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I am in the mists of trying to decide what vocal mic to get.
Right now I use a Rode NTK primarily, a Shure SM7, and also an AKG C414-XLS.

I am considering the Soundelux U195 or maybe an AEA R84 for a different flavor.

What kind are you using?

Suggestions are appreciated.

I love my AT 4050

can't lose with a U87

If you are in the 414 range, you need to hear the Neumann's available in the same price range. I found a TLM170 to work very well with vocals. U87 is a good standby but I would probably grab a U89 first. The studio I am at though has M150's and M149's so if you can swing that, you can't get better.

All the mics you've mentioned are "good" vocal mics. You'll find that mic selection is a fairly subjective process. Your best bet is to try to audition the ones you are interested in. I've heard of some people going to a professional recording studio & doing quick auditions on several different mics. Going to a music retailer might be another option although many do not carry some of the high end mics. Unfortunately, a lot of variables come into play when auditioning mics such as room acoustics, mic technique, vocal chain (preamp, eq, compression),etc. Some questions to consider are: what mic preamp will you be using, male vs. female vox, what is the vocal range, what musical genre, are you wanting a "colored" vs. a "clean" sound, a "warm" sound, etc. A good place to start is to go to sites dedicated to recording. One good site I use is: http://www.3daudioinc.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi. Good luck!

theres a whole new world when you jump up to the SOUNDELUX ELAM251, or the Telefunken 251, U47, or any other comparable vintage tube mic.

I dig many of the mics mentioned above. My current fav that I just got is a Neumann M149 tube mic. It was too good a deal to pass on. Amazing throughout the range.

Don't forget the mic pre and compressor in the equation. Makes a major difference with any mic setup. I totally dog the Manley Variable Mu comp for cutting vocals as well as the 1176.

good call.

do you use the 1176 exclusively or run a through a preamp THEN the 1176?

posted June 16, 2005 07:20 PM                          
good call.

do you use the 1176 exclusively or run a through a preamp THEN the 1176?

Mic>Micpre>Manley or 1176> recorder [PT; whatever].
The 1176 on mix down is really great. In a rock senario even a plug version of the 1176 - UAD or just the Bomb Factory version-is cool. Clean up the vocal, do whatever pitch correction you want, normalize, compress, split out the breaths and go!

i used an 1176 after a NEVE pre last week. Ever find the inputs of the 1176 are REALLY hot and sensitive?

posted June 14, 2005 06:07 PM                       
I am in the mists of trying to decide what vocal mic to get.
...
I am considering the Soundelux U195 or maybe an AEA R84 for a different flavor.
Suggestions are appreciated.

I have an AEA R84 as well. Very cool but DEFINATLEY a different flavor. It can be very dark. Get ready to grab some EQ with some cool results. You have to dial in the top but you get tis really neat 'sheen' out of it when you do. Look at a Brent Avril Mic pre for it as well. They make a BAE 312A that has an impedance level that's perfect for it. See: http://www.brentaverill.com/312a/. I'm jonesin' for one bad.

posted June 17, 2005 10:00 AM                          
i used an 1176 after a NEVE pre last week. Ever find the inputs of the 1176 are REALLY hot and sensitive?

Not really. Watch the O/P of the pre. We are using a pre for all the gain you get out of it. As you squirt it into the compressor you have to check out your levels . Are all your +4/-10 as well as impedance issues cool?
The 1176 has been around for a long time. it shouldn't be fussy with levels too much. It's the bomb for electric bass of course!

i use a studio projects C-1. i think it is a great budget mic.

ok...i've got to confess....I'm a musician/producer...NOT an engineer. So excuse my retardedness (i realize thats not even a real word).

So ... is it possible to JUST use an 1176 without a PREAMP before it? once again, dont laugh.... :p

i dont own one, i rent them from local audiophile