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Best Mic for a soft vocalist?

shure sm7b with a cloudlifter.

That's the mic everyone uses for spoken voice, and some people use it for vocals. I haven't used one, but my sense is that it's more of a safe choice and very forgiving mic than an ideal one for a folksy voice. It's a dynamic mic, and if I had my druthers I probably wouldn't use one for this kind of intimate, detailed voice.

Again, I haven't actually used an SM7b, so maybe my impression (based on hearing it a lot in comparisons and asking a bunch of audio snobs on rec.audio.pro :) ) is off. I did research that mic, though, because I was hoping to land a gig that might have wanted it.

I think the AKG C12 is supposed to be good for women's voices and one of it's simulators is the equivalent.

That's an interesting idea - a simulator. C12s are very expensive, and they either sound great on something or not that good.
 
That's the mic everyone uses for spoken voice, and some people use it for vocals. I haven't used one, but my sense is that it's more of a safe choice and very forgiving mic than an ideal one for a folksy voice. It's a dynamic mic, and if I had my druthers I probably wouldn't use one for this kind of intimate, detailed voice.

Again, I haven't actually used an SM7b, so maybe my impression (based on hearing it a lot in comparisons and asking a bunch of audio snobs on rec.audio.pro :) ) is off. I did research that mic, though, because I was hoping to land a gig that might have wanted it.


I have a sm7 and sm7b i use them for both podcasts and vocals, the cloudlifter gives it that juice. Another good mic i've used for soft voices is the neuman tlm103... and then of course a c800 but i've only used that at someone else's studio..
 
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SM7b is on the list however i am totally aiming for a ribbon or condenser mics.
 
How about the sleeper rode NT-1 (not the NT-1A). Colorless and response is flat like a pancake. You can literally dial any sound as the mic is nearly transparent.
 
For breathy/tubey, I think the Avantone CV12 is great in that price range. It was used on Taylor Swifts first two albums (and maybe others afterwards). Probably not best suited for the Adele-like voice though.

EDIT: Just thinking about it, I'd also say the Rode K2 is another exceptional mic/value for this purpose in your price range. I had one years ago and loved every single recording from it.
 
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