New vocal mic...advice?

[Brian Middleton]

I'm getting ready to record lead vocals on an album project, and I'm using this as an excuse to add a new vocal mic to my meager collection. Up till now I've used one of these four:

Shure KSM32
AKG414-EBP48
Sennheiser 441
Beyer M500

I'm looking particularly for a mic that will be good on male voices, as I seem to have more trouble finding a good fit for M singers with one of the above mics than F's.

The current project features a reedy tenor, sort of like Neil Young crossed with Mick Jagger. We did the scratch vocals on the 414 in hypercardioid, and they sound OK, but a little muddy around the edges. The mic I'm looking for has some of that fat low-mid thing like the 414, along with slightly "juicier," more forward upper mids and a nice smooth top.

My budget limit is about US$1000; I could go a couple of hundred over if that's what it takes to make me happy. Mics I'm considering, in downward order of price:

Soundelux U195
M. Gefell 930
AT 4060
Neumann TLM103
Rode K2
ADK TC
AT 4047
EV RE20
Shure SM7
MXL V69

Anybody have any advice? Any mics in the $300-$1200 that aren't on the list but should be, or vice versa? I know I have to make the decision with my ears...I'm just hoping you can help me narrow down the list a little.

(Oh yeah, preamp will usually be a Buzz MA2.2....transformerless input, leans toward the transparent/clear side of the fence)

TIA for any help...

[grouphome]

Go for the TLM 103 i've had no problems with any male vocals

[djui5]

I'd go with either the U195, the 4060, or the M. Gefel...

It's really hard to know without auditioning the mic's.

Usually when tracking vocals I'll throw up a few mic's and see which one sounds best...

[cominginsecond]

On that list, I've only ever used the ADK TC and the SM7, but the ADK is killer on my voice (I'm male). It's seriously the best vocal mic I've ever used in my studio. Nice rich bottom and a high end that rises but isn't peaky. I got it to replace a Rode NTK, which I thought sounded thin, as well as being harsh in the upper mids.

The SM7 was nice too, but it's definitely a dynamic. Not a lot going on above 10 K. It works really well on intense, yelled vocals. In fact, if you were doing only metal, I'd say the SM7 was the best vocal mic you could get. Clearly, though, you're not only doing metal.

If you can afford it, you could get a lot of versatility out of having both. I got my SM7 on Ebay for under $200 and my TC for $300 (though I think you'll be hard pressed to get it for that again.)

[brownmouse]

Originally posted by Brian Middleton
:

Soundelux U195
M. Gefell 930
AT 4060
Neumann TLM103
Rode K2
ADK TC
AT 4047
EV RE20
Shure SM7
MXL V69

i'd say try the u-195 and the shure sm-7 (you should have one anyway... they're cheap). also, i would add to the audition list the soundelux ifet7.... it seems more of what you're looking for (i think... i could be wrong)
good luck,
joshua

[Brian Middleton]

also, i would add to the audition list the soundelux ifet7.... it seems more of what you're looking for (i think... i could be wrong)

No, you're probably right--I've looked at that one and lusted after it. But it's at least $700 out of my price range. If I'm going to spend that much, I would also be looking at things like a used U87, Blue Kiwi, Brauner Phantom, etc....I can't play in that league just yet. "Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday..."

[chessparov]

Did you try either/both of the 441 and M500
mics you already have?

Another reasonable try would be the Beyer M88.

Chris

[Brian Middleton]

I've used both the 441 and M500. Sometimes they're fine, but often they don't cut it. The 441 is a real chameleon; even on the same voice it seems to work perfectly on some days and not at all on others, depending on the style of the song (and sometimes, I'm convinced, the phase of the moon). When it doesn't work, it sounds a little small and too focused on the midrange; I find myself wanting more bottom end and a little more air (I've used the 12K shelf, but it doesn't quite give me the kind of air I'm looking for).

The M500 works nicely on occasion, usually on female voices and usually on more "vintage" sounding material. But it tends to be a little nasal or reedy on most voices. I've read that this mic really likes to see a preamp with a transformer input, and I don't have one of those in the house (yet).

Thanks for your help...I have heard a lot of people rave about the M88, and maybe I need to find one to listen to.

[chessparov]

Sure thing Brian.

Per Bob Ohlsson, around 5% of singers who use the M88 have some degree of sibilance issues with it.

Unfortunately, I (barely) fall into that group.
Otherwise love its sound.

You may also want to keep an eye out for the Beyer Soundstar MKII, also named the Model 400, or M400. It has a similar tonality to the SM7. They usually sell for less than $100 used.

If the room is acoustically treated so condensers sound good, then add the Studio Projects T3 along with the ADK TC to your short list.

In my (limited) experience an EQ cut of a few
dB around 900 Hz takes out some nasality on me FWIW.

Chris

[warhead]

CAD VSM would probably be a knock out mic for that kind of voice. I've had no real sibilance issues with it on anyone and it freakin' rocks on male voice.

Oh, and guitar cabs and more too.

War

[neilsby]

I use a Studio Projects C1 for all my vocals and i love it. I run through a focusrite penta though so in your set-up it might show up some gremlins. But at around $200 it's a bargain. It also wows non-in-the-know people because of its large size and conformity to what people think a studio mic looks like.

Hell, i'm a pauper.

Neil.

[bloodstone]

CAD M-9 $399 @ Musician's Freund

[chessparov]

Or if you want a CAD, you could go to Warren's site, www.frontendaudio.com and get the M9 for
$10 less. (they sell other stuff too)
And help a fellow gearslut out, of course.

Chris

[toledo3]

Seeing as how you already have a old 414 and a ksm32, getting a SM7 is probably going to be your best bet, and give you the most mileage. The RE20 is a good bet as well. You may also want to give a look at the heilsound goldline mic, or even an old 545 if you are having room problems.

Most of the others that have been mentioned are going to be more of the same.


What do you mean by "muddy around the edges? Are you tracking in a booth or something? Really, you should be able to get the job done with what you have. What do you have to work with as far as compression and eq goes? That may be money better spent.

One suggestion I will make is to check out the geffel umt70- really, do not spend any money on a tlm103, u195, 4060, etcetera, until you have checked it out. You should be able to score one new for 1100~1300.

[Brian Middleton]

What do you mean by "muddy around the edges?

I mean a combination of subtle things:

-a bit of boominess or tubbiness in the 150-200 Hz area
-a corresponding absence of upper-mid "juice"
-an overall slight cloudiness or phasiness--hard to describe, but compared to the KSM32 or 441, the 414 is not quite as open or clear. There's a little bit of gunk in there.

All that said, it's still got the best "size" of all my vocal mics and on some voices is the only mic that comes close to sounding right.

Are you tracking in a booth or something?

No, just my basement room. It's not bad acoustically as low-ceilinged spaces go--it's irregularly shaped and half the walls are rough old stone foundation, which seems to diffuse things a bit. I don't hear any major frequency problems, but I'm sure the room could benefit from some treatment.