Comparing 8 Vocal Microphones from $30,000 - $100! - Can BUDGET mics hold their ground?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
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Mics:
4:22 Neumann U47: sweetwater.sjv...
5:10 AEA R44: sweetwater.sjv...
7:20 Lewitt 040: sweetwater.sjv...
9:20 Shure SM58: sweetwater.sjv...
10:20 Shure SM7B: sweetwater.sjv...
12:00 Royer R10: sweetwater.sjv...
13:20 Mojave 201 FET: sweetwater.sjv...
14:05 Lauten 220: sweetwater.sjv...
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Hey everyone, which is your favourite mic? Remember: all of these mics can work for you. It's about selecting the right microphone for the singer and using the right processing.
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This is awesome! I’d also love to hear Audient VS RME, Apogee, Neve etc ❤✊🙏
Marvellous idea!!
I think the differences are less noticeable than you would think, especially if you're using outboard mic pres. I think the most important thing to consider is which best suits your needs. My EVO 16 sounds nearly identical to my apollo twin duo and they almost completely phase cancel in a null test.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!@@tallmccartneymusicthe EVO range is ridiculously good!
Audient Preamps Rock. And I’ll say it again- Audient Preamps Rock.
@@Producelikeaproplease include the Lynx Aurora (N) if you do this!
Just for convenience!
4:20 - Neumann U47
5:30 - AEA R44
7:30 - Lewitt 040
8:40 - Shure SM58
10:40 - Shure SM7B
12:12 - Royer R10
13:49 - Lauten 220
14:49 - Mojave 201 FET
AKG C214 - Recorded my new Album with it, great for vocals - Premium performance at a bargain price
Mics & Timestamps:
4:22 Neumann U47: sweetwater.sjv.io/R5P9Av
5:10 AEA R44: sweetwater.sjv.io/6eR3Qb
7:20 Lewitt 040: sweetwater.sjv.io/EKxGM4
9:20 Shure SM58: sweetwater.sjv.io/WqKWbA
10:20 Shure SM7B: sweetwater.sjv.io/XYZ0gX
12:00 Royer R10: sweetwater.sjv.io/AWAkv1
13:20 Mojave 201 FET: sweetwater.sjv.io/m5k9Ja
14:05 Lauten 220: sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQQNmR
That Lauten does really well, breathy without getting uncomfortably fizzy. I feel it would be easy to sit the vocal in a mix with minimal EQ applied. Interesting colour grading on this vid btw; soft, pinky. Easy on the eye.
Great video. FYI...The Mojave MA201FET is usually just under $800, not $300.
Wow, I liked the Lauten much more...
I love shootout videos like this! I'm a fan of the Shure stuff, great bang for your buck. I own two SM58's, two SM57's, a Beta 52A, and a Beta 58A. I use the Beta 58A for vocals at most of my live gigs and home recordings, it's great.
Thanks ever so much for sharing! Very cool!
Like I always say it's what works for the voice I really enjoyed the Lauten 220 on her voice.
U47 and SM7B for me. Not surprising is the SM58 (sometimes the scratch worked best). Guessing a TLM 49 would have favored her as well.
All fair assessments. Nice examples highlighting sibilance and presence with a challenging but talented! voice.
I am in the same camp - u47 & sm7b
Love my LA-220, I've never once second guessed it since purchasing! Love it
The RCA, U47, SM7B, and Royer were the best and most versatile selections, and the RCA served her voice best imo.
What I've learned over time is I'd always rather an even toned, dark mic that takes EQ well. It is always easier and sounds better to add a bit of highs and take away low end than to try and tame a lot of high end and add low end.
🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏻 SM7b sounded the best! Besides the U47...
How about a Rode K2 Tube mic with its own power supply…? Have you tried this on vocals or anything? My Sweetwater guy sold me this with the idea that it warms things up in a digital daw. I wanted old school vintage, blues, soul, rock and roll, etc.
I think it all depends upon what you are looking for out of a microphone. Just because a microphone is pricy doesn't mean it does what you're looking for in any particular context.
With the U47 I hear me sitting in the same room. With more or less every other microphone I hear something unnatural.
I like if there is no need to remove issues from a recorded signal. I think it's not only deessing, EQ-ing etc. It's something you can not repair.
To cringe from spending more money for a flawless microphone could be the wrong way in longer terms. Bying cheap costs twice. Microphones last forever, they will survive their owner.
It's similar to buying a sound system for live or studio. You can use it many years, it will be worth the money. It's not like a Laptop, that will be worthless in 3 years.
As I know you can get the U47 as reintroduced U47 fet for under 4000€. Still al lot of money. Same recording result, better quality, modern specifications.
I'd love to hear the Soyuz bomblet and 017 in this mix. I love my bomblet on female vocals!
Great Video! really interesting seeing the differences between the mics, and finally, I get why some mics are so much more expensive than others. Thanks for explaining it so clearly
Glad it was helpful! Thanks ever so much!
Had you played me these mics in a mix, randomly switching between them without any indication, I would have been hard pressed to tell you that anything was different. Maybe the Lewitt stands out as brighter... However, again, if these were being switched without warning, I doubt I would notice.
You need to remember most people, couldn't afford these. How about posting something on cheaper (sub £500) mics that a good for the money.
Michael's recording/mix engineer Bruce Swedien didn't used the SM7B but the SM7 (the real classic) version.
What an awesome mic shootout! I’m sure it will help many people hear the differences and choose for themselves what they prefer.
Thomann FET amps are amazing for ribbon mics. I have to turn the pres on my mixer all the way down. They also protect your mic by not letting phantom power get through to the ribbon.
The more I hear vocals through a nice ribbon mic, the more I want one. It's funny how your tastes change as you mix more. I used to really love bright vocals. Now I like a darker, more "vintage" sound.
Part of that could just be because of all the experience I've had trying to mix my own sibilant voice. I've had so many situations where I recorded a vocal on a mic that "sounded great" but just became awful once I applied EQ and compression. I'd do things like de-ess and manually turn down the S's and it still never sounded right.
I've moved to only using an SM7B on myself for that reason. But I'm wondering if a ribbon might be even better.
I was also contemplating ribbons, but wanted more detail. So I recently got a Shure KSM32 and this thing handles sibilance like a champ. It is super rare to get a noticeable sibilance out of it. It is a darker microphone, but I recommend it for the price, especially if it is bought in the used market.
Honestly, unless you _know_ what to listen for, they all sound pretty good - certainly fine for TH-cam or similar. Yeah, you probably won't want to record your hit single on it but geez - law of diminishing returns for sure.
I'm very new to learning about all this, but thank you for supporting what I've been saying for months. If you know how to handle the variations all mics have, you don't need yo go broke buying them.
Oh my goodness, what an absolutely great voice! Interesting vocal melody also! And I have to say, the AEA R44 fits the atmosphere of the song and her voice perfectly! I cannot believe how much everything else, to me at least, paled in comparison. I think the Mojave 201 FET with some more heavy EQ'ing and de-essing can deliver a nice performance as well. Thank you for making this interesting test!
Yes many of the cheaper LDC’s are bright while still having the plosive problem. Then when you low cut the plosive they get super shrill. My favorite vocal mics are dark condensers that still have a little top magic without emphasis. I love the Miktek CV4 and Violet Design Globe Vintage (now a special order item from JZ Microphones)
Yup, I have begun gravitating towards high quality, but darker voiced mics. They take EQ better in my opinion, so a little high shelf, and you’re good!
I am also in the middle of getting a second vocal mic, I currently have an older (2004) Blue Baby Bottle made in Latvia. These were really good choices but I’m leaning towards TZ Audio’ Stellar X2 Vintage with the K47 capsule. Not a straight copy of the U47 but really close with some minimal Eq added.
thank you for this video! The thing is: what an awesome singer! She sounds so good and professional! I understand the point of the video but omg... the singer is more than 90% of the sound, in my opinion
So funny. The first thing I noticed when the audio started on this was how clipped / nasty / scratchy the presenter's voice sounded. I was thinking, damn, that $30,000 mic sounds like sh*t!
But I couldn't SEE the awful mic responsible for the chainsaw audio. Until I looked closely at his shirt. Sure enough, there it is - a crappy scratchy clippy little lapel lavalier mic sitting a foot below his mouth. Off axis. Well, at least you won't need a pop filter
Just sayin - if yer gonna call yer channel "produce like a pro" and yer gonna post a mic shoot-out, you might wanna consider upgrading your narration / presentation mic set-up. This is not the only "pro-audio" channel that uses bad uh..... audio.... with spoken presentations.
It drives me crazy. Probably because of the 'tism, but STILL!
...and yes, I'm listening through a set of good studio monitors, nearfield. Sounds bad on headphones too. I've never heard a lav mic that sounded as good an entry level headset condenser mic. 1/2" from the sound source (the mouth) But the gamer look aint cool right?
Well, then use an overhead mic or a shotgun or something. Then, stay put. The only legitimate use for lav mics is for AM radio interviews with people you don't like who wont sit in one place while you sandbag them lol....
Ok, im gonna keep watching now. Hopefully the audio quality gets better. Feel free to go to my channel and sh*t on my audio production skills.
It's the only way I'll learn ;-)
I'm 7 minutes in, and I simply cant go on. Use a better mic next time for your voice over work, or idiots like me won't be able to listen, and we'll post snarky comments about your audio quality instead. Sorry, again, it's probably just me and my super acute sense of hearing / hatred of chainsaws. My Ipad mics sound better on my last video, and it sounds pretty awful, what with the wind and such. If you listen carefully, you can hear a fish jump.
Seriously though, thanks for posting this. I know it's a lot of work. I wish I could listen to more, but I cant. Sorry
Fantastic watch, I’m hearing details I’d never considered before, thank you
Marvellous! Thanks ever so much
I really don’t like the voice of this singer, sorry. So it’s hard to compare.
Another great video. I'm a Lauten and Mojave fan (still don't have any, but I hope so).
The TLM103 for a Neumann, is a bit brittle in the high end, but versatile. But by far, the best mic in this collection (apart from the U47) is the Shure SM7B. But you need a preamp with a very decent amount of gain. forget running this mic, with a weedy Focusrite or Presonus... you'll need a 500 series pre, audient or UAD or RME. At least 60db of gain. Lets be honest, mics depend very very much on the voice.
TLM103 is more a mic for instruments, like violins, guitar - and not good for voice. TLM103 is much to bright and has very hard transients... not recommend.
I was hoping the akg p120 or the at2020 would show up. Great eduactional video all in all!
After testing a lots of mics, I'm now using the Electro Voice 635A and it's perfect me.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
What do you recommend for a pretty agressive low male vox? Lots of 3k and 200, preamp is Api with mimas , room « half treated ». On sm7 and fet 47 clone but still getting a lot of sibilances…
I’m a huge sE electronics fan.
all kounda sound muddy...try the sony cs...and MJ with a sony...it"s MJ? wanted what he wanted......
He used a Shure SM7 dynamic mic
Blue contacts are a bit unnerving...
Clearly, seeing the differences it's not an easy thing. I watched the demonstration several times but, but now I have to leave.
Download the files to hear for yourself. Many thanks
i'm learning a lot from your videos. I bought an AKG P220, and it sounds nice, but i'm still a newbie. Curious if anyone has had experience with it.
"To be quite frank"? Hmm? But your name is Warren. LOLOL JK This is a really interesting mic collection. My favorite out of the ones you've tested is the Mojave. I have the MA-300.
Great Singer. More videos with her would be awesome
We have loads!!
Just picked up a sE Dynacaster as an SM7B alternative. Very interesting mic!
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Could you please share the brand of that pop filter? I love the clip and that goose neck looks like it actually works! I’ve been looking for something like that for ages! Also, the Lauten Audio LA320 tube mic sounds amazing for the money!
I recently saw your interview with Sweetwater, and and wrote, REF:
Thanks a LOT for yet another GREAT interview guys ~ Warren: "The Lewitt LCT 640 TS" - are you using it for vocals, acoustic guitar and amps etc... And will (I guess you will, since it's your favorite mic) you recommend this (Lewitt LCT 640 TS) for any of the Warm Audio mics, especially for vocals..? Thanks a lot for your answer : ) Peace, Love & MUSIC ~ from Norway
A $30.000 mic, is like removing a kidney without being sedated for me 😆I'm not sure if the recording is done in that order? But seems she had to warm up her registers with the first run (U47)? The runs after she got her voice much cleaner? Back in the day, I used even a Behringer B2-Pro for an acoustic guitar, which was aired live on the radio.
The U47 sounded as expensive as it is, so it the best but likely not attainable for most, especially me.
I would seriously consider one that is somewhat affordable, and was very surprised at its sound, the ribbon Royer R10 for my studio. For stage yeah old school SM58, c'mon can't beat it for $110.
FWIW my current de-esser of choice within Studio One is the Eiosis e2deesser I've got with the Slate and SSL Complete.
R44.... great shootout! thanks
Great vid as usual, thanks for the time and energy, beautiful stuff...
I have a sm7db. My question is, should I use the built-in mic pre amp for gain or the audio interface gain for recording. Is there any benefits or pitfalls either way. I have a new Uad volt 2 on the way. What would give me the cleanist recording I wonder.
Silly question maybe, 😂
Thank you
This is a beautiful comparison. Warren, I’m going to lend you this original U87i to put next to the new 47. I just have to know.
Allright, I'll name names then. For my own voice my favourite mic is a Recording Tools MC 700. And since I changed the capsule to a 32 mm K 47 style of unknown provenance it sounds even better. I still have a stock-version of this mic; it sounds good, but not as "intimate" or maybe flattering as the new old capsule.
For my partner in life and in The BirdHouse I bought a Recording-Tools MC 900, with a C 12 style capsule, which seems like a good choice, but I haven't recorded her with it yet.
That being said, I can't really recommend the brand as such, because it's the cheap department of Russian company Oktava. Since February 2022 I can't buy Russian products with a clear conscience anymore.
For my harps I use a t.bone SC 1100 with a 35 mm center terminated capsule (mixed with the home made piezo I have been using for almost 30 years now) and during my recent COVID infection I thought of using it on my then very Barry-White-ish voice. ;-) On the harps this mic at the right angle captures every intricacy of their sounds.
I have used more expensive mics with bigger names in professional studios, but I am quite happy with the results I get at home now. If You're interested, You can check out my learning-curve on my YT-channel.
Thank You for Your videos, Warren! They help a lot with the above mentioned process.
Great advert for the good old SM58. All of them sounded good on that singer's voice with the exception of the Royer which just sounded woolly to me, like someone had put a thick sock over the mic. The RCA ribbon was dark, sure, but not woolly.
U47 came across as - whispers - a bit boring and not as much clarity as some of the others - I guess a singer will enunciate differently on different takes - but it sounded almost like there was a microphonic ring on the word 'heart'. I think evenness is overrated! Dare I say it, the Lewitt had more vibe than the U47. SM7B also sounded a bit boring.
To sum up: I liked the SM58, Lewitt, Mojave and Lauten on that particular vocalist.
amazing video! i think the video that we were allwaiting for!!
Glad you think so!
Can you give the spelling of the singer's name and is this song available yet? You said it, but I can't seem to spell it or find her out there. Great demo, but also great performance.
Damn, your ears are great! Really wonderful video. Curious as to whether you have any opinion on the old American-made 58s versus the Mexican ones? A lot of people swear by the old ones, but that could be a lot of malarkey. Thanks!
Singer is amazing. Thanks now I need 30k for a mic , do they sell the magic bundle U47+CL1B+La2a ? may be affordable ?
Hi Warren, if you turn the Royer r10 around (to the side without the badge) you will get a brighter response as the ribbon is offset towards the back. That mic is great for guitar amplifiers as it has an inner screen for use in high SPL applications but it is awesome on vox and mandolin, etc.
I actually liked the SM58 the most.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
Could you not have use the U47 to record the voice and then play it back through a really good speaker into whatever microphones you want to test? Including the U 47? Or record with something that you're not test? A U87 for example? A test tone a 1,000 K would always be the same that way. I'd have really loved to hear comparisons of various U47 copies too. Like my Warm Audio WA47jr for example.
SM7B was used when Papa Het was recording the main vocals for HARDWIRED Metallica record. Unfortunately I don't know what was compressor but for EQ they used Neve side car with I think 1073 or vintage 1073 but it could also be a BAE. It's hard to see from the distance.
No AT 20/20? SmallD condensor, great mic, rave reviews, $100, favorable comparisons to Nuerman
Loving the video quality
Thanks ever so much
Man the two 300$ ones both sounded awesome
Back in the 80….. i used a plastic crown PZM 180 on a carpet at the wall for tracking vocals …….or i use an re20……or 421 ….
Milab DC-196, I would 😍to see what you think about this mic. Then you have the Milab VIP-60 😁
The 58 sounded really good on her voice. I find some singers i've worked with prefer a 58 over my nicer mics because it's what they're used to. I'm happy to throw one up to get the best performance.
You're not hearing that resonance? There's a weird phasey resonance issue in the highs, that gets especially harsh on the sibilants.
I think you should have included the Austrian Audio OC16, cracking mic
I didn’t have one to hand! It is a great mic! I tried to be as through as possible.
Could easily have done 50 Mics!
Fantastic review, and wonderful singer. Just one question for you, how would the Lewitt LCT 540 Subzero work as a mic in the line up. Thanks 🙏
Serious question (from a non-recording person): In the days of near-universal use of AutoTune, does it really matter?
Correct me if I’m wrong but thriller was an sm7 not the sm7b. However I’m just parroting what I’ve heard as I don’t know if they sound any different from each other
One thing I would love to see a presentation on, and I never see, is how record labels deal with recordings. So just throwing it out there. Where are the original recordings held and how are they managed in terms of protecting aging but also versions, how many and where they are stored. Are they ever returned to or has everything been digitized?
With all the Peter Jackson involvement must be creating more versions. Are they just backed up locally and online like I would at home? I know it’s going to be different now than back in the analogue days so maybe a now and then (see what I did) kind of thing so we can see how they treated recordings and archives back in the day to now. Just such a fascinating area of the industry which doesn’t seem to get any attention. Seems to me Produce Like A Pro would be the perfect home for such a subject. Many Thanks
I have used thin panty's/ stockings-fabric over the grill to tame brightness/ brittleness.
Also a layer from napkins works, very thin.
I have the same on my AKG condenser, but that brightness can be handy for other things. It's a utility mic for me.
Here's another tip I never used, a guy told me , he tried numerous things with recording trumpets, or similar; Try a drumskin in front of the mic.
I have used this in other ways; f.e. with a speaker in front of a snare drum. It sort of levels the sound.
You can also use drums as tunable 'reverbs'.
Sontronics ST-2 anyone?
Not a big fan of tube mics. Tried a few of them and they EQ funny and are either too hot or cold Audio Technica and Rode mics really do the job for me, even like those better than Neumann mics.
Time to bring out the SM58. It sounded great as always
Really interesting, thank you! The Neumann TLM 102 is a mic that sounds nice and even to me on a more achievable budget than the U47 :) Did the artist have a preference among the mics used here?
Best I've used for me is a real 251 at a fine studio... In the market for a home alternative... Fet too so I can record at a moments notice if I feel something. Awaiting some reviews of the new Chandler tg Type L on a deep baritone and maybe a Christmas time sale on the Roswell colares... Problem is is nearly twice the price of the Chandler but I like these 2 companies approach. Not clones not boring.
Very very interesting. It's a bit like different strokes for different folks and there's no one size fits all. How you use your mic is a good start though. Thanks very much
I heard the gain issue as well with the R10, but of all of them I liked it on her voice the most for the smoothness and balance, strangely even more than the U47. It is dark, but it fit the mood of the song.
I thought the Mojave stood out as quite unpleasant to listen to across the spectrum. U47 and sm7 for me from this group.
Is the Songs/Artists Who Changed Music format retired?
Waves just launched a plugin called Silk Vocal, which is similar to Soothe2 I think…
loved the r44
Would be great to see a a shoot out on diferent mic pop sheilds, i know its a simple thing but i see them priced from a fiver up to a couple hundred quids. Is there realy a big difference?
Love the content, fun stuff!
A notable exception to the idea that cheap LDC’s are bright: the WA-47f
You might have liked the Royer R10 even better turned around. It's a bit brighter that way.
If there were a series of habits or daily exercises like in the Karate Kit movie, but to be a music producer, what do you think they would be?
Warren wish you mentioned the mic setting on the 7b that’s rarely mentioned in these shoot outs. I like you took the foam off the mic, that alone gave us more info on how you personally use an sm7b. Did you change the settings on that mic or leave flat!
What pop filter is being used - looks like just what I’m after.
I got the OC16 really nice , but I did consider getting the Lantern 220 , I am sure its just as good a option.
Yes, indeed it is!
Both great mics!
It's pretty hard to go wrong with a 47, but I'm quite surprised at how good all the mics sounded.
Mojave 201fet is $700ish not 300
ooops its $850 after greedflation
Would it be good to use a recording as a "performance" in order to maintain control and compare using the same input?
I didn't like the Lauten at all. It sounded hollow and boxy at the same time in the mids. It also had very little low end.
Go Radio Shack or go home, they rule, they are the GOATS
Soyuz 017 FET sounds better than the tube version, u87, u67, u47, 251, cx12 on my raspy baritone. Not even close. And by far the least costly. Amazing low mid detail and open top.
I liked the u47. Is felt the smoothest in the high end. I find that Shure mics tend to have a very blocky / tough high end. Works great in metal but in this case it was a bit much on the higher notes. I get the impression that the u47 would take eq very well.