Best mic to my voice?

[eddie knuckles]

I just purchased a Blue Encore 200 handheld condenser mic - I use it to record, and my singer sounds great with this live (even through a 100w PA) - you do need phantom power to operate it
http://www.proaudio.com/product_info...oducts_id=8429

I also highly suggest the Audio Technica AT2020 - ($100 new) cheaper, condensor mic - great for guitar, vocal, speaking (I used mine for podcasting initially) - and can be found readily used on CL or big box music stores frequently.
http://www.proaudio.com/product_info...oducts_id=4724

Are there better mics out there? sure - but for $$ and bang, you can't go wrong with either of these new or used.

The Shure Beta 57a rocks as well ($130-ish) and you don't need phantom power

[winny pooh]

Originally Posted by Fran Guidry

The SM7b is an interesting case. Read through this whole thread http://www.3daudioinc.com/3db/showth...ght=shure+sm7b and see if you think there's anything magical about it. It's basically an SM57 with some circuitry that reduces the sensitivity and flattens the presence peak, then housed with an integrated shock mount and pop filter that keeps the source slightly further from the diaphragm than is the case with the 57 or 58.

Some years ago Bruce Swedien revealed that he had used an SM7 when recording Michael Jackson and that elevated the mic to mythic status.

This is not true...

the capsule for the sm7/b is by all accounts larger and has a different shure part number. Many pros use it for studio vocals (Dylan, James Hetfield off the top of my head). Engineers are not so stupid to use it Only because Bruce Swedien says so...

Otherwise I agree with you

[Fran Guidry]

Originally Posted by winny pooh

This is not true...

the capsule for the sm7/b is by all accounts larger and has a different shure part number. Many pros use it for studio vocals (Dylan, James Hetfield off the top of my head). Engineers are not so stupid to use it Only because Bruce Swedien says so...

Otherwise I agree with you

I never said it wasn't a good mic, I simply said that it's not magic.

http://shure.custhelp.com/app/answer...sm7a/related/1

The SM7, the SM57, and the SM58 are all based on the Unidyne III capsule design. The SM7 capsule is not identical to the SM57 or SM58, but it is similar.

Fran

[Fran Guidry]

Originally Posted by Geoff738

Fran. I didn't listen to the link. Or read the thingey. I'm aware that the capsule is reputed to be the same as the 57 and 58. But I do own a 57 or two and an SM7. Although they share a common lineage and a fair bit of internal stuff too - they are quite dissimilar mics to my ears.
...

Geoff, this is the reason I like to include clips to illustrate my points. Level matched clips of the same performance, of course. "Dissimilar" could mean the two mics are so different that you would never consider using them for the same tasks, or it could mean that one is a subtly different shade of the same color. And either of those judgments would be your subjective reaction based on your experience and needs. Level matched same performance clips illustrating the difference would let us hear the differences with our own ears, experience, and needs in mind.

Years of reading descriptions of recording gear on the internet left me thinking that I would hear huge differences between mics like the SM57 and the SM7. When I put them side by side I didn't hear what I considered to be huge differences, or even significant ones. If I still had my SM7 I'd put up some clips and we could discuss the results, but I sold the mic shortly after I bought it.

Would you care to create some level matched same performance clips illustrating the differences?

Fran

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by Fran Guidry

Level matched same performance clips illustrating the difference would let us hear the differences with our own ears, experience, and needs in mind.

Years of reading descriptions of recording gear on the internet left me thinking that I would hear huge differences between mics like the SM57 and the SM7. When I put them side by side I didn't hear what I considered to be huge differences, or even significant ones. If I still had my SM7 I'd put up some clips and we could discuss the results, but I sold the mic shortly after I bought it.

Would you care to create some level matched same performance clips illustrating the differences?

Fran

Level matching is critical for making comparisons. That should be posted up in plain view and made an inviolable rule in every studio. No argument whatsoever from me on that.

I read the link. Didn't listen though - I'm traveling and I don't think I'd hear much of a difference on crappy laptop speakers. Particularly if there isn't much of a difference. The graphs did show the smoother top and extended low end of the SM7. I was mildly surprised by how close the mids were. I'm going to have to go back and have a peek at what they were doing in the 5-7ish k range that can sometimes drive me batty with a 57.

I did a little mic shootout a while back with 5 or 6 dynamic mics (57 and SM7 included, a 421, 609 and a Senn "tom" mic, an AKG "kik" mic) and level matched as best I could. On a somewhat distorted guitar amp. I think I even had a thread here about it with the audio clips, and the names of the mics - but without Id'ing which was which. I took the clips down but I could probably load them up again. Anyhow, the differences, in that application, in my room, were mostly pretty subtle. I pretty much concluded that any of them would work just fine.

But I'll keep my SM7 for what it does on the high and low end. Worth it to me.

Cheers,
Geoff

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by JoaoM.

V67?

By the way I saw this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-KRK-ROKIT-G2-R...item5199f0276d

What do you think?

Looks ok to me - but I haven't used either.

Just be careful with shipping charges, especially for powered monitors. They can be pretty heavy and thus expensive to ship.

Cheers,
Geoff

[binkydognose]

Originally Posted by eddie knuckles

I also highly suggest the Audio Technica AT2020 - ($100 new) cheaper, condensor mic - great for guitar, vocal, speaking (I used mine for podcasting initially) - and can be found readily used on CL or big box music stores frequently.
http://www.proaudio.com/product_info...oducts_id=4724

That's what I have, bought w/ no research or worry for a change. The salesman suggested it when I got my monitors and was looking to pad the total sale up to take advantage of a discount.
It's used on the vocals in my sig link, they're crude recordings by most standards, no pop filter and rough editing (fwiw).
And those rockit5 monitors are what I was buying at the time, I'm really happy with them.

[Mad Kiwi]

I am not a mic guru but of the mics i have and tried, for the money (dirt cheap) the behringer C1 condenser has a different enough condenser type sound that I beleive the OP might find usefull. I certainly do.

From memory they are $80 U.S or therabouts.....a pretty universal brand that music shops in your area should (?) carry?

That being the case maybe they will allow you to test drive one?

In no way am I saying it's a spectacular mic but it does work for me and the little I have invested in this area so far...

[stratguy60]

The Audio Technica at4033 is a great mic for vocals and acoustic guitar.

[JoaoM.]

Originally Posted by Geoff738

Looks ok to me - but I haven't used either.

Just be careful with shipping charges, especially for powered monitors. They can be pretty heavy and thus expensive to ship.

Cheers,
Geoff

Yea, I might buy the monitors on my local store. I just pray that they have the KRK RP5 G2.

And I'm seriously considering buying the MXL V67G. Someone out there with some experience/opinion on this mic?

[Old Cane]

If a Blue is in your price range I would give it a try. I have one (well, actually a red body with blue capsule) and couldn't be happier...unless I had more capsules.

Fran, give it up. They are different. Period. No, there's nothing magic about it. Who the hell said there was? Looking back, only you did. For some people 1% difference whether mental or real is worth paying 10x the money (or 10000x). My $300 seiko lets me know what time it is just like your $30,000 rolex. My thought is; why buy a rolex? I could use the money instead to buy 100 sm7s. And no I didn't listen either. Let's see, I can take a $100 mic and a $300 mic and make them sound the same. What did I prove? I bet I could do it with a $5000 mic as well. I'm just looking for the mic that makes me sound like Paul Rogers or Mike Finnegan. The one I have now makes me sound like kd lang. I'd settle for Johnny Lang.

[Fran Guidry]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

...

Fran, give it up. They are different. Period. No, there's nothing magic about it. Who the hell said there was? Looking back, only you did. For some people 1% difference whether mental or real is worth paying 10x the money (or 10000x). My $300 seiko lets me know what time it is just like your $30,000 rolex. My thought is; why buy a rolex? I could use the money instead to buy 100 sm7s. And no I didn't listen either. Let's see, I can take a $100 mic and a $300 mic and make them sound the same. What did I prove? I bet I could do it with a $5000 mic as well. I'm just looking for the mic that makes me sound like Paul Rogers or Mike Finnegan. The one I have now makes me sound like kd lang. I'd settle for Johnny Lang.

Perhaps I could better explain where I'm coming from.

When I started trying to record I turned to the internet for advice. I got a lot of bad advice. A lot of the bad advice said that this gadget or that gadget was necessary for quality recording. A lot of the bad advice said that this mic or that mic was amazing and wonderful and everyone needed one.

Painfully over the years I learned that mics are tools, that boxes aren't magic, and that the sound hitting the mic is the only really hard part. Plug any decent mic into any decent box and put the mic someplace where there's a good sound hitting it - good recording.

I know this is a "gear" board, and I'm painfully aware of the placebo effect as it relates to recording gear purchases, but it can't hurt to have someone come along every now and then and suggest that "it ain't the gear."

Fran

[JoaoM.]

V67G?

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by JoaoM.

V67G?

Joao,

I've never used one. But they seem to be well regarded for the $$$. It'll probably be a good choice.

Cheers,
Geoff

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by Fran Guidry

Perhaps I could better explain where I'm coming from.

When I started trying to record I turned to the internet for advice. I got a lot of bad advice. A lot of the bad advice said that this gadget or that gadget was necessary for quality recording. A lot of the bad advice said that this mic or that mic was amazing and wonderful and everyone needed one.

Painfully over the years I learned that mics are tools, that boxes aren't magic, and that the sound hitting the mic is the only really hard part. Plug any decent mic into any decent box and put the mic someplace where there's a good sound hitting it - good recording.

I know this is a "gear" board, and I'm painfully aware of the placebo effect as it relates to recording gear purchases, but it can't hurt to have someone come along every now and then and suggest that "it ain't the gear."

Fran

I guess the moral of the story is be careful of the advice you follow? Seriously, I think all of us here said sm7 is one to try. Not a "must have". I've done albums the same way Peter Asher did. 57s on everything and a tube mic on vocals. It works. A 57 works on vocals too and before you go bonkers on the "magic" of a 57, there ain't none. It is a decent, affordable and durable mic that works ok in the studio and extremely well on stage. I've no idea who you are or what you've done but some of us have logged decades and hundreds of thousands if not millions of miles on the road. We do know what works and the fact that you can go out to the trailer and unload the mic box and do a session, well, I think that should be considered a plus for any mic. The sm7 is more studio oriented and is a little different than a 57. Can you make it sound the same? Sure. But if you have something different, why would you want to?

I just take offense to your posts because that is one of a bunch recommended here and the it's the only one you picked on.

"You might try an sm7b, an md421, an sm57, the AT4033 (used) or the MXL Mogami Edition LDC or some other tube mic. Mostly tube mics will be $1000+ but that MXL is pretty darn good for the money (~300). There are some Rode mics people really like but I'm just not familiar with them or what they cost. "

....and that was just my post.

[Fran Guidry]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

I guess the moral of the story is be careful of the advice you follow?...

...before you go bonkers on the "magic" of a 57...

I just take offense to your posts because that is one of a bunch recommended here and the it's the only one you picked on.

"You might try an sm7b, an md421, an sm57, the AT4033 (used) or the MXL Mogami Edition LDC or some other tube mic. Mostly tube mics will be $1000+ but that MXL is pretty darn good for the money (~300). There are some Rode mics people really like but I'm just not familiar with them or what they cost. "

....and that was just my post.

I apologize. Sorry you felt I was going "bonkers." I'm not sure why a discussion of the objective differences between two mics should offend you, but I apologize for having done so.

Fran

[Old Cane]

Well, I married into a family of sm7s so I'm a little touchy. Like woodman says, they aren't very sensitive but we try not to talk about their shortcomings much. They do suffer from that complex of being the only shure with only one digit.

[Fran Guidry]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

Well, I married into a family of sm7s so I'm a little touchy. Like woodman says, they aren't very sensitive but we try not to talk about their shortcomings much. They do suffer from that complex of being the only shure with only one digit.

I swear I'm not going to post a link to the KSM9, that would just be wrong.

http://www.shure.com/americas/produc...cal-microphone

Oops, it just jumped out of the keyboard, I swear.

Fran

[Old Cane]

Wow, I am behind the times. I thought the ksms started at about 27 (27, 28, whatever it takes).

[Tim Armstrong]

I have some inexpensive condenser mics (yep, one of them is an MXL V67!). The V67 is a nice mic, as are the MXL 2001 and the Shure KSM27. I tend to use the Shure, but I can't honestly say I hear a hell of a lot of difference between any of the three. I also often use the AKG D9000 dynamic mic mentioned above, with excellent results.

I don't think you're going to find any of the mics mentioned so far to be bad ones, and mic selection if often less important (at least in the low budget world) than recording in a really good-sounding space!

Cheers, Tim