Vocal Mics

Subject: Vocal Mics Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:27 am

Just picked up a Shure Beta 87A, I think it's freakin' awesome, anyone have favorites?

Joined : 13 Apr 2007 Posts : 926

Audio-Technica AT4033a

A solid vocal mic. I've owned two of these for several years, and have always been quite pleased with the results. They provide a very professional quality, for a medium-budget price.

And also, when recording vocals, I would recommend a good pair of headphones... the Sony Dynamic Stereo Headphones, MDR-7506 Professional. These were recommended to me by a recording technician a number of years ago, and I would in turn recommend them to anyone trying to minimize that annoying "bleed" of music that is almost always picked up by the microphone when you record a vocal tracks. I have found that these Sony headphones do a superior job of keeping the musical noise isolated to your ears, so that a relatively clean vocal track can be produced.

Joe

Age : 37 Joined : 02 Jan 2007 Posts : 445

I have never tried that model of Shure. I have used an SM 57 and 58 before. I use them on the screamers or growlers. In the studio I like to use my Studioproject C1. The AT4033 is also a great mic. The Sony headphones are great as well. I also like my Fostex RP20 headphones. Very Happy

Subject: Re: Vocal Mics Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:33 pm

Joined : 01 Jan 2007 Posts : 1105

I used a shure Sm58. Great recommendation, Jon.

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Subject: Re: Vocal Mics Sat Dec 08, 2007 10:54 am

The SM58 is an old stand by, you can't go wrong w/it, but the Beta series are more dynamic, they really have improved on a good thing!

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 159

Isn't the 87 actually a condencer mic? That would make it smoother and give it more detail, but a bit more fragile.

The thing about the 58 is simply this is the one they got right. Meaning, the 58 is as tough as nails and covers that part of the range you can actually deliver via live sound.

Age : 37 Joined : 02 Jan 2007 Posts : 445

Another type of mic for recording vocals you might give a try is a tube mic. I personally like the Studio Projects T3. Very Happy

For studios on a home budget you could try Apex 460 and MXL V69M. Wink

Subject: Re: Vocal Mics Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:03 am

Mission Of One Age : 38 Joined : 03 Jan 2007 Posts : 5117

Age : 37 Joined : 02 Jan 2007 Posts : 445

Here is a list of mics I have used in the studio for vocals.

Studio Projects C1
Studio Projects B1
Audio Technica AT4033a
Audio Technica AT3525
Behringer B2
Apex 430
Shure SM58
Shure SM57 (for growling)
SHure PG58
CAD E100
Peavey PVM 520TN (for growling)
Very Happy

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 159

In the studio I would refain from anything dynamic unless the goal is to sound "live".
There are a number of condencer mics that you can procure without having to mortgage your home.
I like the AKG 3000B. This is a mic that software dudes have decided works great for modeling and for a mere $300 or so you can expedite this large diapharm condencer, snatch some mic modeling software off the net, and turn it into a C12 or U47...if you're not quite sure what I'm talking about hit the net and look up AKG C12 or Neuman U47 and check out the list of song/talent you are already familar with. I'm sure this will suit you just fine.
Most importantly do some test tracks and listen to the difference in the mix. This is that thing that has been eluding you.
This is the thing that has been causing you to question, "Why, if I'm in pitch and belting it out with full strength, doesn't it sound like my favorite (fill in the blank) record?" Wink

Age : 37 Joined : 02 Jan 2007 Posts : 445

Hey Dave I have played around with the mic modeling thing on my Roland VS recorder. It is cool but I don't know how acurate it is seeing I haven't got the real thing to a/b it with. I use dynamic mics on singers that have a harshness to their voice. Sometimes to much detail sounds bad. Wink

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 159

The problem here is dynamic vs. condencer (ribbon is a whole other can of worms).
The raw information being fed into the modeling program just isn't enough to make up for the "holes" in the data.
With another condencer we're talking about using an algorithm to "sculpt" a better sound out of data that is already full and smooth and very similar in characteristics.
With a dynamic there are issues with major data lose that can not be overcome with mere modeling, to begin with simply consider the dynamic range of each type of mic.
The dynamic mic doesn't start moving until something in the 70's hits it. And it drops off in the 17k range because the SPL required to move the element doesn't sustain sufficient force to drive it that quickly.
A condencer is going to hear everything between 20-20k and pretty close to the way your ear hears it because of the mechanics of the device. A skin pulled over a drum.
On the other hand, for live performance, most PA aren't going to broadcast anything better than 80-17K so it's pointless to use a mic that does better. The sound coming out of a tower isn't going to be smooth, it's going to be "dynamic"...so having a dynamic mic is undoubtedly the best signal to feed such a system...again, because of the mechanics of the device.
What we're talking about are two different beasts.
One is for recording sound that will be played back to a system designed to reproduce clarity and detail.
The other is designed to take the bulk of the program information and broadcast it accross as large an area as possible while retaining the integrety of the signal.
Beyond that point, I don't want the mic to die simply because the guitarist stepped on the cord and knocked out of my hands. And condencers are not the most robust solution if you know what I mean? Wink

So...it's all about having the "right" tool for the "right" job.

Age : 37 Joined : 02 Jan 2007 Posts : 445

It sounds like you are totally against dynamics in the studio. Have you ever tried an SM 57 on a guitar cab or on a snare? I like the colouration of some mics. I like how they change the sound of the item they are micing. Its another colour to your palette of sound. Very Happy

Or are you just talking about vocals specificly?

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 159

For electric guitar or percussion dynamics are great. Again, consider what you're reproducing. Percussion is extremely dynamic. High SPL, not much in the way of detail, good marriage. Guitar? Again, the meat of any guitar tone is in the mids and for electric guitar, that should be stiff and punchy, perfection. SM57 or D421.
But acoutic guitar? Fiddle? Mandolyn? To get a great sound out of these you'll need the detail only a condencer can give you. But unlike vocal, a large diaphram condencer can end up sounding "boomy" unless you roll it off.

Something I've only heard (but kina makes sense) is using a ribbon mic for guitar.
Ribbons made a big come back during the gunge era and as the story goes some producer in Seatle was looking for something new to do with guitars and pull out some old Cole's ribbon mics he'd picked up while in England and was thrilled at the huge sound he got.
Speculation is that because the ribbon mic is more or less the mirror image of an electric guitar (string over pick-up) it produces a truer representation of anything with strings.

Subject: Re: Vocal Mics Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:17 am

Went to "Dave's Dungeon" to do a little recording last night, when I plugged the mic in we noticed some noise, a little rustling or something, switched mics and it was gone. I'm using that SM Beta 87A, is it possible it's just not compatable w/his gear, or do I have issues w/my mic? We never noticed it before at practise or at the gigs.

Age : 37 Joined : 02 Jan 2007 Posts : 445

Sounds like an issue with the mic.

Subject: Re: Vocal Mics Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:46 am

Subject: Re: Vocal Mics Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:50 pm

Gonna try and have it checked out soon, should still be under warranty.