Below $400 Budget Male Rock Vocal Mic

[drBill]

Simple. There's only one classic, all time great mic in that price range. Shure SM7. There's a lot of choices in the sub $400 range with the chinese imports,but the SM7 is definately a standout.

[Kiwiburger]

The SM7 is good, but low output and definately requires a high end preamp to work ok. I would get an SM57 to start with - it's an industry standard, and still numero uno choice of many pro's for snare and guitar cabs. It's a reliable vocal mic, used on many a classic vocal track, and will always be a useful tool and point of reference.

The SM57 still needs a high end preamp to sound best - and the people who don't understand how good and useful an SM57 is either have bought a fake one (watch out - there are many fakes), or has rubbish mic preamps. (Or they have an ultra expensive mic cupboard and have better options they prefer).

Many, many people make the mistake of thinking a cheap chinese LCD is better than an SM57 for vocals. Useally, they are being fooled because these cheap condensor mics are hotter and brighter, and we tend to get fooled by that. But there can be a lot of harshness that you can never remove, and they often pickup too much room sound - which is only good if you have ideal acoustics, and actually want a room sound in the first place.


I would get an SM57, and start saving for a great mic preamp.

[hduncan]

thanks I've got 2 SM57s already but haven't tried them on vocals. I also have a condensor but its a cheapy from AKG that came with headphones... I have a DAV BG-1 and my only interface is the apogee duet. Are either of those acceptable? (I'm not sure how to/if I can use the DAV with the duet)

[Benjy King]

SM-7 without a doubt.

[hduncan]

what's the difference between the 57 and the 58?

[Ric4001]

I second the SM7 vote. But also consider a Heil PR30. Condenser-like sound but it's a dynamic mic.

[pootkao]

The DAV should be just fine with the SM7.

[Heartfelt]

I am enjoying my Cad Trion 8000 on my voice. Warm enough, very present and a just little crisp on the top. I hope to be posting clips in March.

[lucasmusic]

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

I would get an SM57, and start saving for a great mic preamp.

And that is exactly what Im doing, probably getting the SOLO610 for my SM57!

[hduncan]

Ah, just realized that there is a difference between the SM57 and the SM7.

Now, is there an SM7 and an SM7B? or are they one in the same?

Like I said, I have the DAV BG-1 but my interface is the Duet (from what I know, it has nice built in pres but no way to turn them off....)

How can I run the DAV into the Duet?

Or is the Duet good enough for the SM7?

THANKS

[A LaMere]

Not a lot of difference between the sm7b and older, original sm7 imo...
Though I guess I haven't ab'd them against each other...

If the duet really has 70db of gain, it should power the sm7.
Haven't tried the duet personally...

The sm7 isn't the "end all" but.. it's hard to compete with it in this price range...
for rock vocals.. it just works incredibly well sometimes....

For me, vocal mic choices are so dependant on the voice... it's hard to just blindly recommend a vocal mic without hearing the voice, music and context it will be used in...

As a blanket statement.. the sm7 is going to compete with anything in the sub $400 price range that I've heard though.. .

[thermos]

Originally Posted by DarkEcho

Ah, just realized that there is a difference between the SM57 and the SM7.

Now, is there an SM7 and an SM7B? or are they one in the same?

Like I said, I have the DAV BG-1 but my interface is the Duet (from what I know, it has nice built in pres but no way to turn them off....)

How can I run the DAV into the Duet?

Or is the Duet good enough for the SM7?

THANKS

Guys, its very easy to turn the internal Duet Pres off. Just change the input from XLR mic to XLR Line input (+4 in the DAV's case). The Duet pres will be totally bypassed.
Both the Duet pre and the DAV pre will have enough gain for the SM7B. The B model is the newest one, some say the old is better, some like the new better. I'm sure for rock a lot of your favorites sang through them at one time or another.
Another option if you don't like SM7s on your voice (they don't work for me, but I don't sing rock), are the Shure KSM 32 and 44 models. You can find the KSM 32 used for around $300, and the 44 for about $150 more. Not just great for voice, but great all arounders.

[SoundWeavers]

Shure SM7

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by SoundWeavers

Shure SM7

or the "lowly" 58

[NathanEldred]

Shure SM-7b

[illiummusic]

Rode NTK. You can bet them used for $400 or less. I've had lots of success with that mic on male vox. Just have to be careful of sibilance.

[bexarametric]

SM7B

[Yetti]

Here we go again.
I am reminded of that scene in the barber shop in Eddie Murphy's Coming to America....Dere day go....Rocky Marciano, Rocky Marciano, Rocky Marciano.....SM7B, SM7B, SM7B.....
421 is the Joe Louis for me.

[hduncan]

I think i'm going to go with the SM7B, maybe SM7.. I might let availability decide for me.

Might even pick it up at Guitar Center today..

Should I use the DAV or the Duet? I would think the DAV is better due to its increased price point and specificity, whereas the duet is 499 (almost half the price) and that includes a lot of other circuitry... just seems like with the higher cost (hopefully) there would be higher quality internals...

what do you think?

Of course I will be A/Bing both pres to see which sounds better, but my ear is untrained in identifying the better of two..


Thanks for the tip Thermos. Why +4?

[Rednose]

Originally Posted by illiummusic

Rode NTK. You can bet them used for $400 or less. I've had lots of success with that mic on male vox. Just have to be careful of sibilance.

Yes, i have found the Rode mics to be VERY sibilant.
Not sure if you have to be too worried about it because the singer from Nickle Back uses Rode mics and his vocals are very sibilant.
They've also sold a ton of records, so maybe its not as big of a deal as I once thought.

[Greg Curtis]

SM58 or SM7

[redddog]

What's the difference between the sm 7 and the sm7b?

[Protools Guy]

You might be able to get a used AT-4050 for under $400.
Great mic IMHO.

[mikey]

SP C#1

[gallerytungsten]

Try a Sennheiser 421. Try the SM7 too. Try a few. Get the Banjo Mart fella to line 'em up so you can shoot 'em out and find out which one really works for you.

[hduncan]

I am starting to think I should just get the 58 for now and save up for a really nice mic in the future...

what do you all think?

also, Duet or DAV-BG1?

[redddog]

What's the difference between the sm 7 and the sm7b?

[hduncan]

I think the SM7b just has a different bracket?

[Drumminkiger]

I agree with the NTK being a bit sibilant, i haven't heard it sound great on a lot of people, so i would bet that an SM7 would be a better bet for versatility. Ive heard some stuff done with an NTK that sounds good, but its not where i would put my money. As for the difference between an SM7 and SM7b, I'm sure its a minute mechanical difference, because everyone seems to agree that the mics sound almost the same, and that the difference could just have to due with the age of the mic. Basically an SM7 is the original and the SM7B is the current production model.