Preferred Studio Vocal Microphones - Is Yours Here?
On Facebook and Instagram, we asked you “What's your go-to vocal mic right now, and why?” Whilst not a scientific study of any kind, the community answered the question. You shared your choices and experiences and in this article, we look at the answers and the reasons for those choices. Some of the results might surprise you.
The Shure SM7b Was The Most Popular
The Shure SM7 was chosen by 14% of the respondents. Comments included…
SM7b likes being shouted at.
SM7b. My voice sounds the best on it. Cuts my honky midrange.
SM7B. Usually my go-to. Captures what I need.
if it is a rock song or something where I'm going to really be attacking the microphone, I will use my Shure SM7b
SM7b Smooth mic on vocals and sax/trumpet/horn
Sm7b and Fethead
Shure SM7b through a Cloudlifter
The U47 Family including clones were next. 10% of the respondents choose a U47, either the original or one of the many ‘clones’. Comments included…
U47 is usually the first choice. It’s never the wrong mic for a vocal.
If I'm looking for something full and rich, I will use my Pelosi 2247se
Bock 47. Works on most voices. Easy in the mix. Oh and it sounds nice.
T-47. Stunning clarity, captures an enormous dynamic range, perfect color from the transformer, flattering to any voice, and I get to say I built it myself!
I love the Flea 47. Hasn’t lost a shootout yet (even with singers who don’t expect mics to sound different
Next comes a very interesting group, modeling mics, with 9% of the responses. the Townsend Labs Sphere L22 was the most popular with more than half on the response, with Slate Digital and Antelope Edge getting a mention. Comments included…
Townsend L22...it covers all my bases.
Townsend L22! Why because it’s always going to give me what I am looking for! Every time it’s the right choice
Slate ML-1 at the moment because of its versatility.
The Aston range came next with the Origin, Stealth, and Spirt combined chosen by 7% of respondents. Comments included…
Aston Origin. Sounds fantastic, not expensive, and (still) made in the UK.
Aston Origin. Absolutely fantastic mic and I find it gives vocals a naturally warm finish before EQ
Recently discovered the Aston Spirit and like it
The Røde range, with the NT1 and NT2a, came in with 5% of the respondents. Comments included…
Røde NT1-A. This was my first vocal mic ever and it just outperforms a lot of its competition sub 1k in my opinion. If I had a nicer-sounding room (it's an untreated Berlin apartment building with sky-high ceilings) I'd probably shell out bigger bucks for a nicer LDC; in the meantime, the NT1-A does the job alright.
Røde NT2A, it’s so versatile!
Then comes the U87 family including the various clones, with 4% of the respondents. Comments included…
Neumann U87 (when I can get my hands on it!)
Mic-Parts S3-87. Not just for vocals, it's my go-to for almost anything, it just sounds great, with a nice bottom-end and body and smooth highs. :)
Warm Audio WA 87 I love the warm sound and it's also my first mic.
Peluso 87 for more midrange focus.
sE Electronics as a brand featured well, selected by 4% of respondents. Comments included…
sE Electronics Gemini 2 has been a mainstay in my booth for 3 years now.
SE Electronics RNT, I get great and detailed vocal recordings, with very little sibilance and a lot of body Especially good for female vocals
SE Magento because that's the one that came with my Apogee duet
After that, we get down to a variety of different mics that were selected by one or two of the respondents. Comments included…
AKG 414 B-ULS. Sounds great on pretty much everything you put in front of, very versatile with the different polar patterns but it is also a great starting point, you’ll know very quickly if you need something different to suit the vocalist or the song.
Neumann M149 Tube. Powerful, warm and detailed with an incredible presence. With Manley VoxBox pre-amp is my perfect combination.
Telefunken CU-29 copperhead. Since I bought it all my peeps that record with me want to use it lol. Doesn’t sound bad on anything I toss at it. Round, full warm and just easy to capture and less processing.
The Brauner Valvet - Vintage tube characteristics yet clean and crisp top...handles lower register voices beautifully. Paired for instance with a transparent (such as the Elberg MP2) pre-amp, this is our go-to vocal mic.
Mine is the AT5047. It has a smooth top end, very articulate and responds well to dynamic transients. It also very low noise floor and matches well with all the pre-amp I use (Tg-2, SSL, API 512, Grace Design M501).
Lewitt LCT 940. My clients rave about it all the time
Samar VL37A. Truth without cruelty.
Sennheiser 441 & 421 (depends on the singer, both with a Triton FetHead)
Shure KSM44. Clean and effortless...
Other mics that got a mention included the Shure SM57, Neumann TLM 102, TLM 103, TLM193, M149 and M269c. Then there was the Soyuz 017, Telefunken TF 51 and AR51, Mojave MA-200, JZ Microphones Black Hole, Manley Labs Gold, Sony C800G, Lauten Audio 320, Lewitt LCT 940 and the AT4040 and AT4047 from Audio Technica.
There you have it. The answer to the question “What's your go-to vocal mic right now, and why?” Thank you to all the respondents who took part.
If you weren’t one of them then please add your comment to the article below.