vox mics and eq........help!!!!

[googooroo]

hey, first timer here.

bout a year ago, I went on a search for a good inexpensive vox mic for my self to use in my home studio. Every mic I tried in many positions and a few different locations in my home needed some sort of eq help after laying down the vox track, I tried AKG 3000b, Blue Baby Bottle, Shure ksm27 and SP C1. I ended up buying the C1 based on the sound of my voice recorded, ALL of the mics had this high mid painful thang going on that was painful to my ears, the C1 was the only mic I could eq this out of and still have a good usable sound.well, recently I found an oppertunity on ebay, a Shure KSM44 I got it for 295.00 could not pass up that price, I was expecting big things for my vox with this mic, what do I get?? this same painful honking midrange...its in the 2k area.......so my question is, are you guys really getting good enough vox sounds to not have to use any eq??? if this is so then I am having to use drastic eq to get something near acceptable!! please help. just to let you know, I have recorded in different sized rooms even a closet full of crap to deaden the sound. I have moved the mic in many positions in relation to my mouth..........I am very frustrated!!!!

 

[Adobian]

I am also looking for a mic to sing. And so far, I am thinking of either the MXL V6, or the MXL V69ME, or a used MXL V77 if I could find one on Ebay.

 

[2lim]

What is yoru whole signal chain? What preamp are you using and what media do you record to? Also.... do you have an annoying midrang sounding voice? Answer these and someone who knows more than me will have an easier time helping you out!


Simon

 

[DonGraham]

I had a similar problem.....find a decent preamp/channel strip with a parametric EQ/notch filter......locate the annoying frequency and get rid of it......

 

[jonnyc]

I do notice that on the baby bottle you really have to cut the mids and boost the highs to get a decent male vox sound(still love the mic though) it really seems to shine on female vox. I'm gonna take a look at the Rode K2 see if that'll do that trick.

 

[giraffe]

how close are you to the mic?

 

[googooroo]

I have an Aardvark q10, I am using the mic pres in it, I record direct to disk using sonar 4 producer. I do have a cheap Behringer autocom pro compressor that I have tried using but I think it actually accentuates the problem.........as far as mic set up, I have tried recording with the diapham directly in front of my mouth from 12inches to 2inches (distance from the mic) back and I have tried singing just under the diaphram and above it. what worked for me with the C1 is singing just below it about 6inches back with the microphone angled away from me.......of course I have tried that too.

yes I guess I do have a midrangey voice at times, I tend to sound like John Hiatt, to Rob Thomas to the singer from Maroon five to ......sting.......I dont sing like or as well as those guys but I have that sort of tonality........

thank you somuch for your comments......I am looking forward to hearing more from you all.

 

[leddy]

You could try a dynamic mic. I get better tracks with an SM58 sometimes than a decent condenser.

 

[googooroo]

ouch!! I hope I can get the job done with this expensive mic. or are you saying the 58 may be better suited for my vox sound?

 

[Zed10R]

googoo,

In general a dynamic mic will not produce as pleasing a sound as a condenser for vocals. Your KSM44 is a far superior mic in comparison to the SM58. I think your problem may lie in your vocal technique. Find the notes that contain the offending frequency and practice them in a different tonality. I have a similar problem with my upper mid range and high end. If I tense up and do not let the notes out strong and un-restricted I have a nasal sound. it took some time to identify and fix with better technique.

 

[googooroo]

I believe you have hit the nail on the head, I say this because I have been testing the mic out in all of theses different positions singing the same song over and over, last night I sang different song and it sounds awsome!! just huge!!! this song I sing full throated and its not nasally. I feel a bit silly, the ksm44 bows my sp c1 way!!

 

[Zed10R]

I'm Glad to hear it Googoo. There is nothing quite like suddenly realizing how great you can sound.

 

[leddy]

ouch!! I hope I can get the job done with this expensive mic. or are you saying the 58 may be better suited for my vox sound?

I was not recommending the 58 per se, I was just suggesting a dynamic mic. There are plenty 'o high-end dynamics considered very good for vocals such as EV & Sennheiser.

 

[googooroo]

thanks teddy, I have read of people using the 57 on rock vox in studios sometimes.

 

[chessrock]

For whatever it might be worth, the Marshall mxl-990 has kind of a mild dip in the 2K range ... and it's a cheap mic that sounds good.

 

[Warhead]

You could try a dynamic mic. I get better tracks with an SM58 sometimes than a decent condenser.

I was wondering who would beat me to it! With that kind of bump from those condensors...a dynamic is the only mic I'd try next.

War