Vocal Mic (advice needed)

[cjacek]

Hello,

I'm currently in the market for a "good" but inexpensive condenser
microphone for the stage for a male (high-baritone). I currently have a
SHURE 58A dynamic and wish to upgrage the "quality" of the sound. Naturally
I can't bring a typical large condenser on stage. However, I would like to
have something which surpasses the 58A in clarity and comes close to mid of
the road real condensers. (I wish to keep the price for each UNDER $100). I
was offered 2 recommendations:

(1) Audio-Technica MB4000C (can get it for about 50 bucks)

(2) Marshall MXL603S (can get it for about 75 bucks)

Which one would you choose ? Are there any others which are in the price
range and are even better ? Actually, anything, for the stage, which
significantly surpasses my shure 58a would be a first choice ;-) Now, I
know that for the Marshall, the frequency is wider than that of the AT but
then I also heard that frequencies are not as important as the "sound" it
reproduces so I'm not going by the specs but perhaps by someone who has
experience with these mics and can recommend one over the other perhaps.

Thanks a lot,

Daniel

 

[DJL]

The Marshall MXL V67b, MXL 990, and the Studio Projects B1 are all good LDC mic's within your budget.

 

[chessparov]

Daniel, since you said "for the stage" my response is based upon that.
The best thing IMO about a SM58 is their high resale value.
As a fellow high baritone, (normally) superior alternatives would include;
Under $100 used:

Sennheiser 431
Sennheiser e855
Beyer Soundstar MKII
Shure Beta 57A or 58
Electro-Voice N/D series
Electro-Voice EV 635A

Under $200 (if you sell the SM58 and get just one microphone)

AKG C535 EB (condenser)
Beyer M88TG
Beyer M69TG (like M88 with less bass response)
Shure Beta 87A or 87C (condenser)

Out of all these hand held microphones my personal favorite is the M88TG.
The Beyers will tend to exhibit a warmer sound than the others, other than
the EV 635A.
Any of these choices should be superior for your application than the two
you originally mentioned.

Chris

 

[cjacek]

Thanks so much guys!

Daniel

 

[Chammy]

AKG C-2000 B STUDIO CONDENSER

How about the AKG C2000?I "heard" its good enough.For the buck.Any advice on that one?I am looking to get one also.

 

[chessparov]

You mean for stage use, as in the context of this thread?
That AKG was designed for home recording use, rather than live.

Chris

 

[Chammy]

Well yeah,thats what I mean.For home recording.SO it is good?

 

[bleyrad]

most of the mics that chessparov listed will probably sound better, but at $50, the MB4000C would suit you really well. i have one and used it on a friend's high baritone voice in numerous occasions, and it works really well, even for recording - not just live.

the mic doesn't get mentioned around here that much, but it really is a good deal. the reason it's so cheap is because the diaphram is so small - it's much easier/cheaper to make a good-sounding SD mic than a great-sounding LD mic.

 

[chessparov]

Chammy, you'd probably be better off with something like one of the Studio Projects mikes for the same or less money.
The recent AKG's I've either owned or sung through sound too bright for my taste on vocals.

What kind of pre are you using?
What style of material?

Chris

 

[Chammy]

Well I don't have a studio mic yet but I was looking at the AKGs.And I havent yet bought a preamp cause I hear alot of pros and cons about em.Oh, and the style is metal.Lots of screaming.I know that a Sure 58 I hear is good for screaming vocals but I later would like to use it for other types of music as well as micing an acoustic guitar or drums.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Chammy, I own a C2000B and I think it's an underated mic. With bass cut and pad, it's more versatile than Studio Projects B1, and is better on acoustic guitar than my C-3.. As a vocal mic, it works for some people some of the time, like most mics. I think it's underated because its larger and more expensive cousin, C3000B, basically sucks for the money, so most people never gave this mic a listen. I can't tell you what happens when you scream at it, though, I never tried that. Actually, I find C2000B is a lot more like a C414B-ULS than it is like a C3000B. I think, though it's more of an instrument mic that works for some vocalists-Richie

 

[DJL]

Well I don't have a studio mic yet but I was looking at the AKGs.And I havent yet bought a preamp cause I hear alot of pros and cons about em.Oh, and the style is metal.Lots of screaming.I know that a Sure 58 I hear is good for screaming vocals but I later would like to use it for other types of music as well as micing an acoustic guitar or drums.

Maybe the Marshall MXL990 would be a good screamers type mic for you, and their only $70. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030309215652064156228226430060/search/g=home?q=mxl+990

Here's what Harvey said about the MXL990.

We've been using the MXL 990 on heavy rock vocals lately, and it's turning out very good for that purpose.

 

[Chammy]

So the Marshall MXL990 is good.Will it also suit my experimental needs such as female vocals and subtle vocals?