Are there any go to mics for hard rock or metal singers?

Reag1502 · 20th January 2007, 02:43 AM

What does someone like Chris Cornell use for his screaming type voice. I was trying to record some of that kind of vocal stuff today on a tube mic, and it clips for some reason. Are there certain mics that sound better for that kind of high grunty singing? Thanks

by-tor · 20th January 2007, 03:06 AM

my favorite:

sm7

or

PR-40

jdjustice · 20th January 2007, 05:01 AM

i have heard that the Soundelux iFet7 is a great 'screamers' microphone.

Reag1502 · 20th January 2007, 06:12 AM

yeah some one was telling me about those SM7'S. What's the difference between the SM7 and the SM7B?

by-tor · 20th January 2007, 06:37 AM

Some swithces and the mount I think? I dunno. There is a thread about it here somewhere....

Makinithappen · 20th January 2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by by-tor

Some swithces and the mount I think? I dunno. There is a thread about it here somewhere....

Yeah I think theres about 20 of them floating around here.

Allen Wrench · 20th January 2007, 11:54 AM

I was in this same situation a few years ago…
SM7 didn’t work, 121 backwards didn’t work, non of me LDC mics worked…
believe it or not… I ended up with a 57 !

I shot out EVERY mic pre and mic combo I had and ended up with the sm57 on an API 512c mic pre.

Don’t be afraid of your 57’s on vocals!!!!

But be aware… ALL mics sound different on all vocals. This mic ‘worked’ with this particular situation, with this particular voice, at this particular time.

- ALLEN WRENCH -

Whitehouse · 20th January 2007, 04:17 PM

Hell yeah! I have had great luck in the metal vocal world using a 58 with the fancy little foam screen.

Its definately got its own sound, and 75 percent of the time works better than any LDC or Ribbon. My 1 cent.

M

AlexLakis · 20th January 2007, 04:20 PM

SM57, SM7, MD421...

el cochino · 20th January 2007, 05:06 PM

Another vote for the 57

big country · 20th January 2007, 05:22 PM

Its the only company that makes a large diapram dynamic, it sounds like a

condenser, the dynamics are simply amazing. the magnet on this pup is

ten times stonger than what the other mics use. this mic picks up sound

like a dream. the price is lower than a 421 and sm7, but sounds like a 441

with lower freq. range. I have never heard one single bad word said about

thier mics.

Harley-OIART · 20th January 2007, 05:28 PM

Another vote for the under-the-radar SM-58!

Yes its on the low end of the professional fidelity totem-pole, but the damn thing sounds positively FAT on the right voice.

A few times it has been the best choice between :

*Beta58
*AT-4060
*AT-4050
*SM-57
*MD-421 (Close Second)
*RE-20
*AKG-414 XLII
*MD-441
*EV N/D 868 ;)

The reason I still feel was because of the proximity effect as I actually didn't have a problem letting the vocalist nearly swallow the 58. Needed a replacement windscreen after

but the takes were worth it.

punisher · 20th January 2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el cochino

Another vote for the 57

Word.

NathanEldred · 20th January 2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdjustice

i have heard that the Soundelux iFet7 is a great 'screamers' microphone.

That's my go to...in V mode. Usually sounds significantly better than any dynamic mic IME.

Makinithappen · 20th January 2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big country

Its the only company that makes a large diapram dynamic, .

RE20?

johnnyjellybean · 20th January 2007, 08:10 PM

Peluso P12

big country · 20th January 2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makinithappen

RE20?

RE-20
its a small diaphram Frequency response: 45Hz-18kHz

The heil on the other hand : Frequency response: 28Hz to 18kHz

Large 1-1/2" aluminum diaphragm

The unique, copper-wound voice coil uses a mixed metallic magnet structure that creates a magnetic field 10 times stronger than most mics. Coupled with a large 1-1/2", low-mass, quilted aluminum diaphragm, this makes for tremendous low-frequency response and low distortion throughout the PR-40's wide frequency range. A unique dual pop screen design ensures that breath blasts never hit the diaphragm directly

Im not blowin smoke up your arse thies are the best.

Makinithappen · 20th January 2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big country

RE-20 RE-20

The unique, copper-wound voice coil uses a mixed metallic magnet structure that creates a magnetic field 10 times stronger than most mics. Coupled with a large 1-1/2", low-mass, quilted aluminum diaphragm, this makes for tremendous low-frequency response and low distortion throughout the PR-40's wide frequency range. A unique dual pop screen design ensures that breath blasts never hit the diaphragm directly

Im not blowin smoke up your arse thies are the best.

touche. good points.

And I know about the Heils. I own a PR40 and went over to Bobs shop across the river to pick it up and listen to Bob tell me that I should sell all my nuemanns and buy a closet full of his 30s and 40s. I don't think I'll be doing that but he still sells a quality mic.

big country · 20th January 2007, 08:55 PM

I would love to meet Bob (ICON)

he has a real neat history.

would you take your Nuemanns to a location gig?

Im wondering if they will jack up the cost , once they take off.

they dont seem like a company that would out source to China.

Makinithappen · 20th January 2007, 09:12 PM

Yeah he's a ....hmmm...interesting guy. He does have a neat history and he loves to talk about it.

The PR40 is a great mic and while it doesn't sound great on everything, I'm definitely glad that I have it in my mic cabinet.

big country · 20th January 2007, 09:45 PM

I wouldnt pick it for over heads or a room mic . but almost any thing else

vernier · 20th January 2007, 10:02 PM

47 or 58 ...and none other.

landshark · 20th January 2007, 11:27 PM

I mixed a live performance tv show the other day. The vocal was cut with a 58 down an API desk. I used some 1176 and pultec and was amazed at the fat sound I got.
Can't wait to try that again.
The vocalist had a voice somewhere between Sting and John Mayer. Great air in the voice.

Jim vanBergen · 20th January 2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big country

Its the only company that makes a large diapram dynamic.

Um, heard of Stedman? LDD if I'm not mistaken. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

big country · 21st January 2007, 09:48 PM

the only product I found from Stedman was pop screens. do you have a link

to thier mics.

ToddF · 22nd January 2007, 09:08 AM

I record a lot of hard rock singers and screamers and usually a Neumann U87 wins out. Older one not the Ai.
The 58 and Sm-7 just sound cheaper to me. Missing low and highs.
The U87 takes loud volume really well.

Todd

kats · 22nd January 2007, 06:29 PM

Yeah another ifet7 vote here.

I have a funny deal going on with this mic. I always use my fancy mics first but when I'm not convinced somehow the ifet7 always works. I think it's totally underated and unlike popular internet wisdom kicks butt all over the U95.

Mark Warren · 24th January 2007, 12:33 AM

An SM58 got used on a screamer/grunter hardcore mutant metal vocal the other day. Worked great, and the guy danced and jumped around so much with it that the Mogami cord became permanently semi-twisted, so tip: if you've got one of these guys use a cable made for live, the Mogami quad studio shielding wasn't made for doing the mosh pit twirly dance in the live room.

Frankovitchy · 24th January 2007, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddF

I record a lot of hard rock singers and screamers and usually a Neumann U87 wins out. Older one not the Ai.
The 58 and Sm-7 just sound cheaper to me. Missing low and highs.
The U87 takes loud volume really well.

Todd

i agree

but i haven't tried the ifet7 yet....(gotta get to that someday soon!)
been hearing good things...and i do a LOT of rock/hard rock singers...

waffle waitress · 24th January 2007, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Warren

An SM58 got used on a screamer/grunter hardcore mutant metal vocal the other day. Worked great, and the guy danced and jumped around so much with it that the Mogami cord became permanently semi-twisted, so tip: if you've got one of these guys use a cable made for live, the Mogami quad studio shielding wasn't made for doing the mosh pit twirly dance in the live room.

Hey Mark...sorry man I should have known better...did he waste that cable? PS...somebody stole your avatar.

Yeah the 58 works great...in the session Mark was refering to I ran the 58 into an API really hot and then to the Purple mc77...digi eq 3 in the mix (86 the proximity effect and ad some air back on the top) and my secret weapon...the old stock digi compressor slammed (I know some may barf at that idea but it has a sound...lots of "tension").

I love the 58 for that stuff...singers like the "feel" of holding the mic too...and you can crank the monitors in the room while tracking...no headphones or popfilter...I feel like a LDC on a stand with a popfilter can be the wrong method for a screamer...unless they have some real singing in there too (like the Deftones).

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20th January 2007, 02:43 AM	#1
Reag1502 Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: overlooking the pacific ocean Posts: 367	Are there any go to mics for hard rock or metal singers? What does someone like Chris Cornell use for his screaming type voice. I was trying to record some of that kind of vocal stuff today on a tube mic, and it clips for some reason. Are there certain mics that sound better for that kind of high grunty singing? Thanks

20th January 2007, 05:01 AM	#3
jdjustice Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,261	i have heard that the Soundelux iFet7 is a great 'screamers' microphone. __________________ jdjustice.net

20th January 2007, 11:54 AM	#7
Allen Wrench Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 167	I was in this same situation a few years ago… SM7 didn’t work, 121 backwards didn’t work, non of me LDC mics worked… believe it or not… I ended up with a 57 ! I shot out EVERY mic pre and mic combo I had and ended up with the sm57 on an API 512c mic pre. Don’t be afraid of your 57’s on vocals!!!! But be aware… ALL mics sound different on all vocals. This mic ‘worked’ with this particular situation, with this particular voice, at this particular time. - ALLEN WRENCH - __________________ Why are you on this forum… as opposed to recording or writing music?

20th January 2007, 05:22 PM	#11
big country Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brea Ca, Posts: 5,357	love-in my Heil pr 40 Its the only company that makes a large diapram dynamic, it sounds like a condenser, the dynamics are simply amazing. the magnet on this pup is ten times stonger than what the other mics use. this mic picks up sound like a dream. the price is lower than a 421 and sm7, but sounds like a 441 with lower freq. range. I have never heard one single bad word said about thier mics. __________________ Matt people are not a piece of paper and should not be valued as so

20th January 2007, 03:06 AM	#2
by-tor Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 447	my favorite: sm7 or PR-40

20th January 2007, 06:12 AM	#4
Reag1502 Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: overlooking the pacific ocean Posts: 367	yeah some one was telling me about those SM7'S. What's the difference between the SM7 and the SM7B?

20th January 2007, 06:37 AM	#5
by-tor Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 447	Some swithces and the mount I think? I dunno. There is a thread about it here somewhere....

20th January 2007, 04:17 PM	#8
Whitehouse Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 49	Hell yeah! I have had great luck in the metal vocal world using a 58 with the fancy little foam screen. Its definately got its own sound, and 75 percent of the time works better than any LDC or Ribbon. My 1 cent. M

20th January 2007, 04:20 PM	#9
AlexLakis Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/L.A. Posts: 3,612	SM57, SM7, MD421...

20th January 2007, 05:06 PM	#10
el cochino Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Austria Posts: 777	Another vote for the 57

20th January 2007, 05:28 PM	#12
Harley-OIART Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,127	Another vote for the under-the-radar SM-58! Yes its on the low end of the professional fidelity totem-pole, but the damn thing sounds positively FAT on the right voice. A few times it has been the best choice between : Beta58 AT-4060 AT-4050 SM-57 MD-421 (Close Second) RE-20 AKG-414 XLII MD-441 *EV N/D 868 ;) The reason I still feel was because of the proximity effect as I actually didn't have a problem letting the vocalist nearly swallow the 58. Needed a replacement windscreen after but the takes were worth it.

20th January 2007, 08:10 PM	#16
johnnyjellybean Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 857	Peluso P12

20th January 2007, 08:55 PM	#19
big country Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brea Ca, Posts: 5,357	jelouse I would love to meet Bob (ICON) he has a real neat history. would you take your Nuemanns to a location gig? Im wondering if they will jack up the cost , once they take off. they dont seem like a company that would out source to China. __________________ Matt people are not a piece of paper and should not be valued as so

20th January 2007, 09:12 PM	#20
Makinithappen Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hot Louis (Nellyville) Posts: 534	Yeah he's a ....hmmm...interesting guy. He does have a neat history and he loves to talk about it. The PR40 is a great mic and while it doesn't sound great on everything, I'm definitely glad that I have it in my mic cabinet. __________________ http://www.jupiterstudios.net/ I think you'll find that 'generic and flavourless' is generally something that occurs before the microphone -Karloff70

20th January 2007, 09:45 PM	#21
big country Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brea Ca, Posts: 5,357	I wouldnt pick it for over heads or a room mic . but almost any thing else __________________ Matt people are not a piece of paper and should not be valued as so

20th January 2007, 10:02 PM	#22
vernier Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,666	47 or 58 ...and none other. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/learstevens

20th January 2007, 11:27 PM	#23
landshark Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 40	I mixed a live performance tv show the other day. The vocal was cut with a 58 down an API desk. I used some 1176 and pultec and was amazed at the fat sound I got. Can't wait to try that again. The vocalist had a voice somewhere between Sting and John Mayer. Great air in the voice. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ www.SonicEdenStudios.com

21st January 2007, 09:48 PM	#25
big country Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brea Ca, Posts: 5,357	the only product I found from Stedman was pop screens. do you have a link to thier mics. __________________ Matt people are not a piece of paper and should not be valued as so

22nd January 2007, 09:08 AM	#26
ToddF Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 585	I record a lot of hard rock singers and screamers and usually a Neumann U87 wins out. Older one not the Ai. The 58 and Sm-7 just sound cheaper to me. Missing low and highs. The U87 takes loud volume really well. Todd __________________ Todd Fitzgerald Producer/Engineer Winterland Studios Minneapolis API Legacy + http://www.winterlandstudios.com

22nd January 2007, 06:29 PM	#27
kats Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,366	Yeah another ifet7 vote here. I have a funny deal going on with this mic. I always use my fancy mics first but when I'm not convinced somehow the ifet7 always works. I think it's totally underated and unlike popular internet wisdom kicks butt all over the U95.

24th January 2007, 12:33 AM	#28
Mark Warren Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 637	An SM58 got used on a screamer/grunter hardcore mutant metal vocal the other day. Worked great, and the guy danced and jumped around so much with it that the Mogami cord became permanently semi-twisted, so tip: if you've got one of these guys use a cable made for live, the Mogami quad studio shielding wasn't made for doing the mosh pit twirly dance in the live room. __________________ -Mark Warren 5am Studios, an Austin Recording Studio We Support the Austin Music Scene!