Best home studio Vocal mic...

[Diocide]

Really torn right now. I need a vocal mic that I can buy once and be set for a long while.

I was pretty much set on a Shure SM7B but my Sweetwater rep made me consider a multi pattern condenser, specifically the Aston Spirit.

I’d love to get something that will work on other applications like guitar/bass cabs and or drums as well.

Thoughts?

[madkeithv]

What's the best flavour of ice cream? It's all a very personal choice, and most mics work better on some voices than others. From my recording days I have a chinese LDC, a ribbon mic, an SM57 and an SM58. They all work in their own ways. The 58 is actually my first choice for my own voice and style of vocals, especially when doing very heavy stuff (I'll pull out the LDC for softer stuff, just because it is a lot more sensitive).

Trying to get something that works for vocals, guitar/bass and drums is a bit of a stretch. What part of the drums? Kick, snare and overheads all generally take very different microphone types.

I think a multipattern condenser is a pretty good choice, but it depends on what you'll be recording. Clean vocals and acoustic guitar? Definitely. Heavy guitars? If you've got a nice-sounding room and could pull back quite a bit. Drums? Maybe overheads or room sound, but I'd be hesitant to put it very close to anything.

[EndTime]

Sm7b. I have one and it’s become my fave cab mic. And for screaming vox it’s hard to match. I also have an akg 414 which is also awesome. While I’m not familiar with the Aston stuff, I can say I’ve tried numerous “cheaper” LDC over the years. Talking $3-600 mics so not cheapest of the cheap, and not one of them really did well on other sources because of their generally hyped high end. The 414 was the first LDC I’ve got that I could probably record every instrument with. Including putting right on the grill of a cranked cab. Sounds great. But it’s $1k vs $400 for the sm7b which is also very versatile. And could definitely be used around the kit too.

The thing I’ve found with the sm7b is a lot of guys like that feeling of singing with the mic on their lips. Yes, I purposely made it sound gay, lol. But it’s true. Especially screaming and growling style vox. If you are very comfortable with a 58 thrn the sm7b is a great step up because it still allows that feel of a 58, but it’ll record much clearer because the cage/basket surrounding the sm7b keeps the capsule about 2 inches away even if you are singing right up on the windscreen. Could even hold it and not get too much handling noise. So, while I love a good condenser on vox too, I’ve found that can make a lot of guys vox take on a different character than perhaps they are used to. Not saying that’s good or bad, but if you just want to go from a to b with as little change as possible, I’d say a sm7b is s great choice.

[BroSlinger]

My voice has an upper mid spike that sucks on most condensors. The SM7B is AWESOME on vocals. Don't let people convince you it doesn't have enough gain. If you have a real preamp, you'll be fine.

[ajaxlepinski]

+1 for the SM7b. I've used it for almost everything, including kick drum.... it really is a great mic for vocals and guitar.
I never tried it on bass guitar because, I always mic bass cabs with a 20 to 20kHz condenser to make sure I get all the lows.
You can't go wrong with the SM7B for vocals.

I also like my Rode NT1 condenser. Condensers are good for capturing the high end of cymbals and the lows of bass.

I always felt that spending more than $400 on a mic is a waste.
Expensive mics, work well but, they are basically eye candy for clients.

[Diocide]

Awesome. Thanks guys. I guess I’m sticking with the 7B.

[Loop Bizkit]

Good choice. The SM7B is my favorite vocal mic as well, and all my singer uses.

I'm sure the dude you talked to made a good suggestion, but his preferences are...his.

Ajax's comment actually made me lol though. A real U47, or an original C12, or a Sony C800G sounds infinitely and immeasurably better than literally anything. I'm glad we live in a world where inexpensive mics sound good, but it's pretty ridiculous to suggest that all expensive mics are a waste lol.

Edit: Also Ajax, damn. Are you trolling? The bass cab mic comment was weird too. Probably the most commonly used mics for bass cabs are dynamic kick drum mics. "20hz-20khz" is kinda pointless for a bass. Excluding any harmonics, the fundamental range is around 40hz-200hz. Moreover, the mic's voicing (freq curves) are really the differentiator here... Kick drum mics generally favor the low middle of that range, and create a nice bump that allows the percussion in front of the note.

[Diocide]

Good choice. The SM7B is my favorite vocal mic as well, and all my singer uses.

I'm sure the dude you talked to made a good suggestion, but his preferences are...his.

Ajax's comment actually made me lol though. A real U47, or an original C12, or a Sony C800G sounds infinitely and immeasurably better than literally anything. I'm glad we live in a world where inexpensive mics sound good, but it's pretty ridiculous to suggest that all expensive mics are a waste lol.

Edit: Also Ajax, damn. Are you trolling? The bass cab mic comment was weird too. Probably the most commonly used mics for bass cabs are dynamic kick drum mics. "20hz-20khz" is kinda pointless for a bass. Excluding any harmonics, the fundamental range is around 40hz-200hz. Moreover, the mic's voicing (freq curves) are really the differentiator here... Kick drum mics generally favor the low middle of that range, and create a nice bump that allows the percussion in front of the note.

Thanks Arend. Your opinion has a lot of weight with me. I appreciate it.

[Loop Bizkit]

You bet, homie.


Also, I love that we all get so worked up about how great the SM7B is, myself included.

The SM7B, SM57, and SM58 are all the same mic. The SM58 sounds different than the 57 with the grill on. Take it off, and it's a 57. Same capsule, same housing.

The SM7B uses the same capsule too, but has an internal EQ filter. You can run the VOG plugin on a 57 and it becomes an SM7B.

[EndTime]

You bet, homie.


Also, I love that we all get so worked up about how great the SM7B is, myself included.

The SM7B, SM57, and SM58 are all the same mic. The SM58 sounds different than the 57 with the grill on. Take it off, and it's a 57. Same capsule, same housing.

The SM7B uses the same capsule too, but has an internal EQ filter. You can run the VOG plugin on a 57 and it becomes an SM7B.

Not exactly true. The 57/58 the same

But Capsule in the 7b is different. Based on the old unidyne, but it is different. Sm7b is transformer-less as well. That’s a big part of the difference along with the housing, obviously. . It does have the filter sections, but I’d say most run it flat, without EQ, for best sound. With the presence lift it does get very close to a 57 tho

[Loop Bizkit]

You bet, homie.


Also, I love that we all get so worked up about how great the SM7B is, myself included.

The SM7B, SM57, and SM58 are all the same mic. The SM58 sounds different than the 57 with the grill on. Take it off, and it's a 57. Same capsule, same housing.

The SM7B uses the same capsule too, but has an internal EQ filter. You can run the VOG plugin on a 57 and it becomes an SM7B.

Not exactly true. The 57/58 the same

But Capsule in the 7b is different. Based on the old unidyne, but it is different. Sm7b is transformer-less as well. That’s a big part of the difference along with the housing, obviously. . It does have the filter sections, but I’d say most run it flat, without EQ, for best sound. With the presence lift it does get very close to a 57 tho

Cool, thanks! Love when we get some real knowledge up in here, dude. I was really just referencing the fact that all three caps are the Uni3 design...but yeah, there are some differences if we're drilling in. The 7B also has 3x the wire on the voicecoil.

That said, you can absolutely make a 57 sound almost identical to an SM7b with some EQ. It's really just applying a bit of EQ, or in my experience, using the Little Labs VOG (UAD plugin) It's pretty cool for singers who don't know what to do with their hands when recording.

[GuitarBilly]

I use mainly the SM7B for vocals here but the 57 also gets used a lot for tracks that need a slightly different tone. Both are very similar but I can hear the differences... they both work really well with Kimmi's vocals. I also have an AT2020 here but I don't like it that much.... they're great for backing vocals because they sound brighter and thinner than the 7B so they sit well below ii while still cutting through the mix, but I would never use it on a lead vocal track, at least not with her voice.

[EndTime]

And then one would inevitably assume a transformer less sm57 would be closer. I have one of those too. Still different.

I’ve also done the EQ settings and plugin that’ll turn a57 into a 7b. And on the surface, of course, it gets close. But there really is a “depth” to a 7b that can’t be replicated with a 57. For me, anyway. Especially when one starts stacking 3-4 guitar tracks on top of each other, that depth of the 7b is more than just EQ. It’s the housing and air that hits the mic element that’s different.

Anyway, sm7b equal sm57 on steroids is probably the closest and most accurate description. And both do well, pretty much, on anything. BUT studio vocals I think the 7b is for sure the better of the two.

[EndTime]

You bet, homie.


Also, I love that we all get so worked up about how great the SM7B is, myself included.

The SM7B, SM57, and SM58 are all the same mic. The SM58 sounds different than the 57 with the grill on. Take it off, and it's a 57. Same capsule, same housing.

The SM7B uses the same capsule too, but has an internal EQ filter. You can run the VOG plugin on a 57 and it becomes an SM7B.

Not exactly true. The 57/58 the same

But Capsule in the 7b is different. Based on the old unidyne, but it is different. Sm7b is transformer-less as well. That’s a big part of the difference along with the housing, obviously. . It does have the filter sections, but I’d say most run it flat, without EQ, for best sound. With the presence lift it does get very close to a 57 tho

Cool, thanks! Love when we get some real knowledge up in here, dude. I was really just referencing the fact that all three caps are the Uni3 design...but yeah, there are some differences if we're drilling in. The 7B also has 3x the wire on the voicecoil.

That said, you can absolutely make a 57 sound almost identical to an SM7b with some EQ. It's really just applying a bit of EQ, or in my experience, using the Little Labs VOG (UAD plugin) It's pretty cool for singers who don't know what to do with their hands when recording.

Yeah, but they still aren’t the same. Lol. https://www.shure.com/en-US/support/fin ... -identical

Same goes for speakers, pickups etc. How many of those are based on some old formula, or old design, but tweaked just that little bit to sound different? Too many to count. Some of these little tweaks make a big difference. Which I’m sure u know.

I’ve got a 7b and 57 on my cab right now and have compared them ad nausea over the last week, because that’s what I do with my studio shit when I want to hear with my own ears these internet “myths” Lol.

I’d answer the theoretical question of “Is it worth the extra $300 bones to buy the 7b, when you can just EQ the 57?” My answer is it is. Besides it will just capture vocals better in a studio sitch because the basket keeps the singer a safer distance from the capsule and keeps one from distorting the mic(haha), it just has more depth and 3D sound compared to a 57. With its upfront brashness being ITS quality and charm. But that depth, it lacks. That’s where an EQ won’t get one all the way there.

[Loop Bizkit]

You bet, homie.


Also, I love that we all get so worked up about how great the SM7B is, myself included.

The SM7B, SM57, and SM58 are all the same mic. The SM58 sounds different than the 57 with the grill on. Take it off, and it's a 57. Same capsule, same housing.

The SM7B uses the same capsule too, but has an internal EQ filter. You can run the VOG plugin on a 57 and it becomes an SM7B.

Not exactly true. The 57/58 the same

But Capsule in the 7b is different. Based on the old unidyne, but it is different. Sm7b is transformer-less as well. That’s a big part of the difference along with the housing, obviously. . It does have the filter sections, but I’d say most run it flat, without EQ, for best sound. With the presence lift it does get very close to a 57 tho

Cool, thanks! Love when we get some real knowledge up in here, dude. I was really just referencing the fact that all three caps are the Uni3 design...but yeah, there are some differences if we're drilling in. The 7B also has 3x the wire on the voicecoil.

That said, you can absolutely make a 57 sound almost identical to an SM7b with some EQ. It's really just applying a bit of EQ, or in my experience, using the Little Labs VOG (UAD plugin) It's pretty cool for singers who don't know what to do with their hands when recording.

Yeah, but they still aren’t the same. Lol. https://www.shure.com/en-US/support/fin ... -identical

Same goes for speakers, pickups etc. How many of those are based on some old formula, or old design, but tweaked just that little bit to sound different? Too many to count. Some of these little tweaks make a big difference. Which I’m sure u know.

I’ve got a 7b and 57 on my cab right now and have compared them ad nausea over the last week, because that’s what I do with my studio shit when I want to hear with my own ears these internet “myths” Lol.

I’d answer the theoretical question of “Is it worth the extra $300 bones to buy the 7b, when you can just EQ the 57?” My answer is it is. Besides it will just capture vocals better in a studio sitch because the basket keeps the singer a safer distance from the capsule and keeps one from distorting the mic(haha), it just has more depth and 3D sound compared to a 57. With its upfront brashness being ITS quality and charm. But that depth, it lacks. That’s where an EQ won’t get one all the way there.

Like I said from the beginning, the SM7B is my favorite vocal mic. It's just fun to know how much those three mics have in common, and how close you can get them to each other.

[GuitarBilly]

I use a Shure A2WS when I recording vocals with the 57, helps with getting the singer from a safer distance from the mic, but I agree the 7B is deeper overall and also my favorite.

[ajaxlepinski]

Ajax's comment actually made me lol though. A real U47, or an original C12, or a Sony C800G sounds infinitely and immeasurably better than literally anything. I'm glad we live in a world where inexpensive mics sound good, but it's pretty ridiculous to suggest that all expensive mics are a waste lol.

Edit: Also Ajax, damn. Are you trolling? The bass cab mic comment was weird too. Probably the most commonly used mics for bass cabs are dynamic kick drum mics. "20hz-20khz" is kinda pointless for a bass. Excluding any harmonics, the fundamental range is around 40hz-200hz. Moreover, the mic's voicing (freq curves) are really the differentiator here... Kick drum mics generally favor the low middle of that range, and create a nice bump that allows the percussion in front of the note.

Loop calling me out!

Well, to tell the truth, I've never used any mics that cost more than $1200 so, I will back off a tiny little bit on my eye candy comment.
However, we have all heard pro recordings that were made with expensive mics and we have also heard recordings made with more cost effective mics.
I'm not sure I would say that expensive mics are "infinitely and immeasurably better" otherwise, the pros would never put a $90 SM7 on a guitar or snare.
Nevertheless, we can all agree that manufacturers have produced scientific evidence proving, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that their $4000 mic is better than a $1200 mic... but, can anyone really hear the difference?
At the same time, manufacturers and retailers are required to say expensive mics are better... or no one would buy them. Remember when cigarettes were healthy? 4 out of 5 Doctors recommend Viceroy... or something like that?

As far as using a condenser for bass cabs, they work great - I used to use a SM81 on bass cabs and cymbals. It's nice to have a mic that covers a lot of ground and can pick up all those tasty harmonics above and below the normal frequency range of an instrument.
Sure, a lot of people use dynamics for bass and kick... as I mentioned, I used my SM7B on kick... it goes down to 50Hz and it can take the punishment.
Like you said, bass guitar range begins at 40Hz so, why not use a condenser that starts at 20Hz and can hear those sneaky harmonics between 20 and 40Hz?
Do you have to use a condenser on a bass cab? Of course not and I never said that you do but, what's wrong with using a condenser on a bass cab? Absolutely nothing.
Yes, the speaker in the cab would have to be able to be able to produce the lows as well....fwiw.

[clipless bumper]

I know next to nothing about mics, but recently picked up a Shure 55SH and then a Super 55. The 55SH was much nicer than the cheap mics we had - but the Super 55 is really impressive.
(we just use them when we are in the music room singing/drinking)

Lots of people seen to use these mics live.

[ajaxlepinski]

Mamby!

What's Lee using in this pic?

[newholland]

hm. i know the sm7 gets lots of love.. i always found it just okay. never found it deep or magical or whatevs, just kinda a compressy mic that doesn't really do anything particularly wrong... but in a world of breaking glass condensers, y'know... that ain't so bad.

i USED to dog dynamics as kinda just bland-- but in all honesty, i ran a session a while back with a really uncontrolled vocalist into a warm wa12... and the best sounding mic? a 57. 'compressy' in that instance saved our ass... so if you don't NEED 115db of dynamic range (and who does for vocals?)... well... there ya go.

BUT. my go tos would be multipattern LDCs a lotta the time like the guy you talked to. i just find 'em more useful.. you would ALWAYS find a reason to use a 414. you won't always find a reason to use an sm7. they're great mics, i know... but when i can't afford a massive locker.. i go with flexibility, and i'd use a 414 on anything and it'd probably sound good placed right.

that said-- whoever said 'price isn't necessarily the best gauge of mic quality'- think it was ajax-- was right on. i recently did a string band session where hands down, the best sounding mic i had for recording the notoriously bitchy to get right fiddle... was an mxl v67g. $100 condenser. beat even my best mics... just sat right, and i feel that way about it for my OWN vocals with it. just sits right. it's a great male vocal mic, and it's also fantastic for cymbal shanking drummers as an overhead. i've used it on guit cab AND bass and female vocals too. there's no reason it should sound so good- but if your budget is limited--- it's a good'n for dirt cheap.

[clipless bumper]

Mamby!

What's Lee using in this pic?

good pic!
No idea what that is, but a Super 55 looks like this:

The cheaper 55SH looks the same - but with an on-off switch and different color windscreen fabric

[Marc G]

yeahhhh.... you really can't go wrong with the SM7B... I just finished putting bass down on a track last weekend, kinda rootsy deal... SM7B was used on the vocals, to mic kick area of the cajon and on the 2x10 bass cabinet. It worked great in all cases, the vocals sounded pretty amazing and it worked really well on the bass.

[Loop Bizkit]

Ajax's comment actually made me lol though. A real U47, or an original C12, or a Sony C800G sounds infinitely and immeasurably better than literally anything. I'm glad we live in a world where inexpensive mics sound good, but it's pretty ridiculous to suggest that all expensive mics are a waste lol.

Edit: Also Ajax, damn. Are you trolling? The bass cab mic comment was weird too. Probably the most commonly used mics for bass cabs are dynamic kick drum mics. "20hz-20khz" is kinda pointless for a bass. Excluding any harmonics, the fundamental range is around 40hz-200hz. Moreover, the mic's voicing (freq curves) are really the differentiator here... Kick drum mics generally favor the low middle of that range, and create a nice bump that allows the percussion in front of the note.

Loop calling me out!

Well, to tell the truth, I've never used any mics that cost more than $1200 so, I will back off a tiny little bit on my eye candy comment.
However, we have all heard pro recordings that were made with expensive mics and we have also heard recordings made with more cost effective mics.
I'm not sure I would say that expensive mics are "infinitely and immeasurably better" otherwise, the pros would never put a $90 SM7 on a guitar or snare.
Nevertheless, we can all agree that manufacturers have produced scientific evidence proving, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that their $4000 mic is better than a $1200 mic... but, can anyone really hear the difference?
At the same time, manufacturers and retailers are required to say expensive mics are better... or no one would buy them. Remember when cigarettes were healthy? 4 out of 5 Doctors recommend Viceroy... or something like that?

As far as using a condenser for bass cabs, they work great - I used to use a SM81 on bass cabs and cymbals. It's nice to have a mic that covers a lot of ground and can pick up all those tasty harmonics above and below the normal frequency range of an instrument.
Sure, a lot of people use dynamics for bass and kick... as I mentioned, I used my SM7B on kick... it goes down to 50Hz and it can take the punishment.
Like you said, bass guitar range begins at 40Hz so, why not use a condenser that starts at 20Hz and can hear those sneaky harmonics between 20 and 40Hz?
Do you have to use a condenser on a bass cab? Of course not and I never said that you do but, what's wrong with using a condenser on a bass cab? Absolutely nothing.
Yes, the speaker in the cab would have to be able to be able to produce the lows as well....fwiw.

Yo... had no intention of calling you out. We're all friends here, just speaking freely.

If it works for you, it works!

[ajaxlepinski]

Just for kicks, I checked out the Aston Spirit... it looks like a really nice, versatile mic... wouldn't mind having one!

[Diocide]

Just for kicks, I checked out the Aston Spirit... it looks like a really nice, versatile mic... wouldn't mind having one!

For sure it looks great. I just think the 7B will cover more ground for me. I have a couple cheaper LDCs and I always get like they are almost too transparent. It’s great for overheads on drums, but I always hated the way vocals sounded on them. Especially aggressive vocals.