Wanted - microphone mostly for voice

[chagzuki]

When you say add colour, are you talking about a kind of 'warmth' or distortion?

[chagzuki]

Is there a rule as to what type of mic requires a pop shield?

[Patrick9]

For a studio as opposed to a performance mic I would recommend a couple of Audio Technica condensers: - the AT 4040 or AT 3035. The 4040 is very sensitive and will pick up every slight nuance of a performance, the 3035 is a bit cheaper and is slightly less sensitive to top end harmonics but is still very crisp and clear. Both seem to be discounted in stores at the moment.

[freeztar]

I'll ditto that, I've got an AT4040 and I LOVE it! I use it for 95% of my vocal stuff. I also have a studio projects B1 which is a good mic as well, and a lot cheaper ($80 US). I own an SM57 as well, but I leave that next to my amp for guitar work. The vocals are alright with the SM57, but you don't get the full dynamic range like with the 4040 and B1, which are large diaphragm condensers.
I would recommend trying several different mics with YOUR voice to see which one compliments YOUR voice the best. We can all give you our opinions on what makes our voice sound good, but every voice has nuances that are emphasized or deemphasized by the mic.
Here's a nice website that compares lots of mics in lots of ways:
www.thelisteningsessions.com

BTW, for a "pure" sounding mic, with no coloration, you are looking at about $2000.

[topaz]

I have used an Octava mk219 with a joe meek VC3 for a long time, I don't plan on changing.

people still come here to record vocals
this is only an mp3 (and beware it's trance)

but I think you will agree the vocals sound pretty damn good.

http://216.120.230.160/samples/dotvinyl001.mp3

topaz

[AD80]

I recomend this one. Everybody who's heard mine so far is very impressed. Do a search for it and find some reviews. Studio Projects C1. $200bux and it comes with everything. No popper stopper tho.

http://media.zzounds.com/media/fit,325b ... /c1_large-

[pough]

$200bux and it comes with everything. No popper stopper tho.

So by "it comes with everything" you mean "it doesn't come with everything"?

[AD80]

Exactly.

[chagzuki]

This is good - prices are a lot lower than I had expected. Looks like a choice between the Octava mk219 and the studio projects B1.

[chagzuki]

Do mics normally come with cables?
What kind of cable do I need?

[pough]

Do mics normally come with cables?
What kind of cable do I need?

No.
Mic cables.

[whyterabbyt]

Depends on what your soundcard/preamp input is, but the mic end will be an XLR...

Although be aware that both of those choices will need a source of phantom power, methinks...

[topaz]

by the way I don't make trance that track was a session I did.



http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_ar ... 1cfcc4ed96

[Druu]

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that. Make sure that either your mixer has phantom power or you have a separate mic pre-amp as the condenser mics mentioned here won't work without phantom power.

As far as cables, make sure you put a few bucks aside to pay for a decent cable. Mics aren't sold with cables. A retailer might work a bundle deal, but then they would give you a piece of sh*t cable. I use a Blue Blueberry cable (about $35), but there are plenty of good cables out there.

Druu
http://www.druu.net
http://www.soundclick.net/druu

[AD80]

Do mics normally come with cables?
What kind of cable do I need?

When I bought my C1, it came with a long mic cable, shockmount, and foam cover, all in a little carrying case. C1 comes with a built in pad switch and bass roll off too. $199 total.