S
shortyprs
New member
A couple months ago I posted a thread seeking help finding a good mic for my whimpy midranged voice. Based on that feedback, bought a couple new mics and did a vocal test. Here's the test methodology and the results.
Grains of salt- There are a lot of limitations test validity. The room was small and boxy without a lot of dampening. I sang six inches from each mic without a pop screen. I used a great young kid to watch levels and adjust pre input. He did an amazing job for his experience, but the levels do float. I am a lousy singer who floated on pitch between takes. Every take is in isolation. Thickness, thinness and brightness all sound different depending on the mix.
Method - I placed a mic stand at one spot in an 11' by 15' room centered facing an 11' wall 6' from the wall (to test rejection of echo off the wall behind the mic), always sang 6 inches from the mic, and used the same BLUE Kiwi cord into three different pre's: DMP3, Meek VC6Q, and RNP. I sang a short segment of Stormy Monday because it has a lot of 's', 't', 'st' and muddy 'm' sounds. Better to test sibilance and mid range mud. In sum, I tried to make the mics sound bad and tested to see who refused. Each pre ran to a Korg D1600 with no other processing, effects or eq, and no boost from the Korg pre's. Recorded and burned to disk at 16 bit. I burned 2 tests. One has each mic side by side on the same pre (all nine mics on the DMP3, etc.). One has an individual mic side-by-side with itself on each of the pre's.
The mics - I compared some of my dynamic mics used for gigs (a 57, Shure Beta 58 and Sennheiser 845) with a Beyer Soundstar X1N, SP B1, SP C3, mxl v69, Blue Baby Bottle and Sennheiser 421 II. I'd hoped to buy an older 421, but 'accidentally' nabbed the 421 II. The Beyer is supposed to be similar to older 421's. Use your imagination.
Results - The standouts for my voice were the Beyer, the v69 and the baby bottle. The C3 was a close second. All the mics produced some useable recording quality, except mayby the 421 II which was too brittle. As expected, the Meek usually added fullness/thickening to the sound, the DMP3 was less full and a little brighter than the Meek and the RNP was somewhere in between with a greater sense of "air" to the sound. The Baby Bottle showed more even response between the pre's, as with the 57. Everybody else was significantly different with each pre.
The Beyer - this mic is very smooth with my voice. I get good tone across the spectrum, but it isn't muddy at all. Great clarity and articulation. The price was an increase in sibilance and the nasal quality of my voice. The Meek sounded more full and less pleasing in isolation. The DMP3 was brighter and thinner. The RNP was very smooth and balanced with good air. The RNP seemed to bring up the level of echo off the front wall. Of the three, I liked the RNP the most. The Beyer isn't as hot as my other favorites.
The v69 - also has good clarity and articultation with my voice. It's less smooth and more punchy than the Beyer, but less sibilant and nasal. The Beyer showed less mud on 'm' sounds. The difference between pre's was similar to the Beyer, including more room echo on the RNP. Both the DMP3 and the RNP sounded good, but the nod went to the DMP3, just because of the echo.
The Baby Bottle - again, the mic made my top list because of clarity and articultation. This mic sits between the other 2 in its ability to be either smooth or punchy. You can work it either way. The Meek thickening effect is less pronounced. Sibilance and nasal qualities are less pronounced. Both the DMP3 and the RNP sound good with my voice. Both are warm but clear. There is the slight air effect with the RNP that gives it the edge.
C3 - the higher end articulation of the C3 makes it better for my voice than the B1 and I get some pretty good tone out of it. The problem is somewhere in the mids of my voice...the 'm's just sound a little to muddy. It doesn't compliment my voice as well. Of the three pre's, thr RNP is the only one that gets in the ball park.
My old "go to" mics were the baby bottle and the C3. Thanks to your feedback, I now have the Beyer and v69 to add to my arsenal. I wish I hadn't screwed up on the 421 so I could give it a shot. That'll have to wait. Both the DMP3 and the RNP work well with these mics and my voice. The thickening influence of the Meek isn't right for me. The added "air" of the RNP more often tips my preference toward it for my voice...it helps it stand out more.
If you are on a budget and have a whimpy mid-ranged voice, you will do very well with either an RNP or a DMP3 and either the the Beyer X1N or the mxl v69. For the bucks, a DMP3 and an old X1N or a new v69 would be very hard to beat!
I haven't had time to set up a site to post mp3's of the tests yet. If anyone wants a disk of some of the tests, I'd be glad to send a CD. Just don't post a review of my voice. Also remember that voice lessons, sound dampening, eq and de-essers would equalize a lot of what I have identified as the basis for my preferences.
Finally, thank you all for your invaluable feedback. I wish I had the resources to test all of your suggestions. Now, excuse me, but I have some playing to do...
Tom
Grains of salt- There are a lot of limitations test validity. The room was small and boxy without a lot of dampening. I sang six inches from each mic without a pop screen. I used a great young kid to watch levels and adjust pre input. He did an amazing job for his experience, but the levels do float. I am a lousy singer who floated on pitch between takes. Every take is in isolation. Thickness, thinness and brightness all sound different depending on the mix.
Method - I placed a mic stand at one spot in an 11' by 15' room centered facing an 11' wall 6' from the wall (to test rejection of echo off the wall behind the mic), always sang 6 inches from the mic, and used the same BLUE Kiwi cord into three different pre's: DMP3, Meek VC6Q, and RNP. I sang a short segment of Stormy Monday because it has a lot of 's', 't', 'st' and muddy 'm' sounds. Better to test sibilance and mid range mud. In sum, I tried to make the mics sound bad and tested to see who refused. Each pre ran to a Korg D1600 with no other processing, effects or eq, and no boost from the Korg pre's. Recorded and burned to disk at 16 bit. I burned 2 tests. One has each mic side by side on the same pre (all nine mics on the DMP3, etc.). One has an individual mic side-by-side with itself on each of the pre's.
The mics - I compared some of my dynamic mics used for gigs (a 57, Shure Beta 58 and Sennheiser 845) with a Beyer Soundstar X1N, SP B1, SP C3, mxl v69, Blue Baby Bottle and Sennheiser 421 II. I'd hoped to buy an older 421, but 'accidentally' nabbed the 421 II. The Beyer is supposed to be similar to older 421's. Use your imagination.
Results - The standouts for my voice were the Beyer, the v69 and the baby bottle. The C3 was a close second. All the mics produced some useable recording quality, except mayby the 421 II which was too brittle. As expected, the Meek usually added fullness/thickening to the sound, the DMP3 was less full and a little brighter than the Meek and the RNP was somewhere in between with a greater sense of "air" to the sound. The Baby Bottle showed more even response between the pre's, as with the 57. Everybody else was significantly different with each pre.
The Beyer - this mic is very smooth with my voice. I get good tone across the spectrum, but it isn't muddy at all. Great clarity and articulation. The price was an increase in sibilance and the nasal quality of my voice. The Meek sounded more full and less pleasing in isolation. The DMP3 was brighter and thinner. The RNP was very smooth and balanced with good air. The RNP seemed to bring up the level of echo off the front wall. Of the three, I liked the RNP the most. The Beyer isn't as hot as my other favorites.
The v69 - also has good clarity and articultation with my voice. It's less smooth and more punchy than the Beyer, but less sibilant and nasal. The Beyer showed less mud on 'm' sounds. The difference between pre's was similar to the Beyer, including more room echo on the RNP. Both the DMP3 and the RNP sounded good, but the nod went to the DMP3, just because of the echo.
The Baby Bottle - again, the mic made my top list because of clarity and articultation. This mic sits between the other 2 in its ability to be either smooth or punchy. You can work it either way. The Meek thickening effect is less pronounced. Sibilance and nasal qualities are less pronounced. Both the DMP3 and the RNP sound good with my voice. Both are warm but clear. There is the slight air effect with the RNP that gives it the edge.
C3 - the higher end articulation of the C3 makes it better for my voice than the B1 and I get some pretty good tone out of it. The problem is somewhere in the mids of my voice...the 'm's just sound a little to muddy. It doesn't compliment my voice as well. Of the three pre's, thr RNP is the only one that gets in the ball park.
My old "go to" mics were the baby bottle and the C3. Thanks to your feedback, I now have the Beyer and v69 to add to my arsenal. I wish I hadn't screwed up on the 421 so I could give it a shot. That'll have to wait. Both the DMP3 and the RNP work well with these mics and my voice. The thickening influence of the Meek isn't right for me. The added "air" of the RNP more often tips my preference toward it for my voice...it helps it stand out more.
If you are on a budget and have a whimpy mid-ranged voice, you will do very well with either an RNP or a DMP3 and either the the Beyer X1N or the mxl v69. For the bucks, a DMP3 and an old X1N or a new v69 would be very hard to beat!
I haven't had time to set up a site to post mp3's of the tests yet. If anyone wants a disk of some of the tests, I'd be glad to send a CD. Just don't post a review of my voice. Also remember that voice lessons, sound dampening, eq and de-essers would equalize a lot of what I have identified as the basis for my preferences.
Finally, thank you all for your invaluable feedback. I wish I had the resources to test all of your suggestions. Now, excuse me, but I have some playing to do...
Tom
