MIC for Vocals only...Suggestions?

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point3god

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Hey everyone, I'm looking to buy a new MIC to record just my vocals. I currently own an MXL 2001 :) , but I know what better quality MICs can bring to the table. For now I'm seriously thinking of getting an sE 2200. I'm also considering an AKG414, due to it's awesome reviews, but additional polar patterns will not be needed. I record a lot of pop and r&b and need something that will deliver a crisp and clean sound, which I feel my 2001 lacks. Thanks!
 
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point3god said:
Hey everyone, I'm looking to buy a new MIC to record just my vocals. I currently own an MXL 2001 :) , but I know what better quality MICs can bring to the table. For now I'm seriously thinking of getting an sE 2200. I'm also considering an AKG414, due to it's awesome reviews, but additional polar patterns will not be needed. I record a lot of pop and r&b and need something that will deliver a crisp and clean sound, which I feel my 2001 lacks. Thanks!
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How would you describe your vocal range?
Bass? Baritone? Tenor? Tenor/Alto?
 
Barritone - 2nd Tenor

I'm a barritone with that strong tone but sings at higher ranges. My voice kind of lacks that mid-hi range presence. Because of that I feel like I over EQ my vocal tracks a lot of the time, so I'd like to eliminate that.
 
point3god said:
I'm a barritone with that strong tone but sings at higher ranges. My voice kind of lacks that mid-hi range presence. Because of that I feel like I over EQ my vocal tracks a lot of the time, so I'd like to eliminate that.
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With your baritone voice, you will need a mic with some "air" as they call it. Mics such as the AKG C 414 (B-XL II?) you have mentioned as well as the RODE K2, CAD M9, Studio Projects C1 or C3 or T3 and many others I'm sure you will hear about here, will provide you with that added hi-end boost. If you were going to purchase a mic from sE Electronics as you have mentioned in your initial post, I'd say go with the Z3300A or Z5600A as the SE2200A does not have as much presence boost found on the Z3300A, Z5600A or the AKG, RODE, or Studio Projects Mics I have mentioned above.
 
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The 414 is a great mic. There are soooooooooooo many great mics. If you are gonna try to keep it to a minimum (as we all did), that mic will serve you well on many sources but especially nice on vox.
 
All of the mic suggestions here so far seem to be good from my limited experience and would probably serve you well. If you're looking for mid-hi range presence and have a chance to try them out, I might also suggest looking at some of the cheaper, non-ball, BLUE mics like the Blueberry, Bluebird, and the Baby Bottle. I'd definitely try them out if you can, as they are kind of hit or miss (the Blueberry and Baby Bottle have reputations as being especially so, the Bluebird seems a little more versatile/forgiving).
 
Color me silly but I would reach for my AT4033 based on your description of your voice, and what you think is missing. But that would be my first try, I would try others if it wasn't working out. Time to take some of these suggestions to a studio/pro audio dealer that has these mics and spend some time with them and see what ya think.
 
As much as I love the sE2200a, it just really doesn't work very well for baritone vocals imo
 
Micter said:
I'd be grabbing my SM7 for that type of vocal.
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...now you're talkin'!...I have had great success with my SM7B on baritone vocals...gives them that "old school" R&B vibe...not exactly "airy", but definately great for "textured" vocals...think David Ruffin, or Teddy Pendergast... :D

...and if "air" is what you want, try out the Heil PR40 dynamic...much like the SM7 but with more "condenser like" sheen...just a thought... ;)
 
I need to look into one of them there SM7's. How does it compare to a RE-20?
 
virtualvisions said:
As much as I love the sE2200a, it just really doesn't work very well for baritone vocals imo
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homestudioguy said:
If you were going to purchase a mic from sE Electronics as you have mentioned in your initial post, I'd say go with the Z3300A or Z5600A as the SE2200A does not have as much presence boost found on the Z3300A, Z5600A .....
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Nothing like digital echo ;)
 
bigwillz24 said:
I need to look into one of them there SM7's. How does it compare to a RE-20?
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...I can't tell you since I don't own an RE20, but I will say, if I knew starting out what I know now (working at home in a relatively small untreated recording space), I would have saved myself alot of time and expense and gone straight to the SM7 dynamic mic...

...all those condenser mics (tube and solid-state) that I blew through (eBay in and eBay out!) only to find out that the sound I was really looking for was acheivable with a quality dynamic mic!?...damn...

...you gotta own one of these!...the best $300 bucks I ever spent on a mic, hands-down...maybe the most affordable "world-class" recording mic...

...so...if you're asking if you should get one of these?...I can confidently answer, "Shure!"... ;)
 
Same here...ebay city with different large diaphragm condensers until I tried the SM7.

It adds some girth to a voice like I never heard with the condensers...and warmth in a sense that what I hoped I was going to hear from a chinese tube condenser mic and didn't, the SM7 has that vibe in spades.
 
I have the AKG414 and its great for the ladies...where you do want alot of air...but I also have a baratone voice with some rasp and the SM7 is best for my personal vocals...heck an SM57 is a pretty good one for 1/3rd that price...and Ive found them arround $25 bucks each used...BTW I got the SM7 at a pawn broker for 90 bucks...going through that Neve preamp is the sound I had allways looked for.
 
point3god said:
Hey everyone, I'm looking to buy a new MIC to record just my vocals. I currently own an MXL 2001 :) , but I know what better quality MICs can bring to the table. For now I'm seriously thinking of getting an sE 2200. I'm also considering an AKG414, due to it's awesome reviews, but additional polar patterns will not be needed. I record a lot of pop and r&b and need something that will deliver a crisp and clean sound, which I feel my 2001 lacks. Thanks!
Click to expand...

the rhode nt1-a is an incredible vocal mic. and it can also double as a cymbal mic if needed. for the price, its incredible. That is definately one of my favorite mics ive ever encountered [for the price at least]
 
I beg to differ. The NT1-A lacks body and warmth imo.
 
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