Searching for "Holy Grail" Vocal mic for MY voice!

[GMR]

I'm trying to find the best mic for my voice. My pre is a Voxbox and compress with an 1176 at mix.
I have kind of a George Michael kind of voice.

I have a U-195, AT 4033, a modded JWilliams 414 b-uls, SP C1.

I recently bought a U195. At first listen I hated it. sounded thin and bright on me. So I experimented with it and finally got a sound I really liked with it but had to be real close into it, with the Fat switch on. It was the best sound I'd ever got. Starting to get that pro sound. Then decided to try all mics real close in which opened a whole new world. The sound I've been searching for!

Here's the verdict

The U-195 is pretty good but sounds a bit too scooped in the mids when I compare it to the 4033 and maybe a tad too much high end, maybe not? It's not perfect on me. When I hear it, it sounds very good but there is a little something I'm not quite happy with it for my voice. I'm being nitpicky here.

The SP C1 sounds not as pure but i prefer something in the mids in that one but the highs are a bit too much. But overall, side by side the U195 sounds way much better than the C1 but just something in the mids on the C1 I prefer for my voice.

The modded 414, lacks high end. Well it's just tough to define what I don't like about it, I tried Eq'ing a bit but can't put my finger on it.

Interestingly I took out my 4033 out of the closet, I never ever liked it before but gave it a shot real close in and really like the sound all of sudden. It's got more mids than the U195! more than 4 inches sounds horrible and thin on me. (all these mics sound very thin and bright when I back off from them) But I tried it real close in and I really like something in it that I hear. It doesn't sound as scooped as the others. It's got less scooped mids. It sounds more like me. I'm really liking a certain quality that comes from it.

So what i'm looking for is the sound close to the U195 but with more mids like the 4033 give me. there is a quality I like in both of 'em. The 195 gives me a good sound, but the 4033 makes a certain quality that's in my voice come out that I really like which I don't get with the 195. This is so hard to explain!


So from my description if you know these mics well, what would you suggest I try that would put me in the ballpark of what I'm looking for?

I'm thinking trying other AT mics (AT4060)! Read G.Massenburg rave about it and some not liking it, and obviously other soundelux mics. But which ones are in this ballpark? Any opinions on the E250?

Anything up to about $2500 maybe more

Thanks for your help!

[genericperson]

Have you tried a U-87?

[Spooner]

Have you tried a Shure SM-7?

Great vocal mic! It's also excellent for electric guitars and bassdrum.

[Dangerous Dave]

A decent U-87 or a Wagner U87w should do the trick if you can find one.

Best.

DD

[b-magical]

Check out the Soundelux ifet7. I have an 87 and it has a very similar vibe. I was considering getting one and ended up with the e49 which is a great sounding mic but a bit more than your budget allows for.

[jabney]

hi GMR,

Since you are getting close to the sound you want, perhaps a little tweaking may be in order. Are you using a Stedman pop filter or a hoop-type? If it's a hoop, try a Stedman. What about the mic' cabling? Try a few types - Canare star-quad, BLUE Kiwi, Mogami, Zaolla, Belden, Gotham, etc. Have you tried substituting NOS (or good used) tubes in the voxbox? If not, start with the first tube in the chain and have your licensed, bonded, insured tech swap tubes :-) . What about using Stabilant 22 on the pins and connectors? You do leave your tube gear on all the time don't you? I like tubes, but find it less than pleasant to listen to tube stuff until it's been on a couple of hours - at least.

[TonyBelmont]

Maybe the sound you aren't liking is something else in your vocal chain. I don't really love the Manley mic pre, especially on that kind of vocal. Have you given any thoughts to trying a different mic preamp? I would try another pre using the U195, and see what your results are... If you ask me what kind of pre you should try for $2500.00, I would tell you the Aurora Audio GTQ-2!!!!

www.auroraaudio.net

[lucey]

Originally posted by GMR

Anything up to about $2500 maybe more

Thanks for your help!

Korby Audio is introducing 2 mics between now and AES this fall, one is a remake of their own FET condenser

a fixed cardioid ... very nice mic, better than a U87 by far and not much more than a 195 in price (TBA)


you just need to try things so find a dealer that carries what you want and go for it

Vintage King is a good place for Korby/Soundelux/etc.

[gabler]

I agree with trying another mic pre with the soundelux U-195
I had a Audio technica 4060 tube mic. I did not like it. Dont go by
what some else uses or advertises. Listen with your ears.

[brownmouse]

i'll second the soundelux ifet7..... that and the soundelux e47/e49 should be on the audition list.
joshua

[Sir Bob]

Any buzz yet on the E251 mic taylored strickly for vocals?

[smk]

I too have a similar type voice (Savage Garden/George Michael/Kenny Loggins-ish) and have the U195. Well, several of us spent a good five hours with a variety of mics and my favorite: AT 4060. It gives my voice fullness without being dark, and the detail and balance of this mic is outstanding. This is next on my purchase list.

[Fletcher]

I have found some great results with the Microtech Gefell UMT-800... while there are a plethora of pickup patterns from which to chose [all net a slightly different tone as would be expected], the overall character has a very sweet and detailed high end, a rather full but not brash nor muddy midrange and a controlled low end.

Best of luck with your search.

[Kenny Gioia]

If you are so close with the U195, why don't you try the U99.

I borrowed a whole bunch of Soundeluxe mics from Fletcher and a Brauner Valvet.

The U195 was the 3rd best.

The U99 was the 2nd Best.

The Brauner had the prettiest top end (by 2%) but was equal IMHO to the U99.