Guitar Gear Forum

I'm looking for mic to record vocals ranging from clean singing to death metal. I'm looking to spend around 300. I was recommended the shure sm7b, but wondered what else is in that price range. I'm on the fence because you need an addition preamp to get it up to usable levels to use it. I'm wondering if this the case with all recording mics. I currently have a beta 58A, it works OK but it picks up a lot more room noise than I want.

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Not sure you need an extra preamp for a SM7b. I used one for 14 years and it didn't need anymore power than an SM57 or any other dynamic mic.

Lately, I've been using a Rode NT1A, large condenser mic with success. It's a condenser so it needs 48v Phantom Power that's usually included on most a/d converters.

SM7b is a great mic for vocals and there's no reason not to get one.

ajaxlepinski wrote:Not sure you need an extra preamp for a SM7b. I used one for 14 years and it didn't need anymore power than an SM57 or any other dynamic mic.

Lately, I've been using a Rode NT1A, large condenser mic with success. It's a condenser so it needs 48v Phantom Power that's usually included on most a/d converters.

SM7b is a great mic for vocals and there's no reason not to get one.

Yeah don't know much about them but I've heard a couple people complain they are pretty quiet. I've got a focusrite scarlett 6i6 as my interface. It has a phantom power switch on the front panel. I'm checking into the rode as well.

I've been using an Audio Technica AT2035 for clean vocals with good results. With your budget, you could get one of those and an SM57 for screamed vocals, and you'd have money left over

LukeBurke1 wrote:I've been using an Audio Technica AT2035 for clean vocals with good results. With your budget, you could get one of those and an SM57 for screamed vocals, and you'd have money left over

Does that mic not handle higher volume vocals? Because when I sing I belt a good portion of the time. I see it has a 10 db pad.

I know a lot of the reason pick the shure is because it helps block out explosive sounds.

Check into the Audio technica AT 2020. Its a condensor, inexpensive, present... See what you think.

RIFF wrote:Check into the Audio technica AT 2020. Its a condensor, inexpensive, present... See what you think.

I was reading reviews and they are all mixed. I did learn about the MXL 2003A which seems to be pretty good.

guidedbyechoes wrote:

LukeBurke1 wrote:I've been using an Audio Technica AT2035 for clean vocals with good results. With your budget, you could get one of those and an SM57 for screamed vocals, and you'd have money left over

Does that mic not handle higher volume vocals? Because when I sing I belt a good portion of the time. I see it has a 10 db pad.

I know a lot of the reason pick the shure is because it helps block out explosive sounds.

The Audio Technica handles higher volumes just fine. It's an awesome mic for the price. I only recommended getting the SM57 for screams because of the explosiveness like you said

The SM7b is a great mic and will cover a lot of different vocal styles. If you do find you need some more DBs then you can stick a Cloudlifter in the chain.

Sizzler wrote:The SM7b is a great mic and will cover a lot of different vocal styles. If you do find you need some more DBs then you can stick a Cloudlifter in the chain.

Buying more gear is what I'm trying to avoid. It's been the most expensive option so far and then need to buy something else to make it work properly.

The sm7b is a relatively quiet mic, but as long as you're not using it as a room mic on a shaker that's no big deal. For typical vocalists putting some power into their singing I find +24dB at the preamp does the job, gives me peak levels ITB of maybe -10 to -15db which is plenty. If you sing quietly, maybe you'll need 30dB of clean preamp gain. And if you want to get further off the mic maybe a bit more, but tbh part of the joy of the sm7 on vocals is getting right up to it and singing loud.

Really great mic, I love mine.

Cirrus wrote:The sm7b is a relatively quiet mic, but as long as you're not using it as a room mic on a shaker that's no big deal. For typical vocalists putting some power into their singing I find +24dB at the preamp does the job, gives me peak levels ITB of maybe -10 to -15db which is plenty. If you sing quietly, maybe you'll need 30dB of clean preamp gain. And if you want to get further off the mic maybe a bit more, but tbh part of the joy of the sm7 on vocals is getting right up to it and singing loud.

Really great mic, I love mine.

I think it might pretty great, but I didn't want to have to get a pre amp. Mostly because that's more money and research.

I am also looking for a mic for rock and metal singing (cookie monster I use an sm57 anyways) what should I be looking in to?

I use a Beyerdynamic M201 for vocs, works on my voice much better than the sm7b. It's not optimal for vocs though, you'll get pops because of the small capsule, even with a pop filter.

Shure KSM32 is another very good mic for vocs if you'd want a condenser that's similar to the sm7b in sound. (YMMV, on my voice they were almost identical).

The Shure SM57 is the gold standard for versatility and well-roundedness. It's best for guitar, bass and as one of several drum microphones but it also works just fine for vocals. Here's an example of a song I made using a SM57 for vocals-

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Qhb7eSkXM[/video]


I feel like the hard part isn't the recording but the mixing and equalizing. However make sure you compress it big time and try to step back when saying words that start with the letter "p" as a mic hears it like a big "PUH" and it spikes and is annoying as fack to fix later. Think of it like a lisp.

With that being said though, SM57 is the cheapest option and if you already have one it'll do fine for a demo!

SensoryOverload wrote:The Shure SM57 is the gold standard for versatility and well-roundedness. It's best for guitar, bass and as one of several drum microphones but it also works just fine for vocals. Here's an example of a song I made using a SM57 for vocals-

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Qhb7eSkXM[/video]

I feel like the hard part isn't the recording but the mixing and equalizing. However make sure you compress it big time and try to step back when saying words that start with the letter "p" as a mic hears it like a big "PUH" and it spikes and is annoying as fack to fix later. Think of it like a lisp.

With that being said though, SM57 is the cheapest option and if you already have one it'll do fine for a demo!

That sounds pretty good. I have only recorded vocals once in my life. I used a 200 dollar xml condenser. The guy that recorded it was a buddy and neither of us had any prior recording experience. It came out sounding like this[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QSp2QV_yEU[/video]

I had to stand about 3-4 ft from the mic to not make it over load.

I've been using a SM57 too, mostly because it's all I have. Honestly, it sounds great. My issues with vocals are my own limitations, but I don't ever remember thinking I wish my mic sounded better or anything like that, the 57 is pretty good.

Do you guys use a pop filter for the sm57? I think I need to get one because of the popping problem.

Holy-diver wrote:Do you guys use a pop filter for the sm57? I think I need to get one because of the popping problem.

A pop filter is a must when recording vocals. The closer you get to the mic, the less trebley the vocals will sound and the more you need a pop filter

MAde one out of a wire coat-hanger & panty hose years ago! They also set the distance so the singer doesnt get too close.

aaaahhh puff screens. My favorite recording topic.

AT4040 has become a fav of mine. I used an NT1, but the 4040 just sounded more present.

Recorded with a cheap MXL990 that wasn't too bad either. Best $60 condenser mic I ever used. Great mic for home guys. Fantastic reviews all over. They even raised the price. These were always $59.99 with shockmount.

Telefunken M80.

rugbyguitargod wrote:Telefunken M80.

A wireless mic for recording?



Anyway I'm gonna to contact this company called right hook mics that look like the old style and have star wars names
http://www.righthookmics.com/the-threepio/
http://www.righthookmics.com/stormtrooper/