?
 

Stage Capacitor Microphones

Does your live vocal sound lack the clarity and detail of your studio recordings? Then you may want to switch over to a capacitor model. Here’s a selection of current options.
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com

For well under 5 bags OP could try several of those ^ and then flog off the unsuitables! (or, since he seems to 'HMMTS' donate them to a school?)

I also agree that microphones are imperfect but also agnostic and it is a bit daft to 'fight' a bad room.

Dave.
 
I don't think Marilyn Manson rap is more than matching a mic to singer, as everyone already said. Then understanding comps and other fx saturations and distortions used for "rap" standard might work.

I'm starting to question all this mic worry anxiety stuff after watching so many mic modelers and the vocal channels using so many plugins.....there's so much other junk added on a vocal track , EQ, comp, distortion fx saturation , limitations and imitationers and ai-fakeitationers..by the pro's...its amazing how many plugins are used on a vocal track.
..what is the raw mic sound ? and does it matter anymore?

sure if you're micing a symphony or some bluegrass purist stuff, mics are it....but with Marilyn Manson Slipknot Rap distortion genre vocals or someone using a vocoder I think the expensive mics are just bling.

These days the original mic is not even recognizable with 35 plugs on top of it....so why spend the money unless a person wants the "name brand" which is cool...buy it if you can afford it. Billie Eyelash used a AT2020 and went platinum is overused but its true. If I had the cash Id buy a U47 for fun, if I ran a client studio Id definitely want name brand mics (even though with 35 plugins on the track it wouldn't matter)

The 4040 sounds like what you like and all the others are unknown mics we all read about. The SM7b probably just needed more plugins on top of it, because I googled "most used rap mic" and SM7b came up. They "take EQ well" lol. Tupac used the CAD E-300, JayZ , Eminem, etc...etc.. but then the next question is which plugins did they use on the mic track? right?

sorry if Im confusing anything I just got done watching about 35 Mic Modeling Youtuber shows...wow
 
CoolCat said:
. . . sorry if Im confusing anything I just got done watching about 35 Mic Modeling Youtuber shows...wow
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The EMTs will want to know that when they arrive. Try to lie still, they're almost there.
 
Agreed, CC.

Stuff like Manson is HIGHLY processed. Here's a video about doing the vocal chain. Lots of compression, EQing and that's just on the "clean" track. Then they run a second track with even more stuff.



You could use a dozen different mics and never know the difference.
 
tupac last album ALL EYES ON ME mic... $319 on Reverb the CAD E-300! spend the rest of the $5k on plugins!

For the majority of his recordings for Death Row Records Tupac would use a vintage Neumann U87. This would be fed into a Neve or SSL 4k preamp and a Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder."
 

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CoolCat said:
tupac last album ALL EYES ON ME mic... $319 on Reverb the CAD E-300! spend the rest of the $5k on plugins!

For the majority of his recordings for Death Row Records Tupac would use a vintage Neumann U87. This would be fed into a Neve or SSL 4k preamp and a Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder."
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This is interesting to know.
That said, I can hear limitations in quality on All Eyez On Me. I always thought the vocals sounded a bit off. They are warm and lack some clarity that his other recordings have.
Deathrow had some great sounding records though. Especially The Dogg Pound Dogg Food. Would be interested to know what mic was used on it.
When I said Marilyn Manson, I meant the tone of voice. I didn't mean I want it to sound like his recordings.
I also don't mean his modern stuff. The FX wasn't applied to his earlier stuff. It had more a clean sound to it.
I've used a few different mics and they all have a different sound so I wouldn't agree any mic can be eq'd to sound the same.
The SM7B was completely trash for my voice. I've done better recordings with a $50 mic. It has to be the most overrated piece of equipment ever made.
 
The SM7b is a very "natural" sounding microphone. It doesn't have a big presence boost like most condenser mics do.

If you can't check out the mics in person, you might want to go to the Audio Test Kitchen website. You can compare mics that were tested under very controlled conditions, which will give you somewhat of an idea of what might meet your desired sound. They have over 300 mics there. Sweetwater also has a bunch of microphone comparisons on their website.

https://www.audiotestkitchen.com/

https://www.sweetwater.com/feature/vocal-mic-shootout/

BTW, a quick post of your vocal (good and bad) might be helpful. It's hard to recommend anything without some type of reference. Saying you have a voice "like" someone else, when you don't really know what was even used is not a good approach.
 
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purplepeople said:
What are the best rap mics in the 1-5k range?

Currently, I have an NT1-A that I run through a cheap tube amp. I like the brightness, but the highs are very thin/metallic/harsh.

I had a AT4040 as a kid and really liked it. Thought it had a nice shine to it.

I had a SM7B and hated it. My vocals sounded lifeless.

I've been reading about the WA-8000 Sony clone. It appears some people really like them, but others think they sound like crap? I can get one new for under $1,000.

I'm not totally against spending the money and getting a real Sony, but who I'd order from is out of stock and has been for awhile.

What are the best options? I rap aggressive, but I'd say the tone of my voice is closer to rockers like Marilyn Manson. Like it has that top end rasp.

I want something that has a high energy factor.

Thanks for your opinions.
Click to expand...
The ADK Z67 is the best Large Diaphragm comdenser mic I’ve ever used. I’ve had vintage U47’s and U67’s and this mic is just as good.
 
purplepeople said:
What are the best rap mics in the 1-5k range?

Currently, I have an NT1-A that I run through a cheap tube amp. I like the brightness, but the highs are very thin/metallic/harsh.

I had a AT4040 as a kid and really liked it. Thought it had a nice shine to it.

I had a SM7B and hated it. My vocals sounded lifeless.

I've been reading about the WA-8000 Sony clone. It appears some people really like them, but others think they sound like crap? I can get one new for under $1,000.

I'm not totally against spending the money and getting a real Sony, but who I'd order from is out of stock and has been for awhile.

What are the best options? I rap aggressive, but I'd say the tone of my voice is closer to rockers like Marilyn Manson. Like it has that top end rasp.

I want something that has a high energy factor.

Thanks for your opinions.
Click to expand...
The SM7B needs a lot of gain to get to its sweet spot. The pre needs over 65db of gain, so plugging it into an interface with built in pre amps might be the reason it sounded lifeless? Lifeless is the opposite of how I would describe a SM7B.
 
Scott Baxendale said:
The SM7B needs a lot of gain to get to its sweet spot. The pre needs over 65db of gain, so plugging it into an interface with built in pre amps might be the reason it sounded lifeless? Lifeless is the opposite of how I would describe a SM7B.
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7b and a FetHead?

Dave.
 
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