Mic Advice for Rap

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thapharmacy

thapharmacy

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I am looking for professional quality recording. I do mostly dirty south rap with some R&B. I have sound proofed a room for this project. My vocals come across flat and I would like to add a fuller sound. The mic will be strictly used for vocals, but I would like to use it on both male and femal vocals. I would also like for it to have very little noise.

I am looking to spend $200 to $500 on a microphone. Many of these mics are hard to locate for demo and would like your opnions before I go test them.

If you are entry level please do not respond to this thread.




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The mics I am looking at are

Blue Bluebird Large Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone

MXL Genesis Studio Tube Condenser Microphone

Avantone CK-6

Sterling Audio ST55 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Audio-Technica AT4040 Large-Diaphragm Studio Condenser Mic

Rode Microphones NT1-A Anniversary Model Microphone
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At this point in time I am relly leaning towards the MXL Genesis or the Blue Bluebird.

The Genesis is a bit more expensive but it comes with a shock mount and pop filter. I have never used a tube mic, but it gets good reviews. I am leary of the MXL brand.

The Bluebiird is nice but it doesn't have a -10db drop off or high freq bypass. Also the shock mount and pop filter add $100 to the price of the bluebird.

I have read reviews but they never seem to compare the two mics and when they write the reviews it's very hard to tell what they are comparing the mics two. Are they even in the same class?

What are your thoughts?
 
The best mic for rap or hip hop is a Shure SM7...and it is in the same price range.
 
For rap it does...forget what you saw on youtube...most of those guys are just playing studio.
Down to it the SM7 will hold up in that situation for years after your clients have soaked your condencer capsules with spit ruining then every other session.
 
thapharmacy said:
I find it hard to believe that a dynamic mic would outpreform a condensor mic for a studio application.
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i find it hard to believe that a mic would pick up one style of speaking/singing/whatever better than another.
 
You have to consider all the people that are using them for that style...the dependability...and the the fact that it holds value...then you have to look at the plosives that will pop the condencer mics...the sibilence most of them have...then the SM7 is the top pick.

Rap produces more spit than singing...and spit ruins capsules...do yourself a favor and buy the dynamic.
 
I did read the reviews and it gets alot of good reviews.

I have never had a capluse ruined due to spit. I do use a pop filter pretty far away from the mic to eliminate any spit. Also do a drop mount and it solves that problem.

I am not worried about resale value, as I do not plan on reselling the mic. Everything I read about the mic they say it's good for radio and voice over. I will be opened minded and try it out at guitar center or something. Shure seems like a brand that should be easy to find.
 
Another vote for the SM7.

Some reasons...

1) Lots of pro hip-hop/rap vocals (as well other music styles) have been done with this mic. Ask around...
2) You'll never regret buying one, even if you get other high-end mics later.
3) It's not a "good enough" mic you'll replace later - it's one of the best-in-class for what it does.
4) It has great off-axis rejection (unlike most condensers). This means you can blast the speakers live-in-the-room while doing vocal takes with less bleed - a great way to set the vibe for good takes while cutting vox (particularly hip-hop/rap, and other styles of music with a heavy backbeat).
5) If for some reason it doesn't do the trick for you, just sell it. Resale value is great.

Plus, there's the history. This is the mic Bruce Swedien primarily used on Michael Jackon's vocals for the Thriller album. While obviously not a pure "rap" album, it's the record where Jackson perfected his rhythmic "spit/pop" style of vocalizations that has been so influential in R&B, and (later) hip/hop. SM7's are great for softening consonants in a musically "hard" way, which helps treat the vocal as an instrument that's both a melodic *and* rhythmic. That's what's needed with many raps - not just capturing the vocal tone, but the rhythmic quality (hitting hard p's and b's, for example) in the voice as well.

Convinced? Pair an SM7 with a great mic pre and see if you agree.

Aj
 
SM7...it can be super in your face, yet smooth.

takes will to compression.
 
thapharmacy said:
I do use a pop filter pretty far away from the mic to eliminate any spit.
Click to expand...

Disclaimer - I write and record instrumental guitar music, so I don't know a god damned thing about recording rap vocals.

That said... I would imagine for rap you'd want a closer mic position for proximity effect, to thicken up the low end and increase punch a bit...?
 
DrewPeterson7 said:
Disclaimer - I write and record instrumental guitar music, so I don't know a god damned thing about recording rap vocals.

That said... I would imagine for rap you'd want a closer mic position for proximity effect, to thicken up the low end and increase punch a bit...?
Click to expand...

you got it lol.. I agree that the SM7 is a good mic for rap/hip hop. That doesn't mean it's the "best".


Capsules ruining to spit... come on now... usually doesn't happen..
Now "not using" a condenser because it's rap..right.. . NO matter what is "said" out of a humans voice, you still treat it as a vocal not a genre. If you go ask around in the major industry.. you'll notice that most rappers lean towards the Blue or the U87. Not that those mic's are the 'best' either, but they are popular.
 
Mindset said:
you got it lol.. I agree that the SM7 is a good mic for rap/hip hop. That doesn't mean it's the "best".


Capsules ruining to spit... come on now... usually doesn't happen..
Now "not using" a condenser because it's rap..right.. . NO matter what is "said" out of a humans voice, you still treat it as a vocal not a genre. If you go ask around in the major industry.. you'll notice that most rappers lean towards the Blue or the U87. Not that those mic's are the 'best' either, but they are popular.
Click to expand...

Go ahead...blow $3000 on a mic that you will just ruin...and yes the first drop of spit that hits that capsule and it is dead...and it will still be very problematic with plosives...sound thinner...exploit sibblence, and cost 10 times the price of a mic that out performs it for this pourpose.

Sure you see a few viddys of 50 cent singing into one or JayZ...but they can afford to buy another mic every other session.
 
Just here to warn you off the ST55. I have the GT55 (same mic) and like it OK for many things, but have come to loathe it for vocals. I end up having to EQ all the vocals I do through it pretty severely.

For LDC's, you can't go wrong with an AT4040. It's money.

However, considering you're only recoding vox, I agree sm7 is a great choice.
 
Mindset said:
you got it lol.. I agree that the SM7 is a good mic for rap/hip hop. That doesn't mean it's the "best".


Capsules ruining to spit... come on now... usually doesn't happen..
Now "not using" a condenser because it's rap..right.. . NO matter what is "said" out of a humans voice, you still treat it as a vocal not a genre. If you go ask around in the major industry.. you'll notice that most rappers lean towards the Blue or the U87. Not that those mic's are the 'best' either, but they are popular.
Click to expand...

When you say the blue are you talking about a blueberry, bluebird, mouse or what?
 
thapharmacy said:
I find it hard to believe that a dynamic mic would outpreform a condensor mic for a studio application.
Click to expand...

you are wiser than most on this board already. don't listen to these guys. the sm7 is a HORRIBLE mic for rap. kicks ass for bands like rage against the machine, clutch, etc., but for rap you're going to need a mic like the mxl genesis at the very bottom end of the spectrum. period. spend the money.
 
i keep seeing this board advise dynamic mics for rap. 99% of them have never recorded rap and follow this trend like sheep
a condenser is the mic for rap music


and to stop spit? what a load of shite...

who spits ina mic ffs?, use a pop filter and pronounce your words
 
adamangler said:
i keep seeing this board advise dynamic mics for rap. 99% of them have never recorded rap and follow this trend like sheep
a condenser is the mic for rap music


and to stop spit? what a load of shite...

who spits ina mic ffs?, use a pop filter and pronounce your words
Click to expand...

^^ what they said.
I've been recording for 6 years, and infact (in the beginning of my career) I have accidently spit right at mics without pop filters.

That mic still works.

I have never seen any rapper -ever- use a dynamic in the studio.
 
Basick Musick said:
^^ what they said.
I've been recording for 6 years, and infact (in the beginning of my career) I have accidently spit right at mics without pop filters.

That mic still works.

I have never seen any rapper -ever- use a dynamic in the studio.
Click to expand...


I never have seen anyone use a dynamic mic in studio for vocals except myself. I have used an sm57 for rap vocals and had amazing results. I had to use bbe maximizer than de - esser and cant beat the sound with anything else. Its funny because the vocal takes kind of sound quiet and lack high end when you first record them but just do it,, finish the song and use that bbe plugin with a de esser and you cant go wrong.

I have used an sm7 and hated the mic. however I only used it on myself and didnt like the tone I got out of the mic. It was a horrible expireince and i took the mic back!

I know people are going to laugh about the sm57 and not try it but go ahead... my second recommendation is just get a u87 then.. its a popular industry standard mic ,, and you wont have to wonder if you have the best mic for your vox. for other condensors I like the bluebird alot.. its cheap and sounds great w/o equing and bbe. or better yet!...

... get an oktava mk319 mic and send it in to www.blacklionaudio.com to have them upgrade it. That is what my next mic investment is going to be.

p.s. auto tuned vox are played out... quit playing those songs bak to bak on the radio pleeeeeaaazzz.. (my car cd player is broke hahah)
 
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