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Mic shootout – 6 condensers from $120 – $1900 – male vocals

This is a continuation of the recent shootout with female vocals.

The mics:

M-Audio Nova
Audio Technica AT2035
M-Audio Solaris
M-Audio Sputnik
AKG C 414 B-XL II
Audio-Technica AT4060

The source was Will singing the second line of ’9 Crimes’ by Damien Rice. Each recording is a separate take. No processing has been done. Drop all the files into your DAW, keep the piano track active if you like.

Scroll down to the bottom to get the files.

The order of the files has been changed so you’ll need to guess which is which.

~~Leave a comment with which mic sounds like the best fit for his voice and I’ll email you the answers.~~ EDIT – I don’t have the answers anymore!

Other things to think about:

Which mic sounds like it’s the cheapest?
Which mic sounds the most expensive?
Which 2 mics are the tube mics?

The sound files

Get the files here: http://files.getdropbox.com/u/1053122/VocalMicShootOut2.rar

2035 , AKG , akg 414 , AT4060 , Audio Technica , M-Audio , Nova , Revolution Audio , shootout , Solaris , Sputnik , Vocal recording

Conan Does Foley

You don't have to go to Gearslutz anymore, I have it all summed up in one post!

Comments:9

Leave a Reply

Reply Dan the Music Master
09/06/18

I’m not familiar with M-Audio mics, although I do own thir pro 88 controller keyboard, which is quite reliable.
Reply Ian
09/08/08

Hi, just discovered your podcast and really enjoy. I’, still learning about mics and really had no idea which was which. I disliked the sound of A, loved B and F was a close second.
What did I pick?
Ian
- Reply Jon
  09/08/08
  
  Answered via email
Reply Max
09/08/10

Like Dan, I prefered B. Least favorite for me is A too. I loved D but it seemed pretty hot.

Just discovered this blog via audiogeekzine on sneap forum, really great articles!
Reply Sti
09/08/10

Howdy
My opinion is pretty much the same for male and female voices although I thought the female C mic sounded darn good too.
A is the cheapest sounding.
D (or C or F) is the most expensive sounding.
C and E possible tube mics? (Haven’t got a clue !).
Thanks again…
Reply Sti
09/08/12

Hi again
After listening on several systems including car I think I prefer the C mic on the male voice which tends to reduce the nasal quality of it. The voice is somewhat similar to my own. Can you email me the results?
Thanks
Reply blof_eld
09/11/05

Well, I don’t think I have the knowledge to choose which mic is which, but here are my thoughts:

a has a pretty low output, didn’t sound good to me.
b sounded pretty good.
c alright
d has a nice high output, sounded the best to me
e also good
f has a nice frequency response, second best sounding I think.

Awaiting finding out which mics are which!

Thanks!
Reply Jon
09/11/05

I actually don’t have the results anymore, they got deleted somehow.
Reply John
09/12/03

•M-Audio Nova = f
•Audio Technica AT2035 = d
•M-Audio Solaris = a
•M-Audio Sputnik = c
•AKG C 414 B-XL II = e
•Audio-Technica AT4060 = b

a and c sound thinner. sound clearer.

b sounds like it is thicker, almost like there is very light reverb.
I think I like f the best. Interested in finding out the answer to this quiz too.