Dynamic or condensor?

[torbinsh]

I am surprised to hear that pros like you are recommending dynamic over condensor.

Is it really the best choice to record vocals in a studio? is it the best choice for a loud, deep, bassy male voice (rock)?

If yes, which model would you choose? Your number one choice dynamic and number one condensor for my type of voice?

Thanks,
Tor

[mwynwood]

I am surprised to hear that pros like you are recommending dynamic over condensor.

Why is that surprising?

[MASSIVE Mastering]

I think this was supposed to be a reply to another thread.

In any case, dynamics are used more than anyone can tell you everywhere except in the magazines that tout $100 LDC's as "vocal microphones."

Sure, it depends on the voice, it depends on the application, etc., etc.

As a rule of thumb: If I want to pick up the vocalist exactly "as is" (which when it really comes down to it, is a rather rare occasion), then I'll probably reach for a condenser. "As is" meaning every flaw, every bit of air, every room flaw, every lip smack, every bit of sibilance, every minor angle change, etc., etc., etc.

If I want something that will flatter the voice in front of it and be much less "picky" about it while giving me extreme flexibility and reactivity to processing during the mix, I'll reach for a LDD.

Without question, 9 times out of 10 (maybe more), it's a LDD.

If Celine Dion walked in, it'd probably be a condenser.

[tbuenger]

What would you use if Cher walked in your studio?

[doogiehowser]

lol @ tbuenger.

great post by the way. i'm starting to understand more why Massive favors dynamic mics over condensors.

[jandrodavalos]

If yes, which model would you choose? Your number one choice dynamic and number one condensor for my type of voice?

do a search,also this has been talked about many times here is one
http://studio-central.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=60046

[EricF]

is it the best choice for a loud, deep, bassy male voice (rock)?

If yes, which model would you choose?

A dynamic was good enough for James Hetfield to nearly swallow - that's a loud rock voice. His choice: Shure SM7

[tbuenger]

is it the best choice for a loud, deep, bassy male voice (rock)?

If yes, which model would you choose?

A dynamic was good enough for James Hetfield to nearly swallow - that's a loud rock voice. His choice: Shure SM7

That would probably be testimonial enough for me!

[MASSIVE Mastering]

is it the best choice for a loud, deep, bassy male voice (rock)?

If yes, which model would you choose?

A dynamic was good enough for James Hetfield to nearly swallow - that's a loud rock voice. His choice: Shure SM7

A SM7b with no screen, halfway down his throat, with NO tweaking (Bob thought it was just a scratch vocal track and treated it as such).

And you might notice that sonically, it's the only thing on the latest album that actually sounds well-recorded.

[tbuenger]

is it the best choice for a loud, deep, bassy male voice (rock)?

If yes, which model would you choose?

A dynamic was good enough for James Hetfield to nearly swallow - that's a loud rock voice. His choice: Shure SM7

A SM7b with no screen, halfway down his throat, with NO tweaking (Bob thought it was just a scratch vocal track and treated it as such).

And you might notice that sonically, it's the only thing on the latest album that actually sounds well-recorded.

This brings up a good point. I know there was a thread somewhere on this forum not too long ago that discussed "the best recordings" over the past years.

Seems like it would be beneficial to have a topic that discusses recordings of past and current songs, good and bad. Why? We're always taught to have a collection of reference CDs around to compare our work to. Understanding what makes "your favorite songs" tick can be helpful throughout the overall audio engineering process. Alot of songs today sound really squashed; ala the new Lifehouse song.
Sorry to ramble on here. I'll PM Tweak.

[shaaregeulah]

What would you use if Cher walked in your studio?

Autotune!

[MASSIVE Mastering]

What would you use if Cher walked in your studio?

Holy water. And if that didn't work, garlic or a wooden stake, before calling the authorities.


And yeah, Autotune I guess...

[tbuenger]

Autotune is the technically correct answer!
Holy Water is the philosophically correct answer!

Anyway good discussion. There does seem to be a belief, especially among clients, that condensors are for the studio and dynamics are for the live shows.

[jandrodavalos]

hey everyone just want to let you know that I sold my tlm 103 and I just purchased the sm7b..It should be here tomorrow, i cant wait to try it out.

[tbuenger]

hey everyone just want to let you know that I sold my tlm 103 and I just purchased the sm7b..It should be here tomorrow, i cant wait to try it out.

You won't regret it!

[P.T.]

SM7b.

Is the preamp as critical for this as it is for the SM57?

[jandrodavalos]

if critical means are all dynamics gain hungry then yes..

[P.T.]

I have heard repeatedly that the SM 57 doesn't sound all that great without a very good preamp. It doesn't seem to be just the gain.

I am wondering if the SM7b is like that also.

[ecc83]

I don't wish to argue because I am not in any way able to have an opinion but why is it then that every picture and tv clip you see of a vocalist in a studio they have a capacitor mic 300mm from their gob?

I also think caps' are more popular this side of the pond.

Dave.

[jandrodavalos]

I have heard repeatedly that the SM 57 doesn't sound all that great without a very good preamp. It doesn't seem to be just the gain.

I am wondering if the SM7b is like that also.

if a sm57 is going through cheapo poo pre than no it is not going to sound the greatest, but if you mean a 57 is only going to sound great through a 2000 up pre than that is wrong...example sm7b/rnp combo...

[ecc83]

Just checked,

The SM7B is 4.5 dB WORSE than the '57.

Sorry, the pre spec' just got tighter!

Dave.

[MASSIVE Mastering]

No doubt, most dynamics require more gain. But it's pretty rare that a preamp doesn't have enough gain to comfortably drive one... It certainly happens though, that a dynamic will reveal the deficiencies of a preamp more readily than with a condenser...

[Farview]

I don't wish to argue because I am not in any way able to have an opinion but why is it then that every picture and tv clip you see of a vocalist in a studio they have a capacitor mic 300mm from their gob?

I also think caps' are more popular this side of the pond.

Dave.

Which vocalists? Celine Dion will be using a condenser. Screamy male rock vocalists are more likely to use an sm7.

Anyway, it looks more "pro". Most of the things you see of TV are posed.


Unrealted to my last thought, Michael Jackson used an SM7 on thriller.

[MASSIVE Mastering]

And Bono used a 58 on Joshua Tree.

Two of the biggest selling albums of all time --

Frampton used a 58 on "Comes Alive" -- The biggest selling live album of all time.

I'm not a fan of MJ, nor Bono, Nor Frampton's voice -- But you can't argue with the world-class sound of any of them.