Please share your favorite vocal mics & why

My favorite mic that I've used so far is the Audio Technica AT-4047. Very smooth-sounding mic that has plenty of air and openness but doesn't sound harsh on the top end. Price is pretty reasonable too. I paid twice as much for an AKG condenser years ago and didn't like it nearly as much as the 4047.

Rode Nt2A - It's multipattern, 300 bux on eBay and sounds good.

Oh the SM-81 is a condencer mike by the way. I just cant remember if it needed pantom power or if it was the one that had the AA batteries.

pretty much any one not with me doing the vocals...

has anyone used the blue baby bottle...the 500 dollar one? I have heard some great things about it.

I went thru quite few to find the right one...it ended up being the studio projects C3 ..

I tried rode NT1,NT2, NTK ,Classic, Classic II, Neuman TLM103, AKG C414

once you find the right mic for your voice, stick with it...8)

there is no other way, than to try em.

Wiz

Somewhat an impossible question.

Most folks will respond with what they have which is exactly what your questins asks. BUT the answers are difficult to apply to your situation.

That doesn't mean the question shouldn't be discussed - just be aware of the context of the answers. The challenge in this type of question is to ask for a very clearly articulated reason why someone prefers one mic over another.

Just Recently I got to use a Korby KAT with U47, and C12 capsules. I guess combined that is about $8000 or more worth of microphone. Compared that to most of the mics mentioned in this post and some others. I used the mic on a very 'earthy and dark colored' lower mid male vocalist. All pop rock style with a very wide dynamic range. The vocalist is tremendously talented and we spent hours looking for the right capture tone with all of the mics (we didn't want to exhaust him). After all was said and done, the Korby seemed to be too fast and bright for the singer. The mic seemed to lighten his vocal delivery and we wished we had waited to schedule the session to have the U87 cap in the studio for the singer. Honestly I loved the mic - just wasn't the right combination for the vocalist. This would have been perfect for a female singer I did last fall. Ended up AKG 414 on wide card was the right combination.

BTW the CAD trion 7000 that CJ mentioned sounded poor in a way until I heard one of the guys I know mention pushing the EQ around 3K on the the thing (not sure what Q though) and it can be the ticket as a vocal ribbon mic. I guess I've always felt if the EQ wasn't right 'in' the mic I shouldn't fix it - but he's right and he's got a respectable amount of album credits to his name so I just learn and learn and learn.

Finally HERE'S a nice link on selecting Vocal mics with some luminary engineers. A lot of the conversation is FOH but the selections and why - especially on the Sony C 8000G are invaluable.

I own two of Lynn Fuston's CD's that compare over 60 microphones on vocals. I can't imagine a better way to hear these mics many of which I could never afford (e.g. SM58) and now... Lynn has made these CD's available very conveniently as Downloads.

Mic CD


Ribbon Mic CD


To browse the offerings, go HERE

Shure KSM27 - nice sound, nice price...

Check here for some discussion about it...

http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/discuss/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1816

from the DigiFreq Forums:
http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/discuss/

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series. Get Sonar 7 Power & Sound Forge 8 Power - Today! Go to: http://www.garrigus.com/

Publisher of DigiFreq - free music technology newsletter. Win a free SoundTech Audio or MIDI to USB Cable, go to: http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/

Publisher of NewTechReview - free consumer technology newsletter. Win a free WWF Slam Cam digital camera, go to: http://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/

Although I like a Neumann tlm 103 for my voice the Rode NT2a (not the nt2) is IMHO the sleeper of the decade. It has more top end than either my AKG 414B XLS OR my 414B XL-II and sounds open, fairly large, and very clear. Sits well in the mix too. Not much proximity effect though, so for some that may be an issue. They also have a liberal somewhat transferrable 10 year warranty. Using a decent preamp is part of what a mike sounds like, and although you don't 'absolutely' need a high end one you will benefit from a good one.

As a follow up, watching the other posts show up here....

WRT the Korby using the U47 it has a continuously variable pattern. We landed on a moderately wide Omni for most of our tests. When we tried the 414 on all patterns until we landed on wide card. Patterns and placement can have a larger impact on what you are recording than using different mics. Most ribbons are F8's and can sound really bad or really good depending on YOUR room, not mine. Keep in mind not all mics have the same roll off characteristics specifically referring to their switching abilities. Finally - breaking tradition here...most folks consider LDC's SS or Tube as the format of choice for vocals - I have been astounded by some recordings using SDC's from earthworks and DPA. In fact I think some of the Earthworks stuff is available from them as free samples.

My summary - your environment determines the flexibility you will need for pattern and switching.
-D

I have Red5 too - it's actually far too honest and revealing for some voices. Sometimes I like small diaphragm cardioid condensors for soft/ female voices - especially if short of setup time - they get the softness without picking up too much sibilence, lip smacks etc.
I'd try dynamics, but mine are all dead now (they were old!). I haven't tried a ribbon - they're generally too expensive for my needs.
Next time I have a solo voice to record, I'm going to try spaced small diagragm omni mics. I prefer the sound of omni on acoustic instruments - so when spill isn't an issue, why not on a voice?

Jim

Next time I have a solo voice to record, I'm going to try spaced small diagragm omni mics. I prefer the sound of omni on acoustic instruments - so when spill isn't an issue, why not on a voice?

cos the voice is a mono, monophonic instrument? but there's no rules, only accepted wayz of doing things. and i have the red5 too, but my room needs treating...

I've been using an AT 4040 for about a month. I really like the way it cuts through, but it can be quite unforgiving. In the end, I feel it's forcing me to be a better singer in my vocal takes.

Manley because tubes make things sound nice and manley is king of pro audio tubes.


Cause unless you can find a U47 or 67, you are going to have a hard time beating a U87 for all around applications.

Cause Neumanns sound so good and tubes do too. Plus, I can set it up a long way away from my pre and have a great sound.

They sound really good in almost everything, but the tubes can add a bit of color to the vocalist. Get a good pre too.

For general utility, the Sony C800G is arguably the best out there. There is a sheen to the mic
that is hard to describe.

The Pearlman TM1 is also a great mic with the Neumann capsule upgrade. Great mic for
the price-point.

jeff