When you’re in the market for a new vocal mic, you have a LOT of options.
With this video I’d like to bring light into the confusion and help you to find the microphone that’s the perfect fit for your voice and your budget.
We’ve compared 8 microphones ranging from $30,000 to $100.
The verdict?
Some mics in the lower pricerange perform outstandingly well! If you want great bang for your buck, you can get it… with some of the mics shown here!
So let’s dive in: Recording Setup
Our setup for this test was a Audient ID44 interface, which has super clean pre-amps, plenty of gain, as well as a handy pad, which allowed us balance the input gain of the different microphone models seamlessly.
We’ve adjusted the gain of each microphone to have the same volume at 1kHz. This allows the ‘main vocal frequency’ to be at the same level in each microphone. The loudness of other frequenies will vary from mic to mic, and inform us of the characteristics and coloration of each microphone.
Here is a list of mics we used in this test.
The pricepoints are estimates, and you will find different offers with different dealers.
Neumann U47 ($30,000) – control
AEA R44 ($5,000) – Sound: Darker than the U47, but very even/balanced. Takes EQ easily and does not sound harsh, even if you boost high frequenies.
LEWITT 040 ($100) – Sound: On the bright side, will require de-essing in many cases.
Shure Sm58 ($120) – Sound: Slightly bright and gritty in the midrange, but great for rock, since it allows the vocals to cut through heavy guitars. This mic may require some de-essing, but you should have an easy time getting that sorted.
Shure SM7B ($400) – Sound: Suprisingly, this microphone got into peoples top 4 in many mic comparisons. Even when compared to microphones at a much higher pricepoint. It is a fantastic all purpose mic. It is slightly aggressive, but well balanced in the upper mids. Just like the SM 58, the SM7B is a great contender for Rock music. If you want an aggressive, but easily tamable mic, this is your choice.
Royer R10 ($700) – Sound: As expected from a ribbon mic, this mic sounds darker, and has less volume than the other mics. You may consider using a gain boosting device like a cloud lifter when using this mic. Even though the R10 sounds dark at first, it takes EQ really well, so you can boost high frequencies generously without it ever sounding harsh.
Mojave 201 FET ($900) – Sound: This microphone is naturally bright, and a great fit for singers who benefit from a midrange/highend lift.
Lauten 220 ($350) – The Lauten 220 makes a fantastic vocal mic for most singers. It has a slight bite in the upper mids, without ever sounding harsh. This bite helps vocals to feel present and cut through the mix, while still sounding balanced and natural. Highly recommended.
Which mic is right for you?
Make up your own mind: Download all multitracks here & have a closer listen