Is the KSM27 a "cold" mic?

[HapiCmpur]

Does anybody have any personal experience recording vocals and/or acoustic guitars with a Shure KSM27? If so, what do you think of it and how do you get the most out of it? I’ve run a search on the BBS and have found that people only mention the 27 in equipment lists. Nobody seems to have anything good or bad to say about it. Here’s why I ask.

A trusted salesdude at my local Guitar Center sold me a KSM27 for $250 on the assurance that it would reproduce sound as authentically as any $500 condenser mic. I haven’t really worked with it much yet, but so far I’m not terribly happy with it. It’s giving me cold, thin, rather colorless vocals. However, there are so many variables involved here that the problem is more likely to be with my room than with the mic itself. That leaves me with four options (I think), and I’m looking for the one that will cost me the least in terms of both money and labor. They are:

a) Buy a new mic--one that adds warmth.
b) Stick with the 27, but EQ the hell out it. (Something I don’t do very well.)
c) Stick with the 27, but process the sound through other gizmos. (Something I have no experience with.)
d) Add sound absorbers and diffusers to the room.

Since I record in my bedroom and my wife has already granted me considerable leeway in terms of “decorating” with my equipment, I’m leaning away from adding sound absorbers and diffusers. The most I can really do in that regard, I believe, is hang some heavier drapes over the windows. And even so, I don’t know if deadening the room will add color to vocals.

Anyway, I’m wondering if anybody can give me some first-hand insight into the KSM27 and what might be done to warm it up—or what I might replace it with to counteract a "cold" room.

 

[H2oskiphil]

What is the rest of your signal chain?

 

[chessrock]

the problem is more likely to be with my room than with the mic itself. That leaves me with four options (I think), and I’m looking for the one that will cost me the least in terms of both money and labor. They are:

a) Buy a new mic--one that adds warmth.
b) Stick with the 27, but EQ the hell out it. (Something I don’t do very well.)
c) Stick with the 27, but process the sound through other gizmos. (Something I have no experience with.)
d) Add sound absorbers and diffusers to the room.

Not knowing your exact situation, my best guess would be option D.

I really don't think Shure, as a company, is capable of putting out crap, no matter what it is. Unless it's broken. I really don't, and I'm not just saying that because I live in Chicago.

How much experience do you have with other mics? Is this your first condenser? If so, then I hate to break it to you, but typical bedroom accoustics probably aren't going to cut it.

Do you have an extra closet / attic / anything that you could use? Just get yourself a space and put a bunch of crap all over the place; furniture, cushions, pillows, heavy blankets, moving blankets, (those are my accoustical bread and buttah) sleeping bags . . . anything you can think of. Pile it in and stack it up.

Now try it again, and tell us what you think. 90% has to do with the performance, too. That's the other piece of potentially bad news.

 

[wes480]

i have noticed the guitar center guys pushing the KSM27/32 mics a lot.

Like when I was in there once getting something random, I asked them just by chance if they could order Studio Projects stuff...they had never heard of it, but the guy immediately said

"well..what is it about that mic that you like...is it a large diaphragm...how much is it?"

"well...the ksm27 for (maybe 299?) will easily beat out any mic in that price range..give you a much better sound.."

I was floored by that becuase of the fact he had never even heard OF a studio projects (c1), much less ever used one.

To tell you the truth, I've used a KSM27 before, and to me it did seem a little "cold" to sound cliche...but who knows.

A lot of it has to do with positioning of course, and also just the vocalist.

Right now the best vocal mic for me has been the Studio Projects C1. I bought an NTK thinking it would be a big step up, and...my vocals turn out kind of annoyingly "airy" with it.

So a lot of times it's just matching the mic with the person. Maybe KSM27 isn't your cup of tea...but, keep playing with it and eventually you will get something decent I think.

I don't think it is a bad mic - like chessrock said. i do think GC guys push it a lot without knowing much about it.

 

[HapiCmpur]

Re: Re: Is the KSM27 a "cold" mic?

Not knowing your exact situation, my best guess would be option D.

I was afraid someone was going to say that.

Is this your first condenser? If so, then I hate to break it to you, but typical bedroom accoustics probably aren't going to cut it.

I was afraid someone was going to say THAT, too.

90% has to do with the performance, too.

Ouch! And I was REALLY afraid someone was going to say that.

You're absolutely right, of course. I guess I was just hoping someone out there might have a magical solution that didn't involve redesigning the bedroom and spending lots of time and cash. Wishful thinking.

I guess the good news, however, is that you think deadening the acoustics of the room could warm up my results. Perhaps I can compromise by building a temporary tent out of moving blankets that I could pretty easily set up just on those days when I'll be recording vocals (which will probably need to coincide with the days my wife is out of town on business).

I can live with that.

Originally posted by wes480
I was floored by that becuase of the fact he had never even heard OF a studio projects (c1), much less ever used one. Right now the best vocal mic for me has been the Studio Projects C1..

I'm no better than your guy at the Guitar Center. I've never heard of a Studio Projects C1. I'll look 'em up on the Web. Thanks for the lead.

 

[chessrock]

Re: Re: Re: Is the KSM27 a "cold" mic?

Perhaps I can compromise by building a temporary tent out of moving blankets that I could pretty easily set up just on those days when I'll be recording vocals (which will probably need to coincide with the days my wife is out of town on business).

I can live with that.

That would be a really good idea. Bed mattresses and couch cushions can also be used with the moving blankets for better results.

Do you have a basement? a garage? Shed? Attic? Closet?

 

[littledog]

The consensus advice here seems to be that making a room as dead as possible will somehow make "cold" sounding vocals into "warm" sounding ones.

At the risk of spoiling the wonderful unanimity, I guess i have to say that i don't agree with the consensus. although i would agree that it might make "cold" sounding vocals into "dead" sounding ones.

 

[HapiCmpur]

The consensus advice here seems to be that making a room as dead as possible will somehow make "cold" sounding vocals into "warm" sounding ones.

At the risk of spoiling the wonderful unanimity, I guess i have to say that i don't agree with the consensus. although i would agree that it might make "cold" sounding vocals into "dead" sounding ones.

I'm open to other suggestions. Got any?

 

[chessrock]

I guess i have to say that i don't agree with the consensus. although i would agree that it might make "cold" sounding vocals into "dead" sounding ones.

I think you have to consider each unique situation. When someone with modest experience says their vocals sound "cold," I have to think they mean they don't sound good. Knowing, of course, that "cold" can mean just about anything. So I look at their situation, and have to assume they should start by addressing their chain's weakest link.

I guess it's possible to get "warm" vocals in a bedroom. But from my experience, room accoustics are usually about the best place to start when you're dealing with a beginning home recordist. And in my experience, a dead space is usually better than a live space that sounds like crap.

I'm not quite ready to suggest he run out and raid Fletcher's mic/preamp cabinets just yet.

Unless you have any other suggestions . . . I'm all ears. You trend-bucker, you.