Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

T

Elfmuse wrote:

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

None of those microphones are anything that I would call "warm" but they
are all handy sounds to have around.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

T: I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.


At the top of your price limit you should be able to buy a new UM70 (or the
newer UMT70) from Microtech Gefel. They can be found used for around $600 or
so. They have three patterns and are useful for a whole lot of things. Voices
are touchy and it's impossible to tell what mic is perfect for your voice.
Full Compass used to have a "try out" policy. But the Gefel is a versatile and
classy mic that you need never regret having bought.

From: (Elfmuse)
Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

T

None of those mics would make my "short list" for vocal mics in that price
range.


-John Vice
www.summertimestudios.com

I'm a vocal mick but I'm not a whore.


Bob
--

"Things should be described as simply as possible, but no
simpler."

A. Einstein

(Elfmuse) wrote in message . com...
Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

The important thing is to get to a store that has a good stock of mics
and try as many as possible with *your voice* on a neutral sounding
playback system. Don't use headphones!

"Warm" could mean a tube mic, or a ribbon. Gosh, it could even be a
dynamic! I'm sure many others here will make a lot of good
recommendations. I'd look into a Soundeluxe U195 if you can find one.
I've been meaning to check into a Rode K2 myself...

Mikey
Nova Music Productions

"John" wrote in message
...
From: (Elfmuse)
Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

T

None of those mics would make my "short list" for vocal mics in that price
range.

So, what is on the short list? Please.

Steve King

(Elfmuse) wrote in message . com...
Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

T
I would get a Neumann U89 used. Same as a U87. Good Stuff.

The dragonfly is quite a nice and versatile mic but like mentioned before,
maybe not a 'warm' vocal mic. I'd look at a shure SM7($310 or so new). Also
I've been messing around with a Peluso 22 47 which does a creditable u47
imitation for $1150. A beyer m500 ribbon can sound nice on the right voice too.


What are you using for a mic pre? You might have to budget more for that than
the mic itself if you don't have anything decent currently.


I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Elfmuse wrote:

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Got a decent mic preamp yet? If not, you might not have any idea how
good are the mics you already have. A little something from Great River
perhaps? g

--
ha

Steve King wrote:

"John" wrote
dy wrote

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

None of those mics would make my "short list" for vocal mics in that price
range.

So, what is on the short list? Please.

For the money a smart shopper could get an RE20, an M88, an SM7 and an
A-T 3035, all of 'em.

--
ha

Someone responded via email and brought up an excellent point. Should
I be looking at getting a better preamp first and maybe less quality
mic? I was looking to pick up a dbx386 and a better mic should I then
go the reverse route, ie get a really good preamp in the 800-1200
range then maybe spend less on a mic at first? Then when have money
step up to a mic. Which would you propose first better preamp or
better mic?

T3

(Elfmuse) wrote in message . com...
Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

T

Elfmuse wrote:

Someone responded via email and brought up an excellent point. Should
I be looking at getting a better preamp first and maybe less quality
mic? I was looking to pick up a dbx386 and a better mic should I then
go the reverse route, ie get a really good preamp in the 800-1200
range then maybe spend less on a mic at first? Then when have money
step up to a mic. Which would you propose first better preamp or
better mic?

I've come to that viewpoint; get a good preamp and be amazed at how good
your mics are, even if all you have is an SM57. Hook it to a Great River
MP2-MH and be astonished. Look for the single channel GR NV series.
That'd be my suggestion. The sonic tool value of a good preamp lasts as
long as you live.

--
ha

Soundelux U195, ADK TT, ADK A-48, ADK TC (from highest to lowest in cost).

Nathan Eldred
http://www.atlasproaudio.com


(Elfmuse) wrote in message . com...
Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

T

In article ,
(Kris Singh) writes:

I would get a Neumann U89 used. Same as a U87. Good Stuff.

I think the U89 is a different capsule than the U87.

Garth~


"I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
Ed Cherney

Some good mics to try are the Soundelux U195, Audio Technica AT4047 and AT4050,
Shure KSM 44 and the CAD E 300 if you can find one.

Garth~


"I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
Ed Cherney

None of those microphones are even slightly warm-sounding; they're all
icy-chilly-cold.

In the world of condensers, check out the Gefell UM70 recommended earlier,
but also look at the Gefell M930 or its hypercardioid sibling, the M940.
(More proximity effect and less top.)

Or, as has been suggested, put the money into a good preamp (not a dbx, but
perhaps the aforementioned Great River or maybe a Peavey VMP2 if you can
find one on e-bay) and an E-V RE20.

Again, it'll depend a *whole lot* on the particular voice.

Peace,
Paul

That's what I would do. You can buy a quality single channel pre for $500 - 800
new. But here is where you start to find out that just buying "the best warm
vocal mic for $500-1000" is not a simple question. The question should be, I
have $1000 total in my budget. With my current setup(supply your equipment
list) and recording space(describe), recording experience(list), trying to
record such and such music and musicians with this type of voice for such and
such a purpose, what should i get that most improves my sound and I can learn
most/have most fun using? Hopefully something that will continue to be useful
to me in the future.

Your current question is not unlike asking, I have 5 dull hand tools. Whats the
best $1000 bandsaw I can buy?

This is why having a trustworthy dealer or professional consultant is mighty
helpful. Good luck.

Someone responded via email and brought up an excellent point. Should
I be looking at getting a better preamp first and maybe less quality
mic? I was looking to pick up a dbx386 and a better mic should I then
go the reverse route, ie get a really good preamp in the 800-1200
range then maybe spend less on a mic at first? Then when have money
step up to a mic. Which would you propose first better preamp or
better mic?

Elfmuse wrote:

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

I always wonder about requests for a recommendation for a product in a
certain price category. The request seems to carry with it the belief that
there is a more-or-less linear relationship between sound quality and price.
That seems to be very naive to me.

In Article , (Scott Dorsey)
wrote:
Elfmuse wrote:

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

None of those microphones are anything that I would call "warm" but they
are all handy sounds to have around.
--scott


What's an AT4060 or AT4047 cost these days?

Regards,

Ty Ford

For Ty Ford V/O demos, audio services and equipment reviews,
click on http://www.jagunet.com/~tford

In Article ,
(hank alrich) wrote:
Elfmuse wrote:

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Got a decent mic preamp yet? If not, you might not have any idea how
good are the mics you already have. A little something from Great River
perhaps? g

--
ha

Hank's right. Unless you consider the preamp as well as the mic as a pair,
half the answers here don't make much sense. A bright mic with a dark preamp
makes for a more neutral sound, etc..

Regards,

Ty Ford


For Ty Ford V/O demos, audio services and equipment reviews,
click on http://www.jagunet.com/~tford

In Article ,
(Garthrr) wrote:
In article ,
(Kris Singh) writes:

I would get a Neumann U89 used. Same as a U87. Good Stuff.

I think the U89 is a different capsule than the U87.

Garth~


You're right. Different size diaphragm, different polarization scheme, among
other differences. Usually the U 89 is characterized as "darker."

Regards,

Ty Ford

For Ty Ford V/O demos, audio services and equipment reviews,
click on http://www.jagunet.com/~tford

In Article , "Arny Krueger"
wrote:
Elfmuse wrote:

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

I always wonder about requests for a recommendation for a product in a
certain price category. The request seems to carry with it the belief that
there is a more-or-less linear relationship between sound quality and price.
That seems to be very naive to me.


OTOH, you get what you pay for, if you're lucky.

This does not take into consideration that you may or may not know what to
ask for based on the job you think you want to do.

Regards,

Ty Ford




For Ty Ford V/O demos, audio services and equipment reviews,
click on http://www.jagunet.com/~tford

"hank alrich" wrote in message
. ..

For the money a smart shopper could get an RE20, an M88, an SM7 and an
A-T 3035, all of 'em.


You can't go wrong the RE20. I've never cut a bad track with a RE20. I've
even used it with good results on acoustic guitar. It's workhorse for sure.

"Ricky W. Hunt" wrote in message
news:lWfac.140321$po.866363@attbi_s52...
"hank alrich" wrote in message
. ..

For the money a smart shopper could get an RE20, an M88, an SM7 and an
A-T 3035, all of 'em.


You can't go wrong the RE20. I've never cut a bad track with a RE20. I've
even used it with good results on acoustic guitar. It's workhorse for
sure.



How does the RE20 compare to the RE27 N/D? I noticed the other morning on
MSNBC that Imus uses the 27 but his guests and co-hosts are using 20's.

In article lWfac.140321$po.866363@attbi_s52,
Ricky W. Hunt wrote:
"hank alrich" wrote in message
...

For the money a smart shopper could get an RE20, an M88, an SM7 and an
A-T 3035, all of 'em.

You can't go wrong the RE20. I've never cut a bad track with a RE20. I've
even used it with good results on acoustic guitar. It's workhorse for sure.

Some folks prefer the tipped-up high end on the RE-27 to the original RE-20.
For $500 you can probably have both of them in your locker.

Don't forget the 421L either!
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

(Elfmuse) wrote in message . com...
Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

T


A good suggestion would be an AEA R84 or Royer 121 ribbon mic. Both at
the top of your price range. As you ask, warm, but extremely
realistic. The Royer has a little more midrange and the R84 a little
more top end, but both can be gorgeous on vocals. Some modern
recordists are dead set on a pushy and shiny top end, which they like
to call "air." Me, that just hurts my ears. If that is what you are
into, a Soundelux 195 can be nice without being too harsh (because the
resonant peak is above the sibilant area). Again, within your top
price. But the ribbons almost always win a blind shootout, especially
becasue they handle eq very well, and a little 12K shelf can give the
very best of both worlds. Warm, realistic AND "air". We use two nylon
pop shields in front of the mic, and get VERY (6 inches) close. Run
into a good compressor on the way to the recording medium, and we've
never hurt the ribbons in this way.

Best luck,
RL,NYC

RL,nyc wrote:

A good suggestion would be an AEA R84 or Royer 121 ribbon mic. Both at
the top of your price range. As you ask, warm, but extremely
realistic. The Royer has a little more midrange and the R84 a little
more top end, but both can be gorgeous on vocals. Some modern
recordists are dead set on a pushy and shiny top end, which they like
to call "air." Me, that just hurts my ears.

If you're going to do ribbons, and I am a huge fan of ribbons, check out
the new Coles 4040. I can't say enough good things about it.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

If you're going to do ribbons, and I am a huge fan of ribbons, check out
the new Coles 4040. I can't say enough good things about it.
--scott


Please 'splain. I love my 4038, its my favorite mic, hands down. But
I thought I've read that you are not a big fan of the 4038, so what
makes the 4040 such a different beast? Is it just the additional
output up around 15k when compared against the 4038? Is there any
other significant difference between the 4038 and the 4040 or are you
just a lot happier due to the additional top end of the 4040?

Thanks.

Steve

In article , (Ty Ford)
writes:

What's an AT4060 or AT4047 cost these days?

Regards,

Ty Ford

Dont know about the 4060 but I think the 4047 is about $500 give or take $50.

Garth~


"I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
Ed Cherney

In article ,
hollywood_steve wrote:

If you're going to do ribbons, and I am a huge fan of ribbons, check out
the new Coles 4040. I can't say enough good things about it.

Please 'splain. I love my 4038, its my favorite mic, hands down. But
I thought I've read that you are not a big fan of the 4038, so what
makes the 4040 such a different beast? Is it just the additional
output up around 15k when compared against the 4038? Is there any
other significant difference between the 4038 and the 4040 or are you
just a lot happier due to the additional top end of the 4040?

It's a WHOLE lot of additional output around 15 KC. It actually has top
end! You can use it on a vocal without it sounding muffled! The thing I
did not like about the 4038 was the badly rolled-off top, which the 4040
completely fixes. It's got more extension than a 77DX.

Also, the output level is outrageously high. It's as high as an SM57.
And it's not as sensitive to loading as most ribbons.

There's a review in the latest Recording magazine. You should buy it because
I need the money.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

(Elfmuse) wrote in message . com...
Hi,

I'm looking to get a decent vocal mic for my project studio. My range
is $500-1100.
I've been thinking about maybe the Blue Dragon Fly, Blue Blueberry, or
an AKGC414BTLII. I'm looking for a warm sounding mic so any other
suggestions or opinions would be much appreciated.

I've been very happy with my Dragonfly on vocals, acoustic guitars,
hand percussion, drum overhead, and clean guitar amps. Actually it was
the first microphone I ever heard that captured the high-end detail of
a Fender Twin Reverb without sounding like an icepick.

-dave
www.themoodrings.com

you get a commission off of magazine sales?

what if we wrote letters to recording saying you are the best reviewer
in the solar system? that should make the boss amenable to a raise!


There's a review in the latest Recording magazine. You should buy it because
I need the money.
--scott

In article writes:

what if we wrote letters to recording saying you are the best reviewer
in the solar system? that should make the boss amenable to a raise!

It never helped me get a raise.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

I'd go with the Rode K2 or NTK. They sound similar, but the K2 is way more
flexible for things besides Vocals. The AKG TLII is a good choice, but I
don't think it's the best value at all. I like all of the blue mics as well.

I'm an authorized dealer for the K2 and AKG so you'll have to take my
comments with a grain of salt. Email for the prices if you're interested.
Dan
www.sleepwalkermusic.net