mic help please

[vinegar8]

I have about £400 to spend on a mic ($700 u.s).

currently i have:
sm57
sm58a
md421
nt1a
2xrode nt3
shitty beyer dynamic.

I want something that will:

1. Be my main vocal mic and flatter my voice (rather nasal but in key!). The nt1a seems a bit harsh in the upper mid range as does the 58a while the md421 is a bit dull. I need t add punch to the nasalness without harshness or completely removing it. Think dylan, robert smith, j mascis, albini, frank black.

2.Be a solid workhose in other areas particularly for drums and acoustic/electric guitar.

3.Be something I won't want to sell in a few years.

4 Suit my recording situation. Home. Not quite soundproof dead sounding room.
m-audio duo preamp.

5. suit my music. original. femmes, cohen, beck, drake, human league influenced.

6. Give me high quality professional results. I am quite anal and am familiar with both standard micing techniqes and stupid experimentation!

I am choosing between the audio technica at4047 and at4050 and the shure sm7b.
I know there are major differences between these two types of mic but I think both would suit my needs well.

I am of course open to other blindingly obvious suggestions. Second hand or new.

I don't want to buy a new preamp so don't even go there. Thats early next year!

thanks in advance. i know this is a common topic but cant seem to find this comparison anywhere.

 

[chessrock]

Try a Blue Baby Bottle.

 

[TimOBrien]

If you're looking for a vocal mic and want it to "flatter" >your< voice, I'd suggest you spent a bit of money arranging a trip to someplace where >you< can try out some mics.

No amount of blind suggestions will allow someone to magically pick what works best for >you< (and you might save a ton of money by finding out some cheaper mic is acceptable to your ears or you might find a deal "on sale").....

BTW: I took an 600mile side trip on my last vacation to pick out a horn and a couple of mics for exactly the same reason... when you're spending a car-load of cash it's best to trust your own ears!

 

[PhilGood]

I can't offer a specific mic for your request, but I think I can help narrow the search. If you want both flattering and versatile, you might want to think "tube mic". These offer the warmth from third harmonic distortions that are very pleasing to some people. They tend to add a little coloration that is quite nice. They also don't suffer (for the most part) that annoying high end problem that some budget mics have. Since they already add warmth, you can stick to a decent solid state preamp instead of wasting money on a cheap starved plate toob pre.

Since your acoustics are somewhat live, stay away from 3 micron diaphragms. They are too sensitive and really pick up alot of the ambience.

That's what I've got.

 

[reshp1]

I agree completely with the above about trying a mic before buying, but one you might want to try is a Groove Tubes GT66. It's a tube mic and tends to smooth out my nasally voice nicely.

 

[vinegar8]

All valid points.
Baby blue seems a bit gimmicky but will investigate. not sure about instrument use.

Would love to try out mics but unfortunately falls into the too hard category at the mo.

After further investigation, think I can rule out the AT4050 and go for one of the "warmer" options.

Love the idea of a tube mic but want a good one if I,m going for it. a little bit hit and miss in the lower end. Also a lot to lug around.

Any other suggestions?

 

[chessrock]

Would love to try out mics but unfortunately falls into the too hard category at the mo.

If that's the case, then honestly, you might just try picking any mic up, at random and hope you get lucky.

 

[vinegar8]

I think I've narrowed it down pretty well so far! I need to get one pretty soon and at the mo I have a broken ankle so I'm housebound.

 

[chessrock]

So I take it you've used that Vulcan mind thing someone was just talking about on another thread to test it out? (Just messin' with ya) How's the 4047 sounding? Yikes, it's sounding kinda' nasal to me right now. Try the other one. No, the one over there. There ya go. Much better.

 

[vinegar8]

Something like that. I think the sm7 is sounding pretty good. But I only heard that without hearing it!!

 

[60's guy]

Think Dylan....

If Dylan's voice sounds OK to you find out what mics he has used. Nasal sounding voices are tough to deal with...I'll venture to guess.

As was alluded to here. Blind recommendations are, well, blind. Audition as many mics as you can if possible. You may find one or two that are satisfactory.

 

[XLR]

vinegar8 said:

I am choosing between the audio technica at4047 and at4050 and the shure sm7b. I know there are major differences between these two types of mic but I think both would suit my needs well.

Vinegar8, how did you determine that?

I think the sm7 is sounding pretty good. But I only heard that without hearing it!!

What does that mean?

I think I've narrowed it down pretty well so far!

How did you narrow it down?

If you're looking for a vocal mic and want it to "flatter" >your< voice, I'd suggest you spent a bit of money arranging a trip to someplace where >you< can try out some mics.

No amount of blind suggestions will allow someone to magically pick what works best for >you<

The best advice... but it doesn't appear the OP is going to take it.

Tim

 

[FALKEN]

of those three, 4050 might be your best bet because you don't have a multi-pattern mic. this will give you a lot of options when it comes to instrument mic'ing. but as far as vocals go with the music you listed you might be happy with the sm7. they're used fairly often on radio for that deep bass voiceover sound; might even out your voice a bit.

 

[xstatic]

I would look for a used Blue Blueberry

 

[vinegar8]

tim said: Vinegar8, how did you determine that?

What does that mean?

How did you narrow it down?

The best advice... but it doesn't appear the OP is going to take it.

Tim

1.Two are condensers, the other's a dynamic. Pretty different.

2. It means I've heard about them but not heard them.

3. Specs, Frequecy responses, Reviews, Reputation, Recommendation, Price, Availability. There are certain facts about most things in life which are pointless to refute. I wouldnt buy a mini to take away my family of 6 on touring holiday in iraq. I don't need t drive one to know that.

4. I am housebound.

I know what you are getting at and I agree, but I can always return it if not suitable. There is no doubt about the existence of lesser known mics that may do the job but I am not going to spend days trying to find them.
I am going to have to take someones advice sooner or later, even if that advice was regarding which mic I audition. I would just like a balaced opinion on the info I've given and I feel that you guys are the best way to get that.

Cheers.

 

[vinegar8]

If Dylan's voice sounds OK to you find out what mics he has used. Nasal sounding voices are tough to deal with...I'll venture to guess.

As was alluded to here. Blind recommendations are, well, blind. Audition as many mics as you can if possible. You may find one or two that are satisfactory.

Awesome advice. I spent a few hours last night trying to search out engineering info on the artists I mentioned but no luck so far. Dylans voice does change between albums but It's always pretty good.

Or maybe we just overlook it because of his great songs. Probably Neumanns anyway.

In this case blind advice is deaf. (but it won't fall on deaf ears!)

 

[AGCurry]

Awesome advice. I spent a few hours last night trying to search out engineering info on the artists I mentioned but no luck so far. Dylans voice does change between albums but It's always pretty good.

Or maybe we just overlook it because of his great songs. Probably Neumanns anyway.

In this case blind advice is deaf. (but it won't fall on deaf ears!)

Well, I saw Scorsese's Dylan retrospective on PBS last night. For his first album at Columbia records, his voice was recorded with...

an RCA 77. Excellent choice in any era! Too bad you can't afford it.

But... a mic which is reputed to yield a similar sound is the Electrovoice RE15.
Now that I think about it, the RE20 - which I have - might do a great job for you. Kinda like the SM7 but less boost in the midrange.

 

[mrface2112]

well, if you can't get OUT to try a few mics, then why not bring the mics to YOU? pull out the credit card, and run it up some.....order a number of mics that you're interested in, and give them all a go. keep the one(s) that you like best and return the rest. of course, make sure you do this from a retailer who has a liberal return policy on mics.

everyone here is right--there's no telling what's going to work on your voice without trying the mics. and even once you find a mic that works on your voice, there's no guarantee that it'll work on your voice for every song you record. it's true mics get matched up to the voice.....but they also get matched to the production goals. lord knows there are only a small handful of mics that work on my voice.....but depending on the song, i'll use a mic that doesn't "usually" work on my voice.....and it fits.

so maybe there *is* a benefit to buying mics blindly.....you build your mic cabinet in the process.


cheers,
wade

 

[vinegar8]

I hear you guys.
shame about the 77.
will check out those electrovoices though.
might be a bit pricey in the uk.
Thanks all for your help so far.

 

[XLR]

1.Two are condensers, the other's a dynamic. Pretty different.

heh-heh, OK... but the intended question was "How did you determine that both would suit your needs well?"

Specs, Frequecy responses, Reviews, Reputation, Recommendation, Price, Availability. ... I wouldnt buy a mini to take away my family of 6 on touring holiday in iraq. I don't need t drive one to know that.

Perhaps buying a vocal mic is less like buying a car and more like buying a pair of pants (not tailored, but off the rack). Who'd buy pants without trying them on? Heh-heh, but I'd guess most vocalists would say it took more work to find mic's that flatter their voice than to buy well-fitting pants.

I am housebound.

So wait until you aren't, or have mic's shipped to you. I rented mic's to test before my last major purchase... it was easy, inexpensive, and allowed me to make an ear-based decision.

I am going to have to take someones advice sooner or later, even if that advice was regarding which mic I audition.

Agreed, using opinions, spec sheets, etc is a good way to narrow down mic's to audition. Best of luck with your search.

Tim