Warm vocal microphone for recording on PC?

[headlesswonder]

Hi, I'm new (obviously! heh) and am looking for a bit of advice on mics. Before anyone give me the 'do a search' speech, I did and am still a bit confused.

I need suggestions on a warm microphone with a 1/4" plug to be used with Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum EX for vocal recording on my PC. I'm not looking to spend a ton on a mic (less than $100) and there are just so many things to consider! I have a soprano voice that can sound thin, so I'm hoping to find a mic that can bring out the deeper tones as well. Any ideas?

A recording engineer friend also mentioned that I could try a ribbon mic and preamp that takes XLR... any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[studiomaster]

Shure SM58

 

[Scooter B]

By "1/4 inch into a sound blaster card" you are limiting your self to dynamic mics.

Most vocals (and other "soft acoustic level sources") are done with condensor mics that will require a TRS for the most part for phantom power although some tube mics have seperate power cables from the mic cord.

Your other option on the cheap side would be one of the Sampson (others coming I am sure) USB mics that give you USB power for a condensor and bypasses your sound blaster card wich is okay for PC gaming but will not be what you want for recording.

Most threads here will tell you the number one most important thing is to get everything as close to what you want at the time of recording and I think a cheap USB condensor in your budget will suit you better than say an SM 58 into the soundblaster.

Others may have better advice though so stay tuned.

 

[studiomaster]

Most threads here will tell you the number one most important thing is to get everything as close to what you want at the time of recording and I think a cheap USB condensor in your budget will suit you better than say an SM 58 into the soundblaster.

Others may have better advice though so stay tuned.

True...those Samson USB condensers aint that bad actually...try one of those out cause u wont get much of a sound with the audigy.

 

[headlesswonder]

OK, moving on to ribbon mics...

Thanks for the advice!

I've talked to my engineer friend and he's told me that a ribbon mic and a mic pre amp to plug into my PC would probably work ok... so I'm trying to learn about them. I know I must sound like a total recording imbecile.

I think I'll change my tactic here and ask what you think of a microphone such as this:

Nady RSM2

I'm a female with a fairly high pitched voice and my engineer friend who has listened to me sing says a ribbon mic would warm up my timbre, so how might a ribbon mic+mic preamp work?

Please excuse my ignorance. The singing isn't new to me. The equipment is.

 

[chessparov]

Consider one of the following Electro-Voice dynamic mics...
RE15
RE16
RE18

These are known to sound similar to a RCA 77 ribbon (EV designed them that way!). BTW they can also be spelled RE-15 (etc.), "EV", or "Electrovoice" when scanning for them at ebay. If you get lucky, they can be scored for around $100 in good condition.

FWIW most of Dolly Parton's hit vocals at RCA were recorded with a RE15.

P.S. A nice budget pre is the Studio Projects VTB-1. It's relatively "dark"
in timbre.

Chris

 

[headlesswonder]

Consider one of the following Electro-Voice dynamic mics...
RE15
RE16
RE18

These are known to sound similar to a RCA 77 ribbon (EV designed them that way!). BTW they can also be spelled RE-15 (etc.), "EV", or "Electrovoice" when scanning for them at ebay. If you get lucky, they can be scored for around $100 in good condition.

FWIW most of Dolly Parton's hit vocals at RCA were recorded with a RE15.

P.S. A nice budget pre is the Studio Projects VTB-1. It's relatively "dark"
in timbre.

Chris

Thanks for the suggestion! That seems to be the best bang for my buck for now. Now I just need to know if I can get away with using a cable from the pre amp that has a 1/16" input plug into my current PC soundcard (which doesn't have a 1/4" option since it's just a basic card). In other words, can I adapt the pre amp to PC connection without too much impedance?

 

[whyseye]

If there's anyway to also upgrade your soundcard to something like an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 (or similar) will hugely increase your sound quality, and also give you more in/out options.

 

[AGCurry]

Thanks for the suggestion! That seems to be the best bang for my buck for now. Now I just need to know if I can get away with using a cable from the pre amp that has a 1/16" input plug into my current PC soundcard (which doesn't have a 1/4" option since it's just a basic card). In other words, can I adapt the pre amp to PC connection without too much impedance?

Pretty much any vocal mic of any quality - including these Electrovoices - is going to be low impedance, and the input of a sound card mic input is high impedance. So you will need to get a transformer and 1/4" to 1/8" adapter in order to use the mic properly.

Another EV mic I like a lot, and which is purportedly designed for female voices, is the 367 N/D. It has plenty of output, too, so you could get by without a preamp - although, in general, you'll get better sound with a preamp.

 

[headlesswonder]

Getting there...

Ok, after going over my options since I planned to upgrade my soundcard soon anyway, and pricing things, here's my plan...

Upgrade soundcard to a M-Audio Audiophile 2496
Use the Studio Projects VTB-1 preamp

And I'm looking at this mic here: http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--ELVND367S

Seems a decent middle ground for my budget after I looked around at the EV RE16. Now what I need to know is what 3-pin XLR cable specs (the mic doesn't seem to come with a cable) I need to look for.

Please don't poke me with sticks for asking so many questions.

Thanks for all the help. Y'all are great!

 

[AGCurry]

And I'm looking at this mic here: http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--ELVND367S

Seems a decent middle ground for my budget after I looked around at the EV RE16. Now what I need to know is what 3-pin XLR cable specs (the mic doesn't seem to come with a cable) I need to look for.

On the link above, just click the "Whirlwind XLR mic cable" link, or whatever it is. Any decent cable should do. Don't buy bargain basement, but don't buy the snob cable either.

 

[myparents]

PREAMP and A 57

just get a pre amp and a sm57, i think its
alot warmer that the 58.

 

[skydye]

just get a pre amp and a sm57, i think its
alot warmer that the 58.

Why is sm57 and sm58 that answer for every quetion?

 

[MOTU]

Why is sm57 and sm58 that answer for every quetion?

They're staples. No more...no less. Tremendous value per $. However, if you can swing the Beta 57 your in an even better world.

 

[twon]

Why is sm57 and sm58 that answer for every quetion?

because you can use them for anything

oh, and if you need a hammer...... try and break one, i dare you....

 

[heroics321]

Why is sm57 and sm58 that answer for every quetion?

They're like cockroaches, they can't be destroyed and they won't ever go away. In my opinion there are plenty of better choices (most in the same price range) from companies like Sennheiser and EV. I've used an E835 for everything I've used a 57/58 on and haven't been disappointed. Want to mic a cab, tom or snare? An E835 will do that very well. What if I want to mic a cab? My Oktava 012's or my 609 will do very well, both can be had for the same price as a Shure 57 or 58. Not to trash the Shures, they're wonderful mics when you've got some extra toms that need tracked, but if I want to hammer nails I'll go get a hammer out of my tool box.

 

[Getaway Driver]

I would stay away

from the Nady Ribbon. It's going to be warm, but there are dynamics out there that are just as warm and probably better made. The Nady needs A LOT of gain, although you should be able to get it out of the preamp you're looking at. I would look into a Shure SM7. Big diaphram, warm dynamic mike- a lot of engineer's "secret weapon". If you're looking at condensors, I would go with a Studio Projects T1; an inexpensive, good sounding tube mic- great for the money. Just my 2 cents.