Microphone for voice-overs

[neworld]

Hi everybody,

First post here, hope I don't make a fool out of myself...

I'm shopping for a new microphone, mainly for voice-overs. I've been told to check out the Neumann TLM103, but was wondering if there are any other options. I want a transparant microphone that doesn't color the sound too much. If the microphones self-noise is low, that is a big plus. I understand that the TLM103 is rather good in this department.

My budget for this purchase is roughly $1500 US. Any thoughts?

Best Regards,

/neworld

[woodworm]

As usual, I'd say check it out first without commiting your cash. depending on your area, you may either rent or find a loaner.

Which microphone fits best your requirement is so dependent on the language, the voice, the room and your recording chain...

For "transparent" I'd also check out some of the higher-end Rødes (with cash to spare compared to the Neumann), the DPAs (not sure what they go for these days), possibly another Neumann...

[Rodney Gene]

EV RE20 and Shure SM7 are pretty standard broacast voice-over mics.
Both dynamic and both worth owning for alot of stuff.

[Tousana]

At the studio I work for,some of the mics used in the post rooms for voice over sessions include: Sennhieser 416, Neumann U87, AKG 414's, as well as the Shure SM7.

[David R.]

Originally posted by Rodney Gene
EV RE20 and Shure SM7 are pretty standard broacast voice-over mics.
Both dynamic and both worth owning for alot of stuff.

Yup. Then you will have enough left over for a good compressor, which you will also need.

[lucey]

until Korby get's their FET mic to market ... check out the the Soundelux iFet7

other then that, listen to anything first .. there are many nice mics to try


the dynamics mentioned are staples for radio but if you want to really hear your voice you need an even handed condenser, and that 103 is a distortion box.

[djui5]

U87 works well for most voices in this application



*ducks for cover*

[bigbaby987]

tlm-103















bigbaby
production manager
98.7 KISS FM
NYC BABY!

[James Lehmann]

Hi,

I'm a voice-over artist and I've heard myself through zillions of mic/pre-amp combos. The standard set-up around these parts used to be a Neumann U87 and a Focusrite Red but this has changed over the last few years as there are more and more decent options on the market now.

As luck would have it I did a voice-over shoot-out just last night between a Brauner Phantom C, Brauner Valvet and Blue Kiwi. Of these three the Phantom C definitely won in the voice-over stakes, in fact I'd go as far as to say that this is something approaching nirvaneh for a voice-over mic - the clarity was exceptional, it has a full bass-end and a very smooth highs and sounds pure and natural. The other two mics sometimes gave a more desirable result on sung vocals, although the Phantom was very good here too, but you couldn't possibly go wrong with the latter for the spoken word. I'd definitely choose it over a U87. The build quality of the Brauners is absolutely stunning too.

What do I have in my studio? Well, I have a very limited budget so I bought a Microtech Gefell M930, which is similar to a Neumann TLM103 but about half the price, ie around €600. At that price the Gefell is hard to beat, but hearing it next to the Phantom C showed why the latter is twice the price - if I had the money the Phantom C is now my current first choice voice-over mic and it goes for around €1200. Do check one out before spending your money!

[neworld]

Thanks for the replies. Seems as the TLM103 has got some competition, especially the Brauner seems interresting. Hopefully I can borrow/rent a few different microphones and do a shoot-out between them.

/neworld

[Fletcher]

We have more than a few VO clients that seem to love the R-84... and frankly, the Sennheiser "416" shotgun mic seems to be the standard of the industry for the left coast US VO guys.

Best of luck with the search.

[MAProTulz]

TLM 103 is NOT an uncolored mic. It does that "Neumann" thing. It flatters a lot of voices, but on some it's just "too much". I actually really like the R84 for Vox. Not too edgy, very natural sounding. The Sennheiser 416 sounds AWESOME if you're looking for that Don LaFontaine voiceover sound with edgy high end that cuts.

On the super budget side, I've found the Studio Projects to be an excellent male voiceover mic. I know it's a cheapie, but it's perfect for VO work. I just add a bit of lo cut to it and off we go!

You will need a compressor to get the VO to hold up to what's coming out of other pro VO studios. The key to VO is compression, IMHO.

[LTA]

Originally posted by Fletcher
We have more than a few VO clients that seem to love the R-84... and frankly, the Sennheiser "416" shotgun mic seems to be the standard of the industry for the left coast US VO guys.

Best of luck with the search.

Did you ever notice that the people bringing up the 416 never mention the RE-20, and vice versa? And yet, both tend to be overlooked at the end of the day, with a standard (and generic) LDC being used instead.

[matucha]

Is there someone who could post some examples?


I need good voiceover mic, my current palette of mics is:

- Gefell CMV563+M7 (has something not very good with heights, but has very forward mids, that cuts nicely)

- Gefell UM57 (waiting for the PSU - hopefully next week)

- Audix CX101 (very bright, but in a good way I think... however midrange doesn't cut through well, so it sounds distant to me)

- Sennheiser MKH405 (this one is great sometimes, but too round (dull) for some voices)

- AKG D224E (unusable, maybe it is broken, it has nasty 2kHz peak)

- Manley Dual Mono Preamp (this is the only preamp I have [exept for old mackie mixer in the box under the table] and it seems to do a good job)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And my decision list? 1200-1700euro

used U87 (seem I can't go wrong with this one)

used 414 (for cheap could do a good job with some vox)

brauner Phantom C or V (could be the winner, but I'm affraid if it picks more room than the others as well as if it isn't too clinical clean)

gefell UMT71 (relatively cheap for new mic... I read on the forums it is round and bright... kinda contradictionary to me... confused about this one)

SM7 (I tried) didn't work for me with manley preamp, because I don't like it at high gain (55-60dB), it sounds closed compared to 40dB setting.


I also want the mic to serve as vocal mic, that will complement the old gefells I have.

I'd like to check them side by side, but it is imposible here. Well at least I know 87 ;-).

If there is someone whou can post some examples, I'd be very pleased ;-)))). Thanks!

[inaudio]

Re: - AKG D224E (unusable, maybe it is broken, it has nasty 2kHz peak)

You do know that the 224E is a two way mic, not suitable for close talking. Try it about a foot away and you might find it sounds great - though of course not for voiceover. When you are that close it shows the time difference of the hi and lo capsules.

[matucha]

;-) yep I know... that is just a mike I have and so I include it ;-)... but strange is that it has the same problem when recording close (under 1 foot) or when the speaker is 3 foot away... Sennheiser MD441 is also dual capsule mic and people use it very close .

it is OT, but I'm puzzled with this mic, because I heard it is good on snare, where I don't think you can back off so much (I don't know I don't record drums).

[James Lehmann]

Originally posted by matucha
Is there someone who could post some examples?

I'll see if I can get some examples of the shoot-out detailed above - was just a rather unscientific V/O session, but my friend may still have the Pro-Tools session files.

I've not tried all the mics on your short-list, but I can only say once again that I think the Brauner Phantom C is possibly the best mic I have ever heard my voice through for voice-over work. The U87 is probably warmer and more 'flattering' (although there is a great deal of difference between the older models and the newer U87ai) but in terms of clarity and fullness the Brauner is simply stunning - you get a GIANT, ultra-clean sound with this mic that captures incredible detail in the voice! Of course, this was helped along by the fact that we were using Cranesong Spider pre-amps - which have similar characteristics!

Anyway, Brauner Phantom C - gimme!

[matucha]

I don't care if the test is scientific or not, it is about character ;-). However I know it is very voice dependent, so what suits your voice doesn't have to suit voices of people I work with... but still there's a chance of an good guess based on recommendations an examples :-). Thanks

What about that "more room reflections" in the sound of Phantom C? How does it couple with mediocre acoustics?

[matucha]

;-) so here I post after some shy hesitation an ad work I do for one big club here in Prague. It is CMV563+M7 > Manley Dual Mono > M-Audio Audiophile (I know I know, just now I'm earning money for Lavry, hopefully early next year). There is a one pop in the speach, I only attentuated... it is not so apparent on S3A, but when I heard it on bigs, it was there in the full glory, damn.

The speaker (voice over artist? ;-) ) I work with is far less trained than you (james - btw I like you speach very much).

As I said, I like the forwardness of the mic, but I don't like the heights (are they distorted-smeared???) dunno...

feel free to comment the whole thing and recommend me what to buy ;-))))).

thanks

[matucha]

James > what is the mic that was used for ex. in the HP voiceover?

[James Lehmann]

Originally posted by matucha
James > what is the mic that was used for ex. in the HP voiceover?

Gawd - I honestly can't remember. If it's the studio I think it is then I think it might have been a DPA but I can't be sure! Or do they use AKG's, or even a Sennheiser... I definitely know it wasn't a Neumann.

I don't think the Brauner is going to be any more of a problem than any other mic with respect to room reflections - you need some treatment in the room whatever mic you end up using.

[matucha]

is it normal that the voiceovers are so bright and compressed?

[WunderBro Flo]

any BLUE mic that uses the B6 capsule is a great voiceover mic, I constantly choose it over my U87 and pretty much every other mic I have available for VO work. Have not heard the Brauner yet, but "GIANT" sound is also what comes into my mind when I think of the B6 on voices´. The B6 is used on the BLUE Mouse and lollipop-capsule as well as on the Bottle and as a capsule for CMV 563 mics...plenty of options and price ranges from 450.- to 4.500.-

Rock on!
Pat

[matucha]

Have you tried B6 capsule with CMV563 body? or M7 capsule with BLUE body?

Please post examples. My example is ~ the best I can do with my current setup and knowledge. If you have any comments about it, please don't be quiet ;-).

[WunderBro Flo]

I have used and heard the B6 lollipop with an akg c451 body, a c60 tube body and a c28 tube body. the blue mouse is also great, you can hear it on lynn´s 3D-mic-CD. in my opinion the capsule makes 95% of the sound anyway, so I prefer "fail-safe" combinations like the c451 body - less chance something starts popping, buzzing or hissing than with one of the old tube bodies. especially for vo work I want a really noiseless signal. you said it, vo is normally very bright and compressed (at least here in european radio and television).
the B7 capsule is Blue´s "U47" sound, which is not as suited for vo unless you want to sound like an old 70ies thing. You definiteley need more EQ on an M7 for voiceover than with a B6, and it will never be as clear sounding as the B6 , even when you EQ the highs accordingly.

I can post examples, just need some time, I am in the middle of something right now....remind me, otherwise I might forget!
Rock on!
Pat

[matucha]

Hiss or hum or whatever noisy in not my problem (perhaps I'm more lucky than I think I'm ), but yes there is always the HF response I need to eq to "modern" sound... and as always, EQ sounds artificial (count in bad AD and that's it).

Anyone else with Brauner Phantom C, Gefell UMT71 ???

[RKrizman]

Your choice may depend on whether you're looking for something just for your voice or to accommodate anybody. I've got a bunch of mics, including an Re-20 and a 416, and checked out the Brauner Phantom C, but much to my surprise the TLM 103 through the GR-1NV is working best on my voice. Really captures the hair and smoke, is agressive and punchy. Takes compression great, and I just shelve off the lows until it speaks clearly.

I think the 416 became popular because of it's prominent midrange and it's directional characteristics. The latter may not be a factor in your situation.

-R

[James Lehmann]

Originally posted by WildCowboys
The B6 is used on the BLUE Mouse

I tried the Blue Mouse and I liked it a lot, but I didn't feel it was significantly better than my much cheaper Microtech Gefell M930! It does look good though and is clearly designed with radio stations in mind.

OTO the much more expensive Blue Kiwi is an awesome mic and I can see that many people might choose this over almost anything for all sorts of vocal work, as my friend did! The Baby Bottle is not really suitable for voice-over work and the Dragonfly even less so. I've not tried the grown-up Bottle.

[matucha]

I just saw some secondhand 416 for about $400, but that's not what I want. Maybe it is great because you can almost rule the acoustics away, and it is classic for exterior recording. Maybe later ;-). Now it is about something clean/wide/smooth/forward and versatile of course . Hehe. Difficult one. I'm not convinced about blue, unless some example will kill me... and no, I don't have Lynns CDs and now I see it is a mistake ;-).

[Bob Olhsson]

Some other mikes to try are the Sennheiser 421 and the EV RE-15 or RE-16 which are like the RE-20 but with a little less top and bottom and a little tighter pattern.