Vocal Mic Recommendations , please? (under $500)

stiefelmusik · Post by **stiefelmusik** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:35 am

Please know that it is not my intention to start an annoying "What's the best mic?" kind of thread. I'm in the market for a vocal mic, with specific needs and I'm simply interested in hearing recommendations from anyone based on the information which follows.

I've recently decided to take up singing/song writing again after a multi-year hiatus. As I never really thought my voice deserved anything more expesnsive than a Shure SM58, that's the ONLY mic in my collection. I'm seeking to remedy that situation.

My singing style / vocal quality is something along the lines of David Gilmour, John Lennon, early Gary Numan, etc. -- in other words, the kind of voice that NEEDS (and benefits from) a microphone, as opposed to like Freddy Mercury, who I imagine sounded great with or without a mic. I'm definitely not a "chest singer" but rather a "head singer" if you know what I mean....

Anyway, the sound I'm after is warm, personal... with a nice transparent high end. I've noticed that I usually cut the bass and boost the hell out of the treble with my SM58 to get the sound I want... so it would be nice if I could get nice, sweet high end on the way in.

I realize preamps are a huge factor as well, but I'd rather not get into them here, and just focus on mics.

Any recommendations? Thanks.

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:53 am

AT 4047/SV or Rode NTK.

Both are $500 plus a little, US price.

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:48 pm

T.Bone SCT2000
Low budget but great tone.
Large diaphragm mic, tube with external power supply.
You'll need a popscreen. Almost any studio vocal mic will need that.
Just change the original cheap tube for a better one (a few bucks).

http://www.thomann.de/fr/the_tbone_sct2000.htm

I've got one and am very pleased with it, specially on male vocals.
It's got 9 directivities selectable on power supply box.
I prefer omni when it comes to voice.

stiefelmusik · Post by **stiefelmusik** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:35 pm

Thanks, guys! I checked out these mics online, read a few professional reviews and it seems you are both spot on as to the sound I am after. All excellent recommendations for my situation. Looks like what I need is a tube mic.

Unfortunately, both the AT 4047/SV and the Rode NTK are quite expensive in Germany, and well over my budget of 350•‚¬ ($500). So far, the t.bone SCT-2000 looks like the most promising candidate at about 300•‚¬.

daniel.sneed, were I to get an SCT-2000, which tube would be better than the stock one? Is it easy to replace? I haven't replaced a tube since my old Princeton Reverb guitar amp days, and that was a LONG time ago!

I welcome any further suggestions. Once again, thanks people!

sdemott · Post by **sdemott** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:14 am

Hearing your description of your "head singing" technique - I would tend to lean toward an SM7b or RE20. They will add a lot of body to your voice. Though they will need a decent preamp capable of at least 60dB of clean gain.

If you are trying to de-emphasize the singing from the head voice sound, I would avoid condenser mics (at least the cheap ones) and opt for a dynamic or ribbon (again not a cheap one).

Both Gilmour & Lennon were reported to have used U67s. Don't know about Numan.

stiefelmusik · Post by **stiefelmusik** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:29 pm

sdemott wrote:If you are trying to de-emphasize the singing from the head voice sound, I would avoid condenser mics (at least the cheap ones) and opt for a dynamic or ribbon (again not a cheap one).

In a weak moment, before I started this thread, I ordered a special 2-mic bundle, the AKG C1000S and the AKG 2000B for 199 euros. Seemed like a really great price. Guess I should probably return those, huh?

sdemott · Post by **sdemott** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:38 pm

See what you think - as long as they're already on the way you might as well try them out first.

I, personally, have never liked the C1000S. I do, however, have a C4000B, which is great on acoustic bass, kick & as a drum room mic. It seems to have a great low-end. I found it "so-so" on vocals..actually preferring an old Rode NT1 (original model) over it for vocals.

Phil O · Post by **Phil O** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:11 pm

sdemott wrote:..actually preferring an old Rode NT1 (original model) over it for vocals.

I've got two of those. IMHO it's a highly under-rated mic. I think because it's cheap many think it's low end. Not so. I've made some great recordings with those mics.

Phil

stiefelmusik · Post by **stiefelmusik** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:58 pm

Once again, thanks for the recommendations. I just checked and it appears the original NT1 is no longer available new, so what about the NT1A? The price looks good!

sdemott · Post by **sdemott** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:07 pm

Phil O wrote:
sdemott wrote:..actually preferring an old Rode NT1 (original model) over it for vocals.
I've got two of those. IMHO it's a highly under-rated mic. I think because it's cheap many think it's low end. Not so. I've made some great recordings with those mics.

Phil

I agree - I liked mine so much I went out and bought 2 more right away. At that price, why not. They sound great. I use them alongside some nice mics (like the Neumanns they mimic) and you'd never call them out as cheap or "budget" mics.

As far as the NT1a...I've never used one, so I can't comment on them or how similar they are to the original NT1.

I still say, for about $350 you can get a SM7b and you have a great vocal mic (one of my go to vocal mics), plus it has a myriad of other uses. Everyone needs a couple large diaphragm dynamics in their collection...they are so versatile.

stiefelmusik · Post by **stiefelmusik** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:13 pm

The SM7B is selling for 599 euros at the moment (from my preferred dealer), which unfortunately puts it out of range for me. Still, I'm curious about this mic. From the specs, it's described as a "broadcast mic" ideal for radio, television, etc. So you're saying you think this could be good for the kind of vocals I'm wanting to record as well? I will hunt around and see if I can find a better price. Thanks.

stiefelmusik · Post by **stiefelmusik** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:43 pm

No... it would seem 599,- EUR is the going price around here for the SM 7 B. That's like 880 USD! Yikes. Maybe I should just wait until the next time I'm in the States to pick up one of these. I wonder why they're so much more expensive over here?

Of course, the 19% (!) sales tax in Germany doesn't help things much. Man, you guys have it good over there when it comes to buying gear.

sdemott · Post by **sdemott** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:08 am

wow! that's insane - you can pick one up stateside for $350.

Yes - it is marketed as a broadcast mic, but it's been used as a vocal mic by everyone from Stephen Stills to Michael Jackson. It's one of those dirty little secrets no one talks about...a $350 SM7b being used where everyone expects a $3,000 U87.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:09 am

Hmmm... you guys made we want to do a Google search on this mic and I found a price of $318 shipped!

http://tinyurl.com/2zpcme

Wow!

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:33 am

sdemott wrote:wow! that's insane - you can pick one up stateside for $350.

Yes - it is marketed as a broadcast mic, but it's been used as a vocal mic by everyone from Stephen Stills to Michael Jackson. It's one of those dirty little secrets no one talks about...a $350 SM7b being used where everyone expects a $3,000 U87.

SM7b is especially popular with loud metal singers (e.g., James Hetfield).