PLEASE, I beg of you, no lectures and/or instruction about the importance of having a properly treated room/booth.

What do you consider the best mic for male vocals to use in a room that has acoustic/sound-proof treatment that could only be described as make-shift, sub-par, rig-job, or total SHITE?

 

I don't think there's a magic microphone that can ignore the laws of physics. Maybe try looking for a mic that you can use as close as possible to the mouth without it blowing up. The closer to the mouth it is, the higher the SNR.

 

Not magical, but perhaps a mic that isn't as affected by background noise, echo, and overtones . . . yeah, something that mostly captures what's sung directly in.

 

Rode NT1-A Complete Vocal Recording - 179 €
https://rode.com/de/microphones/studio-condenser/nt1a
www.thomann.de/de/rode_nt1a_complete_vocal_recording.htm

RODE NT1-A Condenser Microphone Review / Test

 

sm7b

 

Shure SM4

 

Any dynamic will work, avoid condensers. Many AAA vocals had been recorded on SM7b or even SM57. Watch out for fakes, invest in a pop filter, even a cheap one. BTW, there's nothing like a male or a female mic. It is always an individual choice and only your mic locker is the limit. Are you gonna scream or whisper, strong plosives, sibilance??? I'm lucky to have access to a very well equipped studio, so I have learned firsthand, that many vocals sound awful on a new U87, the original ones - that's a different story And don't worry about it, the mic isn't the weakest link in the chain, the vocalist usually is...

 

So you are looking for a microphone that ignores background noise?
In other words you want a direct microphone? The Shure SM57 is known for that though it does not have anything in dynamic range close to a Neumann. AKG P170 is similar and a bit better and more expensive apparently.
There are tools now to remove a lot of background noise, some of them better than others.
Honestly, I think you have to get somewhere in the middle and not sacrifice the dynamic range.

 

Bruno Mars' vocals on Uptown Funk was recorded with a Shure SM57.

 

Might be worth checking

 

The very best vocal mic for a poorly treated room with the best rejection is without a doubt a Sennheiser MD 441. It has a supercardioid polar pattern and will only focus in what is right in front of it and attenuate sound coming from everywhere else. Although it is a dynamic microphone and doesn't need phantom power, it has the characteristics of a condensor with a beautiful top end. It can withstand high decibels without folding and is dead quiet unlike a condenser as it creates no self noise. It has a 5 position high pass filter to cut or not lower frequencies to your need. It is expensive though.

Your other option is to buy a condenser mic of your choice and get an Aston Halo which is the very best isolation shield manufactured.

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That sounds good and so far, possibly the best response.

 

Never mind

 

Last edited: Apr 3, 2025 at 8:33 PM

Buy an isolation shield : it will reject most of the echos.
for less than 40 euros.

https://www.amazon.com/Recording-Microphone-Isolation-absorbent-microphone/dp/B08JXZSQ3Y

Remember : if you MOVE away from hyper cardioid mic, you will loose a lot of signal.
And most singers MOVES

 

I thought about this and also almost bought pro foam treatment panels, but after research and thought . . . it's toxic and I'd rather not be sucking in phthalates and other chemicals.

 

I got all excited about the Sennheiser until I saw the price. For $1200, I think I'll rent a studio for a week.

 

Cool, I always enjoy the way Stevie Nicks moves!

 

You can get it for less than that and 500 bucks used. What city are you in?

 

That's the only real problem with those mics, aside from expense- they will make everyone who sees you sing into it giggle like Beavis and Butthead. Questions about your gag reflex often arise.