buying new mic...

[Botinok]

ok currently im using a Shure SM7b (the rest of my chain is in my siggy) i record only hip-hop vocals..and after using this mic for half a year...i want to try something else..this is the first quality mic i have used and want to get some more experiance...

IMO this mic dulls down my voice..makes it a bit hollow, and more behind the scene compared to the beat...maybe thats because of the extremely low signal strength on the mic i dont know...

i spent about 350 on this mic...and i dont want to sell it...but for my next mic i want to go under 300..the cheaper the better....

what would you guys recommend?

thanks in advance

-Andre

 

[Big Kenny]

Adk, Cad,...............

 

[Anomaly Design]

Get a cheaper mic than you already have? Sounds like a waste of money to me...

 

[soundchaser59]

That SM7B is really intended for voice over, not for singing.......unless hip hop is a variation on voice over?? It has a significant presence boost, to let the announcer's voice cut thru on a broadcast, which may be where you are getting the ideaa that it is hollow or dull. Maybe you are wanting to hear the low mids a bit more, and the presence boost is too present?

It's too bad ribbons are so fragile, cuz I would bet money the sound you want to hear would be the sound of a ribbon......but finding a ribbon that can withstand close range rap or hop style vocals would be quite a trick.....

The first rule of thumb for avoiding presence boost is to stay away from anything "beta" or "n-dym"..... try one of the budget minded large diaphragm condensors. The MXL mics seem to get decent reviews, as do the Studio Projects, some of the CAD's, and some of the more expensive Rode's.....or test drive an RE20 or an MD421.

 

[notCardio]

It might not be the mic

It might be mixing skills, or lack thereof.

Sorry, but that would be my guess. It IS possible that that's not the mic for you, though. Sounds to me like you want something brighter, but I don't know what would be brighter AND recommended for hip-hop, but then I'm certainly not the hip-hop demographic. One thing that does sort of annoy me in general is the phrase 'hip-hop' simply because, like 'rock', I've just seen too many people use it to describe vastly different types of music, from NWA to Mariah Carey. If you've got examples, post 'em. Maybe somebody can help you out.

A 3035 comes to mind, or a C1, depending on how bright you want to go. I'm sure somebody will have some opinions here.

Personally, I've got a V67 that I'll trade ya for that nasty ol' sm-7.

 

[Eastale]

Personally, I've got a V67 that I'll trade ya for that nasty ol' sm-7.

lol as would i...............

 

[Daniel Reichman]

Maybe we should get a running tally of the number of times someone asks about a cheap mic for hip hop/rap.

To be honest, since your mic tops out at 16kHz, anything which quotes a reasonably flat response up to 20kHz will probably sound brighter. Most likely we are talking condensers, so factor in something to power it if you don't have a phantom power source.

There's plenty of condensers in the under 200 range worth looking at, SP C1, AT3035, and CAD M179 all seem to be highly regarded by the good people at homerecording.com. ADK Vienna might be another option if you want a brighter mic. Or the MXL V67i is 'convertible', sing into one side it's dark, the other side it's bright (according to the chart, REALLY bright).

Alternatively, why don't we all just start a rumour that the Behringer B2 'Pro' is the ULTIMATE hip hop/rap mic, so that every time some little 50cent wannabe asks the same question...

 

[Botinok]

ahh you just reminded me..i was actually looking at an ADK vienna before i bought the shure...ill take a look at that one again..

as for lack of mixing skills..that could be the issue...but i have been working on my techniques for about 2 years, intesnly 1 year..and although i am NOWHERE near a pro at it or anything...i havnt been able to get even close to the results im looking for..iv tried numurous techniques and tips from people..and nothign seems to change the sound...

like i said....i do like the Shure for certain types of tracks....and i can def. live with this mic..its just i want to get more experiance..and i want to have things to compare...so i can form an opinion

btw...by hip-hop i mean rap vocals..guys like Immortal Technique, KRS 1, Atmosphere..guys like that.....or u can just listen to my music in my siggy

 

[sound125]

ok currently im using a Shure SM7b (the rest of my chain is in my siggy) i record only hip-hop vocals..and after using this mic for half a year...i want to try something else..this is the first quality mic i have used and want to get some more experiance...

IMO this mic dulls down my voice..makes it a bit hollow, and more behind the scene compared to the beat...maybe thats because of the extremely low signal strength on the mic i dont know...

i spent about 350 on this mic...and i dont want to sell it...but for my next mic i want to go under 300..the cheaper the better....

what would you guys recommend?

thanks in advance



-Andre

Some folks just sound better using a good dynamic mic like the SM58, instead of using an inexpensive condensor and preamp. IMHO, a lot of this gear can only deliver so much, which is probably why some prefer to drop a ton on higher quality mics and pres.

 

[giraffe]

have a look at the adk's.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

That SM7B is really intended for voice over, not for singing.......unless hip hop is a variation on voice over?? It has a significant presence boost, to let the announcer's voice cut thru on a broadcast, which may be where you are getting the ideaa that it is hollow or dull. Maybe you are wanting to hear the low mids a bit more, and the presence boost is too present?

Huh? Where did you get that from? The Shure SM7 is pretty damn flat for a dynamic mic (with the switches set to the flat position). While it's used a lot for voice over work, the main purpose it was designed for is singing and general studio work.

Take another look at the frequency chart and the description on the Shure website.

 

[kid klash]

ok currently im using a Shure SM7b... IMO this mic dulls down my voice..makes it a bit hollow, and more behind the scene compared to the beat...maybe thats because of the extremely low signal strength on the mic i dont know... what would you guys recommend?

thanks in advance

-Andre

Your mic pre (DMP3) is a clean one, and doesn't really add or subtract anything that's there or not there. Maybe the music tracks you're mixing with your vocal tracks are competing and "stepping on" your vocals.

You might try out a Studio Project C1 (around $200 new)... they provide a full, lush sound with many vocalists and have lots of top end brightness that might do the trick for your voice. Sometimes a good old Shure SM-57 or 58 ($80-$100) works well too, where you want an upper mid boost without the extra top end.

For me, mics are like shirts... some fit me better than others, regardless of the price.

 

[soundchaser59]

Huh? Where did you get that from? The Shure SM7 is pretty damn flat for a dynamic mic (with the switches set to the flat position). While it's used a lot for voice over work, the main purpose it was designed for is singing and general studio work.

Take another look at the frequency chart and the description on the Shure website.

http://www.shure.com/stellent/group...ts/web_resource/site_img_us_rc_sm7b_large.gif

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/WiredMicrophones/us_pro_SM7B_content


A lot of mics have that little bump at 5k, but you did specify "with the switches set to flat position"......I did not mention the switch, which boosts everything from 1k on up just about......