Studio mic to get?

uOpt

uOpt

Something Cool
"Somebody", I won't name names, started a thread about what to do with $700. Well, I want a studio microphone, mainly for vocals.

I honestly have no clue what to get. I did notice that many of the epic/symphonic metal bands I like actually use ribbon mics, not condensers. I guess the operatic singing over the heavy background favors it. My best mic so far is an AKG perception 220, which is nice enough but really not that large a step over regular dynamic mics.

Groveling the interwebz I find that people like the Mojave condenser mics like the Mojave MA-200/201/300/301. Other like the upgraded Audio-Technica like the 4047. At this time I don't see a reason for me to bother with a tube mic.

(Boston area Guitar centers are not stocking high-end gear like that and I can't use my own voice to test)

Any opinions? What's a good mic for "intense" voices, and keeps them floating over the \m/?
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

Take a look at some of the Blue mics, too... Read through SoundOnSound for In the Studio articles of the bands you want to sound like, they get more detailed about what they did than you'll ever want...
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

After a certain price range, one condenser isn't necessarily better than the other but you might want to determine its "hardness" or "softness" factor against the voice you are recording. My secret to keeping my vocals above the metal is positioning the mic to match the character of the voice (round or nasal?) and the LA-2 optical compressor. I smash vocals wth that and they love it.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

Ribbons are delicate by nature. If I were to have only one "good" mic it would be a condenser and I'd steer clear of tube at this point.

The AT 40XX series mics have been good since the ADAT days. I've a 4033 that's 15 years old and has worked a treat all that time. the 4050 is a step up with omni and figure 8 patterns as well as cardioid (as nice touch which makes it more versatile) ... Rode and Blue make nice stuff. And though it's a "stage" mic the Neumann KSM105 is absolutely wonderful and would be at home in any recording studio. I love mine.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

For more "intense", hard rock vocals, I get great results with a Rode NT1.
I have a few other decent condenser mics - a Sterling ST79, Sennnheiser MK4, and GT Electronics (Groove Tubes) AM62 tube condensers. No $4,000 pro studio mics, but serious home studio mics.
But the NT1 seems to capture the essence of a hard rock vocal without all the breathiness that some of the others excel at capturing.
I also run it through compression on the way in, in my case the onboard compressor in a focusrite green range voicebox, which is a transparent compressor.
 
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Re: Studio mic to get?

What will you be recording with this microphone?
An LDC is probably your best bet, over a ribbon.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

TwilightOdyssey said:
What will you be recording with this microphone?
Click to expand...

I don't have a specific agenda except I want to be in better shape when people show up. Vocals, including metal, happen sometimes. I do some voice processing and sometimes a few bits need a spontaneous re-recording.

Also, when I measure audio of any kind I do it both with a measurement mic and with a "pretty sounding mic". I found that judging those measurements by ear as an additional measure is useful. Let's say I measured a car stereo. Sure I can tell frequency and impulse response and whatnot from the measurement mic. But I can also simply listen to "what did that car sound like?" which works better with a "pretty sound" mic. I am recording 4 channels anyway so why not?
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

I'm surprised there are no Mojave fans here.

Your suggestions are greatly appreciated. I'll find something. Thanks so much.

Also thanks for making me feel more secure about skipping tube mics for now.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

uOpt said:
"Somebody", I won't name names, started a thread about what to do with $700. Well, I want a studio microphone, mainly for vocals.

I honestly have no clue what to get. I did notice that many of the epic/symphonic metal bands I like actually use ribbon mics, not condensers. I guess the operatic singing over the heavy background favors it. My best mic so far is an AKG perception 220, which is nice enough but really not that large a step over regular dynamic mics.

Groveling the interwebz I find that people like the Mojave condenser mics like the Mojave MA-200/201/300/301. Other like the upgraded Audio-Technica like the 4047. At this time I don't see a reason for me to bother with a tube mic.

(Boston area Guitar centers are not stocking high-end gear like that and I can't use my own voice to test)

Any opinions? What's a good mic for "intense" voices, and keeps them floating over the \m/?
Click to expand...

Check your PM
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

Mojave does good stuff, from what I've heard, I just don't have any personal experience with 'em.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

I have a few recommendations, but it looks like you are sepecifically looking at the Mojave FET range.

The 201/301 are solid state clones on the Neumann U67, which was a go-to mic for UK engineers for decades. It does, however, have a very specific sound and not what I would consider the most versatile if you are going to purchase a single high end microphone.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

No, I'm really not set to get a Mojave. I was just surprised that you folks are a lot more balanced than some other places.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

I would definitley advise trying out the mic before making a big purchase like this. As for other mics, I would say these should be on your list for sure:

AKG C414. The current gold standard for versatile microphones these days.
Neumann TLM 103 (used) or TLM 102.
Violet Design Wedge. Brilliant electrostatic microphone design.
 
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Re: Studio mic to get?

Good recs there from TwilightOdyssey. The C414 has become an industry standard and sounds good on just about anything. The TLM103, well, it's a Neumann- they're legendary for good reason.

Still, for a studio mic that isn't going out on stage I wouldn't be so quick to reject the idea of a ribbon mic. Admittedly they don't have the extended high end of a good condenser, but ribbons have a unique presence that stands very well in a mix, and they hold up nicely to powerful vocals. Probably why they're often the go-to mic for an intense voice. Plus, they offer you the added benefit that they sound really really good as a second mic a foot or so in front of a loud guitar amp. Tracks recorded with a ribbon take EQ exceptionally well. You can boost high end to bring up the detail without hearing the harshness that you'd get from most condenser mics.

There are a several good ribbons in the $700-800 range. AEA R92 offers two sounds without any electronic manipulation; one side sounds smoother and the other sounds brighter. Got some excellent reviews: http://recordinghacks.com/microphones/AEA/R92
AEA R84 has big lows but is up around $1K. Beyer M180 is a smaller mic with a nice tight hypercardioid pattern, and sells for under $700. You can also find vintage Beyer M500 ribbon mics for $200-250, a nice way to add a ribbon to your studio's sonic palette fairly cheaply. This is a great sounding mic; I've kept one of the M500s I bought way back in the mid-70s.

Speaking of Beyer, their M88 dynamic mic is also really good for strong vocals or loud amps, and it sounds absolutely killer on kick drum. Fat and tight. Have had one of those since around '83. In fact, it was my favorite vocal mic for years until I finally got my hands on a Neumann TLM170.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

+1 for the Rode NT1a. It can take a beating and it will take a really looooong time until it becomes the weakest link in your recording chain.
 
Re: Studio mic to get?

I use a shure sm7b since I have a tenor voice and bad acoustics in my apartment, untreated
 
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