In Need of some real advice on microphone choice All the support would be appreciated

[franke]

you need a rode k2 or you need a tlm102 in that price range.

what you really need is an original u87 and a dope amp, but those two up there are real nice in the price range man good luck

[jperfect2485]

Thanks for this info!

[prizebeatz1]

In my opinion, all of those microphones are VERY capable of producing professional results. I think the area that will make you a believer is the preamp. If you can get your hands on something really, really good then you will see what I am talking about.

I kind of went through the same phase with picking the "perfect" mic for my voice. After going through about a dozen microphones, I ended up with a KSM 44. Here is what I found: some of the differences between microphones are subtle, some a little more drastic but it's mostly about character which is subjective.

For rap music, a dynamic mic would be in order but that doesn't mean you can't use a condenser. The challenge with dynamic mics is that most are gonna need a really good preamp to sound good. If you don't have a great preamp go with a condenser and tweak the eq to get yourself in the range of what you want to sound like. You may not get to your ideal sound but just get as close as you can and do the best with what you have for now.

One other suggestion: try recording with the monitors on if possible. Maybe a handheld condenser like the AKG 535 could do the trick. It really helps some people to be able to hear what they sound like out loud when recording. You're going to have to keep the volumes low and make sure you don't get too much of a phase issue but it could be worth a try. Good luck.

[indie folk guy]

I'd say upgrade the preamp/interface for sure because regardless of what mic you have that's the weakest link in your signal path based on what you listed. Now on your interface are you able to bypass the built in preamps when using an external preamp? Part of your problem with strange noise could be caused by gain staging. personally I'm not a fan of Presonus preamps I'd ditch that ASAP. I think for you upgrading to something like a Focusrite Scarlett would be a tremendous improvement in sound quality and it'd give you a decent mic preamp subjectively better imho than the Presonus you have.

Golden Age pre73 gets a lot of praise for an inexpensive but reputable preamp, if you don't mind spending more money a Daking, Focusrite ISA One, UA Solo 110/610/710, etc would probably be a more prudent investment. A lot of people also love the ART MPA I wasn't as crazy about it personally but it's an option to explore, definitely better than your Presonus.

Next I'd say invest in a quality set of headphones spend at least $200 Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, or AKG are my preferences. This way you can monitor yourself while you sing and get an accurate image (without having to worry about bleed from a live set of monitors or about performing in a great sounding room that allows the monitors to sound their best). Not knowing what gear you use and have I'm not sure if this is an issue. But if you don't have a well treated room and a great set of monitors a quality set of headphones will be a wiser investment as headphones don't require acoustic treatment, additional stands/cables, etc. I use Beyerdynamic DT770s in the studio and AKG in ears on stage.

As far as mics go my favorite vocal mics (in your range) are probably the Heil PR30/35, Neumann KMS105 (could be great for your application), AT40 series, Shure KSM32/44, Blue, etc. To find what's best for you is really subjective trial and error is the best method to try.

[jperfect2485]

Originally Posted by indie folk guy

I'd say upgrade the preamp/interface for sure because regardless of what mic you have that's the weakest link in your signal path based on what you listed. Now on your interface are you able to bypass the built in preamps when using an external preamp? Part of your problem with strange noise could be caused by gain staging. personally I'm not a fan of Presonus preamps I'd ditch that ASAP. I think for you upgrading to something like a Focusrite Scarlett would be a tremendous improvement in sound quality and it'd give you a decent mic preamp subjectively better imho than the Presonus you have.

Golden Age pre73 gets a lot of praise for an inexpensive but reputable preamp, if you don't mind spending more money a Daking, Focusrite ISA One, UA Solo 110/610/710, etc would probably be a more prudent investment. A lot of people also love the ART MPA I wasn't as crazy about it personally but it's an option to explore, definitely better than your Presonus.

Next I'd say invest in a quality set of headphones spend at least $200 Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, or AKG are my preferences. This way you can monitor yourself while you sing and get an accurate image (without having to worry about bleed from a live set of monitors or about performing in a great sounding room that allows the monitors to sound their best). Not knowing what gear you use and have I'm not sure if this is an issue. But if you don't have a well treated room and a great set of monitors a quality set of headphones will be a wiser investment as headphones don't require acoustic treatment, additional stands/cables, etc. I use Beyerdynamic DT770s in the studio and AKG in ears on stage.

As far as mics go my favorite vocal mics (in your range) are probably the Heil PR30/35, Neumann KMS105 (could be great for your application), AT40 series, Shure KSM32/44, Blue, etc. To find what's best for you is really subjective trial and error is the best method to try.

Thanks for the responses, things are starting to become more clear. I’m not sure if there is a bypass function on the omega lexicon audio interface but I can either record flat going into the interface using its phantom power and gain or I can use the presonus's phantom power gain going into the lexicon omega audio interface however if I do this way I have to use the gain on the audio interface in conjunction with the gain on the pre amp to hear the signal if that makes sense. This seems to be how these two specific units work together. That being said I don’t think I can bypass the built in preamps in the omega interface when using an external preamp. What exactly is gain staging?

[jperfect2485]

Originally Posted by jdomini00

In my opinion, all of those microphones are VERY capable of producing professional results. I think the area that will make you a believer is the preamp. If you can get your hands on something really, really good then you will see what I am talking about.

I kind of went through the same phase with picking the "perfect" mic for my voice. After going through about a dozen microphones, I ended up with a KSM 44. Here is what I found: some of the differences between microphones are subtle, some a little more drastic but it's mostly about character which is subjective.

For rap music, a dynamic mic would be in order but that doesn't mean you can't use a condenser. The challenge with dynamic mics is that most are gonna need a really good preamp to sound good. If you don't have a great preamp go with a condenser and tweak the eq to get yourself in the range of what you want to sound like. You may not get to your ideal sound but just get as close as you can and do the best with what you have for now.

One other suggestion: try recording with the monitors on if possible. Maybe a handheld condenser like the AKG 535 could do the trick. It really helps some people to be able to hear what they sound like out loud when recording. You're going to have to keep the volumes low and make sure you don't get too much of a phase issue but it could be worth a try. Good luck.

Thanks for the post..

[8875]

I'd agree with others that if all of those microphones have produced similar problems, it's most likely other elements that you should look at first. I would look at a better pre as cheap ones can often produce very harsh highs. My advice is always if you are serious to aim as high as you can so that you won't want to upgrade again in a year or two an lose money. I agree that the gain staging is important too.

In my experience many microphones, even expensive ones, can appear harsh because of the way we tend to mic modern vocals so closely, so remember to try out different placements. Moving away or of axis can improve things but you will need a decent sounding space to record in or you will get nasty room sounds.

[Wayne]

It's also possible some of that edge' you are attributing to the mics may be in part a characteristic of your voice. I just went through a situation where the addition of an external foam screen on a PR35 sounding so nice on one singer had me thinking I might have really been on to something perhaps in the way of a universal improvement or solution?.. The very next guy, sounded thin and edgy on it. In retrospect the foam probably was a bump in the right direction for the 2nd guy, but in the end it was still a poor fit.

That.. plus this..

Originally Posted by 8875

...remember to try out different placements.

[jperfect2485]

Originally Posted by Wayne

It's also possible some of that edge' you are attributing to the mics may be in part a characteristic of your voice. I just went through a situation where the addition of an external foam screen on a PR35 sounding so nice on one singer had me thinking I might have really been on to something perhaps in the way of a universal improvement or solution?.. The very next guy, sounded thin and edgy on it. In retrospect the foam probably was a bump in the right direction for the 2nd guy, but in the end it was still a poor fit.

That.. plus this..

Yeah thanks for posting this tip!