vocal mic 300-400$

[Lukas101]

Hey guys just looking for some suggestion on a good vocal mic in the 300$ to 400$ range its gonna be to replace my rode nt1000 just not liking it on vocals to bright for my taste and hard to place in a mix. Let me know what you guys think!

[stevens119]

SM7. Not bright at all.

AT4033. Condenser, not bright

AKG 214

A little over your price range, but great mics - Used AKG 414 - Mojave MA201-fet

[Jimsi]

i second these mics, toss in the mxl 2003a as well....sm7b is my first choice on louder voices the at 4033 on either loud or softer vox as well as most of the condensors mentioned...i like my akg c214 for it's silky smooth sound....

Originally Posted by stevens119

SM7. Not bright at all.

AT4033. Condenser, not bright

AKG 214

A little over your price range, but great mics - Used AKG 414 - Mojave MA201-fet

[duff mcshark]

ADK Hamburg

[Lukas101]

great thanks for all the feedback guys appreciate it! what about the at 4040 or the mxl V69 ive read allot of positive stuff about those i don't really wanna spend much over 300$

[jonnycat]

For 300 you won't find better than the sm7, to buy a condenser for that price you would be looking at something mediocre

[popmann]

Sm7...all day.

[Rob Ellis]

CAD E100s

[Jimsi]

my at4040 is a little bass heavy in an excellent way, good for thinner or female voices...imho

[Yummerz]

I wasn't too fond of the SM7b for vocals. I would use it mostly for thin male voices who need beefing up. Gives you a big "radio DJ" voice.

The AT4040 is a great mic, killer on every source I used it...except (male) vocals. Too "real." Might be good for a dynamic female vocalist though, who doesn't need much dressing up.

I would look at a modded Oktava or a ribbon mic like the Apex 205 or maybe the Cascade Fathead. The Apex 205 is a touch grainy, but has a really full sound and a lot of character. If I had only $150 to record Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, or Jim Morrison I would use that mic.

Someone is bound to mention the Stellar CM-6, so maybe look at that too. Sounds like this:

Tube Tests Ep.10 " Stellar CM6 Microphone, JJ Audio Mic, Circumcised Tube, RMS Audioworks" Show - YouTube

[ppingpoong]

i reckon have a look into either the akg 214 or the sm7. both killer mics.

[ppingpoong]

strange you say that though. been rocking a nt2000 for vocals for a while and am finding it a little dark.

[Lukas101]

Dark eh? i find it really bright! not a bad thing just haven't had much luck with it on the singers ive recorded. I also have a cascade fathead i think im gonna pull that one out next on vocals its been fantastic on everything else ive tried it on. Ive been interested in the stellar cm6 but the cost to get it here would be expensive im in canada and the duty/brokerage fee when it crosses the border is just mental.

[Lukas101]

i think its gonna be sm7 or akg 214

[perform/record]

I have both, a 4040 and an SM7b and I've been really liking the 4040 for my vocals lately. It's a good mic.

[PerryLAJ]

EV Re20 isn't a bad choice to consider either, depending on your voice type. Radiohead uses them as vocal mics in the studio.

[joe_04_04]

Originally Posted by Lukas101

i think its gonna be sm7 or akg 214

I own both of these mics.. The sm7b is a tank.. Has a great sound. But will need a preamps with a ton of gain to get a decent signal for most things.. I use it on metal vox so I don't need as much preamp...I just got the 214 recently..and have used it on three songs.. And DAMN.. It sounds great for the price... Super clear.

[scottstoked]

Originally Posted by jonnycat

. . . to buy a condenser for that price you would be looking at something mediocre

Baloney.

Originally Posted by Rob Ellis

CAD E100s

+1. I love this mic. Excellent on vocals and cuts through the mix without being too bright.

[mista min]

Originally Posted by Lukas101

great thanks for all the feedback guys appreciate it! what about the at 4040 or the mxl V69 ive read allot of positive stuff about those i don't really wanna spend much over 300$

Ok, so check out the AT 4033a, used.

You can usually get them for an inexpensive price. It is a solid mic that will sound well on most sources. Not bright and not dark, sort of neutral and natural (whatever that means :p ).

The MXL V69ME is a great mic, but bright! You will probably have to always de-ess the vocal, but for the price range you won't find many mics that sound that clear and full. Probably not what your looking for if you find the Rode too bright.

The AT 4040 is a bright mic, but not bright like chinese bright. More or less, not honkey if that's a good way to describe it. I'd take the 4033a over the 4040 any day of the week, because the 4033a is more versatile in my opinion. Though the 4040 is still a great choice and sounds really good on vocals.

Peace,
Min

You might also consider something from Advanced Audio since it's closer to you.

[Screws]

I just bought a stellar CM6 and the newer CM5 for around that price. You can hear them on a shoot out I did over on the Gear Shootout Forum called Hundreds to Thousands... I know Stellar mics cause a lot of controversy, but I think it's because people have a hard time believing something at this price has to sound bad.

[88fingerz]

These ae all good suggestions. Find a used Sputnik (for a little more, a new one).

[Puffer Fish]

Originally Posted by Yummerz

I would look at a modded Oktava or a ribbon mic like the Apex 205 or maybe the Cascade Fathead. The Apex 205 is a touch grainy, but has a really full sound and a lot of character. If I had only $150 to record Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, or Jim Morrison I would use that mic.

+1 on the modded Oktava and the Apex 205 ribbon mic. I have three modded MK-219 mics and a pair of modded Apex 205 ribbon mics. And keep your Rode microphone, just add other mics to the collection. You never know when you will need/ want another choice. Choose something else, like some of these mics we are all mentioning, to give you options when recording.

Yes, the mics we are suggesting are darker or not overly bright. With that thought in mind, I would also suggest a Kel Audio HM2D.

Yeah, keep the NT1000. I am sure you record something besides only vocals. If you do not, I am sure you will at some point. The NT1000 has GOT to be useful for you in some capacity. Drum mono over head? Room mic for electric guitar? Mic on a bass rig, combined with a DI? Body mic for an acoustic guitar? I would certainly try it out in any of those settings before dumping the mic. And to be fair, OP, you never suggested that you would unload the NT1000, so I am assuming a little bit here. But anyway, keep it and add to your collection with a mic or mics that offer you something different than what the NT1000 is providing. Or maybe that was your whole point by starting this thread!

[dkelley]

vocals?

I'd go with these types of mics that are better eq'd for lead vocals than some of the others mentioned:

cad m9
mxl v69me
arguably the blue spark (I like it on lead vocals a lot but it isn't as well established of a lead vocal mic in the budget industry just yet compared to the other two listed)
have mixed tracks recorded with the akg 214 and have enjoyed it
I still don't have one but the stellar sm6 (or whatever it's called "6" at least) is becoming quite the talked about great sounding chinese-sourced but non-chinese modded mics... I really want this one day... might be your best bet but also only a mail order microphone.

non-condensors like sm7 if you like that sound (I'm not a huge fan but some ppl are as you've seen... I don't recommend it for most beginners though unlike what is being suggested here). I prefer dynamics like re-20 or cheaper EV mics that sound similar (635? re-something else I can't remember right now LoL). I love the e/v pvm 520 mics but only hard to find on used market now - cheap though and quite terrific.

there are definitely others - I sometimes love the new sennheiser LDC but it seems to be a narrow opinion compared to other engineers.

There are plenty of great mics that work well on lead vocals, but I'm trying to point out those that really are made for it.

[Scott_R]

CAD e100s

[GordZilla]

Kel Audio HM7U, HM-2D, and Songsparrow

[dollarbill_1985]

AKG c214
Blue baby bottle

[Lukas101]

Awesome thanks for all the great suggestions guys! Definitely glad i signed up for this site tons of great info and good people!. As far as mics go im just gonna have to pick one out of the suggestions lol tons to chose from and im sure i wont be dissapointed with any one that i chose

[dollarbill_1985]

Originally Posted by Lukas101

Awesome thanks for all the great suggestions guys! Definitely glad i signed up for this site tons of great info and good people!. As far as mics go im just gonna have to pick one out of the suggestions lol tons to chose from and im sure i wont be dissapointed with any one that i chose

Just a question, but what kind of pre are you using?

[Jimsi]

yes, what preamp will you be using? These mics mentioned are very worthy of a decent preamp, not something cheap especialy the sm7b which needs plenty of decent gain...not a muddy starved plate designed preamp...

Originally Posted by dollarbill_1985

Just a question, but what kind of pre are you using?

[dollarbill_1985]

I found the baby bottle to work very well with a VT 737sp. But you could probably make a xbox headphone mic sound amazing with that baby. pristine.