Best vocal Mic you guys can recomend

[israel]

for 999 or so!

[Sean Rathman]

Neumann TLM-103

Hands down the best mic for the price. Period.

Don't skimp on the mic-pre, though, or you'll be disappointed with any mic...

Best wishes,
Sean

[axmen]

ditto, TLM-103 is about $750 great mike

[finalcut]

You should also consider the Rode NTK. They go for about $499. For $999. you could get a pair!!

[pk_hat]

I second Finalcut's opinion. I don't own an NTK but I've read nothing but great things about this mic (Citi should jump in any minute now [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] ), no matter what magazine or online review.
I'm sure the 103 is also a great one, but it's user reviews were hot & cold. I'd get an NTK and the new stereo NT5 for some great instrument recording, all for about $800.

Another thing you could do with the money you save is buy a nice mic preamp, to justify the value of the mic.

Som' to think about...

pk

[VincePro]

AKG Solidtube....Incredible.

[Mr_Seven]

Shure SM58

[Bloux]

AKG C414 TLII Vocal version. sweet highs like the tlm103, but a little more mids (where most voices exist) sits out of the mix better as well.

[Sean Rathman]

See, I knew a bunch of people were going to trash the TLM-103 in favor of the NTK! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I use the NTK, as well, and for it's price I swear that mic is unbelievable... But here's why I always go for the 103 instead...

The NTK is very mellow and smooth... Beautiful if you have a very well trained vocalist who sings with their tone right up front and doesn't swallow their tone in the back of their throat, but the reality is most of the vocalists I work with expect me to do all the work on the tone; this is where the 103 comes in... I find that the 103 shimmers in the high end enough to push those vocals to the front of the mix, but without sacrificing clarity and warmth in the mids and lows...

Finally, with 7db of self noise, (the NTK is over twice that) the 103 is perfect for a lot of delicate accoustic work.

But again, the mic is only part of the equation... Your mic pre has just as much to do with your sound... Sometimes more.

VincePro, I have never worked with the AKG Solid Tube, but I noticed the price has just dropped significantly... I assume due to the overwhelming popularity of the NTK... Have you A-B'ed this mic to some of the ones we've discussed here? What's your opinion on it? I've considered picking one up, but I can never find one that I can listen to...

pk_hat, what do you think of that NT5?

Phil... Thanks for laying down reality!

Man, this is ALL personal taste, so take what everyone says with a grain of salt and go out and buy the mic that YOU like the sound of the best... Find a place that sells all of these, and A-B everything that you are interested in... It's very revealing.

Best wishes, all...

Sean

[Stone Knife]

A bunch of people did not "trash" the 103- A couple posts pointed out characteristics that differ. One preferred the NTK but didn't "trash" anything in the process.

TLM-103 is about $750 great mike

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TLM 103 works fine for my voice

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The TLM103 and NTK are both good mics. Either would probably make a good addition to your setup

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">BTW the NTK self-noise is 12dB, not "over twice.. (7dB)"

This is not to say the 103 is not a great mic; just stickin' to the facts sir.
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