Should I get a condenser mic or keep PR40?

[Livid]

Right now I have the Heil PR40 and a dbx 286s preamp. My vocal recordings sound muffled and not as good as raw recordings from other people in terms of sonic differences that I can hear - not voices, of course. I'm not sure if it's the mic or the preamp that is having the issue. I expect it to sound less muffled or muddy and more clear with the bass and highs.

At this moment, I'm not able to post any audio samples from my setup but when I get the chance I'll try.

Will it make any difference if I switch to a condenser mic like the Studio Projects C1 or an AKG 220 (these two look appealing), or can the PR40 really sound great and the problem has to do with my preamp?

 

[omtayslick]

I have never used the mic or preamp in question. But Heil mics in general have a reputation for being on the bright side for a dynamic mic, and a sound which is somewhat "condenser like".

The dbx is a lower end, middle of the road preamp that should deliver ok results. Many people use the Heil for vocals and voice-over, so I would not think that is your problem.

What are you using for converters? Also, how does the voice sound in the room?

 

[Tomm Williams]

The PR40 is a great mic, can't imagine that it is your problem. Simple way to find out---------try another mic and then if it is the PR40, just send it to me and I'll throw it away for you.

 

[Paj]

arcaxis:

You are an extremely kind and nice person . . .

Paj
8^)

 

[Livid]

Try varying your distance to the mic. A little more distance might give better results to reduce the muffled sound.

Are you using the DBX286s with the processing bypassed or engaged?

I usually mic a couple inches from the PR40 and of course I've been recording from the end-fire direction it's supposed to record from. I've tested using the dbx 286s bypassed and engaged. My recording room is fairly treated and has very small reverb. Basically, the room has the sweet spot and it's not too boxy and it's not too open.

In my testing, the preamp from the dbx 286s sounds very similar to the preamp in the M-Audio Fast Track USB (strange enough), but the highs are a bit more clear. I also replaced the cables and have noticed no difference. I'm considering returning the dbx 286s and getting a new mic with that money, because I believe that most condensers are more well defined and clear compared to the PR40.

I'll try backing away from the PR40 a bit, maybe the proximity effect is what is causing the issue, but I believe that the PR40 exaggerates or punches vocals too much, which is why its sound is good for mainly broadcast use and not all around spoken word or singing.

I haven't used a LDC in person for a really long time. Would a $100-300 LDC really make a huge difference for what I need compared to the PR40?