dark mic for dark voices...bright mic for bright voices?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ted Bell
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Ted Bell

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Or is it the other way around? Help me understand something, please!

In general, how do you go about picking a mic to match a voice. I know every voice is different, but I just want to know what "guidelines" you all go by.

Thanks,

Greg
 
It's the other way around. A bright mic would over emphisize a bright voice and make it syblant.
 
Ted Bell said:
Or is it the other way around? Help me understand something, please!

In general, how do you go about picking a mic to match a voice. I know every voice is different, but I just want to know what "guidelines" you all go by.

Thanks,

Greg
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Most of the time the vocals are the last tracks to be recorded, so it makes it much easier because your mixing them into the music that's already recorded... you just pick the mic that sounds best for that singer and what sets best in the mix... in other words your looking for the mic that sounds best for that song. Each song you record may require a different vox mic depending on what you want. That's why it's good to have many mics. The "guidelines" are your ears... in other words, what sounds best to you for each song. Many musicans/singers are more concerned with how well they did their take and not so much the mic used... unless of course the mic just flatout sucks on them... so many times it's up to the engineer/producer to tell them which sounds best. Anyways, use your ears and listen to the over all project/song and pick what sound best.
 
Re: Re: dark mic for dark voices...bright mic for bright voices?

DJL said:
Most of the time the vocals are the last tracks to be recorded, so it makes it much easier because your mixing them into the music that's already recorded... you just pick the mic that sounds best for that singer and what sets best in the mix... in other words your looking for the mic that sounds best for that song. Each song you record may require a different vox mic depending on what you want. That's why it's good to have many mics. The "guidelines" are your ears... in other words, what sounds best to you for each song. Many musicans/singers are more concerned with how well they did their take and not so much the mic used... unless of course the mic just flatout sucks on them... so many times it's up to the engineer/producer to tell them which sounds best. Anyways, use your ears and listen to the over all project/song and pick what sound best.
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That makes good sense. Problem is, I don't have a load of mics to pick from. Right now, here's what I have...

2 - Rode NT-1
5 - Shure SM57
1 - EV ND868


As of now I have about $1000 to work with. I just can't decide if I should buy a few cheaper mics or one really good mic. For instance, I've been looking at the Blueberry, the U195, the Brauner Phantom C, the AT4060, the C-414B, the TLM-103, the Dragonfly, etc. But maybe I should put together a "budget" mic locker?
 
Re: Re: Re: dark mic for dark voices...bright mic for bright voices?

Ted Bell said:
That makes good sense. Problem is, I don't have a load of mics to pick from. Right now, here's what I have...

2 - Rode NT-1
5 - Shure SM57
1 - EV ND868


As of now I have about $1000 to work with. I just can't decide if I should buy a few cheaper mics or one really good mic. For instance, I've been looking at the Blueberry, the U195, the Brauner Phantom C, the AT4060, the C-414B, the TLM-103, the Dragonfly, etc. But maybe I should put together a "budget" mic locker?
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There is an old saying... buy cheap, buy twice. Upgrading sucks... get the best you can afford. Maybe you can rent some mics from your local music store, studio, or sound company to see what you like before you buy?
 
Re: Re: Re: dark mic for dark voices...bright mic for bright voices?

Ted Bell said:
...As of now I have about $1000 to work with. I just can't decide if I should buy a few cheaper mics or one really good mic. For instance, I've been looking at the Blueberry, the U195, the Brauner Phantom C, the AT4060, the C-414B, the TLM-103, the Dragonfly, etc.
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Go for the best you can buy! I've always regretted following the "start small" model. A lot of time is wasted with mostly useless stuff that just marking time. I suggest you get a wonderful mic with that money. Go for one of the big guns: U195, Blueberry, Brauner, etc. You may also want to consider a ribbon mic for that money (AEA or Royer makes a mic or two in that price range). See www.mercenary.com or www.atlasproaudio.com

My suggestion depends on your needs. If the music you record generally is centered around vocals...then you need at least one really great mic. If centered around band recording, then you may want to go the route of building a "quality" budget locker from ground up ( see http://www.mojopie.com/micproj.html ) to cover all bases.

You'll also need a good pre to go with that mic, but something on the order of a Soundcraft mixer mic pre or Mackie vlz pro mixer will work for now. Save up and get a great pre for that mic (Great River MPNV, Phoenix, John Hardy, Sytek, Vintech or Sebatron...many more).
 
Ted Bell, one other thing... don't get trapped into the "we'll fix it in the mix" crap... because that's bull shit... take your time and do it right the first time. If you can't do it right the first time your not going to fix it later either. In other words, get the track to sound the way you want it now, not later... and get the track to sit with the other tracks now, not later... that way 99% of the work will already be done before you even start the final mix down.
 
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DJL said:
Ted Bell, one other thing... don't get trapped into the "we'll fix it in the mix" crap... because that's bull shit... take your time and do it right the first time. If you can't do it right the first time your not going to fix it later either. In other words, get the track to sound the way you want it now, not later... and get the track to sit with the other tracks now, not later... that way 99% of the work will already be done before you even start the final mix down.
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DJL,

Thanks for that. I totally understand what you are saying. The cool thing is that it's just me and my friend doing all of this recording. He's the engineer and I'm the sole musician. We can do takes and experiment 'til the cows come home.



Rev E,

I think I'm going to use your advice and get the best mic I can afford. I think we've gotten great instrument tracks with the mic's we have. The only thing I want to improve is the vocal tracks. A nice vocal mic will be a step in the right direction.
 
There are some great mics out there that don't cost $1000's.
audio technica 4033 4050 4047
groove tubes 1b
sennheiser 441
ev re20
shure ksm 32
I've never used the studio projects but heard they work well for some
beyer ribbons
In hIs Name
Big Kenny
 
Well, Ted, I believe that expensive mics are very cool, and so are cheap mics, and I like the ones in between, too. If I was spending $1000 on vocal mics, I'd probably buy 2 or 3. The great ones are more like $2000-$4000 bucks, so for less than that, I'd be looking for bang-for buck. With my $1000, I'd probably buy a Rode NTK, a Shure SM7B, and an Oktava MK319. That way, you get a bright, colored mic that's good for lots of vocals, a dark, transparent vocal mic, and a kickass dynamic, which is often the ticket. Down the road, I''d save my pizzuttos and target some higher end mics, such as Soundelux U99, Brauner Valvet, Korby Convertible, B.L.U.E. Bottle/Cactus, Lawson 251, Neumann U47.
The sad truth is, $1000 won't buy top of the line mics, but it will buy very good mics. Of the ones listed above, I like Dragonfly and C414. Also consider Shure KSM44 and Sennheiser MD441.-Richie
 
Ted didn't say he was going to buy a really expensive mic... he said he was going to get the best mic he could afford... and for $1000 there are a lot of good mics he can audition.
 
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True, DJL, and I believe I listed several of them. I do not believe a $1000 will sound better than a $700 mic because it costs $300 more. So- if it were me, I'd get a $600-700 mic, and a really good dynamic that will stand the test of time. -Richie
 
I agree with Richard and BK not to spend the entire $1000 on one mic at this point. Pro and project studios are filled with many mics that get used all the time that do not cost $1000 - because $1000 does not mean better.

And if you build a mic cabinet over the years, it does not mean that when the time comes that you buy some more expensive mics that you'll use the inexpensive mics any less. Good mics are good mics, regardless of the cost. And some cost more and some cost less.

Ted, what types of applications do you have? Mostly overdubs? Live bands? What kinds of music? Mostly acoustic-based? Mostly rock?

Dan Richards
The Listening Sessions
The Project Studio Handbook
 
Dot said:


Ted, what types of applications do you have? Mostly overdubs? Live bands? What kinds of music? Mostly acoustic-based? Mostly rock?
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I'm doing a Dave Grohl type of thing. I write all the music and play all the instruments. The music is rock...think cranked Marshalls and the like. I own all the recording equipment as it is my music that's being done. However, I don't know much about the recording process per say. That's why I have my good friend record me. He is a KILLER engineer...has great ears.

We've gotten great tracks of all the instruments. We just want to brighten up my voice a bit and bring it out in the mix as it is very thick and I seem to sing from the back of my throat if that makes any sense? I would say that my voice is a cross between Dave Grohl and Gerry Rafferty.

Right now, we're using a Rode NT-1 for all my vocals. We run that into a cheap-ass Berhinger pre. That goes into a Roland VS-1680. It sounds OK, but I definitely think we can do better.

Actually, you can hear some clips of my music here:

My Tunes

Please excuse the ugly-ass website!! LOL It's only temporary.

Thanks for any help!!
 
I made the mistake of buying some cheap budget mics once and I'm now paying for that mistake while upgrading. I won't make that mistake again.
 
Nothin' bad happening at your site. You might want to upgrade your pre and audition some of the mics listed above. I am hearing wide range of volume, maybe a nice dynamic senn441or 421, you will always use them on something
In His Name
Big Kenny
 
Ted,
I listened to the songs. Not my genre so that means I was only listening to the sound. 1000 bucks eh ? I would get a good budget mic and a mid priced pre alone with some of the cheaper budgets mics. I could hear the lack of precense with the vox. I have heard worst though. I also have heard a lot better from people over in the clinic who have used cheap ass budget mics.

I guess you have to find what works best for your application.

Good Luck

Malcolm
 
Richard Monroe said:
I do not believe a $1000 will sound better than a $700 mic because it costs $300 more.
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I agree... however, that doesn't mean it can't be better either.
 
Big Kenny said:
Nothin' bad happening at your site. You might want to upgrade your pre and audition some of the mics listed above. I am hearing wide range of volume, maybe a nice dynamic senn441or 421, you will always use them on something
In His Name
Big Kenny
Click to expand...


Thanks for checking it out. I guess that it is a good idea to be looking at getting a better mic pre, too. Any suggestions?
 
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