Which Mic Would You Choose For This Vocal Style?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Norm Mix
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Norm Mix

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Which Mic Would You Choose For This Vocal Style?

Eddie Money....Brian Adams......Don Henley

Rode NT2
Rode NTK
AT 4040
SP C1
AKG 414
Blue Baby Bottle

Or What Others? Thanks!
 
Not familiar with the Baby Bottle.
As far as the others;
The NT2 and 414 are "bright" sounding microphones,
for a male rock vocals I'd probably go for one of others on your
list. Would compare the NTK to the Studio Projects T3 and TB-1
before picking one of those.
Have used the C1 extensively and it sounded excellent for rock
vocals on my voice, especially since mine's a melodic voice, rather
than a raspy one like the singers you listed.
(yeah I know Henley is a lot less raspy than the other two!)
The C3 sounds even a bit more detailed than the C1 BTW.

Chris

P.S. Always try a dynamic microphone too, you may be surprised!
The good 'ol Shure SM57 has been on many hits, you need
a good mic pre to make it shine though.
 
For clarification, meant "especially INTERESTING since mine's a melodic voice". I think the C1 worked well because it has such a
big sound.

Chris
 
Norm Mix said:
Which Mic Would You Choose For This Vocal Style?

Eddie Money....Brian Adams......Don Henley
Click to expand...

Okay, just for fun I'll take a stab at this one.

The guys you mention I would classify as midrangy / high-midrangy kind of singers. Eddie Money, in particular, is kind of nasal, as well. Probably second-to-first tenor, all of them.

My guess is that you'd serve yourself well to stay away from anything Audio Technica here, as they tend to exaggerate the mid-rangy thing. I'd definitely keep it away from Eddie. :D

My first choice in that price range would be a Blue Dragonfly. The C1 or the NT2 might not be bad options either, particularly the C1.

The babybottle would be kind of a toss-up. If the voice is really good as is, and doesn't need embellishment, then I might go with that one over the others.
 
Yeah, they're all tenors.
And another major artist in the tenor "raspy club" would be Rod Stewart.

Chris
 
I thought the SM57 was good suggestion, used by Robert Plant and Paul rodgers on some landmark classic rock.

While testing a B2 (relabled NT2) I found it worked well for when I wanted to sound like Bob seger, For Meat Loaf definantly the C1.


I can do other impressions to, and when A/B ing mics ive used this skill, I used to mimic alot when I was a little kid and now it comes easy.
 
One interesting trick is to mike to lead vocal with a good dynamic
dynamic like a '57 AND use a large diaphram condenser at the
same time. Then you can blend the two vocal tracks at mix-down.
Condenser for clarity, and dynamic for grit.

Steve Tyler typically uses a SM57 and a Sennheiser shotgun
microphone at the same time for his vocals BTW.
He certainly also has a great distinctive rock voice.
(doubt there are too many "soundalikes" of his voice!)

Chris
 
the 57 was probably a dummy to keep those big ass lips off the good mics.....
 
Very funny!

Actually, he's a super nice guy according to a friend of mine who
met him back in Boston some years back, and makes a real
effort to be very personable to "fans". (not just groupies) D)

Chris
 
Thanks! chessparov, Yea Rod Stewart is another vocal like the other ones. I guess you would call it a raspy Tenor Voice

So would you choose the STUDIO PROJECTS C1
over the RODE NTK? I think I'm down to those two.
Any Ideas on Mic pres that go with those mics and vocal styles?
Thanks again!
All other opinions are welcome.
 
Hey......chessparov You There??

Had a question for you on this thread.
Thanks! Norm
 
Hey......chessparov You There??

Had a question for you on this thread.
Thanks! Norm
 
Here's the way I've found things to work. If you're recording someone with a clear bell-like voice, ala Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, – the "colored" mics sound good because they help add some sheen to the voice. Mics would be Neumann U87, Studio Projects C1, Blue Blueberry, Røde NTK... OTOH, people with raspy voices often do not sound good on these mics.

For vocalists with rasp, like Kim Carnes, Joe Cocker, Brian Adams – the flatter, brighter mics work better to pick up all the little characteristics of their voice. Mics would be 414TLII and other AKG's, Studio Projects B1, and a lot of the Audio Technica line like the 4033 and the 4047.

In all honestly, my first choice if I was buying a mic for the needs described by Norm Mix – I'd get a Studio Projects B1 first. Not only will it probably sound great on that type of voice but it's also really excellent for a lot of other applications like acoustic gtr, drums, piano. At $79 you can't go wrong. My second choice would be an AKG 414TLII.

------------
Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
 
Norm asked, Any Ideas on Mic pres that go with those mics and vocal styles?

Again, something less colored. Grace 101, John Hardy M1, Speck MicPre 5.0, Studio Projects VTB-1 in SS mode, M-Audio DMP3. Buy what your budget allows.

------------
Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
 
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