Your favorite microphone to use

[Maya Clars]

What are your favorite microphones for recording vocals?

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

I've gotten partial to the WA67 for vocals. For my voice. It seems to have a tame top end which I prefer. The WA87r2 sounds pretty good too - it's more crisp - but in a good way.

 

[BTStudio]

On the cheaper side I’m using 2 mxl mic’s. The 440 and the V67G. The 67 has a bit more detail than the 440. Both are good on vocals and acoustic guitar.

 

[CoolCat]

As I see it, general staples for LDC are 87,67,47 design family and the Dynamic mics pretty much a Shure design family 57/58/SM7x is good enough.

Dynamics SM7b, Of course SM57/58 have history and can sound similar but for the extra money the SM7b has the body, EQ, and is just worth it imo. Love it and probably my favorite mic all around. Used $325 ish.. I've kept the SM7b, my #1 favorite- all round.

The the Tube mics....I have little experience, but everyone seemed to post "tube warmth" and studios usually use "tube mics on vocals" etc..etc...etc..
Beatles and most everyone used 47 and 67.
My current Tube winner was the WA47.
I think the WA67 is next for me,...to round out the 47,67.. capsule family.

then there comes the FET LDC's.... without tubes and power supplys, hassle free...so many choices! but "87" capsule is here.

1. Upper end a AKG 414 LTD used $650ish? with shock, case, windscreen, pop filter...great package. Probably my current favorite FET LDC.
Its just a great mic and versatile and smaller.

2. the U87 the pro-standard status, the most cloned, of this capsule and circuit.
I've been test driving Neumann U87AI's, on my second try, not the biggest fan of the sound or the mic, or price.....but its a industry standard so enough said.
Used $2000!!! was meh...and I grabbed this 2nd one at $1650 in "Fair" condition...test drive in progress, etc...its so hard a decision when a $149 AKG P420 sounds so close?

I guess Id like one of each of the 47,67,87 designs.......... fun to try various mics in this group.

and happily consider my dynamics-favorite search complete with the Shures 57/58/SM7x.

 

[TalismanRich]

I've got 3 that I have mostly used... NT1, Miktek MK300 and AKG P420. The 47jr really hasn't gotten the use that I thought it would. The NT1 works when I want things a bit tamer on the top. The AKG works nicely on the few things I've tried and the MK300 does as well.

On the cheap side, there's my V67g, and my SP-B3s. I've had the Studio Projects since I got my AW16G which was in '04 or '05. For dynamics, I've got SM57, Senn e935 and e835s. I like the Sennheisers, my standard for live use!

I've gotten workable recordings from all of these. I would have a real problem spending $1, 2 or 3000 for a single "vocal mic". I'm not running a commercial studio, so I have no clientele to impress. There would be -0- payback to such a purchase.

My drummer buddy has SM58s and a Rode NTK. When we get together, the lead singer gets the NTK. The rest of us get the 58s.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

My choice is restricted to Rode K2(valve mic) or Rode NT1A.
That is all I have, and they haven't disappointed me yet.

 

[Papanate]

Depends on who is doing the singing - I have one the first Guage ECM-87 mics - it does well on female vocals in general - I have a pair of MXL r40 ribbon mics - they sound great on male vocals (among many things) - I have a 30 year old Neuman U87 that I'm just beginning to appreciate - I've used it on Male/Female vocals - I have one of the first Studio Projects C1 - that is one heck of a mic - I have a MXL V67 that is also a very versatile mic on Vocals and other things - I have a Sterling ST-77 that used to sell for $1K but I bought it for $99 because Sam Ash mistook it for something else - It has a Voice Of God like quality and despite it's rather builky unattractive look - it delivers - I have a 40 year AKG 414 that does just about anything you ask - I have Neumann TLM 103 ( and two Chinese Copies) it's okay and will work but not a favorite - the Chinese Copies sound better to me and are a little hotter out the gate - I have a Neumann U47 - which I can't enough about - it's just getting harder to maintain - I like it on my Duaghter quite a bit - when I use it the Mic just sounds like Ocean Way or Abbey Road.

 

[Eric V]

@TalismanRich mentioned the MikTek MK300, and it is because he mentioned it in an old thread, I urged my friend to consider buying one, as the price was "doable" for what range he was willing to spend. It has done a very good job for what we needed.

 

[Maya Clars]

I've gotten partial to the WA67 for vocals. For my voice. It seems to have a tame top end which I prefer. The WA87r2 sounds pretty good too - it's more crisp - but in a good way.

WA67 looks really great! I just watched a video about the microphone, it's really shaping the top end carefully

 

[Maya Clars]

On the cheaper side I’m using 2 mxl mic’s. The 440 and the V67G. The 67 has a bit more detail than the 440. Both are good on vocals and acoustic guitar.

Just listened to a sample of mxl 440 - sounds good indeed for the price! I'm also on the cheaper side, I use Behringer Ultravoice XM8500

 

[Maya Clars]

As I see it, general staples for LDC are 87,67,47 design family and the Dynamic mics pretty much a Shure design family 57/58/SM7x is good enough.

Dynamics SM7b, Of course SM57/58 have history and can sound similar but for the extra money the SM7b has the body, EQ, and is just worth it imo. Love it and probably my favorite mic all around. Used $325 ish.. I've kept the SM7b, my #1 favorite- all round.

The the Tube mics....I have little experience, but everyone seemed to post "tube warmth" and studios usually use "tube mics on vocals" etc..etc...etc..
Beatles and most everyone used 47 and 67.
My current Tube winner was the WA47.
I think the WA67 is next for me,...to round out the 47,67.. capsule family.

then there comes the FET LDC's.... without tubes and power supplys, hassle free...so many choices! but "87" capsule is here.

1. Upper end a AKG 414 LTD used $650ish? with shock, case, windscreen, pop filter...great package. Probably my current favorite FET LDC.
Its just a great mic and versatile and smaller.

2. the U87 the pro-standard status, the most cloned, of this capsule and circuit.
I've been test driving Neumann U87AI's, on my second try, not the biggest fan of the sound or the mic, or price.....but its a industry standard so enough said.
Used $2000!!! was meh...and I grabbed this 2nd one at $1650 in "Fair" condition...test drive in progress, etc...its so hard a decision when a $149 AKG P420 sounds so close?

I guess Id like one of each of the 47,67,87 designs.......... fun to try various mics in this group.

and happily consider my dynamics-favorite search complete with the Shures 57/58/SM7x.

So many choices! I love it! Thank you for sharing the list just listened some samples of Neumann U87AI's, I was expecting a bit more for the price. Dynamic SM7b is awesome!

 

[Maya Clars]

I've got 3 that I have mostly used... NT1, Miktek MK300 and AKG P420. The 47jr really hasn't gotten the use that I thought it would. The NT1 works when I want things a bit tamer on the top. The AKG works nicely on the few things I've tried and the MK300 does as well.

On the cheap side, there's my V67g, and my SP-B3s. I've had the Studio Projects since I got my AW16G which was in '04 or '05. For dynamics, I've got SM57, Senn e935 and e835s. I like the Sennheisers, my standard for live use!

I've gotten workable recordings from all of these. I would have a real problem spending $1, 2 or 3000 for a single "vocal mic". I'm not running a commercial studio, so I have no clientele to impress. There would be -0- payback to such a purchase.

My drummer buddy has SM58s and a Rode NTK. When we get together, the lead singer gets the NTK. The rest of us get the 58s.

A great collection! Yeah I undesrstand. I had Rode NT1-A but switched to Behringer Ultravoice XM8500. Thank you for the list of the microphones, I don't know some of them, so I'll google and watch some videos!

 

[Maya Clars]

My choice is restricted to Rode K2(valve mic) or Rode NT1A.
That is all I have, and they haven't disappointed me yet.

These are great mics! I also have Rode NT1A, it was my first mic ever Now I use Behringer Ultravoice XM8500

 

[Maya Clars]

Depends on who is doing the singing - I have one the first Guage ECM-87 mics - it does well on female vocals in general - I have a pair of MXL r40 ribbon mics - they sound great on male vocals (among many things) - I have a 30 year old Neuman U87 that I'm just beginning to appreciate - I've used it on Male/Female vocals - I have one of the first Studio Projects C1 - that is one heck of a mic - I have a MXL V67 that is also a very versatile mic on Vocals and other things - I have a Sterling ST-77 that used to sell for $1K but I bought it for $99 because Sam Ash mistook it for something else - It has a Voice Of God like quality and despite it's rather builky unattractive look - it delivers - I have a 40 year AKG 414 that does just about anything you ask - I have Neumann TLM 103 ( and two Chinese Copies) it's okay and will work but not a favorite - the Chinese Copies sound better to me and are a little hotter out the gate - I have a Neumann U47 - which I can't enough about - it's just getting harder to maintain - I like it on my Duaghter quite a bit - when I use it the Mic just sounds like Ocean Way or Abbey Road.

Yeah that's right, it depends who's singing and also depends on what kind of tone you want to capture. You have lots of microphones! I will check the ones I don't know, really interesting, Thank you for sharing

 

[Maya Clars]

@TalismanRich mentioned the MikTek MK300, and it is because he mentioned it in an old thread, I urged my friend to consider buying one, as the price was "doable" for what range he was willing to spend. It has done a very good job for what we needed.

MikTek MK300 sounds good! It does a pretty good job as i see

 

[Papanate]

Yeah that's right, it depends who's singing and also depends on what kind of tone you want to capture. You have lots of microphones! I will check the ones I don't know, really interesting, Thank you for sharing

I've been doing it a long time - and I don't sell things I've collected - and the interesting thing for me is I don't want to use the High End Mics all the time - sometimes people sound really good on the lowest price mics - like the MXL R40 or the V67g,

 

[LazerBeakShiek]

The Super Space Microphone MD441.

Everybody is discovering them now. Vocals microphone. Really good for anything. Not being copied! bad news? it is over $1000. best I own

doesnt look like a big black..

 

[scottmartin]

I've got 3 that I have mostly used... NT1, Miktek MK300 and AKG P420. The 47jr really hasn't gotten the use that I thought it would. The NT1 works when I want things a bit tamer on the top. The AKG works nicely on the few things I've tried and the MK300 does as well.

On the cheap side, there's my V67g, and my SP-B3s. I've had the Studio Projects since I got my AW16G which was in '04 or '05. For dynamics, I've got SM57, Senn e935 and e835s. I like the Sennheisers, my standard for live use!

I've gotten workable recordings from all of these. I would have a real problem spending $1, 2 or 3000 for a single "vocal mic". I'm not running a commercial studio, so I have no clientele to impress. There would be -0- payback to such a purchase.

My drummer buddy has SM58s and a Rode NTK. When we get together, you can read more about these microphones to understand their differences; the lead singer gets the NTK, while the rest of us get the 58s.

My favorite microphones for recording vocals depend on the singer and recording environment. The Shure SM7B is great for a warm, smooth sound, while the Audio-Technica AT2020 is an excellent budget-friendly option. For detailed studio vocals, the Rode NT1 is also worth considering. What microphone do you currently use?

 

[CoolCat]

So many choices! I love it! Thank you for sharing the list just listened some samples of Neumann U87AI's, I was expecting a bit more for the price. Dynamic SM7b is awesome!

I think that's a common response from most; we "expected more for the money" when compared to cheaper mics.

Same with guitars or drums costing massively more.

There's too many mics to try them all. Maybe its easier to just follow the path of 87, 67, 47 SM7b ..like a strat, tele, LesPaul shaped guitar...its done, it works its proven.
I went through mic preamps a couple years same thing, the $2500 one didn't turn on any "magic".

I think the studio magic sound began with a good mic, EQ, 1176, 2A etc...the mic then becomes a smaller part of the whole.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

I think that's a common response from most; we "expected more for the money" when compared to cheaper mics.

Same with guitars or drums costing massively more.

There's too many mics to try them all. Maybe its easier to just follow the path of 87, 67, 47 SM7b ..like a strat, tele, LesPaul shaped guitar...its done, it works its proven.
I went through mic preamps a couple years same thing, the $2500 one didn't turn on any "magic".

I think the studio magic sound began with a good mic, EQ, 1176, 2A etc...the mic then becomes a smaller part of the whole.

Agree. I started out - mistakenly thinking the mic was the most important part of the chain. Like: a quality vocal or acoustic gtr part starts there. Now - I not only think differently - I know that's not the case. I don't regret spending the money that I have on some of this stuff - but I see that I could have spent less and pointed my focus somewhat differently.