Microphone advice for a sibilant rapper

[WDCMUSIC]

Well lets get right to the point!

I am very sibilant hip hop artist and I'm looking for a microphone (Strictly for vocals, nothing else) in the 600-800 dollar range that won't emphasize my sibilance like my current microphone does (Current set up is a MXL 2001 going into my M audio Mobile Pre)

I've been looking at the TLM 102, MXL Genesis, and today I've been doing knowledge on the Shure SM7B.

It seems like the first two have sort of hyped top ends which sounds like a bad idea for a sibilant rapper such as myself, and the SM7B sounds rather boring to my ears, and I'm having doubts whether it would suit my voice or not.

My set up (obviously without the microphone) will be a M audio Fast Track Ultra, and a Grace Designs m101 pre. Room will be treated also.

With this information presented, I would appreciate any advice/information you could offer.

PS- If you would like to hear a song of mine so you could hear what I sound like I would gladly supply one if it would help!

[Eric Pederson]

Originally Posted by WDCMUSIC

Well lets get right to the point!

I am very sibilant hip hop artist and I'm looking for a microphone (Strictly for vocals, nothing else) in the 600-800 dollar range that won't emphasize my sibilance like my current microphone does (Current set up is a MXL 2001 going into my M audio Mobile Pre)

I've been looking at the TLM 102, MXL Genesis, and today I've been doing knowledge on the Shure SM7B.

It seems like the first two have sort of hyped top ends which sounds like a bad idea for a sibilant rapper such as myself, and the SM7B sounds rather boring to my ears, and I'm having doubts whether it would suit my voice or not.

My set up (obviously without the microphone) will be a M audio Fast Track Ultra, and a Grace Designs m101 pre. Room will be treated also.

With this information presented, I would appreciate any advice/information you could offer.

PS- If you would like to hear a song of mine so you could hear what I sound like I would gladly supply one if it would help!

Hey! Welcome to GS (or to posting here =)

Have you tried any mic technique adjustments? You could try singing past the mic rather than directly into in?

just a thought

[Jimsi]

My uncle is sibilent and i use a free vst plugin to kill the 8khz range ssssssss sounds called spitfish its part of the fillet of fish package

[WDCMUSIC]

Thank you for the welcome! I've been in the lurk for about 4 years now haha.

I've have indeed tried many different mic techniques such as rhyming directly over it, and to the side of it.

The only thing that seems to decrease sibilance is to be very mindful of when sibilant words come up so I can try to not emphasize them as much, but this takes away from my performance too much and sounds very off.

My current mic is certainly not helping me, but making my problem much worse.

@Jimsi - I have a DeEsser, but I can't find which frequency my sibilance is coming from, It's definitely not where it should be, and seemingly not where it shouldn't be....When ever I sweep around and try to find it I still can't. I'm not the best at mixing, or even where most amateurs are at, but this very much bewilders me. On a side note though I have been taking the time this week and last week to learn in depth about the mixing basics, which still hasn't offered any positive results for my sibilance problem, and manually lowering the offending area's hasn't helped either.

[scoob]

At4047

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[Jimsi]

Hi, not sure if yours is a plugin, i have tried other deessers and found spitfish by far the one that worked the best, so simple to use and you wont notice it kicking in...it adjusts from 4 to 12khz and works best around 8khz for my needs...

Originally Posted by WDCMUSIC

@Jimsi - I have a DeEsser, but I can't find which frequency my sibilance is coming from, It's definitely not where it should be, and seemingly not where it shouldn't be....When ever I sweep around and try to find it I still can't. I'm not the best at mixing, or even where most amateurs are at, but this very much bewilders me. On a side note though I have been taking the time this week and last week to learn in depth about the mixing basics, which still hasn't offered any positive results for my sibilance problem, and manually lowering the offending area's hasn't helped either.

[EasT]

Using a combination of things can be great, and I start doing it more often now even if I'm convinced that the mic "doesn't need it" it's still better to prepare. First and foremost, always use a pop filter, I almost always use a metal one. You could also do the old pencil on the pop filter trick. Combine these: putting the top of the mic slightly below your mouth (tippy top should be somewhere even with your bottom lip or a tad higher) mixed with the mic also being turned sideways very slightly left or right away from you (about a half inch turn, maybe even a smidge more) on top of using a foam pop filter/cover over the top of the mic, I usually use the thin foam pop shield that comes with the SM7 and put it on my condensers, especially very high rangy bright sounding ones.

Assuming your acoustics are alright, even with a budget mic you should be able to completely toss away those S's no matter what mic you own because that's combining about 4 (or more) different things in one and honestly, I wish, listening to some of my old stuff I would have done it more, It's always great to prepare than to regret or have to do something over. Once you don't have to worry about those S's, you can begin to do some real beautiful things during mixing. These techniques are also great if you're planning on being a loud aggressive screamer during your rapping and want to mic with the gain a little higher than usual so you can perform clearly far away...but not worry about high levels when recording or distorting.

[scoob]

Like I said at4047 or some other "dark" mic. Dark/colored mics are easier on siblant folks plus I find them easier to eq to taste as well as standing up to compression better.

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[t.o.t.s.]

Ill echo the use of a Shure SM7. The MXL 2001 is a really bright microphone. MXL mics tend to be as are condenser microphones in general . The pre your using isn't exactly warm either. The SM7 is pretty affordable, great for louder vocal styles and significantly darker and less sensitive than the MXL which will help with your sibilance issues. I'd recommend using the SM7 with a solid state vs tube pre as I feel like they get a little muddy with a tube pre. You probably want something better than the m-audio pre. The Studio Projects VTB1 is pretty nice. You can bypass the tube all together and it sounds pretty good with the SM7. You can also use the MXL and pass it through the tube portion of the VTB1 to ease up on the sharp /crisp nature of that mic.

[EasT]

Yes, darker sounding mics can come in handy, you don't want a lot of bad mud but it's always better to shop darker than on the thin bright side of most cheapy mics because you can mix the high end you need into it while still maintaining "body" and heft to it instead of sounding frail and brittle to begin with, also it'll help with those S's even more when combining mic techniques.

The weird things is, I find my 2001 to be boxy but in a good way sometimes, it has some punch to it but I have started to demote it to backing vocals over the years, I don't find it bright at all but maybe I'm just used to my ST55 a little too much (yikes, should have saved way back when and gotten one of the higher models that actually have character, even the low pass filter on it keeps it bright) But one mxl I especially love on my voice that I find smooth, and a real mystery is the MXL V63M, and also I own the SM7 as the poster before me suggested, practice with that thing, learn how to use it (make sure you have enough gain to even record with it first though) it will save your life.

[WDCMUSIC]

@Scoob - The AT4047 is a really great recommendation! From just taking 20 minutes to find songs where the vocalist used one, it sounds really great to me. I'll keep this mic in mind when the big day comes.

@EasT - I will use your tips the next time I record, thank you very much.

@t.o.t.s. - It is very bright isn't it? I haven't come across to many in detail posts about the mic, just random hate on it, but from personal experience of about 2/half years with it I find it to be very thin/harshly bright and unforgiving when it comes time to mix my vocals. I'm not worried about my interface I have right now because I will be upgrading to the FTU and the Grace Designs m101. Shortly after I buy a main vocal condenser I most definitely will be buying a good dynamic, Probably the SM7B.

[chessparov]

Electro Voice RE20... any other questions?.

Chris

[WDCMUSIC]

Well, After about 10 hours of looking through many reviews (although most seemed like they were paid off to not mention any bad qualities like always) and songs where the vocals were recorded with it, my next pay I will order a Audio Technica 4047.

I think it'll suit my voice just fine, and I can get it for 400 even, so good looking out on the recommendation Scoob!

I'll order the SM7B along with it, because about two weeks after I get it I'll have the Grace Designs m101, so I'll be able to push it.

If anyone is interested I'll post some songs I recorded with both mics when I get them.

[EasT]

Originally Posted by WDCMUSIC

Well, After about 10 hours of looking through many reviews (although most seemed like they were paid off to not mention any bad qualities like always) and songs where the vocals were recorded with it, my next pay I will order a Audio Technica 4047.

I think it'll suit my voice just fine, and I can get it for 400 even, so good looking out on the recommendation Scoob!

I'll order the SM7B along with it, because about two weeks after I get it I'll have the Grace Designs m101, so I'll be able to push it.

If anyone is interested I'll post some songs I recorded with both mics when I get them.

You won't be sorry, great mic!

[scoob]

Originally Posted by EasT

You won't be sorry, great mic!

agreed