My Mic Doesnt Suit My voice at all...

[CDUB]

i realize that its my mic thats causin me problems...makin it harder for me to get a good mix...i mean i CAN

but just so much tinkering i wouldnt have to do if i just had a mic that suited my voice

what i have is

AT4040 mic
Presonus Mp20 pre amp
E-mu 1212m soundcard

and i have a higher pitched voice

to help better recommend me a mic, heres a sample of what my voice and quality sound like now
"Boardwalk"
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/writ...amesave=rewind

as you can see, my voice is kinda high pitch, 'harsh' i guess, and somewhat aggressive

now the mix on here on this track isnt bad, BUT, thats THIS mix, my other ones tend to sound harsh, ESPECIALLY when i turn up the volume


now my question for yall experts is
whats a good mic for my voice??
now i DO have a budget....people tell me that a Neumann U47 or a ADK TT CE would suit my voice, i don't know how true this is....but either way they are simply out of my price range...

now what mics would you guys recommend for me?
list all the mics that would suit my voice up to like around $500-$600 i guess...

if you COULD, list the mics, and a rating next to them on a scale of 1-10 how good it would suit my voice

I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE THIS

[CDUB]

Originally posted by Labs
I think mp3s sound crap and harsh in themselves, so my comment isnt directed at the music you posted, but more from your description.

Have you tried a dynamic ? Re-20, SM7
Both those mics are well within your budget.

Labs

well i need somebody to listen to my sample, and make recommendations that way

ive recorded and saved in wav also, in nuendo

it sounds harsch

its my high pitch voice

and im pretty sure a condenser is what im lookin for
thanks tho

anybody else?

[JeffSanders]

For what you're doing, your voice sounds fine.

What it needs is a De-Esser. Try the Spitfish at http://www.digitalfishphones.com

[biggator6]

and im pretty sure a condenser is what im lookin for

Don't discount Labs suggestion - condensers are not always the best for every vocal. The 2 mics he mentioned are GREAT mics on some vocals.

And they're fairly cheap and easy to find at just about any music store - certainly worth a try.
"-)

[faeflora]

This really doesn't belong in the high end forum.

I hear three problems.

1. mic
2. pre
3. whatever processing you did to your voice

Since the dollars are limited, I'll just suggest the following:

Buy and use a SM57. It will dull a lot of the nastiness. Don't compress it with a digital compressor. Don't boost highs!

[CDUB]

Originally posted by faeflora
This really doesn't belong in the high end forum.

I hear three problems.

1. mic
2. pre
3. whatever processing you did to your voice

Since the dollars are limited, I'll just suggest the following:

Buy and use a SM57. It will dull a lot of the nastiness. Don't compress it with a digital compressor. Don't boost highs!

ok hold up

when somebody else raps, the harshness and shit that im describing doesnt occur...its because their deep voice suits my mic...
but the same mic doesnt suit my voice is what im sayiin...

ok put it this way, im not changin my pre, im not plannin on dumpin out my wave C1 compressor (i dont plan on gettin a compressor hardware)

SO, in this case, what Mic do you think would BETTER suit my voice...
because lets face it, an at4040 isnt the best mic for a guy rappin wit a higher pitch voice..

im not trying to come off as a dick, because im in no position to...
but i think what im askin yall's help for is pretty straight forward
now i got 1 good reply recommendin 2 dynamic mics..thanks...are there any condensers tho?

if u had to recommend some mics only knowing that its for a thinner, higher pitched voice, which ones would they be???? [(disregard the lack of high "end" my pre/soundcard/digital effects are---because we can always somehow acheive a sound through EQ and all that but im sayin DISREGARD THAT for this)]
...straight forward as it can get i think

[JeffSanders]

Sing a little closer to the mic. It'll make the bass more prominent.

[cdog]

Originally posted by JeffSanders
Sing a little closer to the mic. It'll make the bass more prominent.

It can also exacerbate sibilance... also try a pop guard.

For some singers/applications you can get a pretty usable vocal sound with a SM57/58.... won't have that "big" sound, but it can work.

[Jose Mrochek]

when I read in a thread that Bono sings most of his stuff through a 58, my perspective on mic's changed alot. aka, you don't need a high end mic, you need a voice like bono's But if you don't I think it's more of mic placement that could help you out. Like Djui5 said, sing as close to the mic as possible using a pop filter. Your vocal timbre will never change though. You is you. The better quality mic you use, the more you will show off your vocal bad side.. rather than help you out, will definetly make it worse.

[ROBB007]

Alright Alright Alright*******This is probably the answer you have been looking for SM7 SM7 SM7 SM7****This mic has been on thousands and I mean thousand of hit singles!!!!It is a very forgiving mic and very easy to add or take eq***The artist can get right up on the mic and kick it quite hard, it really is my go to mic if all else fails .So Tuesday morning we what to see down at your fav music store asking the cool sales clerk to lend you the Mic for the night of course you will have to put a deposit down .Then give us a up-date trust me you will not look back!!!!!


I am
LOGIC LOVER*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[CDUB]

Originally posted by ROBB007
Alright Alright Alright*******This is probably the answer you have been looking for SM7 SM7 SM7 SM7****This mic has been on thousands and I mean thousand of hit singles!!!!It is a very forgiving mic and very easy to add or take eq***The artist can get right up on the mic and kick it quite hard, it really is my go to mic if all else fails .So Tuesday morning we what to see down at your fav music store asking the cool sales clerk to lend you the Mic for the night of course you will have to put a deposit down .Then give us a up-date trust me you will not look back!!!!!


I am
LOGIC LOVER*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

i honestly appreciate the ****in straight forwardness
ima check that mic out
thanks

but everybody else comin at me like im a complete ****** and dont use a pop guard
wtf man
and the bullshit about placement
i know all that
DAMN
but you guys of all people know that some mics give off a more warm/and dark feelin as opposed to transparent/bright and vice versu

my voice natural is more/less on the bright side i guess
thus, why im lookin for a mic that tends to give off a more warm/dark feel to lessen the harsness and smooth it out...

please tell me yall knwo what im talkin about
its not a very technical question...

its like how certain pre's tend to give off a certain sound, so do mics...
now please help me please...the people that know what im talkin about and wouldnt mind helpin me
so im lo

[Jose Mrochek]

Originally posted by CDUB

but everybody else comin at me like im a complete ****** and dont use a pop guard
wtf man
and the bullshit about placement
i know all that
DAMN

How are we supposed to know you know ? I think you need to get laid, you will sing better

[CDUB]

Originally posted by Jose Mrochek
How are we supposed to know you know ? I think you need to get laid, you will sing better

see u obviously dont know whats goin on

i dont sing

if u dont wanna spend the time to read whats goin on, dont waste your time at all
im makin serious inquires..and some people are jus actin childish...

[Jose Mrochek]

[excellrec]

The sound your experiencing may be a result of your 'harsh' personality.

[CDUB]

Originally posted by excellrec
The sound your experiencing may be a result of your 'harsh' personality.

hmm

that was pretty good...
if it applied

ive made posts here b4 and recieved good replies

its jus most the people in this post didnt take the time to see what i was looking for...
they just went straight to the "o u need to upgrade everything" or "its your EQ'ing and compressing thats wrong"

but its not these

i record other people with deeper voices with this at4040, and it works GREAT..but with me, it doesnt for the now obvious reason that an at4040 doesnt suit my higher pitched voice very well

thats why i was asking yall what mic tends to suit higher pitched voices better...

[Switchcraft]

i tend to use ribbon microphones on instruments that have harsh high frequencies. i use it for things like sax, acoustic gtrs...
I have only used a coles 4038. that thing does smooth out the harsh high end of instruments pretty well, but I havent tried it on vocals. That might work. I think jackson did thriller on a SM7 and that worked for him so...

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by CDUB

whats a good mic for my voice??
now i DO have a budget....people tell me that a Neumann U47 or a ADK TT CE would suit my voice, i don't know how true this is....but either way they are simply out of my price range...



I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE THIS

If you can't afford something good, rent it.

It will save you more money and time than buying something temporary and shitty.

I think personally the SM7 or the RE20 through the Presonus will sound like shit.

Both of these mics need some good solid gain and some EQing in order for them to work on a vocal.

The one thing you didn't mention was the room you are recording vocals in.

This contributes a ton no matter how close you are to the mic.

The reason the 4040 is not working is that it tends to push the high mids forward.

[Switchcraft]

I just read that al green used a ribbon on his vocals. he had a high range voice as well. I agree that you should look to the room as well. if there are alot of reflections in a small booth the high freqs will be the first to go.

[ROBB007]

About 4 year's ago I recorded a whole album with a Presonus vxp and Shure SM7 ,I use many higher end mic pre's these days but I got to tell you the vocal line got the guy a deal?The Shure SM7 is still one of Bob Rocks fav vocal mic don't let any body give you the gears Cdub like I said before give the Mic a try and lets go from there.**


I AM LOGIC LOVER**********************************************

[Tim Farrant]

If you are set on another condensor mic then you might need to review your budget. I think most people will agree that cheap condensors fail in the top end compared to their high end counter parts.

I seriously think you might find that upgrading your preamp will make the 4040 sound completely different - and potentially less harsh. This has been confirmed over and over again in my world. OK, you say it sounds good with other singers, but a better preamp will improve their sound too and you will then have a choice of flavours to boot.

You need to keep an open mind here is my point..."it may well be the preamp that is to blame"

Cheers
Tim.

[JeffSanders]

Get an sm57 mic.

Step up reeeaaal close.

Remember to breath deeply.

Now put both hands around yer neck and squeeze.




(kidding)

[CDUB]

Originally posted by The Buzz

You need to keep an open mind here is my point..."it may well be the preamp that is to blame"

Cheers
Tim.

point taken

i should probably jus go this route then huh: ?

get like a sonically clean pre (grace 101), then just get mics that go wit the certain ranges of voices?

[excellrec]

i actually found the grace to be pretty unforgiving myself. Good, but unforgiving.

[dim light]

If you can - try an AKG C141 BULS. Very "Ssssss" forgiving.

The Shure SM7 is cool but you need a powerful Pre or voice.

Maybe try AT 4060. - Or U87ai -

And if you want a dope vocal sound... Update your pre.

Good luck!

[tunesmith]

Maybe it's the constant use of the word "bitch" that's causing your pre amp to sound harsh. Perhaps try the word "ho" or "semen receptical" as they both roll off the tongue more fluidly.

Just a thought.



Tunes.







P.S. My irony is all the more ironic since I really enjoyed your production. It's clear you have a lot of talent to offset your poor judgement.

[chessparov]

Include the Electro-Voice EV 635a on your vocal mic shortlist too. They run about $100 new.

Highly respected by some top notch AE's like Bob Ohlsson. As the SM57 does on certain voices, it can beat out all the other "high end" stuff.

Chris

[CDUB]

Originally posted by excellrec
i actually found the grace to be pretty unforgiving myself. Good, but unforgiving.

what do the rest of you think about the grace?
able to not get distorted at high volumes?

if i get the grace, i will be getting a dark/warm mic to compliment the pre....
so what u guys think of the grace 101 pre?

[santacore]

From what I've read the grace does not seem like the pre for you. It's clean and clear probably not what you want. Isn't your MP20 a tube pre? If so upgrading your tubes will make a big differene in the sound. That might smooth out some of the high end issues. If you've got the money I would agree with the idea to update the whole pre. Try calling one of the retailers that post here and ask them. I bet they can give you an educated opinion on what would match your voice and mic.

[John Peacock]

Santacore: The MP20 is not a tube pre. Plus, I hardly think swapping out tubes in an entry level piece of gear would make any significant difference; it would still be an entry level piece of gear. I agree with you about the Grace, though. It's a nice pre, but it is very clean. Bright in = Bright out.

CDUB: I feel like we are walking in circles. You posted a couple weeks back asking about pres, specifically the Great River ME-1NV and the Dan Alexander. You got a bunch of responses: many said get the Great River, others suggested things like APIs or an ASI110. So what did you do? You bought a Presonus MP20. Besides being much lower in quality than all of the aforementioned pres, it is especially harsh on vocals. This was all stated in your first thread.

So now you want to change your mic to compensate for your pre... Lose the MP20. Buy the Great River (or something comparable). Your pre is a bigger problem at this point.

And finally, the dynamic mics... Many, many, many classic and contemporary hip-hop records were recorded using dynamic mics, specifically the two mentioned in the previous posts. Still, this post seems to be a waste of time since it has been made relatively clear that you don't follow the advice.

-Jp