What's your budget? And is there any reason you are looking at toobs?
Man, I'd be looking at something like a Soundelux U195.

There are very few voices in the world that cant be more than adequately captured with either a KSM32 or an SM7. The C3 is a nice all-purpose mic and has enough of its own sound to warrant a test of its capabilities on your part.It doesnt sound great on everybody.If you have a budget capable of acquiring a Soundelux 195 or maybe even a Neumann then you should do this.You have a decent collection of mics already and access to others that will serve your other needs.I have lately been able to use a TLM127 as well as a TLM170 and both are outstanding vocal mics.However,as i said, the KSM32 is a wonderful mic...a bit flat in its response so its not a 'colorful sound' and the SM7 is the defacto voice-over mic used throughout the world by many for spoken word and speech as well as many many tracks of vocals some of which would surprise you....research this and prepare to be amazed....

Well I sure would rethink my mic choices if I were you and I was going to be getting a Phoenix DRS-2. It, as well as you deserve at least one very good worthy mic and I'd sure be skipping all of the china mass made cheap stuff. You did say "I'd like a really nice vocal mic." To me that would mean that you ought to spend as much on the mic as you did the preamp.

from what i've read/heard, it's easier to find a great mic for cheap than it is to find a great pre for cheap. it seems like the soundelux mic would be nice, but i'm probably shooting for something $500 or less for now. i think that there should be plenty in that price range considering some of the stuff made my shure, at, etc. dot over at studioforums has pretty highly recommended the t3 and the v69me - otherwise i never would have considered them.

Don't get hung up on toobs. You have to spend a lot of money before a toob mic becomes a tube mic. Any quality solid state mic through the Phoenix will give you a nice "warm" sound.
But if you are really sold on a budget toob, then the Rode K2 is IMO a better mic than the T3. Less top end hype.
Can't comment on the MXL, haven't heard it, but if it's anything like my V67, then the Rode still wins.

The K2 has been an excellent mic for me- very versatil- if you want to get the non tube version get the Nt2000

Not to keep beating the drum, but I picked up a K2 recently - and so far I love it.

Is it an E47? Probably not - but it certainly blows away anything I've had before - and I'd say that it could hold it's own against some seriously expensive mics. It doesn't have the 'hype' that most inexpensive mics have (neither do the Shures).

For the price (They can be purchased for $560 brand new.) - you can certainly try one of these, and if you don't like it - put it on Ebay for almost what you paid for it.. worst case, you're out $50 bucks for 'renting' a mic for a few weeks.

"-)

Hey Boheme, I wonder about experimenting changing the tube on the K2- just for fun, you know, it sounds good as it is- any ideas as to what tubes would be good for that?

One more thing- I cut some vocals with the K2 this weekend after just mixing tracks for the last few weeks and was amazed all over again at the clarity of this mic... this might be the best keep secret in audio but the word is getting out slowly but surely...

IMO, If you only have $500 for a mic at this time and you already have an AT 4040 and access to an AKG 414, I'd use those (2) mics and save my money for a really special mic for that pre. I recently had the opportunity at a friends studio to use a 414 through a VMP2000 on a female singer and it blew us away. Something about her voice, the tube pre and 414 just worked better than anything else we tried including a UA 2108 and U87. You just never know. Give it a try you might be suprised.

great advice guys. if i end up getting another mic, i'll check out the k2 before purchasing. i'm not sold on tube at all - i just know that a tube mic will round out my collection a bit. the mxl v69me is said to be less bright than the t3 - almost on the dark side. i'd be curious to hear from someone who's used both the v69 and the k2.

i'll do some work with what i've got once the pre gets here (friday).

thanks guys!

-nathan

iCit wrote: the mxl v69me is said to be less bright than the t3 - almost on the dark side.

My V67 is quite dark, so that makes sense to me. But I would still back the K2, even not hearing the V69

why would you do that? :)

Well, being on the dark side (of the force :lol: ) the MXL's would be less likely to suit a wide range of voices and appliactions.

The K2 would be much more of an all-rounder. IMO.

YMMV

yeah, but i've got just about all bright mics now.

OK - try a "perceived" dull one then - SM57 or 57 Beta.

They don't have the hyped top end, but they'll get the sound.

57 - workhorse for ever.

57 Beta's nice - 58 Beta has more presence.

cheers

omaru

iCit wrote: yeah, but i've got just about all bright mics now.

My V67 still has the hyped top end.