Help, Microphone hunting.....is the ADK Vienna right for me?

[wargasms]

Here is a sample of a verse i recorded about a year or so ago. Recorded on an AT3035 microphone through a m-audio omnistudio usb. Its hip hop music, there is some profanity in the verse if you are squemish, or if you are prejudiced against hip hop music...

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=4472602

My voice is on the deep side. Im trying to find a microphone that will bring out the character, power and big sound of my voice.


i want to spend 250 or less.

I did my own research, and am all but sold on the ADK vienna but i want to make sure i am making a great decision for my particular voice and style of music before i pull the trigger.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PhilGood]

You sure you want the brighter of the two between the Vienna and Hamburg? If you used a darker mic it might bring out the 'boom' in your voice. You sound OK on the 3035, but that mic has a little sibilant top end and is a little bright as well. It kind of makes your voice sound thin-'ish'. The Vienna is supposed to be more along the lines of an AKG C12, which I don't think is used often for deep rap vocals.

 

[wargasms]

Thanks Phil,

well, im not absolutely sure.

Vienna and hamburg both seemed be in the neighborhood of what i want from what i have read. However, i thought since i have a darker tone to my voice, i might benefit from a brighter mic.

My voice sounds more lively and energetic on a MXL v93m which i also have, but i have had some siblance issues with that mic.

I want to have the "boom" of my voice, because i think thats something that really sets me apart from alot of other rappers. but i still want a clarity for when i rap on tracks with basslines.

One of the reasons i was considering the vienna over the hamburg was that it would brighten up my voice, but also could be equalized if needed to tone it down a bit?

I definitely dont want that thin sound, but i do want definition, presence and clarity in busy hip hop tracks.

 

[dgatwood]

Frankly, the Hamburg is pretty bright in my experience. I don't want to think about what a Vienna must sound like.

I would probably use the Hamburg for a deep voice male---baritone or bass. It's way too bright for tenors. The Vienna would probably be way too bright even for a basso profundo.

IIRC, the folks I've heard who have liked the Vienna have been using it on alto voices, but I could be remembering wrong.

 

[PhilGood]

I'm thinking a V67G might do the trick. It's a bit darker, but has a nice presence! Plus you could save a few bones.

 

[wargasms]

Phil, how about this.


i can get a vienna for about 240 right now brand new

or i can get a mxl V67 and a mxl 960 tube probably for around 200.

would #2 be the better option for me?

 

[wargasms]

Frankly, the Hamburg is pretty bright in my experience. I don't want to think about what a Vienna must sound like.

I would probably use the Hamburg for a deep voice male---baritone or bass. It's way too bright for tenors. The Vienna would probably be way too bright even for a basso profundo.

IIRC, the folks I've heard who have liked the Vienna have been using it on alto voices, but I could be remembering wrong.

I have a mxl v93m(2003) which i like how it sounds pretty well on my voice but its not smooth enough. Would either of the ADK mics be brighter than that?

 

[Somnium7]

Have you tried any large diaphragm dynamic mics such as PR30, SM7, MD421?
I have tried the MD421 on vocals and it sounds very nice with a proximity effect that can give some real meat to a vocal track.

The Heil PR30 or PR40, I forget which one I tried, has a very crisp sound for a dynamic but will also give a fat result on vox. It is surprisingly bright for a dynamic.

 

[dgatwood]

I have a mxl v93m(2003) which i like how it sounds pretty well on my voice but its not smooth enough. Would either of the ADK mics be brighter than that?

My gut says way brighter, though I'm judging the v93m/2003 by reputation, not by experience. At least with ADK's recent mics, I don't associate the word "smooth" with them in any way.

If you like the v93m but you don't like the spitty high end, you might try modding the thing to replace some capacitors. Replacing the coupling capacitor where the capsule hooks up is probably enough to significantly improve the sound without changing its overall character.

 

[wargasms]

Have you tried any large diaphragm dynamic mics such as PR30, SM7, MD421?
I have tried the MD421 on vocals and it sounds very nice with a proximity effect that can give some real meat to a vocal track.

The Heil PR30 or PR40, I forget which one I tried, has a very crisp sound for a dynamic but will also give a fat result on vox. It is surprisingly bright for a dynamic.

i sure havent, after googling the first two, i almost am afraid to look because i will be back with 3 or 4 more questions lmaoo

 

[Somnium7]

i sure havent, after googling the first two, i almost am afraid to look because i will be back with 3 or 4 more questions lmaoo

I totally understand!! I have plagued this forum with my share of mic questions too and I know that too-many-options feeling.

If you decide to go with the Vienna please post how you like the results from it. I would love to read a fresh review of the mic for a musical style other than the usual fare.

It seems like a very nice piece.

 

[wargasms]

as of right now, i am torn again between

the Vienna
the Hamburg
and now the MXL 960 Tube


i ALMOST ordered the vienna last night. Now PhilGood and Dgatwood have me thinking the hamburg might be the better option.

but i see this mxl 960 tube mic on sale for $150 bucks new, and read some peoples opinions and am starting to think that it could be a great vocal mic for a steal.

i might just jump on the 960, and if it doesnt work for me, sell it and try a hamburg or vienna later.

 

[PhilGood]

The 960 is great, but it's back-ordered 2-4 weeks according to MF.

 

[wargasms]

The 960 is great, but it's back-ordered 2-4 weeks according to MF.

i can definitely wait a few weeks, probably will be a month before i get back to recording anyway.

so phil, this could be the deciding factor, no pressure at all. lol

if you were me

would you get the 960 at 150 bucks
or the hamburg for $240 which you suggested over the vienna for me.

 

[wargasms]

i promise i will leave you be after a response. lol i wish i could afford to spring for both right now.

headed to lunch, when i get back, im buying a mic and putting myself out of my misery.

 

[wargasms]

i ordered the Mxl 960 tube.

thanks ...hope it works out.

 

[wargasms]

The 960 is great, but it's back-ordered 2-4 weeks according to MF.

i just got a shipping confirmation email and a fedex number already. I guess they got some in.

 

[Somnium7]

Good luck man - hope it does a good job for you.

 

[wargasms]

i finally got a chance to try out the MXL 960 yesterday

i like how it sounds considering i dont really know how to mix lol

http://www.zshare.net/audio/8955933a9bf437/

^^ check out that sample