Small Diaphram Vocal Mic Suggestions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bob's Mods
  • Start date Start date
B

Bob's Mods

New member
I'm interested in investigating small diaphram condenser mics for use on vocals only. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any budget is fine.

thanks,
Bob
 
Wow. Small diaphragm on vocals with any budget. Thats gonna get you quite a list of microphones.

I guess to make this simple, ill just say all small diaphragm condensers can record vocals. Just like all large diaphragm condensers can, and all ribbon mics can, and all dynamic big or small can. Its going to be just as subjective to the voice, preamp, mix, and color your looking for as any other microphone.

Give use more details please.

Danny
 
Audio Technica 4033 or Shure KSM-32.

On a budget, Marshall mxl 990.

An Oktava mc-012 with an industrial strength pop-filter can be pretty surprizing.
 
I've tried a number of LDCs and I've never been totally pleased with the result (on my voice that is). I'm very pleased with the M9 I use for acoustic and recording amps and it does do a decent job of vocals but I guess I'm looking for a different texture.
I recorded a song using a C1000 for my vocals and I most liked the texture of that mic best. The problem is its really not a good mic. It doesn't have the clear crispness of the M9.
I'm at a point where I feel that with the number of LDC I've tried don't work as well with my voice and I had some luck with the small diaphram C1000, maybe I should give small diaphrams a shot. Just something better than the C1000. I've got my eyeball on the Shure SM86.
 
I have a Senn 835 but I've also tried a MD421 someone loaned me. I was never really happy with the result. The dynamics never seemed to record the detail a sensitive condensor can.
 
An unsung workhorse- AKG C2000B (not 3000B). It's a 1/2" diaphragm, but in a larger housing that makes it look like a large diaphragm mic. 10db pad, bass cut. Good on vox, acoustic guitar, toms, and cabs.-Richie
 
I like the 4033 on lots of stuff. I use it on vox occasionally but more often it's an LDC
 
Bob's Mods said:
I've tried a number of LDCs and I've never been totally pleased with the result (on my voice that is). I'm very pleased with the M9 I use for acoustic and recording amps and it does do a decent job of vocals but I guess I'm looking for a different texture.
I recorded a song using a C1000 for my vocals and I most liked the texture of that mic best. The problem is its really not a good mic. It doesn't have the clear crispness of the M9.
I'm at a point where I feel that with the number of LDC I've tried don't work as well with my voice and I had some luck with the small diaphram C1000, maybe I should give small diaphrams a shot. Just something better than the C1000. I've got my eyeball on the Shure SM86.
Click to expand...

You might consider investigating more LD mics. Just because the M9 doesn't quite do it for your voice and you like the C1000s (sorta) for your voice, doesn't mean that no LD will work for your voice.
 
I was going to recommend the AT4033 but it isnt a small diaphragm. Its not a large either though. 3/7" which is considered a medium. I think thats why i like these so much. They are a little more accurate like a small diaphragm and it makes them very versatile. But it also has a bit of coloration that makes things a little nicer. So its right in the middle. Might be exactly what your looking for. Another good example of a medium size diaphragm is an SM57. Sound familiar?

I dont think ive ever used a small diaphragm microphone to record vocals though. Never tried it. Maybe i should.

Danny
 
Behringer ECM 8000. 6mm (1/4") diaphragm. Transparent, omni, cheap. Self noise shouldn't be a problem for voice.
 
crazydoc said:
Behringer ECM 8000. 6mm (1/4") diaphragm. Transparent, omni, cheap. Self noise shouldn't be a problem for voice.
Click to expand...

Well, I was reading this thread and thinking of suggesting an ecm8000. But I thought some of you guys might laugh me out of here. Then I got to Crazydoc's post. Yeah, it may sound silly, but oftentimes this mic really works. And omni on voice can be very forgiving of mic technique. I keep hearing about self-noise issues from some members here, but I've never had that problem. Maybe I can't hear the self-noise over the PC and room noise.:)
 
I will make another out of left field suggestion and say that you should auditition a ribbon mic.
 
I've had outstanding results on female voice with an Oktava MC012.
 
chessrock said:
...An Oktava mc-012 with an industrial strength pop-filter can be pretty surprizing.
Click to expand...
Yep, tried that the other day on a female vocal - not bad at all. You're correct about the pop filter too. I used my Stedman filter and still had to keep her over a foot away because of popping P's.
 
I've very rarely used the 012 on vocals, but on one occasion, I experimented a bit and actually found the result to be rather excellent.

I did the old trick of taping a pencil accross the pop filter and it worked really well that way. I'd do it a lot more often if the whole thing didn't look so silly. :D

Anyway, the nice thing about the 012 is that it has a really nice thing going on in the lower registers. The proximity effect is just wicked and flattering - and keeps getting better the farther down you get in your range. I can see why people like them so much on drums; they do the same kinda' thing on toms (they lend some nice weight to them).
 
I do remember trying the MC012 in the past as I did own one. The poping on it was real bad. If I remember correctly, it sounded kinda boxy. Its been some time though with that one as I was not really thinking to use it as a vocal mic. A friend I know has one. Maybe I'll borrow his and give it another go.
The 4033 suggestion looks real interesting to me. Medium diaphram would be fine too.
The Behringer mic, well I don't know. That one is really cheap and there is always something wanting in Behringer gear. Their stuff never quite goes all the way.
I'm looking for an open, defined, but not overly bright vocal mic that doesn't sound boxy and accurately captures my voice. Many of the ones I have tried can sound boxy and a little fuzzy in the high end (lack of definition, maybe premature high end roll off). Even with the mods I do to improve quality, I just can't seem to make a great high end studio mic (a silk purse) out of audiophile gear (a sow's ear). The M9 is my best modded mic to date. It's on the edge of greatness.
I can record intruments and amps well but when it comes to vocals, they seem to be more of a pain to get them to sound open and natural like those recorded in good studios with expensive gear.
Exploring the rehlm of pencil mics/small/medium diaphrams opens a new avenue. Maybe the right one, tweeked the right way, will deliver performance thats many times more than the time and money invested.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top