I need to buy a new vocal mic

[jpgray]

Any recommendations or deals? My price range will be $350 and below.

[Goldmund]

1. Dynamic or condenser?

[jpgray]

4. I'm thinking condenser

It won't be in a volatile environment, and I want the best fidelity for my buck.

[Goldmund]

5. Here's what I would pick for that kind of cash

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C3000B/

[johnnie]

2. For recording or live?

[jpgray]

3. Recording (nt)

[johnnie]

6. I have a Groove Tubes GT-55 that I am selling

It's a pretty decent vocal mic. I just am not using it.
http://www.groovetubes.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=1596

I'm selling it for $200. I don't know what shipping would cost, probably 10-15 bucks.

[jpgray]

7. I'd be happy to buy it

PM me with the details of how you'd like to set this up.

[XNASA]

8. I trust that you sing well.

I won't dispute that a good condensor mic sounds better than a good dynamic mic. But is that really what you want?

I sing. I've used all kinds of different mics...expensive and not, condenser and dynamic. The mic that makes me sound the best? An SM57.

I'd invest in a nice compresser/limiter. I think that has more to do with getting a good sound than anything.

[Susang]

9. I agree with XNASA

I quibble with the specific model (I prefer the SM58). Though to be honest, if you are going to be recording, you should probably have more than one mike available (at least three) and try all of them before you decide which one you want to use for that particular project.

So many singers think the mike is going to change their voices and make them sound amazing and sometimes it can help their performance immensely. The thing is, there are a lot of other factors to consider. Where will you be recording, a studio or in your home or some other space? Will you be using compression? Will other people be singing on your recording as well (including multi-tracks and/or harmonies)?

Here's a great article with lots of tips if you're interested. And XNASA....it mentions BOTH of the mikes we like! }(
http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/summits/display.php?article=vocal

[Blue-Jay]

10. Testify, sister!

The SM58 is the industry standard for vocals. They're nearly indestructible, and you can pick one up for about 120 bucks. If you're convinced that you want a condenser, I'd recommend a Crown, an AKG or an EV.

Go with the SM58, though. I've been using the same one for about 8 years, and have only had to replace the screen, as it has survived numerous falls, bumps, and drunken bar fights.

[johnnie]

11. My 58 died after a few years

It kind of bums me out because it was a pretty good mic. 57s are the industry's workhorse and are fantastic for vocals and instruments. Recording vocals is not just a matter of getting your voice on tape. The response of the mic and the dynamics are important on getting a solid and smooth vocal on a track.
I've engineered in many sessions at different studios and the mic is the most important device (besides the performer) in getting a good sound on tape. I guess that depending on what you want you can always go with a SM57 or 58, but to say that they will perform as well as a condenser mic on recording vocal is a bit of an understatement. If you want to attempt to record more than one vocalist w/ one at the same time...forget it.
This is just my opinion based on my experience after working on years of sessions and in various studios.

[Susang]

23. Jeez, what the hell did you do to it?

Mine survived an international tour of Asia, and I'm still using it. It's almost ten years old and looks about as good as the first day I got it. If yours quite after a few years, you should have either written Shure and had them replace it (which they probably would have done) or you abused the shit out of it. ;-)

SM57s are meant more for instruments, but work well for voice, SM58s are better designed for voice and I've had no complaints with mine. I've also done my share of recording, and yes, condenser mikes are great, but for the money, you can't beat the SM58. If you were to list all of the great recordings that were made with 58s or even 57s, even now, in this decade, you'd be amazed.

Susan

P.S. Hi Jason! Happy Birthday! :hi:

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Oh, We've Destroyed 58's.

Well, you did say "nearly". We've had at least puke out, but they were probably in the 12 to 13 year old range. That's a pretty long life for a mike that was moved in and out of clubs as often as those were.

For recording, almost anything, though, i like something more transparent for a mike. 58's have the pop filter so they have a little upper mid cut, and they are a little boomy if too close and too thin if too far away. (Normal proximity effect, but increased by the pop filter.)

The 57 is better for general recording because no pop filter. They end up sounding a little flatter, which is a good thing.

We use Sennheisers, Marshalls, and AKG's for recording. All need phantom power, though. We use almost all Shure's (57's and 58's) for live, except for kick drum & floor tom. (We use a EVPL20 on the kick and a Sn441 on the tom.)
The Professor

[BlueEyedSon]

12. Shure cheapies good for live, not for studio.

I have worked and recordeded in many high end studios (Electric Lady the most famous) and have NEVER seen SM's used for vocals. If you want an upgraded mic of that type, try Beyer.

OTOH, I have hammered loose stage floorboards down with an SM58.

YMMV

[johnnie]

13. One of the 58s I had got dropped in a toilet

And worked fine..lol. It's not the same one that gave out on me. Of course I might just have to open it up and check it out.

[XNASA]

14. ...But not all good (expensive) mics will flatter........

Guess that's the point. For example, I sound terrible using a 414 as a lead vocal mic. I sound better through a 57. So there's an instance where a more expensive mic does me no good. Plus, you can still use the 57 for mic'ing amps and snares.

Susang is right when she says the a variety of mics is required. You just have to find the one that works for you. Spending $1K on a mic does not guarantee a great take.

I have used 57's in the studio for vocal work. It went to a UREI 1176 before going to tape and it sounds great. You have to get right up on it, but a lot of rock singers are used to doing that anyway.

The best combination I've ever used for myself was an SM7 through an 1176.

[bullimiami]

15. audio technica condenser mics are surprisingly good for the price

we have a 4050 in a large studio with lots of other choices and it still gets used.
its a little out of your price range but the 4040 is a large diaphragm condenser too just doesnt have the pattern select.

you probably wont ever miss the other patterns.

[BlueEyedSon]

17. Agreed. nt

[Susang]

24. Thanks for the validation X

Being a vocalist, mikes are the one technical thing I am completely capable of spouting off on! :D

I also feel the need to add my 2 cents as far as vocal ability goes. There is not an mike on the planet that will make you sound good if you don't have good vocal (and microphone) technique. Sure, they can fix everything in post, but those performers never last (excluding Madonna). If you don't have a chameleon-like ability to reinvent yourself every 2 to 3 years, as well as a fantastic body, then I suggest you take the time to learn how to sing, at least adequately. ;-)

Susan

P.S. If any of those recordings you played for us were you singing through an SM57, then you definitely know how you sound best. :-)

[jpgray]

16. We have both 57s and 58s

To tell the truth, I wanted a new shiny toy to toss around. The rest of the guys vetoed the buy, though--so nothing will happen soon in this area.

[RandomKoolzip]

18. I bought a vocal mic from Marshall (MXL) for 250 big ones, and.....

It was a real beauty. Lotsa low end, sounded fantastic with a bit of high-attack compression. I used to set it up in one end of a small, corrugated-iron-walled room and play the drums on the other side of the room (with a 57 on the kick for extra oomph) and it sounded faboo.

I actually bought it for sometime DUer SouthoftheborderPaul for his birthday a few years ago. He loved it. We were always frustrated with the 58's and omnis we'd been using to record his vox, and this was definitely a trade skyward for us amatoors. We ran it through a Joemeek phantom power/compressor and it really helped make our little Roland VS840 sound like Electric Lady studios or some shit.


So, the point of this thread is to hip you to the good folks at Marshall electronics: good shit cheap!

(Hey, jp: I missed you, man! Good to be back on DU)

[Pepperbelly]

19. I have a Marshall mic I use for multi-tracking.

Had to buy phantom power though.

[jpgray]

20. Welcome back RKZ!

I'm in the process of building a solid home studio, but right now the room looks like a Savers and a Cheapo that got smashed together.

:silly:

[ProfessorGAC]

26. We Have One Of Those

I agree. It's an incredibly transparent mike for the money. I would put it up against one of my musician buddie's Bloo. He paid over $1200 for his, and i can't hear any coloration differences. One is very transparent, warm and quiet. Exactly what you'd expect for $1200. Ours is just as clear, just as warm, and just as quiet for a fifth of the money.

We've got a couple of pricey mikes too, but we use the Marshall for vocals.
The Professor

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. Sennheiser E865..you won't regret it!

It's under 300..great for recording..I use them onstage for acoustic players..very feedback resistant

[HEAVYHEART]

22. For playing out live...

My recommendation is to use SM58.