CaptainMoto
Blues Voyager
My observations:
When you seek information about recording vocals, quite frequently the recommended mic is a large diaphragm condenser because they pick up more of the nuances of the voice, particularly female singers.
Secondarily you will also see recommendations for dynamic mics, often suggested for more aggressive singers, mostly male singers.
These are never absolute rules but they fit a general recommendation because every situation is different and so is every voice.
When I began home recording I had one mic, a SM58 dynamic mic that I used for everything.
I soon added an SM57, a very similar mic, that I used to mic my amps.
Following the expert recommendations, I then added a large diaphragm condenser mic with the hope that it would be better for my vocals.
The new condenser did pick up more of the details in my voice but..........it also picked up way too much room noise.
Even though my studio is "sound proof" I still have to deal with some equipment hum, HVAC noise and a little neighbor noise leaking through the weak spots in my sound proofing (the windows).
I can mitigate some of that by positioning some movable panels and gobos around to make a vocal space however, with limited space that just makes setup more complicated.
With that in mind, I had to pay more attention to the polar pattern of all my mics, with a focus on those that have good rear rejection.
Although there are condenser mics with tighter polar patterns, I've since abandon the condenser mics and
use dynamic mics with cardioid or super cardioid patterns more most studio work.
When positioning the vocal mic, I pay attention to aiming the rear of the mic toward any noise source such as windows HVAC vents etc...
I think If I was recording females vocalists I would be tempted to try the condensers again.
Over time I've picked up several other types of mics for different applications.
My most recent acquisition is a new type of ribbon mic.
Many engineers swear by the result they get by combining an SM57 and a Ribbon on guitar amps.
Ribbons are also said to be the most accurate in capturing certain sources (like vocals) but, they have been notoriously delicate and can be damaged if you accidentally feed them phantom power.
Additionally, they can be very expensive, consequently, as much as I wanted to use one, I resisted, thinking I would probably damage it.
The new mic ribbon I acquired has a super cardioid patter (very tight) with great rear rejection and it is an "active" mic that requires 48v phantom power so, no worries about burning it up accidentally and it's more robust then most.
Although I'm still experimenting with it, so far, I like it on my vocals, guitar amps and my acoustic.
Bottom line:
If somebody asks for my advice on a mic for home recording my first recommendation is always an SM58.
It's good on most vocals and amps.
It has a cardioid pattern with some rear rejection.
Has a built in pop filter, an accessory that's recommended for vocals.
It can be used in the studio or live.
It's rugged and inexpensive.
If someone already has a SM58 and wants advice on a better vocal mic, I'd say give consideration to your recording environment before choosing your next mic.
My mic locker:
-Shure SM58
-Shure SM57
-Rode NT1 ( Sold )
-CAD e70
- Electro Voice RE20
-Shure SM7B
-AEA KU5A
When you seek information about recording vocals, quite frequently the recommended mic is a large diaphragm condenser because they pick up more of the nuances of the voice, particularly female singers.
Secondarily you will also see recommendations for dynamic mics, often suggested for more aggressive singers, mostly male singers.
These are never absolute rules but they fit a general recommendation because every situation is different and so is every voice.
When I began home recording I had one mic, a SM58 dynamic mic that I used for everything.
I soon added an SM57, a very similar mic, that I used to mic my amps.
Following the expert recommendations, I then added a large diaphragm condenser mic with the hope that it would be better for my vocals.
The new condenser did pick up more of the details in my voice but..........it also picked up way too much room noise.
Even though my studio is "sound proof" I still have to deal with some equipment hum, HVAC noise and a little neighbor noise leaking through the weak spots in my sound proofing (the windows).
I can mitigate some of that by positioning some movable panels and gobos around to make a vocal space however, with limited space that just makes setup more complicated.
With that in mind, I had to pay more attention to the polar pattern of all my mics, with a focus on those that have good rear rejection.
Although there are condenser mics with tighter polar patterns, I've since abandon the condenser mics and
use dynamic mics with cardioid or super cardioid patterns more most studio work.
When positioning the vocal mic, I pay attention to aiming the rear of the mic toward any noise source such as windows HVAC vents etc...
I think If I was recording females vocalists I would be tempted to try the condensers again.
Over time I've picked up several other types of mics for different applications.
My most recent acquisition is a new type of ribbon mic.
Many engineers swear by the result they get by combining an SM57 and a Ribbon on guitar amps.
Ribbons are also said to be the most accurate in capturing certain sources (like vocals) but, they have been notoriously delicate and can be damaged if you accidentally feed them phantom power.
Additionally, they can be very expensive, consequently, as much as I wanted to use one, I resisted, thinking I would probably damage it.
The new mic ribbon I acquired has a super cardioid patter (very tight) with great rear rejection and it is an "active" mic that requires 48v phantom power so, no worries about burning it up accidentally and it's more robust then most.
Although I'm still experimenting with it, so far, I like it on my vocals, guitar amps and my acoustic.
Bottom line:
If somebody asks for my advice on a mic for home recording my first recommendation is always an SM58.
It's good on most vocals and amps.
It has a cardioid pattern with some rear rejection.
Has a built in pop filter, an accessory that's recommended for vocals.
It can be used in the studio or live.
It's rugged and inexpensive.
If someone already has a SM58 and wants advice on a better vocal mic, I'd say give consideration to your recording environment before choosing your next mic.
My mic locker:
-Shure SM58
-Shure SM57
-Rode NT1 ( Sold )
-CAD e70
- Electro Voice RE20
-Shure SM7B
-AEA KU5A
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