choosing a mic

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:32 pm

<b>i read articles and i read alot in this forum
and i just got so much info i kinda im confused cuz sum people say this mic is good and others say its a piece of crap...so i was wonderin if any of you guys can help in picking a mic...im mainly using it for vocals rap/singing..
budget will be like around $400-$500..

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:48 am

if you have a low voice id suggest a large diapragm condensor, in the middle would be a mid size diapragm condensor and hi pitched would be a small diaphragm condensor

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:23 am

speeddrmmr1200 wrote:

if you have a low voice id suggest a large diapragm condensor, in the middle would be a mid size diapragm condensor and hi pitched would be a small diaphragm condensor

How insightful.
In this region, I have seen 3 mics that keep popping up as the go-to mics for hiphop/vocals, depending on the singer :
1) E-V RE-20: Although this is a broadcast staple, this mic is great for husky male vocals because of its large diaphragm DYNAMIC design. Even when "eaten" by a rapper, this mics lack of proximity effect keeps it clean and defined. The hyper-cardioid pattern keeps it from picking up the "room",too. You do have to make sure that the vocalist isn't cupping their hands around this mic, as it will adversely affect the "Variable-D" pick-up. It also makes a great all-aroind instrument mic. But if the performer DOES eat the mic and wants to handle it while moving, there's always the...
2) Ubiquitous Shure SM-58. If you have to ask...
3) The BLUE Bluebird. These keep popping up around here. I don't personally have one of these YET, but I see that I will have to get one...soon. Cucco here on RO has been touting their virtues, once again, on male vocals. This one IS a LDC. And the price has dropped recently to $350.00

A couple of others to consider in your price range:
I recently got a Kel HM-2d, which is a real bargain at a mere $150.00. It is an LDC, but because it does not have a hyped top end response, it works very well on female voices that tend to be shrill.
Also, the Sennheiser MD421. This dynamic works on a lot of rap vocals, but you do have to be cognizant of the fact that it is pretty susceptible to pop and breath noises, so a good windscreen is required. Its rotating bass roll-off selector helps adjust the mic to the source without getting "muddy". Once again, a great mic for lots of instruments as well.
All of these mics are well within your price range, even including their optional shockmounts/windscreens.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:17 am

Also, try to audition a Shure SM7... Wink

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:21 am

I'll second what moonbaby said, starting with the observation that speeddrmmr1200's advice is ... unconstrained by conventional wisdom.

I lean toward the two dynamic choices. A lot of people see big stars in the studio singing into $3000 LDCs and think they should buy a $300 LDC (or a $100 LDC). Well in your price range you are looking at top quality dynamics and entry level condensers. For vocals, I'd go for the dynamics. The one solid, everyone agrees, no tears, vocal mic at $100 is an SM58. Yeah, you may find something that fits this voice or that voice a little better, but an SM58 is a bedrock piece of any mic closet. With that said, the EV RE-20 is a great mic for spoken word (and singing and kick drum and guitar cabs and ...) and that would be what I'd look at first in your price range. (It's also just dead cool looking.)

With that said, the blue bird is worth a look. Cucco has posted some samples and they are very impressive for an LDC at that price. Try before you buy is always the best way to go if you can.

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:49 pm

I'm pretty new to "real" studio recording myself, having been a long time tinkerer. My first mic purchase was a Studio Projects C1. I went with it based on the fact that the vocalist (rapper) I was working with at the time had used it before with good results and all the reviews were good. And at $250 it's pretty hard to go wrong. There has been kind of alot of hype about this mic, with people comparing to a U87, which I think is a bit laughable. But it's got low noise and pretty flat response. It won't give you a fat bottom end, which seemed to be a misconception of some. It's cardioid only and comes with a shock mount, so like I said, great bang for the buck. No buyers remorse here.

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:26 pm

speeddrmmr1200 wrote:

if you have a low voice id suggest a large diapragm condensor, in the middle would be a mid size diapragm condensor and hi pitched would be a small diaphragm condensor

I'd like to find who is giving this sort of advice out to would-be recordists and give em such a lump on the head.....

Anyway. ALL of the suggestions have been solid advice. I'm surprised that Moon didnt include the Heil PR40 since he has one.....The Shure SM7 is a great mic it just requires a preamp with some serious gain-before-noise as its output isnt very hot....I had a Studio Projects C1 in for a while and tried to like it. Its a very well built mic but always seemed to have a high-end that I could never get to sit very well in a dense mix. I could see its use for Rap though....The SM58 isnt all that glitzy and has zero bling factor but sounds great on any voice (how many do you see being used onstage in major programs??) The RE20 is one of my favorites....

Like I said, all great advice. The dynamics will help take out the room if you dont have good acoustic control in place.

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:07 pm

I just picked up a Bluebird and it does rock. Thumbs Up

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:40 pm

Hi Folks

Intersting thread and information packed forum.

I've just began recording in a home-based set up. I'm fairly new to it so a lot of the stuff I've been reading is way over my head.

I was advised to buy a Shure SM58 dynamic mic by someone I know who does home recording, which I did. I haven't properly road tested it as of yet due to other things in life getting in the way. However, I have since received contradictory information from the person in question once I'd already bought my SM58. He now reveals that he uses a condenser mic for vocals and suggested I buy one.

I'm so glad that you guys have spoken favourably about the SM58 in this thread. Phew!!! At least I've done something right.

Should I invest in a condenser mic too? If so which type would I be best given that I don't have a particularly booming singing voice, nor am I typically high pitched?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

LiD

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:38 am

lostindundee wrote:

Hi Folks

Intersting thread and information packed forum.

I've just began recording in a home-based set up. I'm fairly new to it so a lot of the stuff I've been reading is way over my head.

I was advised to buy a Shure SM58 dynamic mic by someone I know who does home recording, which I did. I haven't properly road tested it as of yet due to other things in life getting in the way. However, I have since received contradictory information from the person in question once I'd already bought my SM58. He now reveals that he uses a condenser mic for vocals and suggested I buy one.

I'm so glad that you guys have spoken favourably about the SM58 in this thread. Phew!!! At least I've done something right.

Should I invest in a condenser mic too? If so which type would I be best given that I don't have a particularly booming singing voice, nor am I typically high pitched?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

LiD

The SM58 will do you just fine until you KNOW it's time to try something else. Use the cash you would have spent on a condenser to buy a good pre-amp for the SM58. Get some experience under your belt. Try recording all sorts of things with your 58, not just vocals. Experiment - see what works well and what not so well, then work out what you did wrong.

You won't regret the decision to buy the SM58. You would regret buying a cheap condenser.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:09 am

Hey, DD:
I posted that response last year, before I got my PR-40, so that's why I didn't list it. And now I'm waiting on the PR-35 'cause I'm jonesin' for that M500 type of sound, hoping that will do it...

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:12 am

Moon, let me know how that goes...I miss my Beyer too.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:49 pm

Thanks for your help boswell.

I'll be sure to have a lot of experimental fun with my SM58. Very Happy

LiD

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:16 pm

One Mic I got thats been quite pleasing to the ears has been my ADK Vienna. I picked it up for around 275 based on reviews I had seen on the internet.
So far its really reduced my nitch to re EQ vocals.
I have to agree though that you can never go wrong with an SM58. I have heard some pretty amazing vocals done with an SM58.

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:53 am

when do you guys prefer a sm58 over LDC's priced under a grand? just curious....

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