Vocal mic for a bright voice

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musikman316

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I am looking to spend around $600...

I need a mic that will take the brightness out of my voice, I am a clasically trained singer, now a songwriter and my voice just doesn't work too well with an acoustic, I am recording demos to shop around for other people to record, any suggestions?

Thank you in advance.
 
musik, what's the rest of your signal chain as in type of mic pre and also
compressor (if any)? That can help better determine your microphone choice.

Chris

P.S. I had the equivalent of a year (or two) of classical voice training so
your question is understood BTW.
 
An Octava MK-319 at just under $300 at The Sound Room. A nice ribbon mic could fill the bill too. A Beyer M-260 could be had under $500 and with a ribbon mod can sound an awfull lot like a vintage RCA.
 
You may want to go with a dynamic. Try the EV RE27 or the Shure SM7 or a Sennheiser 421. See if you can borrow some or even set up a quiet spot in a music store to audition them. All these mics would be well under your price point.

The ribbon mic idea is also a good one. If you shop carefully you can get a Beyer 160 for $500.

If you can find a used AKG 414EB that might be another good possibility - they can be found within your budget.

Most current vintage large diaphragm condenser mics designed with vocals in mind seem to be hyped in exactly the areas that you don't want. That's why you may have to think outside the usual box of choices.
 
musik, IMO the Studio Projects C series microphones are quite warm
sounding compared to say, AKG C3000B's/current model 414's.
Their website is www.studioprojects.com

With a budget of $600, you could even pick up a classic large diaphram
dynamic microphone like the Shure SM7, etc., in addition to the above.
The new Sennheiser 421 MKII's are "brighter" than the previous 421's
BTW. (I have one)

Another interesting dynamic to try out is the Beyer M88 or M88TG.

Chris
 
Yes, for a classically trained voice a ribbon might be a good choice (too bad only the Beyers are in your price range). For a condenser at that price, I really like the AKG C4000B on male voices that other mics don't flatter because there's too much in the high mids.

Scott
 
do you have to ask?

The AKG solidtube is probably the best sounding dark mic I've heard under $1000, and it has that neutral attitude that works well on operatic voices.

The c414b/uls also has that character.If you are a true opera singer, You probably dont like Andrea Bocelli, but I bet you can get that type of vocal sound with a 414b/uls( I love Andrea bocelli
 
With all due respect, the AKG 414 model you just mentioned is known for
being a "bright" not dark sounding microphone. (yes, I've sung though it!).
Haven't tried a solidtube though.

Chris
 
sorry, chessparov, the c414b/uls is not a bright mic compared to todays mics like the C1 or the blueberry or a tlm103.

Maybe it was bright compared to the ribbons of yesteryear or the dark sounding vintage tube mics, but by todays standards, its simply real, a great choice for opera.

You can listen to an mp3 that I did a long time ago with a c414b/uls and you'll agree that its not bright.I even boosted the highs on the joemeek vc6q. Its an exceptional mic.


 
Hmm. Well they do say that memory is the second thing to go
with age. (over 40 here)

It's been years since I've "tested" a 414, maybe my mind is darkening as I get older!
The only thing noticable about my C1 is I usually cut about 2db
of 12KHz for ballads, on uptempo stuff it sounds fine "flat".

Chris

P.S. On second thought my voice has deepened a lot over the
last 2 or three years... (could be a factor!)
 
The general take on newer 414's is that they are bright, and maybe not what they used to be. The funny thing is, I have a 414b/uls that is so dark, that there is probably something wrong with it. But I don't want to fix it, because for some things it's perfect the way it is, and I already have enough bright mic's. It actually sounds like a ribbon mic now, and I use it on trumpet and fiddle a lot, sometimes on rack toms too. IT's actually TOO dark for most vocals, although I've had a couple of rappers really dig it. I wouldn't trade it for a "real" 414 under any circumstances!

Maybe Cyan and I got ours from the same mutant batch!
 
Have to chime in here about the Beyer M260. You can get them on the used market for about $220 or so. Have Stephen Sank mod the ribbon and you got yourself a helluva bargain on a ribbon mic. Or just call Stephen and have him broker the mic deal and ship you the mod'ed mic with cable.

Visit Stephen, for whom I do NOT work, at:
http://www.thuntek.net/~bk11/home.htm


If you want to spend less than $500 and get a mic that's not too bright, please do not buy a Chinese condensor.
-kent
 
Is Dynamic A Possibility?

I'm not sure what anyone else thinks about this - But wouldn't a dynamic mic like an SM58 or a Beta work well here (or even more expensive - I don't care)?

They tend to be less shrill in the high end and may provide a bit of warmth without all the cost...

Albums have been recorded with dynamic mics with great results...

I found before I went to condensers that the Mic placement is a little more crucial on a dynamic mic because the tone changes quicker in different positions than what a condenser would...

Anyone???

Riverdog
www.homepage.mac.com/riverdog
 
Absolutely! That's why littledog suggested the EV RE27, Sennheiser MD421 or Shure's SM7, any of which would be great for vocals as well as useful for other things.
-kent
 
ML19 ribbon under 500.00 very nice..[www.oktava.com] This is the sound room..Usein' this mic is like a soft focus on a camera..Good luck


Don
 
knownuttin said:
Absolutely! That's why littledog suggested the EV RE27, Sennheiser MD421 or Shure's SM7, any of which would be great for vocals as well as useful for other things.
-kent
Click to expand...

At least SOMEONE was paying attention! :D
 
Thank you for all of the ideas, now I just have to find all of these mics, and test them out (ha)...

It seems that a lot of you said that a ribbon mic would be a good choice so I will grab a couple of them take my sm58 and borrow a couple of condensors from friends and test them together...

Thanks,
Musik
 
musikman316 said:

It seems that a lot of you said that a ribbon mic would be a good choice so I will grab a couple of them take my sm58 and borrow a couple of condensors from friends and test them together...
Click to expand...

sounds like a man with a plan... good luck, and let us know the results! :cool:
 
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