Frustrated... PLEASE help me choose a mic...

[LCD]

Here's the deal... I'm looking to upgrade my microphone and was originally gonna get the AT4047 but then I decided I needed something a bit more universal...

Listen to the first track "Whatchu Doin" on my MySpace please: www.myspace.com/thetruelcd

I need a microphone that everyone on that song will be using regularly. I spit first... I have the deepest voice... Ice (2nd) sounds like he hasn't been thru puberty yet. Here's what I need in a mic:

-WARM, WARM, WARM: I dont want transparent mics (Keep the KSM) and it cant be harsh. I need something to help me filter out all of Ice's silibance EARLY

-I like colored sound... think of Dr. Dre recordings... that old analog feel. I know that has to do with more than just the mic, but u get my drift. Something thick.

-Budget: Around $500

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind I'd be using this mic to make CLEAN recordings I would send to my engineer in NY to mix and master...

 

[Daniel Reichman]

If you'd used the search function, you probably would have found the thread where Harvey Gerst posted a picture of Snoop Dog using an MXL V67G, which is, by all accounts, warm and coloured.

 

[c7sus]

Find a Rode NTV.

 

[Gnash5150]

Getcha AT4050! Very clean! You won't have any sibilance issues! You can "color" up your vocals with pre/comp. Or half down on a SoundeluxU195!

 

[Big Kenny]

RE20
SM7
Ribbon (if ya got the pre tp power it up)
or what the other three guys said

 

[bigwillz24]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but...

Dr. Dre uses a $5,000 dollar microphone into a $7,000 mic pre with a $2,000 compresser not to mention the $500,000 board he uses for mixing.

You're not going to get his sound with $500.

 

[bigwillz24]

If you'd used the search function, you probably would have found the thread where Harvey Gerst posted a picture of Snoop Dog using an MXL V67G, which is, by all accounts, warm and coloured.

That was a prop for the movie Soul Plane...

 

[bigwillz24]

The RE20 and SM7 suggested here are your best bet but better have a damn good pre for it.

 

[homestudioguy]

Find a Rode NTV.

A $499 RODE NTK tube mic is a very "warm sounding" mic.
The $299 sE Electronics FET SE2200A is a "smooth and warm sounding" mic without the hi-end brittleness.
HSG

 

[chessrock]

It sounds an awful lot like you're describing the characteristics of a good dynamic mic. A Shure SM-7 running in to a nice pre would come very close to what you're describing.

The only condenser (in that range) I can think of that even remotely fits that description would be an AT 4047, which it looks like you already had on your radar ... until you started over-thinking it and ruled it out for some reason (Not "universal" enough? What does that even mean?).

Why don't you ask your engineer in NY to recommend something? Isn't that the kinda' shit he gets paid for?
.

 

[LCD]

Dr. Dre uses a $5,000 dollar microphone into a $7,000 mic pre with a $2,000 compresser not to mention the $500,000 board he uses for mixing.

You're not going to get his sound with $500.

LOL... Although ur numbers are off, I understand what ur trying to say... i'm not an idiot... but I had to give y'all some type of reference.

Thank u all for ur suggestions so far... never really considered a dynamic mic. Please keep em coming!

 

[LCD]

Also, anyone know anything about the CAD M9?

 

[LCD]

It sounds an awful lot like you're describing the characteristics of a good dynamic mic. A Shure SM-7 running in to a nice pre would come very close to what you're describing.

The only condenser (in that range) I can think of that even remotely fits that description would be an AT 4047, which it looks like you already had on your radar ... until you started over-thinking it and ruled it out for some reason (Not "universal" enough? What does that even mean?).

Why don't you ask your engineer in NY to recommend something? Isn't that the kinda' shit he gets paid for?
.

LMAO... I probably am overthinking.... and i have no clue why I didn't bother to ask him, haha

 

[soundchaser59]

BigKenny, BigWillz, and Chessrock got you covered here, pal.... .

Large diaphragm dynamic, like the RE20, MD421....... and they double as defensive weapons in a pinch....

 

[homestudioguy]

FYI, I am selling a CAD M9 for $225 as well as my ART GOLD MPA and ART Pro VLA also at $225 each (plus shipping) in the recording stuff for sale forum....
The CAD M9 is somewhat bright but smooth across the spectrum with some nice bottom end. It gets some good press on this site for a good first tube mic. Nice review on their website too!
HSG

 

[Daniel Reichman]

That was a prop for the movie Soul Plane...

True, but isn't this just another iteration of what is the best mic for rap vocals under $XXX? In which case, there is no answer.

Pardon me if I'm wrong, but I missed the bit where this guy told us what he's using, other than KSM something. I don't know the parameters of what he thinks is warm and coloured, so how can a recommendation really be made (other than we know he's not looking for an AT4047)?

It sounds like either a tube mic, a tube pre or a good dynamic would work fine for what he wants, but, realistically, I think he just wants to get some clicks on his Whatchu Doin soing.

 

[LCD]

True, but isn't this just another iteration of what is the best mic for rap vocals under $XXX? In which case, there is no answer.

Pardon me if I'm wrong, but I missed the bit where this guy told us what he's using, other than KSM something. I don't know the parameters of what he thinks is warm and coloured, so how can a recommendation really be made (other than we know he's not looking for an AT4047)?

It sounds like either a tube mic, a tube pre or a good dynamic would work fine for what he wants, but, realistically, I think he just wants to get some clicks on his Whatchu Doin soing.

Honestly, this has nothing to do with getting clicks. I put the link up because i wanted people to have a reference to the type of voices that will be using the mic in order to make a better suggestion. You obviously have no clue as to what you're talking about. I'm currently using a Studio Projects B1 with a Presonus TubePre. Also this isn't another generic thread. I tried to provide specifics as to what I was looking for but evidently it wasn't simple enough for you to comprehend.

That being said, if anyone else has any productive suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it.

-LCD-

 

[Big Kenny]

FYI, I am selling a CAD M9 for $225 as well as my ART GOLD MPA and ART Pro VLA also at $225 each (plus shipping) in the recording stuff for sale forum....
The CAD M9 is somewhat bright but smooth across the spectrum with some nice bottom end. It gets some good press on this site for a good first tube mic. Nice review on their website too!
HSG

This isn't the place for a pitch and that isn't the fix for his mix.
Get the dynamic, then get a ribbon, then get a nice pre.

 

[Daniel Reichman]

I'm currently using a Studio Projects B1 with a Presonus TubePre.

Hmmmm, I missed that bit where you told us what gear you were using so we could have an idea of what you'd consider an upgrade to be. Did anyone else pick that up from his original post???

Since you're using a B1, even though I suggested the MXL V67G in jest, it might not be a bad option as it's known to be warm and coloured, and will give you a completely different sound to the B1.

Also this isn't another generic thread. I tried to provide specifics as to what I was looking for...

You provided specifics but didn't say where you were starting from. Did you read the other non-generic threads that all asked the same thing as you did?

That being said, if anyone else has any productive suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it.

Kudos to the SM7 idea (you could always try the humble 57), but the absolute best thing to do is find somewhere to hire a range of microphones, try it out with your pre and whatever else is in your signal chain.

 

[chessrock]

I actually thought his question was specific and well-worded. Except for the whole "color" thing, but then again, everyone bastardizes that word around here. The dude described exactly what he was looking for; not-hyped ... easy on the sibilance ... not hyper-detailed or sensitive. Pretty straight-forward post.
.