Low budget vocal mic - smooth high end possible?

[TyRip]

I am in the process of getting some low cost mics for my home studio, and am getting rid of a Rode NT1000, getting a cheap pair of SD condensers and cheap kick and tom mics, and I need to find a good replacement for the NT1000 (well basically, I need to find something almost completely opposite of it).

I want a large diaphragm mic with some more body and a much smoother high end response than the NT1000. I would really like some tube saturation in the signal, but for around $300 or so, that is probably a bad idea, considering the tube offerings at that price.

I am looking very seriously right now at the ADK Hamburg, as that was designed expressly for the tone I have described, but the problem is that I have never heard one personally. I may consider making the jump up to the AT4047, but I really think even if it is slightly less quality and almost certainly less versatile, the ADK Hamburg still seems to go for the sound I really want for vocals, and I would probably choose it over the AT even if it only sounded better on vocals.

So, if anyone has experience with the Hamburg, or has any other suggestions for a cheap large diaphragm with a smooth high end response, please help me out, because I am struggling to make a decision without hearing the mic. Thanks.

[TyRip]

I've been doing a little looking around after I posted it seems like the Shure SM7B is going to give the same kind of response I had hoped for and that the ADK claims to... so if you recommend this or have any other comments about this mic as well for studio vocal recording, that would be great. Thanks.

[warhead]

The Hamburg is a good choice. Also, the Joemeek JM47 has a smooth top end / midrange as well for an inexpensive mic.

War

[DAWgEAR]

The Baby Bottle has a unique high end (not at all hyped), and it may or may not be right for your applications, but it certainly is smooth for the price range ($500-$600).

By way of comparison, I own an NT2 and an NTK and it sounds more detailed and "expensive" than either, IMHO. YMMV.

[chessparov]

A smart choice IMHO would be to add either an Electro-Voice RE16 or RE15.

New the RE16 is about $200, and they both run about $120 or so when I last checked ebay a while back.

The RE15 and RE16 were extremely popular with the AE's at Chess and RCA. On tons of hits by both labels, including Elvis and Dolly Parton.

Not LDC's but excellent smooth sounding vocal mics nonetheless. Personally, either beats a U87ai.

Then you could hedge by getting something like the Joe Meek as a second option. The Studio Projects B1 works well on me, for example, too.
(haven't tried the Meek)

Chris

[brownmouse]

$300 for a tube mic? i'd forget about it and just look at getting a good mic for $300. several dynamic mics may be a great choice. shure sm-7, sennheiser 441, ev re-20, etc...
as far as condenser mics in that price range the cad m-177/m-179 is not too terrible an option.
good luck,
joshua

[ozraves]

I got a Blue Dragonfly. It's got smooth high end to spare. Then, I got rid of my Chinese mic that I thought had smooth high end.

[atticus]

if you are not opposed to a ribbon try to find a Beyer M160, M260, or M500. The m160 will be the smoothest but they all take eq very well so you can tweak the sound. I'm a huge fan of using these for lead vocals.

[beechstudio]

For the money.........The ADK TC blew me away! Super smooth mike! Check it out! ($599)

[warhead]

Originally posted by atticus
if you are not opposed to a ribbon try to find a Beyer M160, M260, or M500. The m160 will be the smoothest but they all take eq very well so you can tweak the sound. I'm a huge fan of using these for lead vocals.

Yeah, the M160 has been fun to have around here. I need to try on vocals still though!

War

[owl]

Originally Posted by warhead

Yeah, the M160 has been fun to have around here. I need to try on vocals still though!

War

It's ok if you've got the right pre and the right vocalist. not really an all rounder tho i find. great on snare , acoustic guitars and strings. even double bass, which always freaks the player out cos it's so small!

[M. Hartlieb]

Funny,

as I read the title of the thread I thought to myself: "I gonna have to recommend him the ADK Hamburg". Seriously, I love this mic!
I didn´t had a chance to test the mic before ordering either (no dealer in Germany), but I had a rather nice conversation with JP Gerard, the inventer of the Hamburg and Vienna Mic. He gave me the chance to order one for checking, maybe you can make out a similar deal.

Good luck!

Michael

[popmann]

I think you need to define "smooth high end".

Sm7b has NO high end, but takes EQ well.

The M160 has no high end and it does NOT EQ well, IMO.

The hamburg is very open and bright without being really boosted up there.

The 4047 is dull, thick, and it's high end very grainy and electronic.

The TC is HELLA boosted and bright, and if you're a dynamic singer--don't bother. As you increase SPLs, the midrange will actually suck OUT of it and it will fall back into a mix. it's bright, boosted high end is, IMO, very nice sounding...it's too bad for the mid/dynamics thing.

In the price range, my picks are the 4050, Hamburg, or Sm7b with EQ. The SM7 is probably the most phase coherent and large of the three. The Hamburg is the thinnest and has the most mid honk. I like the Hamburg, because I like a strong mid honk on my voice.

[AmekGuy]

I have experimented with many low budget mics over the years and have always been dissapointed with the top end on these mics. I have yet to hear one that has a midrange to die for or a silky smooth top end. It is probably better to own one great mic with a great capsule, than to own a mic locker of cheap ones that never quite deliver. When you start adding up the cost of owning five or ten low budget mics, you could just as well buy one quality one.

My recommendation is to look for a used U195 on eBay (or other comparative quality mic). You should be able to pick one up in the $600 + range.

[popmann]

I have yet to hear one that has midrange to die for or a silky smooth top end.

Certainly not a midrange to die for...I do think the tops have gotten quite nice. Maybe not "to die for", but...I love the top on the Hamburg. Actually, it's the thing that's best about it, IMO.

I have found that it is better to own one great mic with a great capsule, than to own a mic locker of inexpensive opnes that never quite deliver the goods.

That, we agree on. For $300, he's not gonna get that, though.

[themaidsroom]

Originally Posted by TyRip

I've been doing a little looking around after I posted it seems like the Shure SM7B is going to give the same kind of response I had hoped for and that the ADK claims to... so if you recommend this or have any other comments about this mic as well for studio vocal recording, that would be great. Thanks.

get an sm7b or get a much bigger budget........the sm7b will want a great high
output mic pre, but it is a really great mic......in my opinion, nothing compares
for the money, nothing........


a tube mic for $300 is going to be like a car for $800 - something, somewhere
just doesn't make sense.......tube mics for $3000 dollars are still on the
affordable side of things.....

buying things twice is more expensive than anything.....
because of the home recording craze, there are more recording products
available than ever.........

five years from now, when you have 47's and c12's and 251's, you will
still track with your sm7-b......


be well


- jack

[M. Hartlieb]

Originally Posted by popmann

The hamburg is very open and bright without being really boosted up there.

The Hamburg is the thinnest and has the most mid honk. I like the Hamburg, because I like a strong mid honk on my voice.

You consider the Hamburg being thin? Seriously? To me, the Hamburg sounds rather 70ies like, round and warm, not bright at all. Yours is either faulty then or we just perceive its sound totally different...

Michael

[popmann]

You consider the Hamburg being thin? Seriously?

Absolutely. I actually like that about it. I mean, I spend a lot of time carving low end out of vintage Neumanns to make the vocal fit the mix better...I look at it as a pre EQ'd 87 with a more open top ala 67. The mid bump is actually nicer than a stock 87i, which can get kinda eshy at times.

You're comaring it to what? I mean, I can put a 4033 or U67 or a U87i or a 414 or a TLM193 or a...and they'll sound hugely thick in comparison.

It's easily brighter than any of the above, too, assuming it's a stock 67.

Next to the Chinese mic'o'the'day...or 251 clone of the day, it's not bright. But, next to an old Neumann or the afforementioned Sm7? It's really bright.

It's also possible I'm deaf.

[mrbowes]

Beyer M500N - Requires a good bit of gain, but is a great compliment to my other vocal mics (VIP-50, SM7b, V77).

I usually reach for this mic when I feel the top end is sounding too glassy, piercing, etc. It more often than not solves the problem.

[Recycled_Brains]

on the ribbon side of things.... i recently recorded a folk, acoustic guitar/vocal album using a Shinybox 46c for the vocals (female), and they came out great. much more detailed than i thought it would be, and it tamed the harshness of the louder, higher-register parts. the singer had a lot more to do with the sound than the mic, but the shinybox helped me achieve an end result that i'm very happy with. and for $250 bux or so, that's a good thing.

-R.

[Jonboy79]

Ahhhhhh, nothing like the refreshing feeling of reviving a thread from February '05. Hopefully he's made his decision by now.

[popmann]

Ha! I didn't even see that.

[Recycled_Brains]