New vocal microphone, $1500

nurfen · 26th June 2008, 01:01 PM

Hi there!

I need help with picking out my next vocal mic. I record mainly jazz (vocal and acoustic guitar), and I'd like a "warm" microphone, but with very low self noise. I use the mic pres of my Apogee Ensemble. At the moment I use the AKG C2000, which I've had for years. It's OK, but nothing more.. :) Now it's time for a great mic.

Maximum cost: $1500

Any ideas?

abhibad · 26th June 2008, 01:27 PM

Add $150 and get a pealman tm-1...you won't regret

beginagain · 26th June 2008, 01:53 PM

YEAH, the Pearlman is great .....

The Lawson L47 is also supposed to be a real winner ....

I have a pair of Telefunken AK47's ... very nice in the modern 'classic' tradition (compare very well with my Soundelux E47C and Gefell UM900 but with a little less amazingness) ....

Peluso Le 2247 (and other Peluso's) are also very good in that price range .....

I've had someone who uses very, very high end mikes raving to me about the MOHAVE (by David Royer) being able to stand tall with his BIG END Mikes ....

You should really try to listen to as many of these as you can ... there are so many really great 1500 mikes around at the moment ... we are very, very lucky ...

Also, is it for your voice or for clients (or both?) ....

If for clients and your voice is a little different, then you might have to get someone with a more average voice to help you audition the mike ...

Acoustic guitar and drum kit are also a good way to test a mike ...

make a list

Listen to them

Have Fun

Nice mikes are a turn on ....

Michael V
Just Jammin' Studios
Hobart - Tasmania - Australia
ph 03 6228 2624
michaelvuister@aapt.net.au

camerondye · 26th June 2008, 02:05 PM

I love my Mojave MA-200, it is my favorite mic for vocals and acoustic guitar that I have...but it may be a little too modern sounding for what you're wanting to do. I also have an Telefunken AK47 and that might be a better match, warm and not bright. I have a Peluso 22-251 and it is brighter than the Mojave.
good luck
cam

staudio · 26th June 2008, 04:48 PM

Gefell UMT70S

ecko72db · 26th June 2008, 04:52 PM

Neumann TLM49. You won't be disappointed.

ALL*MYTEE · 26th June 2008, 05:34 PM

I'd recommend finding a used Rode Classic I (not the II). Should be around $900 or so. These did very well in a blind shoot out here on GS against a bunch of more expensive mics.

Then I'd put the rest of the money into a great hardware pre like a Great River, UA or Neve. I have the Ensemble and like the pres but they're just good--very good for the money--not excellent. And, depending on the voice, they can make it sound weak enough to be frustrating--a bit anemic.

For other channels I would be more ready to suggest them, but for the lead vocal channel, the better, the better.

If money is no object, the other mics listed here are also excellent from what I've heard. Best of luck.

warhead · 26th June 2008, 06:24 PM

I would seriously consider a ribbon for this, jazz is warm / smooth / round bottom stuff and ribbons deliver warm / smooth / round bottom sound.

The AEA R84 I am betting would cause you a momentary freak out when you heard the playback, the sudden urge to slap said mama, then the stark realization that you just found a friend for life in a microphone...

War

DivineMusic · 26th June 2008, 07:13 PM

the TLM49 is actually rather nice
then Peluso 251 and Vtb are great choices
the lawson L47

Fletcher · 26th June 2008, 08:34 PM

At $1500 there is nothing I have heard that comes close to the Telefunken USA AK-47 mk-II with the exception of the M-16 mkII.

cubivore · 27th June 2008, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fletcher

At $1500 there is nothing I have heard that comes close to the Telefunken USA AK-47 mk-II with the exception of the M-16 mkII.

since we're on the topic of mercenary stock, how do the MG 930 and 940 compare? they're cheaper, but i can't find any reviews on the 940 anywhere. i'm in the same boat as the OP and will eventually lay down the $1500 for some sort of cardioid based LDC. for now i've got my schoeps cmc41 for VO/vocals and it sounds great. maybe there's no need for anything else...?

nurfen · 11th July 2008, 09:10 AM

Thanks for all your ideas!

Yesterday I received my fresh microphone - the Pearlman TM-1 with the german tube. Works great :)

Thank you all!

Alexi · 11th July 2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staudio

Gefell UMT70S

+ 1 ..overlooked by many, incredible mic

Darth Preamp · 11th July 2008, 12:01 PM

Hi!
How about the CAD VX2?
Warm, accurate, beautiful, amazing etc!!
They aren't in production anymore, but you should ba able to find one for around 1k.
When they first came out I beleive they went for like 3500? All hand made.

DP

nurfen · 11th July 2008, 12:09 PM

lol, you guys are funny. I just wanted to thank everyone, not get more ideas... I've already bought the mic

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26th June 2008, 01:01 PM	#1
nurfen Gear interested Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 19	New vocal microphone, $1500 [[[BOUGHT A PEARLMAN]]] Hi there! I need help with picking out my next vocal mic. I record mainly jazz (vocal and acoustic guitar), and I'd like a "warm" microphone, but with very low self noise. I use the mic pres of my Apogee Ensemble. At the moment I use the AKG C2000, which I've had for years. It's OK, but nothing more.. :) Now it's time for a great mic. Maximum cost: $1500 Any ideas?

26th June 2008, 05:34 PM	#7
ALL*MYTEE Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 597	I'd recommend finding a used Rode Classic I (not the II). Should be around $900 or so. These did very well in a blind shoot out here on GS against a bunch of more expensive mics. Then I'd put the rest of the money into a great hardware pre like a Great River, UA or Neve. I have the Ensemble and like the pres but they're just good--very good for the money--not excellent. And, depending on the voice, they can make it sound weak enough to be frustrating--a bit anemic. For other channels I would be more ready to suggest them, but for the lead vocal channel, the better, the better. If money is no object, the other mics listed here are also excellent from what I've heard. Best of luck. __________________ Eben Carlson www.whiteg.com www.whitegoldsoundsystem.com

26th June 2008, 06:24 PM	#8
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 7,768	I would seriously consider a ribbon for this, jazz is warm / smooth / round bottom stuff and ribbons deliver warm / smooth / round bottom sound. The AEA R84 I am betting would cause you a momentary freak out when you heard the playback, the sudden urge to slap said mama, then the stark realization that you just found a friend for life in a microphone... War __________________ Warren Dent Email: warren (at) frontendaudio (dot) com Front End Audio Sells Gear Tuesday Testers: Hear the Gear Shootouts Product Videos on YouTube: Overviews of Gear

26th June 2008, 07:13 PM	#9
DivineMusic Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hotlanta Posts: 1,437	the TLM49 is actually rather nice then Peluso 251 and Vtb are great choices the lawson L47 __________________ DivineMusic 2-23-07 ppl wanna praise protools like its the best thing since pu$$y

26th June 2008, 01:27 PM	#2
abhibad Gear nut Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 83	Add $150 and get a pealman tm-1...you won't regret

26th June 2008, 01:53 PM	#3
beginagain Gear Head Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tasmania Posts: 42	YEAH, the Pearlman is great ..... The Lawson L47 is also supposed to be a real winner .... I have a pair of Telefunken AK47's ... very nice in the modern 'classic' tradition (compare very well with my Soundelux E47C and Gefell UM900 but with a little less amazingness) .... Peluso Le 2247 (and other Peluso's) are also very good in that price range ..... I've had someone who uses very, very high end mikes raving to me about the MOHAVE (by David Royer) being able to stand tall with his BIG END Mikes .... You should really try to listen to as many of these as you can ... there are so many really great 1500 mikes around at the moment ... we are very, very lucky ... Also, is it for your voice or for clients (or both?) .... If for clients and your voice is a little different, then you might have to get someone with a more average voice to help you audition the mike ... Acoustic guitar and drum kit are also a good way to test a mike ... make a list Listen to them Have Fun Nice mikes are a turn on .... Michael V Just Jammin' Studios Hobart - Tasmania - Australia ph 03 6228 2624 michaelvuister@aapt.net.au

26th June 2008, 02:05 PM	#4
camerondye Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 535	I love my Mojave MA-200, it is my favorite mic for vocals and acoustic guitar that I have...but it may be a little too modern sounding for what you're wanting to do. I also have an Telefunken AK47 and that might be a better match, warm and not bright. I have a Peluso 22-251 and it is brighter than the Mojave. good luck cam

26th June 2008, 04:48 PM	#5
staudio Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New York Posts: 480	Gefell UMT70S

26th June 2008, 04:52 PM	#6
ecko72db Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 69	Neumann TLM49. You won't be disappointed.

26th June 2008, 08:34 PM	#10
Fletcher member no 666 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Foxboro, MA USA Posts: 5,773	At $1500 there is nothing I have heard that comes close to the Telefunken USA AK-47 mk-II with the exception of the M-16 mkII. __________________ Fletcher "I'm not really an asshole... I just play one on the internet" [author unknown] R/E/P the Recording Engineer and Producer forums Mercenary Audio the small drinking company with a large audio problem mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33 We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid Roscoe Ambel once said: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light

11th July 2008, 09:10 AM	#12
nurfen Gear interested Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 19	Thanks for all your ideas! Yesterday I received my fresh microphone - the Pearlman TM-1 with the german tube. Works great :) Thank you all!

11th July 2008, 12:01 PM	#14
Darth Preamp Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 38	Hi! How about the CAD VX2? Warm, accurate, beautiful, amazing etc!! They aren't in production anymore, but you should ba able to find one for around 1k. When they first came out I beleive they went for like 3500? All hand made. DP

11th July 2008, 12:09 PM	#15
nurfen Gear interested Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 19	lol, you guys are funny. I just wanted to thank everyone, not get more ideas... I've already bought the mic

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