Mic shootout: redo

  • Thread starter Thread starter highriser
  • Start date Start date
H

highriser

New member
Hey guys,
you may be asking why is he doing this again. Well, the last time I did this, my DAW (cubase) was messing up the sound of all the mics I had so it was not a proper shootout (thanks to GuitarLegend for his time and ears, without him I never would have found the issue).

So now to get a true representation of what these mics sound like, here is a revamped shootout done in REAPER.

Which mic sounds best on with my voice?

These vocals are completely unprocessed the backing track is, so keep in mind I am trying to get the best raw vocal sound out of the mic not post processing.

I also don't want comments about my performance, this is purely a test to hear the best mic tone I can get.

Sadly I could not get my hands on the mics from the last shootout but here is what I did get: (not in order)
Sm7b
at4040
rode nt1a

I am ordering 2 more mics, the ADK vienna and the MXL v67g. When they come I will add them to this shootout.

mic1a by Adam Mishan on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
mic2a by Adam Mishan on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
mic3a by Adam Mishan on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
 
Hi Adam, thanks for the kind words. These recordings all sound very similar but I think that mic3a does better things with your voice. It has a greater dynamic range than the other two. Not just on how it sounds to my ears but a spectral analysis backs that up. I think if you did some serious work with that mic you could get a decent production.

Glad the old problem has been sorted :)
 
On quick listen....I like mic2a out of the three.
It's smooth, but still has enough presence.


You might consider doing these shootouts with backing tracks, and see how they work within a mix.
I've done similar stuff with mic shootouts, and sometimes the mic that sounds good when soloed isn't the mic that works best when used within the mix.


So...you went for an ADK Vienna.
Did you talk to anyone at ADK...or just decided to give it a try?
If you don't like it...the resell fairly well on eBay, but I think you will like it.

When you sing into these mics...how far away are you?
 
the clips start acapella but then end with in a mix.
I didn't speak with ADK, I decided on it because people said you could eq it to the hamburg but not the other way around
 
Oh...sorry....I only listened to the first minute of each. :D

Let me go back....
 
OK...listened with the music.

Still think mic2a is best...though mic3 sounds almost as good in the mix. Didn't care for mic1a acappella or in the mix..


You didn't answer my question...how far away do you usually sing from the mic...and in these clips?
I have to say that you sound like you're trying NOT to sing too loud....like you're holding back the air in your chest and just pushing from your throat.

I think if you open up your vocal...it will change the whole mic selection picture......
 
im about 6 inches. except for mic 1 i came closer to capitalize on proximity. prob 3-4 inch
 
miroslav said:
I have to say that you sound like you're trying NOT to sing too loud....like you're holding back the air in your chest and just pushing from your throat.

I think if you open up your vocal...it will change the whole mic selection picture......
Click to expand...

I'll second that, but that is on vocal technique. Since it has now been raised, sing like you want the neighbours to hear. Look forward to seeing what comes out :D
 
Focus on letting it come up from the chest and gut....you'll find you have a much stronger/bigger voice than you do, and with that, you will also find some other tones in your voice, and the "body" will also be there.
 
Sing like you really mean it and don't be afraid of the microphone :)
 
miroslav just a quick question, is the hamburg darker than the sm7?
 
I thought mikes 1a and 2a were very similar. 1a was a little duller than 2a, but not by much. 3a was noticeably brighter. I thought none of them sounded bad, and though I have soft spot for brightness, I reckon 2a was a bit more even and well-rounded.
 
gecko zzed said:
I thought mikes 1a and 2a were very similar. 1a was a little duller than 2a, but not by much. 3a was noticeably brighter. I thought none of them sounded bad, and though I have soft spot for brightness, I reckon 2a was a bit more even and well-rounded.
Click to expand...

Doing an A/B test (or more like an A/B/C test :) ) I would agree with you Gecko. Mic3a is brighter but Mic2a does sound slightly better for Adam's voice. Mic2 or Mic3
 
GuitarLegend said:
Doing an A/B test (or more like an A/B/C test :) ) I would agree with you Gecko. Mic3a is brighter but Mic2a does sound slightly better for Adam's voice. Mic2 or Mic3
Click to expand...

Doing the A/B/C test was difficult, because of the time taken between the samples. I would have liked to have heard them simultaneously. Maybe I could have hit all three links and played them at once? I didn't try that.
 
gecko zzed said:
Doing the A/B/C test was difficult, because of the time taken between the samples. I would have liked to have heard them simultaneously. Maybe I could have hit all three links and played them at once? I didn't try that.
Click to expand...

It is done by loading all tracks into your DAW and playing them all at once but having only one soloed at a time. You have a setting that allows exclusive soloing so you can switch from one to the other instantly. There is no time between samples
 
miroslav said:
.. I have to say that you sound like you're trying NOT to sing too loud....like you're holding back the air in your chest and just pushing from your throat.

I think if you open up your vocal...it will change the whole mic selection picture......
Click to expand...
;)


......
 
GuitarLegend said:
It is done by loading all tracks into your DAW and playing them all at once but having only one soloed at a time. You have a setting that allows exclusive soloing so you can switch from one to the other instantly. There is no time between samples
Click to expand...

Yep. I was aware of that. I didn't want to download, that's all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top