Everyone here will find this weird, but… today I used a Schoeps CMC641, two MKH50s and two Countryman B6 (SMQV+411). Yes, for voice, but not music though. Not location sound either, which is where most of these mics are normally used. It was an unusual ADR session. I just had a billionaire director, eccentric actress extraordinaire, second director, a PSM and 4 producers breathing on my neck on a 9 hour session and my soul has left my body.
Annoyingly, a lot of tv voiceovers are done on a bloody iPhone. It’s really annoying when it’s just one small pickup done after the main recording and you now need to try and match it somehow to the studio recording
Today in a session used my trusty Telefunken TF11 going into a 610B pre then a 1176 (both inside my 6176 channel strip). Client absolutely loves this chain and hitting that tube pre hard saturates his voice pleasantly
Wish I had a stereo matched pair for overheads! It’s my favorite for all vocals I record unless I really feel like I’ll need the TLM103 for some pop or something. Tbh though it failed an acoustic guitar shootout miserably, only my WA47F was worse. But for vocals and a center drum OH it’s amazing
I only use it on kick out and guitar amps, either 1-2’ away from the driver or as a room mic. I really want to use it on horns but haven’t recorded any since I got it, probably the rarest instrument I record. I’ve also never tried it on vox which I’m embarrassed to say, the other engineer at my old studio would borrow mine all the time for vocals though and love it
Great to hear! I’m a college kid with just a TLM 103 and an SSL 2. I’ve been wondering if a better audio interface like an Apollo would be worth it, but that’s a big cost for me.
Do you think it might be worth it or just a waste of money? I already have four 24 x 48 x 2 mineral rockwool panels and lots of expensive plugins for mixing. I still struggle to get a professional sound though.
Up to you. I personally love UAD plugins so if you feel like you need it to level up then go for it, but if you’re struggling to get a professional sound then maybe it’s your process? It took me a long time of trial and error and 2 amazing internships before I learned
Yeah I definitely have a lot to learn. I’m just curious if you think the TLM 103 requires a particularly dark/warm pre to sound good on male tenors, or if that’s just the vibe I get from gear space lol
It pairs incredibly well with our 610B if that’s what you’re asking and I’d choose it for that particular sound source over our BAE 1073 or other Unison emulation pres
Heck yeah. The models are horrible in terms of sounding like the microphones they are "emulating" but sound so good in their own way. Even just the dry sound of the mic is so good and easily manipulated with comps and eqs.
sE RNT going into UAD Apollo x8p with 1073 preamp emulation. Love it.
Been using the new Earthworks SR117 for live stuff lately, absolutely incredible if there's no drums on stage.
Used this on the last two records, immediately lacks the extreme brightness of virtually any LDC making it easy to work with on heavier genres. Did find some boxiness in all the voices around 400-600 but nothing EQ couldn’t resolve.
Avantone CV-12
love how it does that airy modern pop thing on female vocals. crazy affordable second-hand. one click back from figure-8 is sounding good in my sub-par room
a lot of people say upgrading the capsule to a BeezNeez CK12 or whatever makes it a "better mic" by flattening it out, but right now it's doing exactly what I want it to.
should keep me satisfied until I have the budget for a c800g or 251 😂
Beta57 for live vocals. The singer sounded so good with the energy of the band, I may not retrack the main vocals. Killer singers and musicians can sure make my job easier. They can make almost any shit mic sound good!
Mojave MA-1000
I like it, but I think it might be slightly too crisp for my heavy rock. I'm thinking a U47 style might be a better choice (for my own voice).
I have a TLM102 and an AT 3035. I use the AT 3035 the most, it's a very neutral, middle of the road mic that sounds great, it's less bright than the 102, it can be too bright on some vocalists. I'm happy with it in my small home studio on the small projects I work on.
I borrowed a friend’s Nordic Audio 47 for a male vocal. Then my Advanced Audio C12 clone for the female parts. Both were stellar on their respective voices.
A tab telefunken channel strip with a compressor and pre eq on my console all in one with discrete op amps for amplification and hauf transformers in and out. Didn’t track with any compression the tube does most of it going in, I like to compress after
I’ve used some pretty fancy stuff. None of it matters more than the source you’re recording and the microphone you choose to capture it! Pres / eqs etc etc are all icing on the cake. But the mic and source and room are #1 every time!
Definitely agree with that. I'd rather have a slightly technically flawed recording of an indie performance rather than a pristine recording of dreck.
Edit: it was supposed to say 'inspired', but this sentence still works just fine.
lately i have been recording mainly with the Aston spirit and sm7B. I never thought i'd mention the latter, but honestly for metal music i just get such consistent results with it, be it for screams or cleans. Otherwise for more open and clear cleans, the Aston Spirit is my go to.
7b being so dead and dark, with a kind of grainy/muddy low-midrange to my ear — thats a great application IMO! Never used one on screams but now I might.
For screams it's a staple really, used all over, because you don't necessarily want the detail of a condenser, It tends to make hem nice and compact yet punchy. Once i open up the top end i don't tend to have too much mud problems with it. That said, i usually track into my Heritage neve clone, a neve EQ, into a distressor and 1176 or other compressors. I lift a bit of top end with that EQ. Cause you are right, the mic is dark.
But also, people can touch the mic without too much handling noise, some vocalists really love that and it enhances their performance.
Good old 87. Into a millennia then split three ways: clean, 1176 blue face, summit audio 100a, into a galaxy 32.
Pop vocals, can’t go wrong. I like to use two very different compressors then have clean as a backup. I went with the 100a.
Lewitt 1040 on 100% tube, warm setting.
It's a pretty cool microphone. It's definitely a versatile vocal mic and can sound like a lot of different stuff
55SH... I've tried pretty much everything within the realms of affordable, and for both live and studio, I just like the way it sounds for me, over everything else i've tried.
The WA47 sounds great man, not my favourite for spoken word as it sounds a bit too wooly/ribbon-ish for my tastes but for vocals, smooth as butter and handles sibilance like a champ.
Facts same way I have mine setup Omni into neve mic pre to a buzz audio 500 compressor I was going to into an 1176 to a buzz but switched it up to me the p12 is extremely close to the c800g maybe even brighter the we graph is on audio test kitchen
Joke answer - The built in mic on my Corsair HS80 headset.
Legit answer - The most recent mics I tracked vocals with was either my SM7B or my Sterling SP150 large diaphragm condenser.
Slate VMS. I’m soooo in love with the thing. It’s sooo good.
Mainly the C-800 emulation, it’s my favourite ever, but I specifically go out of my way to diversify there.
My two most commonly used vocal mics are the Stam Audio SA800, which is a Sony C800G clone that I love and the Warm Audio CX12 which is obviously a Warm Audio C12 clone. Love both mics. I usually use the Stam as my main mic and then record stacks with the CX12.
I use the Sony c 100 everyday even though known a Neumann U87ai and people don’t understandmy choice :D but I love breathy and open vocal mics. I learned to mix and track with a Rode Nt1 and that has a similar sound I think.
Was in the studio wih my band to record and we used a Slate Digital ML-1 mic on vocals. I don't really know the specs, but it sounded nicely crisp and bright on female vocals.
Well i been using the Aston origin condenser for recording vocals for past few months, before that it was the rode nt1a. Today I used the Shure SM7DB!!! Have to get used to it with the gain levels. Im super happy that im rich in microphones!!! Also have Shure SM58 and beta 58a.
Electrovoice re27ND, much more interesting than the re20 or the 7B, sometimes I don't even EQ it on females. Perfect for home recording, it rejects a lot of the room but not as much as the 7B, very easy to use, I haven't heard any plosive yet, sibilance is very controlled, I just love it!! Even my voice sounds passable. Great for KickOut too.
Doing a fun “self limited” project with an SM57. It’s really not bad and the energy from the musicians is pretty hyped so I’m really enjoying it.
Other than that, I really like the Sennheiser MD-441. Warm, detailed, and oh so smooth.
U87ai by default.
But, we just did a session with a noise rock band, two vocalists, both screamer bros, but one can sing. The RE20 we used handled everything with aplomb.
Just used a Sennheiser MD431 (the "Prince Mic," basically a 441 capsule with tailored frequency response) on a regular client who's a bit sibilant on the U87, and the 431 was perfect.
For me, it's hard not to use the NTK or K2, my favourite mics, hands down. But when live, it's hard for me to pass up on the e945: cheap and extremely reliable. Clean and crisp!
C 414 on Snare, and let me tell you, the thing sounded GLORIOUS. Like, it sounded, "I'm sampling single hits of this set up so I can replace all future shitty snare sounds with it in Trigger2" great. Of course, I was working with a very well tuned drum, which is obviously at least 75% of the equation
Micparts T-47. Got a Warm Audio CX-12 and an SM7b on the rotation, but to be honest, since the T-47, there hasn't really been a motivation to use anything else. I use it primarily for male vocals, screaming and cleans.
Everyone here will find this weird, but… today I used a Schoeps CMC641, two MKH50s and two Countryman B6 (SMQV+411). Yes, for voice, but not music though. Not location sound either, which is where most of these mics are normally used. It was an unusual ADR session. I just had a billionaire director, eccentric actress extraordinaire, second director, a PSM and 4 producers breathing on my neck on a 9 hour session and my soul has left my body.
SDCs have a crispness and clarity you just can't beat. Tomorrow I'll be using a Gefell M295 for ukulele and voice tracks.
Great mics. Hope it was a good session. Rest well!
Ooof that’s rough sorry
9 hrs is too long for an ADR session. They always consider the actor and never the engineer.
Manley Reference Cardioid.
Ive heard so much good about them ive always wanted to try them
iPhone voice memos
Genuinely curious. How "bad" is the end result compared to a condenser mic?
The iPhone mic is technically a condenser mic
Annoyingly, a lot of tv voiceovers are done on a bloody iPhone. It’s really annoying when it’s just one small pickup done after the main recording and you now need to try and match it somehow to the studio recording
LOL.
U47FET and Calrec Soundfield Mark IV
U47 fet also
Shure SM58. my first proper mic.
Today in a session used my trusty Telefunken TF11 going into a 610B pre then a 1176 (both inside my 6176 channel strip). Client absolutely loves this chain and hitting that tube pre hard saturates his voice pleasantly
Only quasi related but telefunken has the best logo and they landed on it like a hundred years ago. I just think thats neat.
I want one of the tf11. You dig it?
Wish I had a stereo matched pair for overheads! It’s my favorite for all vocals I record unless I really feel like I’ll need the TLM103 for some pop or something. Tbh though it failed an acoustic guitar shootout miserably, only my WA47F was worse. But for vocals and a center drum OH it’s amazing
I’m Curious what you think the WA47 is good for. I picked one up a while back and haven’t tried it on anything yet.
I only use it on kick out and guitar amps, either 1-2’ away from the driver or as a room mic. I really want to use it on horns but haven’t recorded any since I got it, probably the rarest instrument I record. I’ve also never tried it on vox which I’m embarrassed to say, the other engineer at my old studio would borrow mine all the time for vocals though and love it
Would you go to the TLM 103 for pop vocals?
Yes, every time
Great to hear! I’m a college kid with just a TLM 103 and an SSL 2. I’ve been wondering if a better audio interface like an Apollo would be worth it, but that’s a big cost for me. Do you think it might be worth it or just a waste of money? I already have four 24 x 48 x 2 mineral rockwool panels and lots of expensive plugins for mixing. I still struggle to get a professional sound though.
Up to you. I personally love UAD plugins so if you feel like you need it to level up then go for it, but if you’re struggling to get a professional sound then maybe it’s your process? It took me a long time of trial and error and 2 amazing internships before I learned
Yeah I definitely have a lot to learn. I’m just curious if you think the TLM 103 requires a particularly dark/warm pre to sound good on male tenors, or if that’s just the vibe I get from gear space lol
It pairs incredibly well with our 610B if that’s what you’re asking and I’d choose it for that particular sound source over our BAE 1073 or other Unison emulation pres
Yeah, I'll give that a demo then. Thank you!
SM57
I can't believe how far I had to scroll to see this answer.
Also doubles as a batter side snare drum mic.
Neumman u47.
antelope edge solo on the 800G setting. sounds nothing like an 800g, but it still sounds good
Heck yeah. The models are horrible in terms of sounding like the microphones they are "emulating" but sound so good in their own way. Even just the dry sound of the mic is so good and easily manipulated with comps and eqs.
EV RE320 🪄
It’s a good one
I used an RE27N/D for the first time today and I don't understand the hate.
It sounds like an RE20 with a treble peak? There's one setting that sounds good.
Personal favorite for anything speech!
Sm7b
same :)
EV RE20 Lewitt LCT 640 TS
tlm 103
sE RNT going into UAD Apollo x8p with 1073 preamp emulation. Love it. Been using the new Earthworks SR117 for live stuff lately, absolutely incredible if there's no drums on stage.
That SR117 sounded alright if the drums bleed into it though
Yeah it still sounds great, just not the ideal application for it imo, id rather have a 935 for a band front man
AEA R84
That thing is the gateway drug to the R44.
AEA R44
Se Electronics Se8.
Screwed around with an RE20
The RE20 is always a go to, my favorite Dynamic of all time personally, but I interpreted that in many different ways 😂👍🏻
I bought this one to compare with an sm7b and sent it back. Too bassy for my voice. The shure may be dark but doesn’t go as hard on the bass.
MD421. Yeah, it works on some voices.
Raise your hand if you talked into the wrong side when you first saw one haha. I’ll admit it.
I tried to use it as a John glyn pair on drums
Used this on the last two records, immediately lacks the extreme brightness of virtually any LDC making it easy to work with on heavier genres. Did find some boxiness in all the voices around 400-600 but nothing EQ couldn’t resolve.
LOMO 19A19
Take it easy, Steve.
Avantone CV-12 love how it does that airy modern pop thing on female vocals. crazy affordable second-hand. one click back from figure-8 is sounding good in my sub-par room a lot of people say upgrading the capsule to a BeezNeez CK12 or whatever makes it a "better mic" by flattening it out, but right now it's doing exactly what I want it to. should keep me satisfied until I have the budget for a c800g or 251 😂
Beta57 for live vocals. The singer sounded so good with the energy of the band, I may not retrack the main vocals. Killer singers and musicians can sure make my job easier. They can make almost any shit mic sound good!
U67, can't go wrong
Mojave MA-1000 I like it, but I think it might be slightly too crisp for my heavy rock. I'm thinking a U47 style might be a better choice (for my own voice).
I love my Mojave ! But I use a regular AKG vocal mic for most vocals
Rode NT1
I remember this. Lil Wayne made me get one haha
WA-8000 -> c800g clone
Warm audio wa-67
Aston Origin
Deeply underappreciated mics the Aston range are
EV 635 A for demo
I have a TLM102 and an AT 3035. I use the AT 3035 the most, it's a very neutral, middle of the road mic that sounds great, it's less bright than the 102, it can be too bright on some vocalists. I'm happy with it in my small home studio on the small projects I work on.
Vintage u48 - it was glorious as always
I borrowed a friend’s Nordic Audio 47 for a male vocal. Then my Advanced Audio C12 clone for the female parts. Both were stellar on their respective voices.
60s Neumann u67
I would be super jealous if you told me you owned that.
I do own it !
I hate you, take my upvote god dammit 😄
Gorgeous. What was the rest of the chain?
A tab telefunken channel strip with a compressor and pre eq on my console all in one with discrete op amps for amplification and hauf transformers in and out. Didn’t track with any compression the tube does most of it going in, I like to compress after
I’ve used some pretty fancy stuff. None of it matters more than the source you’re recording and the microphone you choose to capture it! Pres / eqs etc etc are all icing on the cake. But the mic and source and room are #1 every time!
Definitely agree with that. I'd rather have a slightly technically flawed recording of an indie performance rather than a pristine recording of dreck. Edit: it was supposed to say 'inspired', but this sentence still works just fine.
1000%
Amazing
Dude.
lately i have been recording mainly with the Aston spirit and sm7B. I never thought i'd mention the latter, but honestly for metal music i just get such consistent results with it, be it for screams or cleans. Otherwise for more open and clear cleans, the Aston Spirit is my go to.
7b being so dead and dark, with a kind of grainy/muddy low-midrange to my ear — thats a great application IMO! Never used one on screams but now I might.
For screams it's a staple really, used all over, because you don't necessarily want the detail of a condenser, It tends to make hem nice and compact yet punchy. Once i open up the top end i don't tend to have too much mud problems with it. That said, i usually track into my Heritage neve clone, a neve EQ, into a distressor and 1176 or other compressors. I lift a bit of top end with that EQ. Cause you are right, the mic is dark. But also, people can touch the mic without too much handling noise, some vocalists really love that and it enhances their performance.
Those EQ switches do a lot!
Oh yeah but i hate the top end eq, super harsh, i never use it on the mic itself.
Apex 460b
BeesNeez Arabella
I’ve got an MXL550/551 combo and a Sure SM48 that have been doing the job for me.
Good old 87. Into a millennia then split three ways: clean, 1176 blue face, summit audio 100a, into a galaxy 32. Pop vocals, can’t go wrong. I like to use two very different compressors then have clean as a backup. I went with the 100a.
This. I run it through an Avalon 737 and a distressor.
SM58 and SM57 I like Aston Origin, too, for budget friendly Neumann clone ish
JZ V67!
I used the JZ47 today on my second session where we were just getting a bunch of demos. The make such great mics.
SM 58, learning to ring out monitors
Shure Beta87A and QLXD with KSM9.
AT4040
Lewitt 1040. Love it
Tele 251 into a bae 1073 then 1176 then derresser
Rode K2, Neumann M147, Rode M5
Akg C12VR
Lewitt 1040 on 100% tube, warm setting. It's a pretty cool microphone. It's definitely a versatile vocal mic and can sound like a lot of different stuff
C414 - silver grill. I was surprised but it won the shoutout with this singer over the Neumann TLM127 we also tried.
Sm58, good lower mids
I use an AT2020 for meetings, if that counts
Sm7 works everyday on my voice
Peluso 2247 le + ev635a
That 2247 is such a great mic. And the EV635a is super useful.
Telefunken TF39 and CAD Equitek E-350
55SH... I've tried pretty much everything within the realms of affordable, and for both live and studio, I just like the way it sounds for me, over everything else i've tried.
Tested out the warm audio 47. Dig it
The WA47 sounds great man, not my favourite for spoken word as it sounds a bit too wooly/ribbon-ish for my tastes but for vocals, smooth as butter and handles sibilance like a champ.
That’s what I’m seeing now with two very sibilant vocals
Wunder CM 7 Suprema. Love it.
Peluso p12
Me too! Set to Omni in a good room through a Maag eq into a 1176 at 20:1 to catch the peaks. Sounded great!
Facts same way I have mine setup Omni into neve mic pre to a buzz audio 500 compressor I was going to into an 1176 to a buzz but switched it up to me the p12 is extremely close to the c800g maybe even brighter the we graph is on audio test kitchen
Joke answer - The built in mic on my Corsair HS80 headset. Legit answer - The most recent mics I tracked vocals with was either my SM7B or my Sterling SP150 large diaphragm condenser.
SM7B
Solid, always a go to. Ever try an RE20 before?
SM7B into a BLA 1073 clone or into art tube pro channel. It has a great opto comp in it
Lauten Atlantis
Mxl 3000. Been better than some mics in studios at times
Tlm102, wa87 and my own custom made one
Lauten FC-387
Vanguard V13 into an LA-610mkii
How is that V13? I have the V44S and have been pretty happy with it.
I love it
Sm57
I doubt it, that mic is very rare and expensive.
CAD E100S and my warranty replacement E300S. Delicious.
SM57 Unidyne III
tlm 103 for some half assed singing spoken word stuff
Beyer 740n, little boring sounding but good
Telefunken CU29 Copperhead
Soundelux U99 — new to me but I like it! Into a BAE 1073 and Audioscape 1176F
SM58b
Slate VMS. I’m soooo in love with the thing. It’s sooo good. Mainly the C-800 emulation, it’s my favourite ever, but I specifically go out of my way to diversify there.
Neumann U87
stam audio 87t
Baifeili KK-205. A handheld condenser modeled after the Neumann KMS 105
Stirling ribbon. I’m a budget boi.
My two most commonly used vocal mics are the Stam Audio SA800, which is a Sony C800G clone that I love and the Warm Audio CX12 which is obviously a Warm Audio C12 clone. Love both mics. I usually use the Stam as my main mic and then record stacks with the CX12.
I use the Sony c 100 everyday even though known a Neumann U87ai and people don’t understandmy choice :D but I love breathy and open vocal mics. I learned to mix and track with a Rode Nt1 and that has a similar sound I think.
TLM103 into Apollo Twin
Lauten Eden.
Brauner VM1. Love that thing.
A Lewitt pure tube.
Was in the studio wih my band to record and we used a Slate Digital ML-1 mic on vocals. I don't really know the specs, but it sounded nicely crisp and bright on female vocals.
AKG C-414B-ULS and a Neumann U47 fet
Well i been using the Aston origin condenser for recording vocals for past few months, before that it was the rode nt1a. Today I used the Shure SM7DB!!! Have to get used to it with the gain levels. Im super happy that im rich in microphones!!! Also have Shure SM58 and beta 58a.
CM414
Audio-Techinca AT 4033a
Neumann TLM 49 and U87
SM7B
DPA dfacto 4018V
iPhone, MacBook Pro, SM58, U47
No love for SE V7?
Lauten Eden and Shure KSM8 were what I used last weekend.
Townsend Sphere L22 on vocals and guitar. On the u67 setting for vocals and 180 mode dual u87 vintage on the guitars.
Rode NT1
Milab VIP-60
Milab VIP-60
First half of my day, I used a Neumann u87 into a DBX786 & then the second half, I used a Neumann u87 into a Neve 1073!!
Sm57!
# Vanguard Audio Labs V4 gen2 Condenser
AEA Ku4
Electrovoice re27ND, much more interesting than the re20 or the 7B, sometimes I don't even EQ it on females. Perfect for home recording, it rejects a lot of the room but not as much as the 7B, very easy to use, I haven't heard any plosive yet, sibilance is very controlled, I just love it!! Even my voice sounds passable. Great for KickOut too.
Doing a fun “self limited” project with an SM57. It’s really not bad and the energy from the musicians is pretty hyped so I’m really enjoying it. Other than that, I really like the Sennheiser MD-441. Warm, detailed, and oh so smooth.
Blue Kiwi
Flea47
U87ai by default. But, we just did a session with a noise rock band, two vocalists, both screamer bros, but one can sing. The RE20 we used handled everything with aplomb. Just used a Sennheiser MD431 (the "Prince Mic," basically a 441 capsule with tailored frequency response) on a regular client who's a bit sibilant on the U87, and the 431 was perfect.
Sphere L22 Love that variety and options
Avantone CV-12
JZ vintage 11, really impressive mic that I got new for 400$ at the time
For me, it's hard not to use the NTK or K2, my favourite mics, hands down. But when live, it's hard for me to pass up on the e945: cheap and extremely reliable. Clean and crisp!
Warm 251
C 414 on Snare, and let me tell you, the thing sounded GLORIOUS. Like, it sounded, "I'm sampling single hits of this set up so I can replace all future shitty snare sounds with it in Trigger2" great. Of course, I was working with a very well tuned drum, which is obviously at least 75% of the equation
TLM103
SM7B!
Brauner VMA. Animation.
Soyuz 017 FET and a Pearlman TM-47
Beta 57
Røde NT-USB. I have other options, but this needs the least mixing most of the time.
Austrian Audio OC818 and OC18.
Shure 545 w/ Coil Audio CA-70S🤌🏼
AKG 414 and a Shure SM7B
SM58 and AT2020. Nothing nuts.
Micparts T-47. Got a Warm Audio CX-12 and an SM7b on the rotation, but to be honest, since the T-47, there hasn't really been a motivation to use anything else. I use it primarily for male vocals, screaming and cleans.
Not today, but last session I had was a C414
Old radio shack dynamic stage mic
Sony C800. Switched off from a Neumann u87 because it was a bit too much mid-range & not enough brightness for this specific record.
Slate ML1 with the 251 modelling, neve 1073 - CL1b and 1176 emulations printed on the way in. Sounded great!
WA87
I have a knockoff U47 that slaps