Go-To Vocal Microphones

Shannon Rhoades Modded Miktek CV4

I've got 3 really.

jolly modified nt2a with daking tends to get used on male vox
jolly modified ntk with vp28 tends to get used on female vox
sm57 for agro

sometimes i'll use a rn17 with ma-5

U87 Great River Male
Octavamod Apex460 Avalon 2022 female
AT 4033 Great River Backgroud vocals

Usually - Blue Kiwi
For a natural tight vocal (or anything) - TLM-127
If wanting to punch the top end - Modded APEX460
If I need isolation - MD441U, or SM7b


But I'll also get use in my collection from - Blue Dragonfly, Advanced Audio fet47, M-Audio Sputnik.

I'd like to get my hands on one of the higher end tube mics available to see what (if) I'm missing though.

Had a chance to briefly listen to an AT5040 in the local shop. The rep left a loaner for a bit. I was pretty pleased with the little I heard there next to a U87ai. The clips of the shootout the staff did (listening on Genelecs) were impressive. I hands down preferred the 5040 on those clips. Including female voice. That said it was in the store and I wasn't there when they performed the shootout to see how "scientific" they were. The vocalist said she was a good 10" away from the mics though. FOr folk pop like she was singing I'd tend to mic closer myself. But if she was truely that far away from the mics when singing the AT was crazy rich and full in the mid range. The U87ai sounded pretty thin, no too surprising from somewhere between 10"-to a foot away from the mic.

Anyone out there get any actual hands on with the 5040? Thoughts?
Don't mean to hijack just figured it's on topic as I think it might be a serious go-to vocal mic contender.

the 127 is a nice neutral sounding mic. Fairly flat and unhyped. I kind of consider it more of an instrument mic than anything (but it's more than useful for vocals). If I'm not sure what I'm walking into it's my first choice. I know it'll sound great but not stray far from what's going into it.

I looked at that Guage website. I only listened to the samples of thier "U47" mic and the samples turned me way off. In their comparisons it was actually brighter than the c12. Kind of made my fillings buzz. As far as I know that's not at all what a real U47 is supposed to be. To me it just sounded like another really bright cheap condenser. If their u47 samples were any indication, you'd probably be better served taking that money and buying one decent mic. One of the many mentioned above perhaps. If you need a stereo pair save up for a decent pair. That Gauge company looks like they are just selling the same mics APEX, Nady, and the like are. Sort of lowest common denominator mics. MXL would probably even be better.

If you haven't heard of them check out Advanced Audio. They take those kinds of mics and then mod them to sound much better then they do stock. They come highly recommended. I have a pair of Dave's mics I'm happy with and I'd like to try his take on the U47 myself sometime. His mics are double the price of that Guage stuff but most likely worth the price bump, (based on the Guage samples I listened too). You'd have better luck with Peluso too I'd guess.

Speaking of modded mics there's a thread on here about someone modding a Miktek tube mic that reads promising. There are samples in that thread too.

Kel look really good for the money. I'd def like to try a few of their offerings too.

Maybe I'll just get the Lautens. I've been looking at those for a while too.

I'll usually put up a dynamic, condenser and ribbon, record a little and listen back with the band. Often its the M500 with RCA ribbon, M160, RE20, SM7b, U67 or c700a. I usually record some stereo room ambience as well with the c617SET.

Yes, it's the M500DX. I bought it about five years ago. A great vocal microphone. For best results you need to sing right into it. I have a foam windscreen on it and usually have to ask the singer to sing up against the foam. The singer can hold it in his or her hand. This is very important for some of the singers I record. They instantly feel more comfortable. It's great to be able to provide an excellent vocal microphone you can hold in your hand and not have to sacrifice on quality. Usually very little eq is needed.
With certain singers, it can be sibilant, though. When it works for a particular voice, it is really amazing.
I would say it has the smoothness of a ribbon with great definition and presence.
It has a very low output. You need a clean mic pre with plenty of gain. I have come across a singer that sang so softly that I had to put something else up.
I've also used as a spot mic for cymbals, although I prefer an m160 for this.

Whoops. Didn't realise I was straying off the topic. It is a go-to vocal microphone for me.

your joking ward. how more on topic can it be?
cenafria posts re a vocal mic.
I ask a question re his vocal mic

.........

Ok, gotcha, the spot mic for cybals sentence... Damn, I thought you were serious. I was thinking "Hm... He must be having a bad day..." Totally missed the irony, I have to admit... And we've completely derailed the discussion. Hee, hee...