Vocal mic for recording recommendations

[Perry]

Howdy

What do some of you folks like for recording vox in a home studio. Approximate $500 price range.

Thanks

[Spruce]

Totally depends on what kind of vocalist you are (Frank, Sting, Waits, or ?), and whether or not you are recording the vocals in a live band situation or overdubbing...

Live with a band in a room--a good cardioid ribbon or a Shure SM7 will help isolate the vocal nicely, and yet still sound great...

ODs could be any number of choices, including the above...
The trick is to try as many mics as you can (in context), and pick one you like...

My go-to mic on both men and women to start out with, is a Beyer M500 Classic, but YMMV...

[Perry]

Thanks. Should have been more specific; a general all purpose vocal mic if it's a 58 or 57 then so be it.

[Indianageo]

I really love my Neumann TLM 102. Small, compact, and gives me good results.

IG

[Steve Lavelle]

A general all purpose mic an a mic for recording vocals in a home studio are probably different things.
at $400 the AT4033CL is a good all around large diaphragm condenser that is fine for a home environment, but I wouldn't gig with one. I used this one for recording for many years before I acquired a Neumann TLM103 (~$1000)
I have used and own the SM58 and 57 for live gigs, but I would not record with them, except for mic-ing an electric guitar amp to get a specific sound.
I have both gigged with and recorded with the AKG C1000 ($200), a 'medium' diaphragm condenser. The Shure SM81 is similar, but has a different character to the sound.


Spruce is right that you should try a lot of different mics. Like mandolins, each mic has different characteristics to their sound, which your ears may or may not like. Many mics have a slight peak in the 2K- 4K region of the spectrum because most vocals sound better with it. Spruce mentioned ribbons, but keep in mind that they have a figure 8 pickup pattern which means that you have to be more careful with placement. Cardiod patterns are the most prevalent because that pattern is fairly one-sided. the C1000 comes with an attachment that converts the pattern to hypercardiod making the mic even more directional.


Then there is the MXL-990 (Large Condenser) and MXL 991 (small condenser) which is a Chinese made mic brand. If I was just starting out I would buy this pair ($69). That way you get a mic designed for vocals and a small condenser that is better suited for the mandolin and other instruments. I've done some recording with these mics and was pleaseantly surprised by their clarity and character. The 991 is a blatant lower quality copy of the KM-184. Grisman always uses the Neumann KM-84 for his recordings, but that is way out of your price range (current model is KM-184 $850).

[pete12string]

I use a Rode NT1A (I have two). I don't know if they even make them anymore...

[Kerry Krishna]

I am with Pete on this. I have two NT1As and they are amazing mics for the price. They sell up Canada way for 270.00 with pop screen and rubber mount. You DO need phantom power though. PM me and I will send you a link to some vids so you can hear what these mics sound like if you want...

[Don Grieser]

I have a couple LDC mics, an AT4033 which has a definite presence peak. It works great on some voices. I have an OktavaMod 219 which is a very smooth mic with no sibilance at all. Very very nice. I also have Shinybox ribbon mic that I like on my voice as well as Beyer M88 dynamic mic.

I'd really check into the OktavaMod stuff. You can get mics that sound a lot more expensive than they are with his mods. I have a LDC capsule on order that will fit my Oktava 012 body that sounds freakishly close to a Neumann U67 (happened by accident). I'm looking forward to getting that one. Lots of sound samples on the OktavaMod site. Great mods for the MXL 990 and Rode too.

[almeriastrings]

Ones I have been impressed with in that price range:

CAD M9 (tube mic). Really a very nice mic. Not the best 'looker', but it delivers on a really clean, smooth sound.

BLUE Baby Bottle. Just a very good studio vocal mic at a great price.

sE Electronics sE4400a. Hugely versatile mic. Multi-pattern and works very well on instruments as well as vocals. A bit over budget (around $650) but great mics - I like these a lot.

[mandroid]

I understand condensers dont like moisture, so the many pictures you see in studios of 1 or 2 spit screens
in front of the recording Mic.. as the vocals are being recorded ..

Dynamic mics , this is no problem, and so live singers P and S away at close distances ..

[Mike Bunting]

I understand condensers dont like moisture, so the many pictures you see in studios of 1 or 2 spit screens
in front of the recording Mic.. as the vocals are being recorded ..

Dynamic mics , this is no problem, and so live singers P and S away at close distances ..

I think you are making this up. Thos screens you see are because sensitive don't like plosives.

[Jim]

A variety of mics is a good thing. Every studio needs an sm58 and sm57 or similar dynamic mics in their collection. I think the MXL large and small diaphram condensers are a good way to start with an appropriate phantom pwr/pre-amp ( I use ART 12ax7 w my MXL) . you could get those 4 mics and the pre amp for a bit less than your $500 budget. of coarse you need stands and cords too. I'm not saying those mics are necessarily the best (for their purpose the shures might be) but a good place to start letting you experiment with close and not so close micing.

[mandobassman]

I think the MXL large and small diaphram condensers are a good way to start with an appropriate phantom pwr/pre-amp ( I use ART 12ax7 w my MXL) . you could get those 4 mics and the pre amp for a bit less than your $500 budget.

I couldn't agree more. I've used the MXL 990/991 combo in my bands for years and they are great for stage use. Certainly they're not as good in the studio as more expensive mics, but to start out I'm sure they will sound great. You can get the 990/991 combo at Guitar Center for $79.

[mandroid]

The People at Rode included re dehumidifying silica gel dessicant pouches, and Zip Lock bags
with the pair of Microphones I got from them and that was the gist of the instructions


put the mic in the bag with the pouch to pull out moisture, once the pouch is saturated
you heat it in the oven to drive out the accumulated moisture and repeat..

same stuff us used in cameras , to pull out moisture..

[nrand]

I like AKGs for recording generally. The AKG 451s are around second hand for reasonable prices [plus they work well with instruments], and the other one i use currently is the AKG C2000b. You could get one of each within your budget and compare for yourself. I would NOT recommend the AKG C3000 series though - worst mic I ever owned.

[rynando]

An AT4050 is an excellent all around microphone which can be had within your price range. It is a professional tool. Rode, MXL, and other low-end Chinese mics are cheaper but, with a few exceptions, awful (IMHO).

[almeriastrings]

Rode is not actually Chinese, but made in Australia. I have tried a couple of their tube mics (NTK's, I believe) on various occasions, and thought they were very good.

[drbluegrass]

Shure KSM-44 LDC. Superb vocal and instrument recording mic. Also outstanding live LDC mic in a "quiet room" situation. Very underrated and sometimes overlooked mic. Ask anyone who has used one. Simply outstanding mic.


Tom

[John Ritchhart]

I've got an SM57, an AKG 950 and a CAD 179 condenser. They're all different and need different settings for each application. Fun to play with all that though.

[drbluegrass]

Shure KSM-44 LDC. Superb vocal and instrument recording mic. Also outstanding live LDC mic in a "quiet room" situation. Very underrated and sometimes overlooked mic. Ask anyone who has used one. Simply outstanding mic.


Tom

Sorry, I just noticed your price range was $500. Last I knew, a new Shure KSM-44 was about $800. When I purchased mine about 6 yrs ago I researched LDC mics available at the time including the comparable Neumann and Mojave and the KSM-44 was very highly recommended. If you could find a used one I'm sure it would fit your budget.


Tom

[calgary.fiddler]

I would highly recommend the Avantone CV-12. Amazing sounding mic. Tube is the way to go for warm sounding vocals in my opinion.

[calgary.fiddler]

For a little less money the Audio-Technica 4040 is a great all around condenser mic. It sounds great on vocals and phenomenal on basically any acoustic instrument.