Microphone for Low and Raspy Vocal?

Windtaken · 27th October 2006

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a vocal mic to record a vocal who is similar to Lifehouse, The Calling, or Creed - with a lower voice and some raspiness.

TIA for helping this nooby out =]

AB3 · 27th October 2006

If you want to reduce the raspiness, go with the Peluso P12 to a pre like an A designs Mp-2a.

The P12 does not emphasis the midrange, will add some air to the low voice and sounds great on the bottom end.

But it depends whether you want to reduce that raspiness, or whether it fits the music for some reason.

NathanEldred · 27th October 2006

My go-to wouldn't be an ELAM or C12 'type' of mic, too bright for throaty males IMHO...my instincts tell me something based on a 47-ish kind of sound. Nothing wrong with midrange and power in the lows. For Peluso that would be the 2247 LE, or also the Telefunken R-F-T AK47 in a similar price range. If you aren't on a tight budget, the Soundelux E47c (cardiod only version) is mindblowing as is the Telefunken USA U47m. There might be good similarly voiced microphones, but I don't have personal experience with them so I can't recommend.

uncle duncan · 28th October 2006

I've found the Peluso 2247 short body (the cheaper one) to be good on raspy singers. But the high end is flat, and in a bright mix you might need more air.

PRobb · 28th October 2006

To go off the beaten track a bit, I have found the RE-20 is often a good choice for difficult male voices.

T.RayBullard · 28th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRobb

To go off the beaten track a bit, I have found the RE-20 is often a good choice for difficult male voices.

Tom Waits used the Electrovoice RE-16 on Nighthawks at the diner..he is the KING of rasp.

newnes · 28th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.RayBullard

Tom Waits used the Electrovoice RE-16 on Nighthawks at the diner..he is the KING of rasp.

Wow, cool! My RE16 has been a session-saver on people with weird voices that no other mic that I have works on so it makes sense to me.

Craig.

Makinithappen · 28th October 2006

Another vote for the RE 20.

I'll have to check out the RE 16. I've never used one.

idiophone · 28th October 2006

If it's on hand, use the SM7, and get right up on it. We've done lots of A/B tests with a 7 and the RE20 on vocals, and basically, the 7 has more balls, but the 20 has more cut. The differences are slight, however.

If you're shopping for one, however, get the 20. It's more versatile, and it'll never sound bad on anything.

~id

T.RayBullard · 28th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by newnes

Wow, cool! My RE16 has been a session-saver on people with weird voices that no other mic that I have works on so it makes sense to me.

Craig.

Check this out..

http://www.keeslau.com/TomWaitsSuppl...nighthawks.htm

newnes · 28th October 2006

Very cool, thanks!!

Craig.

Jonathan Starr · 29th October 2006

I record a great soul singer with a voice that's reminiscent of both Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles.

When we want to emphasize the low raspiness, we use a Peluso 2247 LE with the black tube. When we want crispness and clarity, a Brauner Valvet sounds like it's inside his throat next to the vocal chords.

Both are wonderful, and the Pacifica/1176 combo helps.

Whats the difference between a RE-16 and a RE-20?

T.RayBullard · 29th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan Starr

Whats the difference between a RE-16 and a RE-20?

pattern mainly..RE-16 is supercard, while re-20 is card.

Windtaken · 30th October 2006

Thanks everyone!
Lots of choices and lots of money too :P

The pacifica was mentioned as a preamp. From reading a lot of threads, it seems like it's worth getting as my first pre.

Wow, the RE20 is really cheap! I'm surprised. Would the pacifica be good for that mic or maybe it doesn't really matter?

thanks again, you guys are awesome =]

AllAboutTone · 31st October 2006

I think a good choice is a MXL 990 , ive had great luck with that $50 mic or a U47 fet has great low detail ....

knerd · 31st October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windtaken

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a vocal mic to record a vocal who is similar to Lifehouse, The Calling, or Creed - with a lower voice and some raspiness.

TIA for helping this nooby out =]

for george clinton we use a C12 with a chandler ltd1.. his voice is as raspy as they come.

mindseye · 31st October 2006

I heard somewhere that Stevie Wonder used an RE-20 on Songs in the Key of LIfe. Of course, it was Stevie and his voice and the best engineers and gear too.

Bob Olhsson · 31st October 2006

I sure never thought of Stevie as sounding raspy!

We used a KM-86 on his first productions and I understand the folks in New York and LA continued using KM-86s for the most part. What you don't want is a peaky mike like a cheap condenser. 87s and 67s with the pad engaged work great as do RE-20s, 666s, or most ribbons.

Bimini · 1st November 2006

Check out a Neumann U67. Might be nice for what you are looking for.

mindseye · 1st November 2006

Quote:

I sure never thought of Stevie as sounding raspy!

We used a KM-86 on his first productions and I understand the folks in New York and LA continued using KM-86s for the most part. What you don't want is a peaky mike like a cheap condenser. 87s and 67s with the pad engaged work great as do RE-20s, 666s, or most ribbons.

Thanks for the correction Bob, shoulda just kept my mouth shut huh.

But he does sound raspy (a lil') to me, on "Maybe your Baby" and "Haven't done nothin"

Bob, what albums did you work on with Stevie? He's one of my all time favorites!!

Windtaken · 1st November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

I sure never thought of Stevie as sounding raspy!

We used a KM-86 on his first productions and I understand the folks in New York and LA continued using KM-86s for the most part. What you don't want is a peaky mike like a cheap condenser. 87s and 67s with the pad engaged work great as do RE-20s, 666s, or most ribbons.

what does the pad do to the tone? With u87?

blackcom · 1st November 2006

SM7 into Api or Neve

Bob Olhsson · 2nd November 2006

Both mikes can overload pretty easily on a powerful voice unless you use the pad.

The way 67s and 87s were originally sold in the US was with output pads to make them work better with common US tube mike pres. The input pads got a bad reputation at that time because overall there was quite a loss of presence with them in. By the late 1970s consoles had become much friendlier to Neumanns and many of us started removing the output pads and using the input pads.

I worked with Stevie on the albums Signed, Sealed, Delivered and Where I'm Coming From.

prismtheory · 2nd November 2006

Sm7, at4047...or an AKG 414

**TonyBelmont** · 2nd November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimini

Check out a Neumann U67. Might be nice for what you are looking for.

I've got BINGO!!!!!...

A U67 would be my first choice for this type of voice.

27th October 2006	#1
Windtaken Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 263 Thread Starter	Microphone for Low and Raspy Vocal? Hi everyone, I'm looking for a vocal mic to record a vocal who is similar to Lifehouse, The Calling, or Creed - with a lower voice and some raspiness. TIA for helping this nooby out =]

27th October 2006	#3
NathanEldred Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: West Coast Central Florida Posts: 7,130	My go-to wouldn't be an ELAM or C12 'type' of mic, too bright for throaty males IMHO...my instincts tell me something based on a 47-ish kind of sound. Nothing wrong with midrange and power in the lows. For Peluso that would be the 2247 LE, or also the Telefunken R-F-T AK47 in a similar price range. If you aren't on a tight budget, the Soundelux E47c (cardiod only version) is mindblowing as is the Telefunken USA U47m. There might be good similarly voiced microphones, but I don't have personal experience with them so I can't recommend. __________________ Nathan Eldred Visit Atlas Pro Audio USA Distributor for Buzz Audio Atlas Recording Studios, Inc.

28th October 2006	#4
uncle duncan Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,585	I've found the Peluso 2247 short body (the cheaper one) to be good on raspy singers. But the high end is flat, and in a bright mix you might need more air. __________________ "You're either with a native DAW, or you're with the terrorists." G.W. Busch Lite

28th October 2006	#5
PRobb Gear Guru Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 13,775	To go off the beaten track a bit, I have found the RE-20 is often a good choice for difficult male voices. __________________ To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection. -Henri Poincare

28th October 2006	#8
Makinithappen Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO USA (Hot Louis) Posts: 1,546	Another vote for the RE 20. I'll have to check out the RE 16. I've never used one. __________________ I think you'll find that 'generic and flavourless' is generally something that occurs before the microphone -Karloff70 Two f**in' weeks to make up your mind whether you want a beard or you want a job. This is the Buddy Rich Band; young people...with faces!- Buddy Rich

27th October 2006	#2
AB3 Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,550	If you want to reduce the raspiness, go with the Peluso P12 to a pre like an A designs Mp-2a. The P12 does not emphasis the midrange, will add some air to the low voice and sounds great on the bottom end. But it depends whether you want to reduce that raspiness, or whether it fits the music for some reason.

28th October 2006	#9
idiophone Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11	If it's on hand, use the SM7, and get right up on it. We've done lots of A/B tests with a 7 and the RE20 on vocals, and basically, the 7 has more balls, but the 20 has more cut. The differences are slight, however. If you're shopping for one, however, get the 20. It's more versatile, and it'll never sound bad on anything. ~id

28th October 2006	#11
newnes Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 227	Very cool, thanks!! Craig.

29th October 2006	#12
Jonathan Starr Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wailuku, Maui, Hi Posts: 1,042	I record a great soul singer with a voice that's reminiscent of both Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles. When we want to emphasize the low raspiness, we use a Peluso 2247 LE with the black tube. When we want crispness and clarity, a Brauner Valvet sounds like it's inside his throat next to the vocal chords. Both are wonderful, and the Pacifica/1176 combo helps. Whats the difference between a RE-16 and a RE-20? __________________ Aloha, Jonathan Starr Big Gorilla Sound Twixt reef & jungle Wailuku, Maui

30th October 2006	#14
Windtaken Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 263 Thread Starter	Thanks everyone! Lots of choices and lots of money too :P The pacifica was mentioned as a preamp. From reading a lot of threads, it seems like it's worth getting as my first pre. Wow, the RE20 is really cheap! I'm surprised. Would the pacifica be good for that mic or maybe it doesn't really matter? thanks again, you guys are awesome =]

31st October 2006	#15
AllAboutTone Gear Guru Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: S.Carolina Posts: 11,066	I think a good choice is a MXL 990 , ive had great luck with that $50 mic or a U47 fet has great low detail .... __________________ *Don't Fuk with my Tone !!!. I need a spell check app API~ Dan Alexander~ Fuchs~ John Hardy ~JLM ~Studer 089 Fuchs Amps = Amazing Tone !!**

31st October 2006	#17
mindseye Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 280	I heard somewhere that Stevie Wonder used an RE-20 on Songs in the Key of LIfe. Of course, it was Stevie and his voice and the best engineers and gear too.

31st October 2006	#18
Bob Olhsson Motown legend Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Songwriter Gulch, Nashville TN Posts: 10,638	I sure never thought of Stevie as sounding raspy! We used a KM-86 on his first productions and I understand the folks in New York and LA continued using KM-86s for the most part. What you don't want is a peaky mike like a cheap condenser. 87s and 67s with the pad engaged work great as do RE-20s, 666s, or most ribbons. __________________ Bob's room 615 562-4346 Georgetown Masters 615 254-3233 Music Industry 2.0 Interview

1st November 2006	#19
Bimini Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland Posts: 127	Check out a Neumann U67. Might be nice for what you are looking for.

1st November 2006	#22
blackcom Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 960	SM7 into Api or Neve

2nd November 2006	#23
Bob Olhsson Motown legend Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Songwriter Gulch, Nashville TN Posts: 10,638	Both mikes can overload pretty easily on a powerful voice unless you use the pad. The way 67s and 87s were originally sold in the US was with output pads to make them work better with common US tube mike pres. The input pads got a bad reputation at that time because overall there was quite a loss of presence with them in. By the late 1970s consoles had become much friendlier to Neumanns and many of us started removing the output pads and using the input pads. I worked with Stevie on the albums Signed, Sealed, Delivered and Where I'm Coming From.

2nd November 2006	#24
prismtheory Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 296	Sm7, at4047...or an AKG 414

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