What mic next?

[coloradojay]

Maybe not a mic at all? The budget is about $350-400

Currently I've got (in order of how much they get used for recording vocals): Shure Beta 87a, SP C1, Marshal v67, and Octava 319 (stock). I've never found a vocal I liked the 319 on yet.

The mics I'm currently considering: Shure SM7b, Shure KSM32, Blue Baby Bottle, EV RE20 or maybe even something low end Rode NTK, Tube SP TB3, Marshall V69, or ... (yes I know the first set are of the "uncolored" variety and the tubes are all going to be colored, also the first set are "tried and true" quality mics, and the secod variety are pretty much chinese).

The vocalists I'm working with right now are an R&B singer that sounds a lot like Luther Vandross and has like 4 usable octaves down to Bass, and goes from a belt to a wisper in dynamics- I'm not happy with any of my current mics on his voice and his SPL is often too much for the v67.

Vocalist two is a female vocalist of Asian descent who sings from Bjork to Ella to Sade, and can be sybalent and nasal (but has tons of flavor which I really want to capture), so I'm thinking the C1 is probably out for her since it's so bright to begin with unless maybe I play with off axis or something, but the 87a and 67 both seem to do OK on her, and gives me an option for texture. I bet she'd sound buttery on the Baby Bottle.

Obviously my mic locker is pretty weak so far so I'm leaning toward the Shure, EV, or BLUE, to try to get some solid tools in there that I'll still keep and still use as it grows.

Of course in a perfect world we'd all go try these mics on both voices out and pick the one we like the best... in a perfect world.

My pres are the DMP-3, VTB1, Tascam 1884 board, and Soundtracs Topaz board, and I've got an RNC. So yeah, I could still use a "golden channel" too, maybe I should go there next and just get more out of the mics I've got now?

There are just sooo many choices out there my brain is about to explode...

 

[Big Kenny]

You need a mic with nothing added, AT 4040

 

[coloradojay]

You need a mic with nothing added, AT 4040

OK, so there's another candidate, and I know AT is a good company. So would you say that this mic would be more neutral than the Baby Bottle or KSM32? Most of what I have read point toward these mics being pretty neutral.

 

[mshilarious]

OK, so there's another candidate, and I know AT is a good company. So would you say that this mic would be more neutral than the Baby Bottle or KSM32? Most of what I have read point toward these mics being pretty neutral.

The Baby Bottle is not neutral. The KSM32 is.

 

[coloradojay]

The Baby Bottle is not neutral. The KSM32 is.

How about the RE20? I've had several folks recommend that to me as a mic I "can't go wrong" with and which gives a good neutral sound.

No votes for the sm7b either, eh?

 

[mbrebes]

For dynamics, the RE20 and SM7 are pretty neutral and both very good sounding. For the vocals you are talking about, it seems like you are in need of a good vocal condensor mic. The AT4040 would probably be a good choice, but you might also want to consider a used AT4050, which is a bit more flexible. You might definitely consider looking at used mics that are a bit higher end than the condensors you mentioned.

 

[nuemes]

Of the mics you listed I own the Shure SM7b, Blue Baby Bottle, & MXL V67.

The SM7b is great for dynamic singers and especially good if you have bad room sound as it won't pic up nearly as much room as a condensor. It's also $300 new at GC (ask for an astnt mngr), and well worth the cost. The SM7b has been very good on every female voice I've recorded, and 50/50 on male voices so far - sometimes it's perfect, sometimes it's boxy crap depending on the voice.

The Baby Bottle is smooth. Good for female vocals & some male vocals, but I've never been perfectly happy with it on any vocals yet. However, the Babt Bottle does handle acou & elec guitar well too. Worth $600? I'm not sure yet.

For $600 you could get the SM7b + a $300 condensor. Maybe something to consider?

 

[nuemes]

For dynamics, the RE20 and SM7 are pretty neutral

You find the SM7 pretty nuetral? I consider it one of the most colored mics I've used. I think of it as a compressed sounding, radio voice tone.

 

[Big Kenny]

You find the SM7 pretty nuetral? I consider it one of the most colored mics I've used. I think of it as a compressed sounding, radio voice tone.

I agree, not neutral. The SM7 is a great mic though and it works for a bunch of different voices styles. The idea of an SM7 and a 4040 is a good one. The 4050 is also another way to go.
I have all the mics you are looking at (save the 32) and would replace only the 4040. RE20 andsm7 if I lost em

 

[coloradojay]

The SM7b ... It's also $300 new at GC (ask for an astnt mngr), and well worth the cost

Is that a price match, or...? The lowest I've found it new online is $348 shipped (which I'd make them cover the sales tax of 8% on, so that's like $321 if I paid tax). I've made GuitarSatan match some pretty rediculous deals before though, and know that persistance helps.

There is a used bottle available locally for $350, and it's quite tempting. My only worry with it is that I've heard it's picky in terms of placement/angle, whereas mics like the sm7 and re20 are more forgiving in that arena.

So nuemes, if you could only have one, you'd get the SM7 over the Baby Bottle? Are they different enough that you plan to keep both?

 

[coloradojay]

I agree, not neutral. The SM7 is a great mic though and it works for a bunch of different voices styles. The idea of an SM7 and a 4040 is a good one. The 4050 is also another way to go.
I have all the mics you are looking at (save the 32) and would replace only the 4040. RE20 andsm7 if I lost em

The 4050 is in the price range too. My room is not great, but I've got moving blankets that help, and am just about to slap some more aurelex up.

I've also noticed that I could possibly get into a KSM44 for around $400.

The options are just overwhelming. My local boutique will let me audition the KSM32 and RE20 and have them in stock, but they want almost $500 for each when I can get them for $400. These are like the lowest end mics they carry. They also rent, I just found out, and I may do that for a bit until I can afford more, that way we go pick the one we want, and rent it with a serious preamp, and get busy.

That said, I'd still like to pick up another good mic for general purpose vocals.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

So, all you have currently are cardioids, and you wanna get more cardioids? What about other patterns? What about ribbon mics?

 

[nuemes]

Is that a price match, or...?

There is a used bottle available locally for $350, and it's quite tempting.

So nuemes, if you could only have one, you'd get the SM7 over the Baby Bottle? Are they different enough that you plan to keep both?

$300 + tax was the price an astnt mngr at GC offered for a new SM7b when I asked him to beat a $330 price I saw on the web. I was suprised he went so low! He drop-shipped it too for free.

$350 is a good price for the Baby Bottle. Maybe swing both mics?

If I could only have one it would depend on the application. For recording more than just vocals the Baby Bottle would be the clear choice over the SM7b. For recording vocals in a bad room (especially dynamic vocals or vocals recorded in a room that is not quiet) than the SM7b would be a better choice. A plus with the SM7 is that they keep their value perfectly. If you buy it for $300 you can resell it on eBay and get every penny back.

Both mics are keepers and steps up from what you have; either choice will be good at the $300-$350 price points.

 

[coloradojay]

So, all you have currently are cardioids, and you wanna get more cardioids? What about other patterns? What about ribbon mics?

Good point. If I went with a mic like the KSM44, AT4050, or even TB3, I could get switchable patterns.

I would like a ribbon mic down the road, especially for the next time I get to record a saxophone, but from what I've read about their gain needs, I don't think I've currently got a pre with enough clean gain to really do a ribbon justice, do I? Also, I would guess I might I have similar overload issues with a high SPL vocalist like I'm running into with the v67, with a ribbon (especially one I could afford), no?

I would be honored to know what you would buy next in this situation Mr. Gerst? Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

Both these vocalists are great musicians in their own right, which is why I'm looking to get a new mic ASAP to give one or both of them a better sound given the constraints.

I'm fully open to any suggestions.

 

[coloradojay]

$300 + tax was the price an astnt mngr at GC offered for a new SM7b when I asked him to beat a $330 price I saw on the web. I was suprised he went so low! He drop-shipped it too for free.

$350 is a good price for the Baby Bottle. Maybe swing both mics?

If I could only have one it would depend on the application. For recording more than just vocals the Baby Bottle would be the clear choice over the SM7b. For recording vocals in a bad room (especially dynamic vocals or vocals recorded in a room that is not quiet) than the SM7b would be a better choice. A plus with the SM7 is that they keep their value perfectly. If you buy it for $300 you can resell it on eBay and get every penny back.

Both mics are keepers and steps up from what you have; either choice will be good at the $300-$350 price points.

Thanks for the advice man. I agree that either would be a big step up from my current budget mic collection. Let me know where you found $330, as I may go and get one.

 

[chessrock]

R&B singer that sounds a lot like Luther Vandross and has like 4 usable octaves down to Bass, and goes from a belt to a wisper in dynamics- I'm not happy with any of my current mics on his voice and his SPL is often too much for the v67.

Easy one. SM-7.

Vocalist two is a female vocalist of Asian descent who sings from Bjork to Ella to Sade, and can be sybalent and nasal ...

That one's a little tougher. I might normally say AT 4047 but that might be too steep for the current budget. Nasal singers generally need something scooped in the mids to compliment them, so as not to shine too much of a light on their nasal qualities (Unfortunately, that might rule out the Baby Bottle and most of the ATs and Shures). Only problem is most scooped mics tend to be sibilant. Hmmm. Your MXL V-67 might actually fit that bill. Have you tried that one? What don't you like about that mic on her?
.

 

[mshilarious]

Also, I would guess I might I have similar overload issues with a high SPL vocalist like I'm running into with the v67, with a ribbon (especially one I could afford), no?

No. Ribbons can typically handle tremendous SPLs, and since they are low output they are unlikely to clip your pres. Just don't let him blow into it

 

[pohaku]

Unless you want to look into ribbons, I would go with an SM7b and either a AT-4050 or a KSM44.

Full Compass has the SM7b for $314. http://www.fullcompass.com/product/270444.html

Amazon has them for $320.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...6335942-4230408?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments


The SM7b is very usable on instruments as well as vocals. Great on electric guitar and acoustic guitar. It is my single most used mic for all purposes. It gets selected as lead vocal mic (for male and female vocals) more often than any of my condensers including my AT-4050s, Gefell M582h, Groove Tubes MD3 and MD1a, and Beyer M834, and cost less than any of them (bought mine used for $200 - its an original SM7). In the last project, it was the lead vocal mic (female), second vocal mic (male) and was used for most of the guitars. Used an AEA R84 for background vocals.

If you want to try a ribbon for vocals, track down a Beyer M500 and give that a go. Can sound wonderful on the right voice.

 

[mhelin]

New Blues are not the same mics as the original manufactured in Latvia. As an alternative to (original) Baby Bottle you could use Violet Dolly (or Black Knight, though it's got different body and so has a little bit more bass, but capsule is same as in original Baby Bottle).

 

[BigRay]

easy! AT4050 OR two Shinybox ribbons.

Teddy