Best Vocal Mic under $350?

[solaris0031]

I have a small project studio at home that have been using for my band, and plan to try recording a demo for a friends band. Right now I have the following mics: MXL 990, MXL 991, SM57, Audix F12, Audix F10 (3 of them), Audix F15 (2 of them), running either thru the shite pre-amps in my behringer board or my 2 tube pre amps (presonus) and i'm recording into cubase 2.0 sx. looking to buy a better vocal mic, and i am right now looking at either a Shure KSM27, AKG C3000B, or a Rhode NT1. This would be mainly for male vocals, mostly various types of rock (singing like incubus, misfits, smashing pumpkins, etc) if that helps.

 

[deepwater]

CAD M179 or CAD M9 are good for many things.

 

[tubesrawsom]

heard great things about the AT4040

 

[solaris0031]

wait i meant to say Rode NT1000....sorry typo

 

[mshilarious]

The KSM27 is a nice mic, but if you don't like your preamps, why don't you buy better pres first? I'd rather have a 57 into a decent pre than a 27 into a crappy one.

 

[deepwater]

The Audix VX10 smokes.

 

[solaris0031]

im happy with my tube pres, and thats what i would be using with this....also now i'm looking at Blue mics......sounds nice but are they all hype? guitar center is selling their ball model for $100......hhaha pick up a pair of those just so i could say my studio has blue balls....lol...but seriously, anybody know anything about blue? or are there better hand built mics (that are available readily) out there?

 

[lumbago]

Rode NT-1A
AT 3035
Beyer M88
Shure Beta 58

all are useful in this context. Price for some above will be new, others 2nd hand prices.

It depends on your source material ultimately, and your preamp too. Try think about the entire vocal recording chain.

 

[Big Kenny]

Studio Projects C1
Audio Technica 4033,4040, 3035
Groove Tubes 1B
Rode NTK (ebay)
SEnnheiser 441
EV RE20
Shure Sm7
CAD anything

 

[Gidge]

Marshall MXLv69
Marshall MXLv77
CAD M9

or get a real preamp like a RNP.......

 

[solaris0031]

does anybody ever use more than one mic at a time for vocals? was watching a zeppelin dvd the other day and plant had 3 mics in his hand (although maybe that was for some reason other then sound?) any thoughts on using multiple mics simultaneously on the same person?

and does anybody know anything about Blue mics? is it all hype or are they good? especially wondering about the Ball, cos they are normally 200, but guitar center (you know-that place where they hump your leg until you buy something) has them for 100 right now.....

 

[MadAudio]

I have a NT1-A and I don't like it on rock vocals (though it depends on the singer).

I love the MXL v69me for vox.

 

[solaris0031]

blue ball or beyer soundstar mk2? which would be better? do they both suck(for my applications?)?

 

[mshilarious]

I asked about the Ball in a thread a few weeks back and got some responses. Search for 'crazy vocal mic'.

If you've got $350 I'd recommend the M88. I just got that mic and it is sweeeet. The SM7 is also nice. You're gonna half to decide if you want to go condenser or dynamic though.

 

[chessrock]

Shure SM-7

 

[Lance135]

I really like my M9, even with the stock tube. Good on acoustic, too.

 

[Warhead]

Under $350 the AT3035 is a good choice. It has worked on every vocalist I have ever pointed it at (very rarely do I record females but it's worked there also).

War

 

[Marcellovalerio]

groove tubes ( i've never tried any of them, or any other mics nrealy just sm 7 and some unknown stuff , get them here www.digitalvillage.co.uk)

 

[Richard Monroe]

Actually, I like C2000B (but not C3000B). For a dynamic, SM-7 will not let you down.-Richie

Note- there are 2 B.L.U.E. mics that are balls. The blue one, a phantom powered dynamic, $100, and a black one, which is a condenser, $200 or so. By all accounts, the dynamic is OK, but nothing special. The black one I have not heard, or even read a thourough review. I will say this, though- in my experience, B.L.U.E. builds some really good mics, and I would count on almost anything they build to not totally suck.-Richie

 

[Mark7]

And if you can't afford an SM-7 then Beyerdynamic M400 Soundstar MKIIs pop up on ebay fairly regularly. You should be able to get one for under a ton.

Chessparov will be along shortly to explain further