female vocal mic

[Randy Moore]

I'm looking for a great sounding female vocal mic that will work most of the time (no mic works for everybody). The budget is between $1000 and $2500. I'm using a Focusrite Red 7 mic pre/comp and recording to an Alesis HD 24, mixing thru a Soundcraft 6000 36x 24 x 2 console. The console seems to add some warmth but that can be a bad thing with a dark sounding mic. I'm considering the Soundelux 195, u99 and Lawson mp 47 and the manley cardiod. Any sugestions will be appreciated.


Randy Moore
www.sunsetrecordingstudio.com

[mcguin]

just got a Soundelux 195 - LOVE IT!!! great on every voice I have put it in front of - also terrific on accoustic guitars

dan

[Randy Moore]

Thanks Dan for the info. Have you tried the other mics that I mentioned?

[chessparov]

Is there room for an EV RE20 and/or a Shure SM7 in that budget?

Chris

[mcguin]

"Have you tried the other mics that I mentioned?"

of those, just the 195
dan

[Knastratt]

Try a Brauner Valvet. They used to have this "I'll show up an demo it" kind of deal in the states. There isn't a single thing I've put in front of it that has sucked.

Try. Or if you get overwhelmed by fortune - try a VM-1 or VM-1 Klaus Heine Edition.

[Randy Moore]

Hi Chris

I could buy either. I am using the AT4033SE , AKG C4000B, AKG Solid Tube (Modified)

[defjamm]

Originally posted by chessparov
Is there room for an EV RE20 and/or a Shure SM7 in that budget?

Chris

did you try the beyerdynamic m99 too? should be very similar to the re-20. which pre-amps would work with the mics you mentioned? thx!

[oceantracks]

I do a lot of female vocal work, and the U99 is just killer for gals. The top end is gorgeous.

[ROBB007]

Well Randy have you tried a good old American ksm-27 or ksm-44 these mic's are steller on female voices!! Check out the Dixie chicks I have had fabulous results here in Vancouver . dfegad

[NathanEldred]

Soundelux iFET7. It's the poor man's E47, excellent results on female voxs.

[chessparov]

defjam, did you mean M88 instead of M99?
Not familiar with "M99".

As far as pre advice, there are already other members (like Nathan) whose can give expert advice vs. an amateur enthusiast like myself.

Chris

[defjamm]

Originally posted by Labs
I have both. The M99 cant compete imho.

Gustav

thx on that. i heard some people comparing it with the re-20, so i'am curious what people say, who have both mics. which pre-amp do you use with the re-20?

@chessparov: no i meant the m99, it's a fairly 'new' dynamic mic from beyerdynamic. some people compare it with the re-20.

[Randy Moore]

Nathan,

You would pick the Soundelux IFET 7 over the U99 or U195 for female vocals?

[chessparov]

Thanks defjam, I figured you were right to begin with regarding the existance of the M99.

BTW I'd also be curious about the AEA R84 too.

Chris

[PaRaNoId]

On this last session (loud female voclist) I ended up using a Rode NT1-A and it kicked butt. I EQ'ed out a bit at roughly 9k just to take a bit of the edge off. Everyone that hears it doesn't belive me when I tell them that this mic only costs $200!

[NathanEldred]

Originally posted by Randy Moore
Nathan,

You would pick the Soundelux IFET 7 over the U99 or U195 for female vocals?

It depends on what frequencies are accentuated in the female's voice naturally and what you want to achieve for whatever style of music you are doing. Generally I don't like a whole lot of extra high mid or highs added to female vocals, sometimes there is already a lot of emphasis in that region above 2K (I've experienced various female voices who had weird peaks or sibilance anywhere from 2K all the way up to about 9k). So a relatively flatter microphone like the iFET7 in V mode is going to work in those cases to smooth that out...if the girl is already smooth and natural sounding (standing in the room) in the above 2K region, a boost in those areas may work just fine like on the U99 and U195 (the U195 has more of a high mid dip than the U99). Like you said, there is no one perfect mic for all vocals but 'flatter' is often a safer bet than not.

[oceantracks]

Nathan's right about it generally being safer to have a flatter mic....that said...

I only found one female that the U99 didn't kill on, and that was a very raspy black girl who had enough edge in her voice to last for days.

I don't mind having a rise in the mic...many big shot mics like the 800G and 251 do and are very desired tools...for myself, I'd rather have to EQ less in the mix, since I don't have the luxury of a 5000 Pultec or the like.


YMMV, JMHO, etc, etc.

[mardyk]

Originally posted by Randy Moore
Hi Chris

I could buy either. I am using the AT4033SE , AKG C4000B, AKG Solid Tube (Modified)

I have an old Solidtube lying around. How can it be modified.
Other than that the U99 is a great vocal mic. Highly recommend it.

[Randy Moore]

Thanks Oceantracks for the u99 info. I'm like you about the EQ,
a flatter mic might be better in the long run if I had the outboard EQ to go with it, but I'm using the Soundcraft EQ and need a mic that can give me that sparkle without drastic EQ being used in the mix. I tried a E47 on my voice at another studio but it has too much low mid for female vocals that I'm recording. It is a great mic and one that I want for my collection for male vocals. Also I'm not mixing in protools so there is extra warmth added going back to the console, so a bright mic for protools might be just right mixing back into a console.


Randy Moore
www.sunsetrecordingstudio.com