Recommend Vocal Mic for bass voice

[Oneply]

I have a bass voice which goes from about 100 hertz to 440 hertz. I want to get a good microphone for both live performances and recording. I accompany myself on guitar and have a b-band pickup in one guitar and a Fishman Pro Pre-Blend in the other.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
I plan on using the microphone with a Baggs Core 1 amp & pre-amp when it comes out in June.<o:p></o:p>
I want to spend less than $500 US. Less would be better but I don't want to buy cheap and have to replace soon. I have spent thousands of dollars on guitars and don't want to cheap out on a microphone.<o:p></o:p>
I am a newbie. If this has already been addressed, would you kindly point me to the thread(s).<o:p></o:p>
Thanks

[James Lehmann]

Well firstly if you have a bass voice your range will extend way below 100Hz and you'll definitely want to capture all of that and more (especially if you make use of proximity effect) in your singing, regardless of the frequency of the lowest pitch you can actually sing.

Secondly Brauner mics seem to have the finest bass response of any mics I've ever used but you'll have to spend a lot more than $500 to pick one of those up, starting with the Phantom C, provided you can cope with the rather excessive HF lift.

My $0.02, I'm sure others will chime in with theirs.

[tINY]

The fundamental may only go up to A-440, but the overtones will go a lot higher. The placment of your particular forments will dictate which mic sounds best for your voice.

For live performances, I would look at the PR-20 for Heil as a first try.

For recording, that may well work too, but you may also try mics like the RE20, CAD M177, AT4047, SM81, ... .... .....

No telling what will sound best for recording - I assume you have a good acoustical space to record in.




-tINY

[mixerguy]

maybe a KSM 32?

about $450 - with case and shock mount

or $300 ish used....

try before you buy.....

if you can.

[Oneply]

Thanks for your posts. I have learned much from them.
I have never considered overtones and undertones. I know that acoustic guitars have overtones and undertones but I never applied this to the human voice.
I realize now that I may need to get a mic or two for live and some for studio.
I also realize that I will need to audition mics. I can recommend acoustic guitars to others, but they really have to play them to really hear what they are like. You have helped me by providing a list of mics to begin to audition.
I also realize that I may have to spend more on mics than I originally thought.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
As always I am open to more suggestions and criticisms.
<o:p></o:p>

[scrubs]

I have a pretty deep voice and would second the EV RE20 recommendation. Since it has virtually no proximity effect, it won't overemphasize the bass frequencies, but it has pretty good extension down to the 40-50Hz range. Brighter mics sometimes work well for deep voices, too, if you're looking for a more airy quality. My main mic for several years was one of the early Rode NT1's. As hated as this mic is, it has always sounded pretty good on my voice.

[Brad Lunde]

SM7's are nice but output is very low so you need a nice preamp. They are sure smooth! Old Buchanan RE20s' sound nice and smooth also; the low end does avoid proximity effect but prox is what many voice guys want for that larger than life sound (which is why they use a lot of processing on Re20's on Broadcast VO chains). Actually the best part about an RE20 is off axis polars (and the entire RE variable D line). Hard to tell the off axis from on axis sound, which is what made them all so popular in the beginning (as talent could not hold still in front of the mics and too much low end maxed out simpler broadcast chains and PA systems). Newer RE20's (Mexico/Asia??) sound different to me than the older Buchanan ones, not sure if anyone else has noticed this.

PR40's sound like a wider bandwidth RE20 to me, more extension on top and deeper bass. Yes you do get proximity effect but the mics have a tight enough pattern you back off them a bit and still avoid picking up too much ambience. PR40 keeps that wonderful smooth midrange of a large diaphragm dynamic. SO I'd try that and see if it works for you. It good for recording (used as vocal mic on Sams Town Killers Record) and live (excellent pattern for higher on stage gain. ) 375 US List

PR20 mentioned earlier is also a NDym large diapragm but mids on PR40 are better (also more money). It looks like a handheld but is actually a stand mounted mic.
Brad