Vocal mic for recording. Recommendations please.

fretmeister

Before I just buy a SM7B is there anything else I should look at?

ta.

octatonic

SM7B is a very specific sound and needs a beefy preamp and/or a cloudlifter.
Are you doing metal and/or VO work?
If not then there are potentially better options imho.

Do you want a dynamic, usually for recording vocals I use a ribbon or a condenser.
Budget?
What preamp(s) do you have?

pintspiller

I just use an AKG D5, which is a regular stage microphone, as my recordings are just demos at the end of the day and I'm not trying to make them sound like they were recorded at Abbey Road.

fretmeister

octatonic said:

SM7B is a very specific sound and needs a beefy preamp and/or a cloudlifter.
Are you doing metal and/or VO work?
If not then there are potentially better options imho.

Do you want a dynamic, usually for recording vocals I use a ribbon or a condenser.
Budget?
What preamp(s) do you have?

I’m going to be recording all the old stuff I’ve ever written over 30 years.
Some is metal - Iron Maiden / early Metallica sort of thing.
Other is more funky, Stevie Salas type funky rock, but also some Stevie Wonder influenced RnB funky.
And then some Devin Townsend ish stuff. 

I have an ancient Forcusrite 2i4. That’s it.

Drums will be live. Guitars will all be plugins. 

Budget, £500 max.

octatonic

OK the SM7B is going to need a cloudlifter with the Focusrite 2i4.
I use a cloudlifter with with SM7B with every single preamp I have here except for an AEA RPQ500.

Otherwise consider the Aston Stealth for a nice sounding dynamic with more level.
Otherwise I'd consider an AKG C214, Mojave MA50, Avantone CV-12.

fretmeister

I’ll have a look. Ta.

Macca_25387

Give the Aston Spirit a look. Sounds really fab on any source i’ve tried it one. 

Stuckfast

I'd probably rather a Beyer M88 than an SM7B for most things, including vocals. Electro-Voice RE20 is another classic but again needs a lot of welly from the preamp.

If you go down the capacitor mic route, I'd look at the Neumann TLM102, maybe the Sennheiser MK4.

Cirrus

I get on fine with the SM7b without a cloudlifter, it's fine if you only use it to sing up close - 40dB gain is plenty for that, and 35 if you're a particularly loud singer. I do think it sounds much better into a lower impedance input though, rather than the usual 1.2kohm + in most modern interface pres.

RE20 is a bit more open but also softer treble + bigger mids, and is a little louder but not much.

Sontronics have a pretty sweet LDC, but if we're talking new SM7b price range, I'd consider a used AT40-series.

John_A

For recording you really would be better with a large diaphragm contender mic rather than a dynamic,   I use a Rhode nt-1 cheap, but really good

this looks cheap

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/189684/fs-scarlett-focusrite-cm25-condenser-microphone-40#latest

fretmeister

I've just remembered - I do have a TC Mic Mechanic - a V1 with a gain control.
It's always on my board as I like what it does to my voice.

That might work as a preamp with a quieter mic.

octatonic

Usually you do not chain preamps serially.

How much gain does the TC box have?
If it has enough for the SM7B then you'd go from the Mic to the TC box to the Line Input of the interface.

fretmeister

octatonic

Looks to be from -42dBu to +1dBu.

The 2i4 has 50dB of gain according to google.
There isn't really a free lunch here and I am guessing a suggestion of a good preamp with enough gain is not something you'd entertain right now?
If you are intent upon an SM7B you could try it with your Focusrite and add a CL if it isn't enough.

fretmeister

How much is a good preamp?

Like an idiot I also forgot I have a Helix rack... DOH

McSwaggerty

I use an Aston Stealth. does the job for me and cheaper than a SM7B / Cloudlifter combo.
 

fretmeister

I'm not determined to get the SM7B, I just thought it sounded like a good bet for my voice and the music.

Quite happy to buy anything else that works, doesn't hiss, and will last.

Bill_S

Huge +1 for the British made Aston mic range. Beautifully built, versatile and in blind tests have fooled professional ears into thinking they are mics that cost thousands. For around £300 you’ll be getting an outstanding mic. 

octatonic

fretmeister said:

How much is a good preamp?

Like an idiot I also forgot I have a Helix rack... DOH

A proper, professional, high-end preamp- a grand when new.
You can find quite good offerings used- I paid about £500 for an API 512 in 500 series, but you'd need a chassis for it.

fretmeister

Well I've just got an email saying my first 2 drum tracks will be here by Saturday.

I best get practising! 

hotpickups

I might be in the market for a recording mic to in the near future so I’ll be watching this thread. One thing I won’t be doing though is buying a used one with Covid around. Just think of all the filth and bacteria in a used one of them. I’ve always thought it safer to buy new mic and only use my own. It’s the only time I’d insist on buying new