Good Vocal mic for $200-$400

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allyn

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what would be a good recording mic for under $400. I was thinking of the shure ksm27, but im not really sure. any advise on what to get would be great
 
This is an excerpt from another post...I hope this helps.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Analytical Man
I guess I misread that SM7-SM57 thing. I am definately treating the entire room, with pro quality materials. I usually am fairly close to the mic when i record, but not eating it. I guess i can go over 300, but i didn't want to go too nuts. I used to use the AKG C3000B LDC, it was better than what i am using now but still i needed something better so that one went. Thanks for the ideas.




MY OPINION!
Oddly enough, I tested that mic(AKG C3000B) against the AT 3035 and the SHURE...The AKG sounded much better than the other two. I went back to the store yesterday and tested it (AKG) against the AT4040 and I was completely stunned!!! As good as I thought the AKG sounded against those other mics, it was completely BLOWN AWAY by the AT4040. The AKG sounded absolutely MUDDY next to the 4040...and at the SAME PRICE! ($299). I don't work for Audio Technica but this is the best 300 dollar condenser mic I have ever heard thus far. I was only interested in a mic for MY vocals. (I sing in the Baritone range) It was perfect for ME. It had a clarity that the other mics (in that price range) just couldn't touch. PLEASE consider this mic before making your purchase.


PEACE
 
For the record the Shure referred to on the other thread was either the SM57 or the SM7, not the KSM27, which is definitely NOT muddy. I'd probably consider the 57 relatively muddy, especially with a singer right on the mic which was the scenario on the other thread. The SM7 is better for that if for no other reason than the windscreen & grill forcing the singer farther from the capsule.

I have all three of these mics, and the KSM27 is the clearest of them all. The KSM32 is also almost in your price range, but I don't think I'd personally like it as it is more neutral than the KSM27, which is sometimes too neutral for a vocal mic for my preference (a great overall mic though). The KSM32 does seem to be more popular here among others. The SM7 is also a butt-kickin' mic but probably not as the only vocal mic you have.

Anyway, for $300 the KSM27, AKG, and AT are all in the same range, so try them out against each other.
 
Middleman said:
Rodes NTK mic
Click to expand...


Can you tell me where to get it for that price???
Everywhere I go they want $500.00
I really like the sound of it but don't want to spend quite that much.

Thanks
 
Without hearing someone's voice in person, and without them trying any mics
directly, the Electro-Voice EV RE20 (or PL20), or EV RE15 would be logical choices for under $500 as they work well for various kinds of voices.
Both have been used on hit records that have sold millions of copies.

Which is what also made them staples in broadcasting and VO...

Chris

P.S NTK can aggravate sibilance on many singers.
 
BigBrotherMotow said:
Can you tell me where to get it for that price???
Everywhere I go they want $500.00
I really like the sound of it but don't want to spend quite that much.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Ebay is where I goy mine - brand new for $390 shipped - I think they are listed for a little less by the same seller all the time. Also, sleepwalkermusic.net is $350 shipped, and if you do a price match at zzsounds using the sleepwalker site, they will do it for $348.50 shipped.

Don't know about the sibilance issue, I have come to trust chessparav's advice tho, but I have not noticed any issues with my limited experience (I've only had mine a couple weeks).
 
CAD M9
Marshall MXLv69
Marshall MXLv77
Rode NTK
Studio Projects TB1
 
AT3035, AT4040, CAD M9, CAD M179 are all nice...KSM32 is nice but out of your range...

Chessparov is right, the NTK can rock on many vocals but can be a bit sibilant at times...

War
 
BigBrotherMotow said:
Can you tell me where to get it for that price???
Everywhere I go they want $500.00
I really like the sound of it but don't want to spend quite that much.

Thanks
Click to expand...

NL5 called it. I got mine for $385. Keep looking. By the way, I assume you wanted a vocal recording mic. If not, there are better recommendations than the NTK.

Chessparov makes a great point. Every mic matched with a preamp is both good and bad. You really need to try mic and preamps out on your voice to get the best match. The best any of us can do is recommend some work horse mics but not necessarily the best for your voice.

Actually, if you have another $100, you should look at the NT2000 from Rodes instead. I read a review recently that it rivals some of the high end vintage Nuemann mics.
 
Warhead said:
the NTK can rock on many vocals but can be a bit sibilant at times...
Click to expand...

Kinda' like how the pope can be a bit Catholic at times. :D
 
Was really bummed when my beloved Beyer M88 sounded too sibilant when moderate compression was added, so it's not necessarily a judgement as to the general quality of a given mic-just the singer! :)

The Bee Gees in the Rode ads liked the NTK over their U47.
YMMV.

Chris

P.S. The good new was some of the Shure's/EV's and the Beyer Soundstar MKII
at home hang right in there with a U87 or TLM on me.
 
chessrock said:
Kinda' like how the pope can be a bit Catholic at times. :D
Click to expand...
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaaaaaahahaahahaha

That's awesome....good show ol' chap.... :cool:

War
 
Look for an ADK TC on Ebay. You should be able to find one under $400 easily. It's my favorite vocal mic, and I've used the following:

Rode NTK
Shure SM7
BLUE Baby Bottle
AKG c3000a
AKG c1000s
MXL v67
Shure SM57
CAD M37
Studio Projects B3
 
Can I hijack this thread for a question?

As mentioned above I've got an SM7 which is great for me, and a KSM27 which I like on some other people, but I've been thinking about my next vocal mic. What is the most different sound I could I get for around $300? One pending session this summer will be bluegrass, so something for that might be nice. I've been considering ribbons like maybe an M160, or even the M130. Does the figure eight work well for two singers at once?

Thoughts? Other suggestions?
 
mshilarious said:
Can I hijack this thread for a question?

As mentioned above I've got an SM7 which is great for me, and a KSM27 which I like on some other people, but I've been thinking about my next vocal mic. What is the most different sound I could I get for around $300? One pending session this summer will be bluegrass, so something for that might be nice. I've been considering ribbons like maybe an M160, or even the M130. Does the figure eight work well for two singers at once?

Thoughts? Other suggestions?
Click to expand...
You might try a tube mic or the ribbon. A figure 8 mic has very high side rejection so you would have to place the two singers directly across from each other and hope that they are equally loud since I can't think of an easy way to boost one side of the mic but not the other.
 
Innovations said:
You might try a tube mic or the ribbon. A figure 8 mic has very high side rejection so you would have to place the two singers directly across from each other and hope that they are equally loud since I can't think of an easy way to boost one side of the mic but not the other.
Click to expand...
You balance the levels on a figure 8 mic by moving the singers closer or further away from their side of the mic. That's how it's been done for almost 60 years. It works very well, too.
 
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