Mic for rap/hiphop/rnb

[mkjaekmi]

Hi, I am looking for a nice mic for vocal (lyric). This is for rap/hiphop/rnb.
Price range: I don't want anything cheap, I want a good quality/good mic that's sounds clear and ment for rap/hip/rnb. So around $400 i'd say. Not too much over but not too much less. $300-$400 would be perfect.

Also, I am kind of new so I was wondering what does pre-amp mean? and what does condenser mean?? Does it mean like a high definition for mics as in hd for t.v's? lol

Thank you

[davidaltemeier]

Hi, I am looking for a nice mic for vocal (lyric). This is for rap/hiphop/rnb.
Price range: I don't want anything cheap, I want a good quality/good mic that's sounds clear and ment for rap/hip/rnb. So around $400 i'd say. Not too much over but not too much less. $300-$400 would be perfect.

Also, I am kind of new so I was wondering what does pre-amp mean? and what does condenser mean?? Does it mean like a high definition for mics as in hd for t.v's? lol

Thank you

speaking of preamps, you may be better off investing in a good stand alone pre to start with. what kind of interface are you running? typically interface pre's aren't nearly as good as stand alones.
examples: RNP, p-solo (pretty popular for rap vocals i think), Grace 101.

"Also, I am kind of new so I was wondering what does pre-amp mean? and what does condenser mean?? Does it mean like a high definition for mics as in hd for t.v's? lol"

read the guide and all thine questions shall be answered.

[shaaregeulah]

Electro-voice RE20

[nanashiwanderer]

Electro-voice RE20

If you got a good preamp to go along with it.

[mkjaekmi]

Well I was basically thinking of buying a studio mic, and hooking it up to my computer and using a program or something that records my voice and music basically. So I don't think i need a amplifier

[Rimskidog]

You really need to go and read Tweak's Guide. No... really really!

[mkjaekmi]

Yeah I read the tweakheadz but I don't fully understand.

If anyone is willing to contribute, thank you

[Yacithane]

Yeah I read the tweakheadz but I don't fully understand.

If anyone is willing to contribute, thank you

you should read it again (and again)...i did, its a very wise investment of your time

anyway for the result you want your gonna need to spend some more money. from what i hear the Electro-voice RE20 is the best bet your gonna have for hip hop and its just the right price your looking for but for that your gonna need a preamp (the RNP is a good bet for quality on a budget) itll work without one but eventually your gonna want "that sound" which is only attainable with a pre. have you thought about how your gonna get the signal into your comp. you need a audio interface. the little headphone jack wont work. your lookin at a few hundered bucks for that. maybe you already have one. you might consider spending the money on a preamp and a shure sm57 which will sound good. then when you get more money you can get the Electro-voice RE20 if you want, the sm57 wont become a dead investment, itll always come in handy.

good luck, i was where you are not to long ago

[mkjaekmi]

So shure sm57 is for dynamic, I need a condenser too right? so how's rode nt1a?

I read it but I can't seem to find the computer recording part. My friend recorded his voice and made his own music, and he said all he had was a mic.

[Mattchuw]

He could have had a usb mic, but if you really want quality, as far as i know, no usb mic will really fulfill your needs. Ok so, i understand you are new to this, so I will help you out. (for the record, basically the entire guide is about computer recording) The most basic way to get your voice onto a computer, and still with very good quality, you will need two separate pieces of equipment, not including your computer. (Just to familiarize you, most people here will call their computer a DAW, which stands for digital audio workstation) Ok, so back to the two pieces of equipment. The first thing is a microphone, obviously. The second thing is the audio interface. An audio interface will connect the microphone to your computer. What type of computer do you have? i.e. Mac, PC, does it have usb ports, native firewire, PCI slots... Anyway I will suggest a few audio interfaces that will work, still leaving you're budget of $400 to buy a decent microphone. Also another thing, almost always if you have an xlr input, meaning the cord with the three holes in a triangle like shape, there will be a built in pre-amp, hence you have phantom power, hence you can power a condenser microphone. Here, http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--MDOMOBILEPR. Take a look at it. I know it seems like a lot of money that you had no idea you had to spend before, but it is money well spent. Another one, http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--MDOFASTTRACK. Basically the same thing, just cheaper and with one input, which as far as i know, is all you need.

Now microphones.
The sure sm57 is a very popular hiphop vocal mic
http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--SHUSM57LC

The studio projects b1 is winning the poles for the best large diaphragm condesner mic for around 100 dollars.
http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--STUB1


The rode nt1a is looked very favorably upon, but with the audio interface, may be exceeding your price range a bit.
http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--RODNT1A

You can look through the tweek guide for more suggestions.


If you have anymore questions, just post. And actually read the 21 ways to configure a recording studio rig.
http://tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

(some of the other member may argue this) but for now, any old headphones you have will do, and you don't really need expensive monitors (or speakers) until you get serious

[mkjaekmi]

your radio interface link isn't working.

Does rode nt1a hang down? I wan't mics that hang downwrd with the pop filter and stuff. So shuresm57 would be out of the choice.

If I plan on buying the rode nt1, should i get the $250 with the cables, pop filter, shock mount, and stand?


is the silver the only color choice? Any all black 1's?

Thanks a bunch. Your post actually helped alot more then the sticky post for some reason.

Thank you

[Mattchuw]

Ok, its not a radio interface, its an audio interface.

I also don't think you should be choosing a microphone on how aesthetically pleasing it is, and all large diaphragm condensers (like the rode nt1a) can be mounted upside down, it all has to do with preference though, you won't get a better sounding recording if it's upside down. You probably should get the $250 dollar option, just so you dont have to deal with it.

I see what you're saying with the links, thats really weird.

Try these

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOMOBILEPRE

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOFASTTRACK

[mkjaekmi]

Thanks. What are the fast track bundles? And which audio interface should I buy? Should I get this?
http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--MDOFASTTRACK
Seems to match with the rode nt1a

Thanks alot

[Mattchuw]

I don't think you should get the bundle. The bundle comes with a microphone and monitors. You are already getting a microphone. But do get the package with the nt1a with the shockmount, pop filter, stand, and cable. It will save you a hassle of picking them all out yourself. I suggest getting:

The fast track
(http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOFASTTRACK )

the rode nt1a

(http://www.zzounds.com/item--RODNT1A) *with the second package from the bottom (shockmount, pop filter, stand, and cable)

And again, what type of computer do you have? Do you already have software?

[MASSIVE Mastering]

Does rode nt1a hang down? I wan't mics that hang downwrd with the pop filter and stuff. So shuresm57 would be out of the choice

is the silver the only color choice? Any all black 1's?

Do yourself a favor and just give up now.

[mkjaekmi]

Nah I don't have the software for record. Got any tips on which software to get? I have a pc btw

So total $350
Is that all I need?

Thank you

[Hammy]

Silver ones be da domb fo' shizzle anyhows.

[nanashiwanderer]

I'm going to agree with massive, give up now. If you've read tweak's guide and haven't understood that microphones need a preamp to actually work. I don't know what your planning to hook up your mic into. because microphones only hook up into preamps.

[MASSIVE Mastering]

I was actually referring to the "has to be a hanging mic with a windscreen and all" and the "anyone make a black one" (or a silver one - I forgot).

I suppose the solid refusal to understand the signal chain is an issue too...

But if you're going to go out and pick up a mic because of what it looks like, then you're headed for certain disaster.

[nanashiwanderer]

isn't this thread technically spoon feeding it seems like it confirms to tweaks definition.

[mkjaekmi]

ahaha. Well if someone doesn't understand, then you don't just tell someone to [fork] off and leave. You gotta be human and help each other out. How we gonna ride if we can't unify?

Like I said over and over again, a friend of mine had a mic ONLY and he made music. Unless your reading the posts fully, please don't contribute. Waste of your time and mine.

I do thank the others for helping out tho.

Also, about the hanging down mic, I saw pictures of it holding the mic (mic on top) so if it was on the bottom wouldn't it fall? Common mistake from new people, so really calm down.

[Blue Bear Sound]

ahaha. Well if someone doesn't understand, then you don't just tell someone to [fork] off and leave. You gotta be human and help each other out. How we gonna ride if we can't unify?

Oh brother........

Start with this --> http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

If you don't understand it, read it again, but more slowly... if you still don't understand it, then perhaps you should consider another hobby, like gardening - how good are you with a rake?

No one here owes you an answer, skippy.... we've answered pretty much every possible question on the subject of home-recording already - you just have to read the material and search the forums..... if you're not willing to make the effort to do even that little bit of research, then recording is not for you anyways........

[guitarboy]

If you don't understand it, read it again, but more slowly... if you still don't understand it, then perhaps you should consider another hobby, like gardening - how good are you with a rake?

You can get Rake's in all black, right? And I don't want no hanging down rakes, with the leaf bags all in ya face. That ain't gangsta.

[mkjaekmi]

Bluebear, you tryin to impress him or somethin?
Black mic = all black setup, why would I want it in the first place? common sense.

It's true, no one needs to give me an answer, however music is passion, totally different from reading a post. If YOU don't even know that, then I don't know what to say.


At least I'm mature about it, and like I said over and over and over and voer again, Don't want to contribute? Don't post. No point in arguing and wasting time.

[Hammy]

consider another hobby, like gardening - how good are you with a rake?

FWIW -

I grew a giant pumpkin this year (well, not MASSIVE or anything, heh, but 100 lbs, and then carved it up and lit it with road flares on Halloween. Smoke came out of the eye holes - kids thought it was really cool! ). I did, on occasion, have to rake some fertilizer into the soil around it, but I used a silver rake, and not a black one. If I saw a black one in the store, then I might have considered it though. Maybe I can finally get a picture-sharing account and post some images.... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . . .