Which is your favorite Mic for vocals?

[tobysan]

I have a RODE K2, (less than $800) i think whatever you buy for that price you probably need to swap the tube to improve sound
quality, originally it had a Sovtek type 6922 tube in, but i switching to a Mullard UK made

Also These are all great 6922 tubes for that mic:

Amperex Holland made for Valvo,
amperex USA made for RCA
Mullard UK made
Siemens made for DuMont

Generally, the Siemens are more neutral sounding with good air at the top, the Amperex are very balanced with a bit of warmth, and the Mullard are very rich and warm in the lower mids with a silky top end.

[James Steele]

FYI... just noticed this was in Digital Performer forum. Probably best moved over to "General Recording." So done.

[bigdaddy]

I'll add my $0.02 for the "cheapies" out there. As stated above, experience has shown that some mics work great on some vocals, while others just don't. Price isn't always a factor here either. I've used some very nice, expensive mics, but my budget doesn't allow me to own them. That said, I have 2 favorites for the bargain bin recordist.

Mic one is the Marshall MXL 990. Available everywhere for around $60.00. I've had success with this one on many female vocalists, and a few males as well. But don't just take my word on this... A fellow engineer/producer who's been in the biz way longer than I and has worked with some pretty big names and some of the nicest gear around, loves the sound of this mic. He hears some of the qualities of a U87 in it. Obviously, it's not a U87, but for $60.00 it's worth having around. Great on certain acoustics as well.

Mic two is the Nady RSM-4 ribbon mic. Cost around $79.00. I bought this mic on the assumption that it was going to be DOA or crap out shortly after I got it. Everything I read on the web confirmed that they "don't last" and that the ribbon is often in rough shape right out of the box. I was planning on sending it to OktavaMod to have it hot rodded. Well, mine arrived functioning perfectly and I've used it on several male and female vocalists as well as a couple of guitar cabs and it sounds great. Cons: Low power output, delicate. Pros: Nice little peak in the midrange, warm, slightly toasty. Hard to beat for $70.00, but you may have to go through a couple to get one that has "the sound". I lucked out.

So there you go $140.00, two very different but usable mics for your arsenal.

[Rainman]

I have a couple of c 414's that I use occasionally for vocals but mostly for acoustic instruments and overheads as they seem just a little too bright. Sometimes they fit for a voice that is darker and maybe less articulate. Years ago I was fortunate enough to purchase a U-87 from a guy who was "moving on". It's the one that gets the most use, although a while back I ended up using a Senn 451 on a female vocalist cause it just worked with her voice.

If the c 414's have the original CK12 brass capsules I would offer $2400 for the pair. If you wish, PM me with info.

I must confess, I wouldn't know if they did, is it obvious just by looking through the grill, how can I check?

[BradLyons]

I too am a huge fan and advocate of the MA200 from Mojave Audio, it's one of my favorites at ANY price point on nearly ANY voice. I'd say that's my #3 go-to microphone----with my #1 and #2 both coming from BLUE. My personal favorite is the KIWI, through my ADL600 pre....big fan of that mic, it works on nearly any voice I run it through. While I don't personally use it on my own voice, I use the MOUSE which is my #3 go-to mic. The reason I use the MOUSE on myself is for VO work, I'm not really a singer So in that case, I want something big and powerful. The Kiwi is more silky and just sits right in the mix. With the MOUSE, I use a Focusrite ISA220 for now---but I've been thinking about selling that off and moving to an LA610mk3. Being that I already have 12-channels of ISA pre, it's overkill.

[Timeline]

I have a couple of c 414's that I use occasionally for vocals but mostly for acoustic instruments and overheads as they seem just a little too bright. Sometimes they fit for a voice that is darker and maybe less articulate. Years ago I was fortunate enough to purchase a U-87 from a guy who was "moving on". It's the one that gets the most use, although a while back I ended up using a Senn 451 on a female vocalist cause it just worked with her voice.

If the c 414's have the original CK12 brass capsules I would offer $2400 for the pair. If you wish, PM me with info.

I must confess, I wouldn't know if they did, is it obvious just by looking through the grill, how can I check?

The mic comes apart very easily. Four screws at the bottom. Pull the case off, as I recall and the top will come off. There is a plastic pattern part you must make sure you remember how it is placed in the cage when reassembled. Take pics of both sides of the capsule and send them to me. gary@eirec.com After both halves of the grill are lifted out you should be able to tell if the surround of the capsule is brass or white nylon.

[ArtieRod]

wow a lot more great ideas. Thanks guys I appreciate it.

artie

[gearboy]

SM7b into a Sytek MPX-4Aii works well for some singers.

I've also used and have on loan a Microtech Gefel UM70s which is a really nice mic from the 1970s I believe. I've heard it called the poor man's U87, and I've also heard that many folks prefer it to the U87 and that it sounds more like a U47. Anyway, kick-butt mic, multi-pattern, etc. I've used it with my BB modified Presonus MP20 and liked it. I feel that the Sytek is a bit too clean for this mic.

I've also had luck with the AT4047, the AT4050, and the Oktava MK-012 preamp body with the Red "RedHead" capsule. Depends on the singer. And of course I've used the AKG 414 B/ULS.

I need to experiment with these mics through my EH 12AY7 mic pre, especially since a few engineers that I respect a lot use this pre for vocals. I haven't tried vocals with my newly modified (by OktavaMod) MK-012 bodies and RedHead caps, so this is on the agenda as well.

Jeff

[maswot]

My favorite vocal mic that I own is a Neumann U-87, which I run through a Focus Rite pre. The nicest sounding vocal mike I ever had the pleasure of using was an old U-67 going through an old Neumann tube pre. That set-up had real warmth and a very bright but smooth top. Hard to find these days, alas.

[BradLyons]

My favorite vocal mic that I own is a Neumann U-87, which I run through a Focus Rite pre. The nicest sounding vocal mike I ever had the pleasure of using was an old U-67 going through an old Neumann tube pre. That set-up had real warmth and a very bright but smooth top. Hard to find these days, alas.

I'm a HUUUUGE Focusrite fan---curious as to which pre you own?

[buzzsmith]

I've been pleased with the Blue Woodpecker (enhanced ribbon) running through an PreSonus ADL 600...seems to work really well with most singers.

Buzzy

[lodstudios]

Would say it depends on style of music, but I find the Neumann TLM103 to be a great mic on vocals and excellent on SO many other applications.

I feed it through my Millennia STT1 and it never ceases to give me great results!

[BradLyons]

The TLM103 is definitely a nice microphone, but it is one of those microphones that a good pre is VERY important to how it responds. It is also a microphone that will not work on every voice. However, it is absolutely going to provide professional results.

[Drab Noyls]

Depends on the voice and the setting (Music). I like U87, U47, U47FET, M269, M149, Shure KSM 44, T.H.E. KR series, Blue Mics (all models), Sony CR800G, the occasional 414, 412, C12(hard to find a good one), and once in a great while an MXL M69. Preamps can change the landscape considerably... as can the right (or wrong) compressor... YMMV

[trenken]

Looking at my first purchase of mic and pre.
Seriously been considering the MA-200 with the Vintech X73i or possibly even the Sytek MPX-4Aii preamp,(which would be less colored).
Has anyone paired this mic with either pre. Someone earlier had mentioned preferring the Avalon with the MA200. I had heard from other reviews that the Avalon is very transparent and clean, not coloring the mic at all. If so, would it be that that is why the Avalon works well with the Mojave, because the Mojave shines best unadulterated. If so, then I would imagine the Sytek MPX-4Aii might be a good fit. Just a thought. I am looking to track mainly female voice, and acoustic inst., guitar, etc.
Tom