Studio Requirements: Traditional Vocal Microphones ·
Supply: Low cost 3
Lots of the well-known voices on our favourite data from the previous few a long time had been recorded utilizing only a handful of basic studio vocal microphones. Whereas there are numerous mics that work nice on vocals, a few of them grew to become true studio requirements that everybody appears as much as. Be a part of us as we check out basic vocal microphones that made recording historical past.
For studio vocals, large-diaphragm condenser microphones are the apparent selection, typically mixed with tube expertise. However there are different choices. And should you can’t or don’t need to cough up the money for one of many originals, there are actually many reasonably priced options!
On the danger of repeating myself, there may be after all not one single mic that works for each voice in each state of affairs. You might be the proprietor of a locker filled with positive classic microphones, solely to seek out your self ending up with the most cost effective mic out of your assortment for a sure voice and monitor – the truth is, there are numerous well-known examples of this. Cash alone doesn’t make a sound. That’s why it’s so arduous to provide suggestions – the perfect microphone is all the time the one which sounds the perfect in any given state of affairs and for any given singer. However there are just a few tried-and-true classics which have lent their sound to numerous hit data. Let’s check out a few of them.
THE Tube Microphone: Neumann U 47
Neumann U 47
Three characters are all it takes to make the hearts of sound engineers and producers beat sooner. The tube microphone with the legendary M7 capsule is taken into account the gold customary of vocal tube mics. To many, it’s the last word sonic reference. What’s particularly outstanding concerning the U 47 – perhaps much more so than the character contributed by the Telefunken VF14 tube and output transformer – is its open, nearly three-dimensional sound and the attractive assist it supplies to the excessive mid and presence ranges. Lester Smith, the microphone engineer at Abbey Street Studios, raved about their veteran U 47s after I visited there.
Have you ever ever typed “Neumann U 47 used” right into a search engine? Maybe it’s finest to let it go. Effectively-preserved U 47s are extraordinarily arduous to come back by and due to this fact prohibitively costly (as is the U 48 variant with a figure-of-eight sample). And even should you’re fortunate sufficient to personal one, sustaining it’s not for the faint of coronary heart, because the tube has been out of manufacturing for a very long time and isn’t precisely a cut price of its personal.
The right way to get that U 47 sound
Plenty of producers supply replicas that declare to be very near the unique. To call just a few: Wunder, Bock, Flea, Pearlman, Voxorama, Peluso, Soundelux. The current-day firm Telefunken electroacoustics is definitely an American producer that has acquired the naming rights, which makes their U 47 from the Diamond sequence probably the most “official” duplicate (some U 47s had been offered below the Telefunken model within the USA within the mid-1900s).
However even for a clone or a “U 47-inspired” microphone, you must anticipate to spend at the least $2k. Neumann itself gives the M 147a pure tube cardioid microphone for round three grand. Sadly, there aren’t many low-budget options I can advocate. For below two grand, your finest guess will be the Mojave MA-200, which is at the least roughly near the sound of the unique.
One among my private favorites is the Microtech Gefell UM 92.1 S. Gefell (the previous East German department of the Neumann firm) nonetheless produces the M7 condenser capsule that’s so necessary for the sound – and it truly is PVC-based as an alternative of Mylar-based. Sure, the sound is significantly cleaner and extra trendy than that of a U 47 or a lot of its clones. Nonetheless, this makes the 92 extra versatile. With a “grainy” sounding preamp, you may nonetheless get a number of the classic sound character.
AKG C12
The C12 put AKG on the map as probably the most prolific names within the microphone enterprise. In distinction to the M7, the C12’s capsule has no middle contact. This ends in a barely extra biting and penetrating sound, which is partially chargeable for the C12’s lasting reputation. AKG additionally produced the ELA M 250, ELA M 251, ELA M 250E, and ELA M 251E microphones on behalf of Telefunken. These are mainly C12s, however with main visible variations, some technical variations, and a barely completely different sound. They’re thought-about a bit extra managed within the highs and even much less noisy.
Current-day Telefunken gives ELA replicas, albeit for five-digit quantities. The fashionable-day AKG C12 VR is a good microphone, but it surely doesn’t have all that a lot in widespread with the historic authentic by way of sound and expertise – as was the case with the AKG D12 and D12 VR. One of many least expensive methods to get your fingers on a C12 wannabe is the Heat Audio WA-251.
The Darkish Star: Neumann U 67
Neumann U 67
The Neumann U 67 established the distinctive form that grew to become synonymous with studio vocal microphones – even to at the present time. Not like the visually related, transistor-based U 87, the U 67 is a tube microphone with the K67 capsule, which remains to be thought-about a reference at the moment. The 67 captivates with its considerably darkish and smoky sound character, which is particularly common for feminine voices and is downright magical at shut vary. Whereas well-preserved classic U 67s are insanely costly, Neumann now manufactures the microphone once more at a extra “cheap” value level, claiming to remain as true as doable to the unique. As soon as once more, Heat Audio makes a well-liked duplicate with the WA-67. Different options which have a repute for being fairly shut are the Korby KAT 67 and the Bees Neez B67-269.
Whereas the digits and the K67 capsule additionally stay on within the Neumann TLM 67, bear in mind that that microphone gives neither the tube expertise nor the output transformer of the unique.
Shure SM 7B: A Broadcast Traditional – and an awesome Studio Vocal Microphone
Shure SM 7B
The venerable Shure SM 7B is proof that not all basic studio vocal microphones are condensers. As a dynamic moving-coil micthis broadcasting favourite is far more sturdy and far inexpensive than most different mics on this checklist. For lower than 400 bucks, you get a flexible microphone that will not have the best and most subtle prime finish, however nonetheless fits many pop and rock singers (and rappers!) very effectively. And if there’s the slightest likelihood that you just’ll ever end up having to document speech, your assortment merely isn’t full with out an SM 7B.
There’s one catch, nevertheless: Whereas the mic itself is sort of reasonably priced for a studio vocal microphone, that doesn’t imply which you could get away with an excellent low-cost setup in case your objective is to document studio-quality vocals. That’s as a result of the SM 7B is a little bit of a diva in terms of the preamp. As a dynamic mic, it requires far more acquire than condensers, to the purpose the place it pushes the built-in preamps of many audio interfaces means past their consolation zone. Should you actually need to get probably the most out of your SM 7B, I’d advocate investing in a high-quality preamp. Whereas in-line preamps just like the TritonAudio FetHead or sE Electronics DM1 are often enough for podcasting and streaming functions, {many professional} studios prefer to pair the SM 7B with Neve-style preamps. Should you’re in search of an affordable different, try the Fredenstein V.A.S. MicPre.
Traditional Vocal Microphones: Honorable Mentions
Whereas it’s unimaginable to checklist all of them, there are after all numerous different microphones that helped form the vocal sounds of basic recordings – and never all of them are large-diaphragm condensers! The Electro-Voice RE20 is one other dynamic favourite that’s typically used rather than or alongside the Shure SM 7B. Compared, it’s a bit much less bass-heavy in shut proximity, and it will probably deal with brutal quantity ranges with out turning a hair.
Electro Voice RE20
And let’s not overlook about American-style ribbon microphones just like the RCA KU3A (hypercardioid!) or R44. AEA now makes them once more – albeit at costs round 5 grand. The Oktava ML-52 (€ 305), MXL R77 (€ 349), and Golden Age Challenge R1 MkII (€ 199) are reasonably priced options should you’re after that ribbon sound.
MXL R77
Neumann U 87 and U 47 FET
By way of large-diaphragm condensers, we shouldn’t overlook the transistorized successors to the Neumann tube classics talked about above, specifically the U 87 and the U47 FET. The present U 87 Ai, which retails for about $3.5k, differs sonically from earlier variations, however remains to be probably the most common all-rounders. A part of the U 87’s distinctive sound is a attribute peak barely beneath 10 kHz. Neumann additionally makes the U 47 FET once more to authentic specs; it’ll set you again about $4k. Price range options: Mojave MA-201FET and numerous cheap LDCs with switchable polar patterns.
The AKG C414 is one other one which clearly deserves a point out. There are lots of completely different variants, of which the C414 B-TLII and C414 EB are the preferred for vocals. And final however not least, there’s the Sony C800Ga favourite of the hip hop crowd. To some, it’s merely the perfect mic ever made; to others, it’s hopelessly overrated. By way of capsule design, it’s not too removed from the Neumann U 67, however many understand it as a bit tighter and punchier. Like all basic vocal microphones, the C800G has been copied and cloned a number of occasions, for instance by Heat Audio.
Extra about Traditional Vocal Microphones and Studio Gear
Be aware: This text was initially printed in German on bonedo.de.
Be aware: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks and/or widgets. Once you purchase a product by way of our affiliate companion, we obtain a small fee that helps assist what we do. Don’t fear, you pay the identical value. Thanks to your assist!
Picture Sources:
- Neumann U 47: Neumann GmbH
- Neumann U 67: Bonedo
- Shure SM 7B: Bonedo
- Electro Voice RE20: Bonedo
- MXL R77: Bonedo
