Mic upgrade from AT 3035 for rap vocals

[randomguy]

I'm using a AT3035 in an untreated room and it's fine. I wouldn't mind getting better vocals so I'm flirting with a slight upgrade. I'm looking to spend maybe $150-$225 on a used mic that might be a worthwhile upgrade. At the price it seems used SM7b, AT 4040 and AT 4033 are the front runners.
Would those mics be enough of an upgrade to justify the price over the AT3035? I have an RME interface and plan to use that as the pre.


Please no canned "untreated room=sm7b" responses from people who have never used one.

[TYPHY]

you should go into a store and just randomly buy a microphone off the wall.

live by your name or die!

[Sampire]

although I do agree with TYPHY,

I have an AT3035 and an SM7B.

Only 2 mics I own.

SM7B was my "upgrade" after using the AT3035 for years.....

sometimes I will go back to the AT3035 and think....hmmmmm....woa.....this has much more detail, maybe this is better and I should stick with this.....I like this......this sounds way clearer....

then I start to think it's high end might just be exaggerated and harsh and go back to the Sm7b for a while......repeat cycle.

I've heard good things about the 4033

[Hellaciousj]

Originally Posted by randomguy

I'm using a AT3035 in an untreated room and it's fine. I wouldn't mind getting better vocals so I'm flirting with a slight upgrade. I'm looking to spend maybe $150-$225 on a used mic that might be a worthwhile upgrade. At the price it seems used SM7b, AT 4040 and AT 4033 are the front runners.
Would those mics be enough of an upgrade to justify the price over the AT3035? I have an RME interface and plan to use that as the pre.


Please no canned "untreated room=sm7b" responses from people who have never used one.

IMO I wouldn't worry about it. I'd probably work with what you have. The AT3035 is a great mic. I'd probably take that $150 to $225 and hop on ebay and buy some acoustic treatment.

[randomguy]

Originally Posted by Sampire

although I do agree with TYPHY,

I have an AT3035 and an SM7B.

Only 2 mics I own.

SM7B was my "upgrade" after using the AT3035 for years.....

sometimes I will go back to the AT3035 and think....hmmmmm....woa.....this has much more detail, maybe this is better and I should stick with this.....I like this......this sounds way clearer....

then I start to think it's high end might just be exaggerated and harsh and go back to the Sm7b for a while......repeat cycle.

I've heard good things about the 4033

So if you could go back would you do it again? How do the two compare?
Is the SM7b really that much more useful in a untreated room?

[Sampire]

yea, it's definitely better for an untreated room than any condenser. But if you're room sounds really bad it's not going to totally cancel that out...I agree that the best use of this money would be on treatment...I spent roughly 250 on building a cheap wooden frame of a booth and just stapling a bunch of moving blankets to it for walls. I had an awful sounding room. I can now use either mic without worry. Sounds pretty good. But anyway, if I could go back I would do it again because I got a decent deal on it off ebay and I like having it as an option. It's a dope mic if paired with the right preamp. To sum it up though - one doesn't outshine enough for me to be able to make up my mind. I wish one did because I like to be sure of things lol