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I own an MBOX which runs through Pro Tools, and i'm going to buy a microphone strictly needed to record rap vocals...
what do u think i should be lookin into getting?

thanks

Comments

Cucco Fri, 07/22/2005 - 08:41

I hate to be the "Wet Blanket" when it comes to Shure mics, but there isn't a Shure mic I've ever owned or used that I couldn't think of a better mic by a different manufacturer at a better or equal price.

Examples -

SM57 - Audix i5 or D2
SM58 - Audix OM2 or Sennheiser E835
SM7 - Rode NT1A, NT2, AT 4033, 4047, 4040, Sennheiser MD421
Beta 57 - see SM57
Beta 58 - Audix OM3 or 6 or Sennheiser E845
Beta 52 - Audix D6
SM81 - AT 4041, Rode NT5, Josephson

I guess I'm wierd, but I just don't have the woody for Shure microphones that many others do :o . I keep one or two around the studio so if somebody comes in that has never heard of Gefell or Josephson, etc. I can whip out the Shure and put their minds at ease.

J.

John Stafford Fri, 07/22/2005 - 15:39

One mic that I think would work really well for hip-hop is the Oktava MKL-5000. I don't want to start a flame-war, but I think it has many of the in-your-face qualities that have made the Sony C800G popular in hip-hop.

I wouldn't buy one on ebay, as Oktava's quality control is unbelievably bad. You really need to try before you buy.

John Stafford

anonymous Sat, 07/23/2005 - 05:38

For sure a shure sm7, you'll love it!
It has little off axis coloration, wich is nice with a moving singer/rapper.. It neeeeeds a really good preamp though!
(A grace 101 with an sm 7 is a fairly affordable combi)

If you'll be using the mbox preamp (wich is really decent b.t.w., I'd say buy a nice affordable large diaphragm, such as an nt1, or any other nice one, there's tons nowadays...studio projects sp1 is also really good .. That kel hm1 sounds like a great deal too...

JoeH Sat, 07/23/2005 - 08:29

what about Marshall MXL mics? people have been tellin me alot about these...
nebody try em out or know nethin about them?

If it helps you any, I reviewed the MXL V6 for MIX magazine. (June, 2005 issue: http://mixonline.com/products/review/audio_mxl_condenser_microphone ) I love the thing, really. I wish I had two of them for stereo work, but I got an early release of it at the time. (Now I gotta pick up another one!) I've been told some rappers have been using them but that's a bit out of my depth. (Can't discount the bling factor due to it's look and size, either!)

It's really a great mic, though; sounded great on just about everything we tried with it. Vocals were really crisp and warm, too. Retails for $350, you can probably get it for less than that at GC or elsewhere. Can't beat that sound at that price - give it a listen and see what you think. You can see a pic of it and get the full spec sheet at Link removed