Inflames626
New member
I also forgot about pres, all the different types.
And then compressors.
It's endless.
And then compressors.
It's endless.
Why don't singers have signature mics?
- Thread starter Inflames626
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Inflames626
New member
I would say it would be more like, "I can't play like Eddie, but I want to sound like Eddie *for my skill level.*"
An equivalent would be, "I can't sing like Taylor Swift, but I am also a mezzo soprano at D3-E5 (one of the range analyses I've seen of her--there are many), and I have a similar vocal timbre and weight. Would her chosen mic work for me?"
As far as my real life voice, I'd done it through a strobe tuner and I'm definitely D2-Eb4. But no idea how to handle timbre or weight, chest vs. head voice, etc., since I haven't had training.
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Inflames626
New member
Seems like everything is "dark to middy dynamic mic" offset with "thin, airy, easy to overload condensor mic." Blend to taste.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
There are plenty of good sounding condenser mics that aren't tinny. A lot of the cheaper large diaphragm ones are painfully bright in the upper range though. I've found that small diaphragm condenser mics can be much more even keeled. Something like an SM81 a couple feet back from your source sounds very natural.
Dynamic mics do need more volume, but there are brightish ones (they'll never have the highest frequency response of a condenser). The e609 is a pretty bright mic. Even the SM57 can be kinda bright. Problem is that due to sensitivity most people stick them right up against the source and then pick up shit tons of bass due to proximity effect.
Dynamic mics do need more volume, but there are brightish ones (they'll never have the highest frequency response of a condenser). The e609 is a pretty bright mic. Even the SM57 can be kinda bright. Problem is that due to sensitivity most people stick them right up against the source and then pick up shit tons of bass due to proximity effect.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Sounds like your ears aren't trained for studio work. What you described is not how it works when mics are used correctly with the right pres and gain, eq, compression used appropriately.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Cuz mic's don't make you sound exactly like the endorser the way guitars do...
Inflames626
New member
I guess that's where I think this is debatable...especially if a singer sounds like someone else already.
Does a guitar help you sound like the endorser? I think sometimes yes sometimes no. Sometimes you can sound like someone and have a totally different guitar and setup.
I think what we're really discussing is how much of an influence the mic has. I'm leaning toward a pretty big influence, although I realize a lot of mics are tailored to be as flat as possible these days or have a signature color--coincidentally, the same as pickups.
The general consensus here seems to be mics affect a singer very little (they won't make you sound like someone else), yet the choice of mic used is often very particular (based on polar patterns and SPL makes sense, but there's also an idea that X mic is better for Y source in Z position).
As the earliest part of a singer's signal chain, I would consider the mic choice very important.
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Inflames626
New member
Raphael Mendes sounding like Bruce Dickinson might be a good example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BuSu36SDQQ
Obviously the guy can sing and it's more than just the mic. But the mic helps you get there. Having a mic tailored to that voice would help him sound more like Bruce.
Is someone playing a certain way with their fingers really different than a singer doing vibrato with their voice?
Going through vocal pres etc. would be like going through a guitar amp. But in this case the mic would be the same as the pickup.
Seems really analogous to guitar endorsements. The thing is because mics aren't closely associated with singers like pickups are with guitarists, it's more difficult to chose a mic based on reputation without more research.
And even then, going through Shure's KSM line, it's hard to know which one is "best," as all could be suitable in certain applications. Seems to be bright, brighter, brightest, with adjustable polar patterns, pads, and phantom power upping the price.
A downside might be a cheesy logo on the handle of the mic--about the only place to put it where people could see it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BuSu36SDQQ
Obviously the guy can sing and it's more than just the mic. But the mic helps you get there. Having a mic tailored to that voice would help him sound more like Bruce.
Is someone playing a certain way with their fingers really different than a singer doing vibrato with their voice?
Going through vocal pres etc. would be like going through a guitar amp. But in this case the mic would be the same as the pickup.
Seems really analogous to guitar endorsements. The thing is because mics aren't closely associated with singers like pickups are with guitarists, it's more difficult to chose a mic based on reputation without more research.
And even then, going through Shure's KSM line, it's hard to know which one is "best," as all could be suitable in certain applications. Seems to be bright, brighter, brightest, with adjustable polar patterns, pads, and phantom power upping the price.
A downside might be a cheesy logo on the handle of the mic--about the only place to put it where people could see it.
Inflames626
New member
This is also a thing, which is sort of thinking along the same lines I am, but it's done with software as opposed to a hardware piece of kit tailored for a certain sound.
It's also coming at it from the mic end instead of letting the singer overshadow the mic.
https://www.uaudio.com/microphones/ua-sphere-dlx-modeling-microphone.html
It's also coming at it from the mic end instead of letting the singer overshadow the mic.
https://www.uaudio.com/microphones/ua-sphere-dlx-modeling-microphone.html
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
True, but the application is very different. Different pickups can assist in accenting and benefiting a guitarist's playing. Case-in-point: if I am using a cheap, low-powered single coil pickup, it will have little sustain or bloom, the finger sensitivity will be non-existent, and notes will decay quickly. The pickup "could" make it difficult to pull off certain riffs or pieces of music. Whereas a singer will have the same sustain, range and control no matter what mic they are standing in front of. Yes, some will sound better, less distorted and have a better tone. However, an inferior mic will not impede a singer from delivering their performance the way an inferior pickup will affect the guitarist.
Inflames626
New member
"The pickup "could" make it difficult to pull off certain riffs or pieces of music. Whereas a singer will have the same sustain, range and control no matter what mic they are standing in front of. Yes, some will sound better, less distorted and have a better tone. However, an inferior mic will not impede a singer from delivering their performance the way an inferior pickup will affect the guitarist."
I guess this is where I disagree, because I think a bad/improperly matched mic will totally destroy what s singer is trying to convey.
At the same time, if the mic falls short, other adjustments can be made, just the same as if a pickup falls short, you can make adjustments elsewhere.
And also, have many times have bands had to rent a backline that wasn't optimally their choice, and they made it work?
If I had a mic that didn't fit my voice, what I was trying to sing, or what I wanted to do, I would feel as if I had been given a hammer to do the job of a screwdriver.
Yet, especially in a live experience, it seems guitarists reserve the right to be all finicky about their setups, but singers just roll with whatever is there.
I guess this is where I disagree, because I think a bad/improperly matched mic will totally destroy what s singer is trying to convey.
At the same time, if the mic falls short, other adjustments can be made, just the same as if a pickup falls short, you can make adjustments elsewhere.
And also, have many times have bands had to rent a backline that wasn't optimally their choice, and they made it work?
If I had a mic that didn't fit my voice, what I was trying to sing, or what I wanted to do, I would feel as if I had been given a hammer to do the job of a screwdriver.
Yet, especially in a live experience, it seems guitarists reserve the right to be all finicky about their setups, but singers just roll with whatever is there.
Inflames626
New member
You'd have nowhere to put that nowadays. It would be on a USB thumb drive, ideally whatever delivers the best tone. Kingston vs. Sandisk vs. Samsung.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
I get what you are saying but I think it is necessary to separate the singer's performance from the show's performance. No matter the mic the singer will still perform at that same level. The "performance" being the show will suffer greatly. Conversely, if a guitar player can not pull certain notes, harmonics, and textures out of their instrument because of a subpar pickup both his performance and the show will suffer. I think of a lead like Comfortably Numb with long sustaining lines. With a dull sustain-less unbalanced pickup even Gilmore would have trouble pulling it off.
And yes I agree the better the musician the more likely they will overcome subpar equipment.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
That's why Milli Vanilli can't gig any more.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
A better solution was the Korby Kat mic system. It had several different capsules that sounded like different famous vintage mics.
https://reverb.com/item/74845093-korby-kat-4-47-67-800g-rare-251-2010-s-white
Inflames626
New member
My observation with this might be if the singer is mismatched to his or her mic, they will hear they are sub-optimal, and their performance will suffer.
I mean, isn't this a thing with custom mixes in monitoring situations and why there is still some debate with in ears vs. floor wedges? You might sound fine, but if you don't *think* you sound fine then your performance will suffer.
I used to have the X pickup won't do Y thing so I played badly back in the 90s. Now with software and infinite gain it isn't as much of an issue, but your point is well taken.
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Inflames626
New member
That's pretty cool, but I'm guessing you have to buy each capsule you want and they are expensive/hard to find?
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Real vocal mics aren't cheap. They are precision-made technical instruments. That one is live on Reverb now with all the capsules. You just have to drop the coin.
