Recommend vocal mic in $500 range

  • Thread starter Thread starter nuemes
  • Start date Start date
nuemes,

You're in or near Seattle, right? I'm sure you have a Guitar Center or similar store in your area. You should go there and audition some mics. If they have a quiet room where you can test some mics, you'll be able to narrow it down easier.

Another option would be to put two or three on your credit card, take them home and test it on your equipment in your studio. Then return the ones you don't want.

We can make suggestions forever, but you won't really know until you try the mics yourself. Different voices like different mics, after all. :)
 
nuemes said:
Yikes. I'm glad to hear you say that as I was thinking a SM7 would be my next mic. I haven't heard anyone else say that though; anyone else chime in on the SM7 being a glorified SM57? bleyrad, what would you recommend that can help a thin voice for under $500?
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just my humble opine but...i find there to be an absolutely huge difference in tonality of the 57 and the 7 on the bottom, middle and top. totally different mics.

the 57 will peak out in the mids and upper mids...where the sm7 is smooooth. the sm7 has a meaty bottom the 57 doesn't. the top of a 57 can be grainy...the 7 is natural even with a considerable amount of eq up there...

it can work particularly well on thin and harsh voices.

Mike
 
i dont have it but ive heard good things and i plan on it

AT 4040
 
Yet another NTK vote, though I do think the AT 40XX mics sound thick.

-RD
 
bigtoe said:
just my humble opine but...i find there to be an absolutely huge difference in tonality of the 57 and the 7 on the bottom, middle and top. totally different mics.

the 57 will peak out in the mids and upper mids...where the sm7 is smooooth. the sm7 has a meaty bottom the 57 doesn't. the top of a 57 can be grainy...the 7 is natural even with a considerable amount of eq up there...

it can work particularly well on thin and harsh voices.

Mike
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Not to mention the Bass rolloff and presence boost controls on the SM7. It will pretty much make anybody sound like Barry White. The 57 and the 7 share the same dynamic element, but in this case the design of the mic makes a huge difference in how it behaves.
 
Here's a sample from a recent recording of mine. The SM7 was used for vocals. The preamp is a Mackie VLZ Pro. I mixed it through a Studiomaster 16-4-2 board to 1/4" tape.



We wanted to keep the dark quality of his voice, not thin it out with a condensor. That cool verb on the vocal is an old Stella oilcan reverb. :D

Another thing to consider about the SM7: along with the RE20, these are broadcast mics. They are great for bringing out the low end of a DJ's voice, allowing them to have that deep booming sound.
 
IMO, the SM7 and the SM57 could not be more different, given that they are both dynamic mics made by the same company.

Edit: to fix a typo.
 
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cominginsecond said:
IMO, the SM7 and the SM57 could not be different, given that they are both dynamic mics made by the same company.
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No offense, but that's like saying an RE20 sounds the same as a 635A, just because they're both made by EV. They aren't the same, and neither are the SM7 and SM57. Otherwise, why make two mics?
 
cominginsecond said:
IMO, the SM7 and the SM57 could not be different, given that they are both dynamic mics made by the same company.
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Is that a typo? :p

If that's the case, then you should definitely sell yours since you've already got a 58, which is also the same.

Ask Harvey how much difference the grill and physical shape of the mic makes in the sound, or do a vocal comaprison yourself with your 58 and SM7.
 
The 57 and the SM7 share the same capsule.
Yes there are other very important aspects of the design to take into consideration of the sound. The SM7 smooths over the presence peak of the 57 a bit. But overall it is quite similar sounding to my ears.
Also, whenever someone has pointed out that an SM7 was used in such-and-such recording, and I listened to the recording, I never liked the vocal sound. See Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as an example. Thin, unimpressive vox.
 
freshmattyp said:
Is that a typo? :p
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Yes. I meant to say "could not be more different." :o :o :o Oops.

I'm not a big fan of the SM57, but I love my SM7.
 
cominginsecond said:
Yes. I meant to say "could not be more different." :o :o :o Oops.
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Whew. I thought you were serious about that! :D

Harvey's lurking in this thread... maybe he'll chime in on this one.

PS: Love the Twin Peaks avatar. From one of my favorite episodes.
 
Another vote for the NTK....that's quite a few votes for one mic. You should check it out. Got mine for $300 from a fellow forum member. I also know of a few popular artists that use this mic. Of course, they use a really great pre too. Neve 1084... :D
 
hey guys - different capsules in the 57 and 7 - i asked shure last year...or sometime in the past 5 years...er...10 years...ok...it's all a big drunken blur since 1984 to be honest.

edit: oh it was this year:

Hello Mike,
There is a big difference in the cartridges for the SM7B and the SM57-LC microphones.
The SM 57 cartridge is part number R57 a Unidirectional style.86.40ea
The SM7B cartridge is part number RPM106 Dynamic cardiod 141.44ea
Warm Regards,
Charmaine Hairston

Shure Inc.
Customer Service
Parts Departments
5800 W. Touhy Ave.
Niles ILL 60714-4608
800-516-2525*2
847-600-8685

Mike
 
I do not like the NTK on most vocals, actually. It's good on other things, but for vocals I find it too essy and thin. I liked my Baby Bottle on vocals before I had to sell it. I liked my ADK TC on vocals before I had to sell it. (BTW, I sold both of these mics to get a Soundelux U195, which is versatile and sounds better on most vocals than the two I sold to get it.)
 
bigtoe said:
There is a big difference in the cartridges for the SM7B and the SM57-LC microphones.
The SM 57 cartridge is part number R57 a Unidirectional style.86.40ea
The SM7B cartridge is part number RPM106 Dynamic cardiod 141.44ea
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Maybe... but to Shure, I think the "cartridge" is the replaceable part that includes the capsule, not just the capsule itself.
 
bleyrad said:
Maybe... but to Shure, I think the "cartridge" is the replaceable part that includes the capsule, not just the capsule itself.
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aye...tis true on that...but i do believe the capsule is different...i just can't remember the proof or where i got it...i bet the big H knows.

ah well...and hey bleyrad that sm7 ain't for everyone...if ya don't dig it - more power to ya!

ok - i've been clicking around online all day...i need to work! :eek:

Mike
 
Shure says the 57, 58, and SM7 are all based on the Unidyne III capsule. The SM7 is similar, but not identical, to the 57 and 58. There weren't any details on the differences.
 
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