Premier Rock Forum

EA think the Shure 57 is shit, but what do they and you all think are some of the greatest vocal mics out there?

I'm gonna splurge and I was looking at the Neumann M147...now that's hot babies!

hey, I gave my vote for best "vocal mic" (Beyer M160 Ribbon) in the ribbon mic thread. I'll transplant it here:

kerble wrote:I haven't used an M160 for instruments, but it a fantastic vocal mic. The transparency of the mic really makes it fun to sing into. It feels like a natural extension of your singing.

I've sang/recorded into maybe 20-25 vocal mics in my limited recording history (some low grade, some high-- Shure, Oktava (quality kind/gtr center kind) , AT, Neumann, AKG, Rode, etc.) and I flipped out over singing into the Beyer when Orion (recorder) got it midway through the session. it rules. I went and redid all my vocal parts, just in case. one of these years when I start buying recording gear again, I'd pick up a matched pair, seguro.


very recommended.

also, in the Search mode, I'd recommend the word "vocal" in the keyword field and limit the search to the "Tech room" (the little drop down menu next to "Forum:").

might be able to find some random discussion on it there, as I think there are a couple of "vocal mic" threads.


hth!


Faiz

for some reason i seem to love the way the SE z3300 sounds for vocals...not a very popular mic but i love it.

pyxis360 wrote:I'm gonna splurge and I was looking at the Neumann M147...now that's hot babies!

I'm afraid about what this means.

i bought an m147 when they came out. i sold it fast.

for vocals i like an m49, an elam251, brauners...that kind of stuff.

The EV RE20. I'm assuming a male voice that's rattling off a lot of words that are supposed to be listened and sound intimate/up close.

The Beyerdynamic 160 is probably a better general use mic.

I'd want to be damn well sure I wasn't happy with a cheaper large diameter condensor (AT 4033, 4040, AKG 414 or even a $200-$300 Rode) before I shelled out for a 147 and even then I wouldn't shell out unless I had an above average pre-amp and/or A/D converter.

And, EVEN THEN, I'd probably go with a cheaper ribbon mic (like a Beyer 160).

While we're at it, "kick ass vocal mic" is hardly a useful classification. The mic that works for Johnny Cash is not the mic that works for Robert Plant or Joan Biaz or Lou Reed (though some of those named would share a few).

BTW, the Shure 57 is a GREAT mic. I rarely record with one but it's my universal reference point. Guitars, vocals, drums, etc., etc.. It's the lingua franca of the microphone world. Whereas EA writes:

Sounds equivalently good on everything from snare drum to electric guitar. Unfortunately, not a very high standard of "Good."

That standard also isn't a very low standard of "Bad."

[/b]