Mic for Soft Vocal!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dracon
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Dracon

Dracon

New member
Hey Harv:

I've been reading the Big Thread (I've taken a break the last couple of days), and I know that a condenser mic is good for softer/quieter sounds.

My question is the following (Don't say the MXL 990/991 combo I don't like them) for a soft male voice with Bass. What mic for $150 or less would you guys recommend? I don't want something that will take away the bass, just be able to capture the soft sound.
I'm still happy with the Sennheiser E835 that I bought, and I will continue to play with proximity effect as well as mic locations (above, level and below mouth level). However, right now I have the Gain turned to -34, the Level to 10 and the ST Out Level to 10, and I got to sit about 6" away from the mic at approximately nose level. When soloing the track it sounds fine, nice and quiet. However, the music does wash it out some. The trick that you taught me Harv works, but I'm wondering if I need a mic with more sensitivity.

Anyway, sorry for the long post.
Bottom line is what if any condenser mic you guys would recommend for $150 or less.
 
I would recommend the same mic "comingsecond" did.
Although, I am tired of hearing and talking about those Marshall mics. Everybody wants to get a great mic for $150.00 or less. No offense Dracon, I have one myself. I got lucky enough to try out twenty or so and pick the one that sounded best. It is nice for me to have a few extra mics in my locker, but this is not a "GO TO" mic at all. I would say that you save a few dollars and get a mic that is really going to do want you want. I think for you an Audio Technica 4040 would do really well and it only costs $300.00.
 
Once again, it depends entirely upon the voice and mic technique. I have a "medium-volume" voice, but every once in a while I'll record something that requires very light and airy. When these songs come along, my first choice is always my Shure Beta 57A. Yeah, it's not a condenser...yeah, it's considered a "performance" mic rather than a studio mic, but I really don't care about all of that. It has all the sensitivity I need, and when I combine it with my mic technique, proximity effect keeps the frequencies very well balanced. Especially when you are recording soft vocals, mic technique is critical. It is very very easy to end up with a thin sound with no real depth to it.
 
The only other option I'd seriously consider, in that price range, would be a CAD M-177. Actually, an Oktava MK-012 with a strong pop filter might be the best option - sounds surprizingly good on vocals, and has some awesome bass response to it for tracking vox in the lower registers.
 
I just scored a V67 for $79 and free shipping, delivered today. Gonna test it out tonight!
 
I'm the odd man out. I prefer AKG C2000B to the B1 for your applications. It can be had for $150 new on ebay, as a rule.-Richie
 
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I've tried the MC012 for vocal and it worked most excellantly. I've tried a number of mics and nothing so far touches the MC012. Unfortunately I sold it before I understood that (my ears and gear needed more potty trainin). Now those mics are scarce. I can't understand why GC dropped them. They are a diamond in the rough.
Richard Monroe's got me curious about the AKG C2000Bs though. I never tried that for vocal. Getting really good vocals out of lower end mics has got to be one of the toughest things to do. The MC012 had no equal. Maybe they will get resurrected.

Bob
 
Yo Bob'smods- I'm serious. You may find the C2000B a gem, because it sounds a lot like the MC012, except that the larger housing gives it more air, and it doesn't pop when you look at it wrong, like the MC012. It is simply the most versatile under $200 mic I've used. I confess, however, that I haven't got my grubby little hands on a CAD M179. Believe this, though- if the MC012 works for you as a vocal mic, so will C2000B, probably better. Like the MC012, it's got a little too much color to be good for, say orchestral recording. or piano. It rocks, however, as a percussion mic,as an overhead, on cheap acoustics in particular, and on up front clean vocals.-Richie
 
I owned the c2000 myself.. it's kind of funny because I've gotten bad reactions from people on this board when I mentioned it..But in all actuality it's a decent little mic. Of course I like my BLUE Dragonfly much better =0)
 
Hey guys thanks!

I'll go down to GW and test a few to see what they sound like.

MXL V67
AKG C2000B
CAD M-177
MC012

I'm not ignoring your plea night's child. I'll will definetly give the Audio Technica 4040 a spin around the block to see how it feels. I may go this friday (early when they open at 11:00am) to GW and ask them to test a few.

However, if I can buy it for cheap somewhere else (e-bay or somewhere else), then I'll do that before I pay full price. I may just try to do that with the Audio Technica if I end up liking it. :)
 
Hi, First post! I just got a new AT4040 from Ebay for $199 free shipping. The guy had about 10 in his listing, I don't know if there are any left, best price i've seen. Rick
 
Well I just tested out my new V67, and it's a keeper. I killed two birds with one stone and tried it with my new M-Audio Octane mic pre (also a keeper).

But to the mic... I own a few MXL's including the V69M tube, and I like the way my voice sounds with this one. I have a low and slightly nasally voice, so the V67 may not work well for everyone. Good low end response from the mic, though.

My only concern is that there seems to be something loose inside the housing - a heard a rattle while turning the mic around in my hands. I may have to return it for a replacement. I wouldn't want it suddenly shorting out and frying during a session!
 
Fisbo said:
Hi, First post! I just got a new AT4040 from Ebay for $199 free shipping. The guy had about 10 in his listing, I don't know if there are any left, best price i've seen. Rick
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Cool! What's the guys username??
I just did a search and could not find any for that price.
$240 is the cheapest.

By the way folks. I was just at musician's friend and they have a Nady SP1 with a tripod mic stand and some xlr cables for $20 and free shipping. Is the SP1 that bad or what? I mean I think I'm buying it just for the tripod, alone.
 
MadAudio said:
I have a low and slightly nasally voice, so the V67 may not work well for everyone. Good low end response from the mic, though.
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I have a low baritone to high bass, and my problem is clarity, so do you feel the mic captures the sound clearly or that you get some muddled sound in there? How's the proximity effect on it? How soft have can you speak into the mic and still get a good signal?
 
Whether they're from Radio Shack or Guitar Center, cheap mics are usually just that - cheap.
 
Looks like he's out of the AT4040's you can check the completed items for his name. He also still has some AT4033's for $249 free shipping. Rick
 
It's not a condenser but you might want to try a MD421. Works great on my voice for certain types of tunes.
 
Heh, lotsa cross posting...

Dracon - To answer your question properly, I just tested the mic out some more. The set up for the test is mic->Octane->line in on my Mackie 1604.

There's definitely clarity, and just the slightest bit of mid and high eq boost on the Mackie were all I needed to please my ear. Proximity effect is not too pronounced. Am I wrong in assuming that you've not used condensors before? In general, they are much more sensitive that dynamics, and clarity is not usually an issue. Picking a condensor is more a matter of taste (and application).

Anyway, my judgement is that the V67 is a worthy addition to one's collection.
 
MadAudio said:
Heh, lotsa cross posting...

Dracon - To answer your question properly, I just tested the mic out some more. The set up for the test is mic->Octane->line in on my Mackie 1604.
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Okay, a stupid question. What's Octane? Nevermind I can look it up.
MadAudio said:
There's definitely clarity, and just the slightest bit of mid and high eq boost on the Mackie were all I needed to please my ear. Proximity effect is not too pronounced. Am I wrong in assuming that you've not used condensors before? In general, they are much more sensitive that dynamics, and clarity is not usually an issue. Picking a condensor is more a matter of taste (and application).

Anyway, my judgement is that the V67 is a worthy addition to one's collection.
Click to expand...
You are not wrong. My only experience with a Condenser is the MXL 990 and I felt like was inside a can. Granted I did not do extensive testing, just testing at the store.

Also, FYI to all. I'm not signing, I'm talking softly. The issue comes in when the music is added as background. Oh! Here is an idea, my normal speaking voice (everyone tells me- I get tired of hearing it) is like the guy that plays everyone Loves Raymond. If you are older then I sound like Carlton the Doorman from Roda.
I guess I slur my words, my wife keeps telling me I mumble.
 
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