vocal condensors (mostly rap, some singing)

[shackrock]

I am really not sure what happened to all of the posts in this forum..I guess homerec.com did a clean house on old threads? haha.

anyway, I'll ask again...haha.

I'm lookin at a new vocal mic (large d. condensor at this point). I got a studio projects C1, as well as a MXL v63m or 69m, one of those...ha.

anyway I think the C1 sounds a lot better in every application so far that I've had. So I've been using that basically exclusively for all vocals.

Recently, I've been getting a ton of rap artists in. So I'm wondering if there is a better mic for my suiting (maybe with less harsh S's and T's / sillibance...there is only so much de-essing can do! haha)... Additionally a lot of acoustic guitar playing artsts come in - and do folky singing (my favorite..ha!)...guy and girl.

I'm thinking of something in the AT4xxx's...but I can't really distinguish all the options!

thanks anyone.

 

[Freudian Slip]

Try a at-3035. It has a spl of 148 i think. It also has a 10db pad and a low cutt. I don't rap but I sing very loud, I keep back about a foot or better and It works great.

F.S.

 

[Pro Tools User]

Rode NTK has been my favorite for rap vocals and has done a nice job on acoustics also.

hope this helps

Eddie

 

[Jburn34]

What's your price range?

 

[darnold]

What your looking for is alot of bottom and little top end. i have a rap producer that rents my studio quite often so i have a little experience based on what he uses.

And from what i can tell, the C1 or Rode NTK wont be that sweet of a mic for doing rap and hip hop. Way too bright and sibilant.

What he used to use before was the Soundelux U95. Lately he has been using the Neumann TLM193 and he has been loving the sound of it. He would probably be using the Soundelux if it was still here, but its not.

C1 was definately a big no no. I got him to try out the MXL v67 just out of plain interest. He actually liked the mic because of its interesting flavor. But it had a little bit too much high end edge to it that he was not digging. He said he might use it on a few things though.

I did it out of curiousity because the TLM193 is kind of a dark mic. Not overly dark, but its definately not out in front. The v67 i consider dark too so i wanted to see if he liked that. They are definately no comparison in mics at all, but i was curious.

Neither of them sounded as dark when he used them for his hip hop. They just sounded smooth, with big but tight low end.

So it must do a pretty good job in the application because he is extremely picky.

Danny

 

[darnold]

I just saw you have a v63 and v69. I bet the v69 would sound best for yah. Thats just my guess though.

Try them out, try boosting a bit between 150-250hz to give it a bit more power if it needs it. I find hip hop vocals to be quite whooly sounding personally. Not overdone but definately angled that way. A Studio Projects VTB1 pre might be a good combination for that.

Danny

 

[shackrock]

hmmm...k thanks i'll be looking into things.

only thing is though, I like a lot of high on my vocals...expecially because of the music/samples I tend to like taking the low end...and since there will be a lot of bass in most of it - I like to leave room for that too. I'm gonna be checking things out though.

I like the sound of the AT 40xx's

 

[darnold]

you might like the top end, but your clients wont. of course they want a little bit, but not alot.

rap is alot different than other recording. They want everything phat and big bottem.

if you give them a high end sizzled thin vocal they will be dissatisfied.

danny

 

[Pro Tools User]

you might like the top end, but your clients wont. of course they want a little bit, but not alot.

rap is alot different than other recording. They want everything phat and big bottem.

if you give them a high end sizzled thin vocal they will be dissatisfied.

danny

Rap is all I pretty much record and using a ntk is not a mistake. Matched with the right pre amp its a fantastic mic for hip hop.
check out 24's, recorded using a NTK

Good Talent>>Rode NTK>>Vintech 1272>>Digi002

 

[darnold]

Well i might have the wrong idea on this, and maybe this producer guy just likes that particular style. But ive heard alot of rap albums that have very little high end, but then again ive heard some that have average.

danny

 

[trenttati]

I've been using an AT 4040 for folk vocalists and am extremely pleased. One artist in particular has fantastic low-end nuances to his upper-tenor range, and the 4040 draws them out with real richness. I'm a terrible singer with a natural baritone range and the only mic I've ever enjoyed testing is the 4040, it makes my voice sound far more detailed and full than others I've tried. Mind you, I haven't gotten to test all that many mics, especially not LDC's.

If I could pull some rappers into my studio, I would put them behind the 4040 without second thought. I usually run it into a VTB1 (for crispy high end) or DMP3 (for more "transparent" sound), then an RNC in super nice mode with minimal compression and finally to an analog in on my Digi002R.

 

[shackrock]

I do like the vocals on that...but isn't the NTK $500? haha. I can't afford that at the moment I think.

Beat needs better production..ha!