Good (& cheap) mic for singers?

Discussion in 'Studio' started by Highdom, Oct 30, 2017.

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  1. Highdom

    Highdom Kapellmeister

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    Hi!

    I thinking about buying a mic for recording vocals (males and females) most of the times, and generally guitars or other instruments. I anticipate that I've never had a mic. In my room, I've an Apogee Duet (48v but no preamp I think). I use it to link my iMac to the speakers.
    I often work in a studio with a friend that have mics, preamps, soundcards.
    In particular he has this mics (standards): AKG 220/P220.
    [​IMG]
    I don't need a super professional mic, just something similar, or the same perhaps. But the problem is that my soundcard doesn't work with this model.

    What will you do if you were me?
     
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  3. dragonhill

    dragonhill Guest

    Quick Googling confirms you have two mic preamps. So the AKG should work.
     
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  4. mercurysoto

    mercurysoto Audiosexual

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    One of the most trusted cheap good mics is RodeNT1A. Anything under that price will pretty much be the same in quality I guess.
     
  5. SineWave

    SineWave Audiosexual

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    For me RodeNT1A sounds too bright and emphasize sibilants too much for my taste, so a de-esser is quite necessary to use with it.

    I use Sennheiser MD431 and Shure SM58s generally. Yes, dynamics. Absolutely great for shrieking voices! Well, rock voices, if you will. :)

    For quiet and more intimate vocals a condenser can be better, though. I will purchase Sennheiser MK4 or AKG P420 if the need arises.

    Otherwise, in my experience, Studio Projects condensers are really great bang for the buck, as well as Rode NT series, just not my cup of tea. ;) If I was forced to buy one of these, I'd go with Studio Projects B1 or C1.

    Edit: maybe this website can help you to decide: http://recordinghacks.com/microphones They have a quite useful mic database. :wink:
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2017
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  6. Futurewine

    Futurewine Audiosexual

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    If you like, you can try using Antares Mic Mod EFX plugins. Simply set input to your current model and set output to your preferences.
    Pretty good user ratings.

    Also check out Slate Digital and IK Multimedia for similar plugins.
     
  7. MMJ2017

    MMJ2017 Audiosexual

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  8. Herr Durr

    Herr Durr Guest

  9. TW

    TW Guest

    Nice Mic. You should consider a dynamic Mic instead. If your room isn't quiet and treated well. People often underestimate that a LDC picks up a mosquito fart and lot of room ambience.

    I would go with an dynamic shure sm 58 or beta 58 for quality home made vocals. Bono from u2 did a lot of great studio vocals with theese mics.

    Or if you want a good overall dynamic get my favourite dynamic. Beyerdynamic m88. Phil Collins used it in the studio for vocals. And there is nothing you can not record with it. kick brass vocals this Mic delivers...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 31, 2017
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  10. Seedz

    Seedz Rock Star

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    +1 for Studio Projects condensers
     
  11. dbmuzik

    dbmuzik Platinum Record

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    A $100 dynamic mic will serve you better than a $100 dollar condenser. Condensers don't get good until the 300+ range.. AKG C214, and better at the 700+ range.. Neumann TLM 102. And you shouldn't let some of the YouTube videos of comparisons with cheap shit trick you.
     
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  12. MMJ2017

    MMJ2017 Audiosexual

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    this will give you the best option friend. a cheap condenser with no booth and no treatment and cheap mic cable will be a nightmare for you and limited applications as well. not durable.
    you have to have a good cable homes too paired with a beta58
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shure-Beta...233024&hash=item4b2a6db56c:g:Z8oAAOSwhqhZ5i-v
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canare-XLR...146381&hash=item4409a59198:g:CyUAAOSw8thZl0yD

    [​IMG]
    you should spend at least $60 on your mic cable
    then $150 for a beta58

    that will destroy the cheap condenser with cheap cable and no treatment no booth
    you'll be able get great studio sound and great live sound mic any instrument with clear signal no noise no humming

    then if you can add just a single mic preamp for cheap but high quality
    [​IMG]
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Focusrite-...343062&hash=item56a3eca8e6:g:vUgAAOSwGNtZy1fS
    those 3 things you will have a professional vocal and durable in any situation needed
    https://www.youtube.com/embed/AJ6USnfFe74?rel=0

    for $600 total you can get professional vocal setup that will last 20 years.
    those 3 things give you a sound good enough for any number 1 hit song, and then perform it live on stage afterwards!
    ...................











    if i had my mind made up on a condenser though i would 100 percent get this
    [​IMG]
    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/shure-sm81-cardioid-condenser-microphone/270171000000000


    [​IMG]



    dead on BALLS accurate!

    if you go with the sm81 you get 20hz to 20khz flatline paired with the other things about a grand not bad in my book!
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2017
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  13. Herr Durr

    Herr Durr Guest

    anyone ever use the MXL 990 ? can get a combo MXL 990/991 LDC/SDC for $100
     
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  14. digitaldragon

    digitaldragon Audiosexual

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    I've got one. Biggest problem with these, in my understanding, is extreme harshness in the top end. It varies from unit to unit though (Chinese build quality/consistency).
    If there's any way to test it first, I'd suggest that. I got lucky, though, mine doesn't have any of that harshness to it and is a really great mic for the money in my opinion.
    Great thing about this particular LDC is the availability of upgrade to either the element, the electronics, or both. If your budget is like mine, you can get the 990, then later the element, then later the circuit board, and at the end have a really nice sounding mic for well under $1K. (~$650).
    I hear you guys about the room, though. I just got my hands on one of these to borrow from a friend. It really helped the vocal track cut through the mix a lot better. I'm assuming that it removed some problem cancellations and peaks from reflections is the reason. The vocal was a lot easier to shape afterwards. I'm going to go ahead and invest in one. Looks to be around $200.

    [​IMG]
     
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  15. mercurysoto

    mercurysoto Audiosexual

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    If the NT1A is bright, MXLs tend to be shrill and fatiguing. I second buying a Shure SM-81. It's an all rounder, but it's not overly cheap. It's almost twice the NT1A, and just as much better. On the other hand, I like SM58s more than Beta 58s. SM58s have a warmer tone to my ears and are cheaper. I second buying the highest quality cables one can possibly afford. Proel cables are sturdy, fairly cheap, and sound good (yes, cables sound: A change of cables can modify the response of a mic).
     
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  16. Maybe the best 300 buck microphones are made by a fellow in Australia who makes his own high quality transformers and uses high quality Wima capacitors in his wares. His factory in China has very high a quality control standard and these mics sound like much higher priced tools. In this particular cardioid condensor there is a three way switch that changes the voicing at any given time so it is like having three different mics for what suits your needs, be it for vocals where you might wish a bit more air or perhaps to record a cymbal or a handclap where you might not. http://www.3uaudio.com/cp.asp?id=677 https://www.ebay.com/itm/3U-Audio-W...crophone-Switchable-Sound-Style-/111820764886

    The next rung up for about another 300 bucks at $595 is the Advanced Audio CM48 which is an awfully awesome tube mic with three polar patterns which is a fantastic and weirdly inexpensive version of a Neumann U47. Granted, the fellow who makes these stunning affordable microphones has a great deal of good and old riends with big studios who buy these microphones to use instead of their $15,000 originals, and as well he used to own one himself, but they wouldn't use them if they weren't top shelf stuff. https://advancedaudio.ca/collections/tube-microphones/products/cm48-t
     
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  17. spyfx

    spyfx Guest

    hi Highdom,also have a look at the Shure sm7b a bit more expensive than the akg's,but worth it :
    https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SM7B

    you might need one of these if you don't have a strong mic preamp :
    https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CL1Cloud

    This is just a suggestion & hope the info helps you,good luck :wink:
     
  18. SineWave

    SineWave Audiosexual

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    SM58 betas are made for live performance with supercardioid response, really great live mics. SM58s with their cardioid response sound more natural in a studio environment and yet they reject enough of the reflections in a not well treated studio. Greatest mic ever for recording vocals in a home-recording studios. One thing about dynamic mics is, though, you have to use a good noiseless preamp. Dynamics don't produce noise on their own, but they need a strong preamp, so the noise depends on your preamp. Preamps in my TC SK48 are pretty good for the purpose. SM58 betas are better for live performances as they reject more feedback due to their supercardioid response pattern.

    Yeah, Bono would agree. LOL Although, he's just a singer and it's not the reason why audio engineers all around the world like SM58s. Those mics just still rule in my book for everything. Senn 431 is more linear in response, though. It's harder to record with it [supercardioid=more proximity fx], but the results can be worth it.

    Cheers!
     
  19. Kwissbeats

    Kwissbeats Audiosexual

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    How can it "not work" with your soundcard?

    Have u tried plugging it in? :bleh:

    The akg perception is actually a pretty good mic,
    decent for all kinds of recording duties.
     
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  20. electriclash

    electriclash Guest

    tl:dr



    shure sm58 will do ya download.png
     
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  21. Herr Durr

    Herr Durr Guest

    what make is that one dd? if I recall corectly @mercurysoto said once he got the GC/Sterling audio for around $100 and it was rife with unhappy cancellation issues.. I also got that vocal screen as a "freebie" ( sorry to say @mercurysoto ) with the purchase of an ST51 LDC, some of GC products are ok..and some are complete crap... but they market it anyway... hope they get their come uppance for that or maybe already are !

    caveat emptor
     
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