I know a big time engineer in Nashville, and years ago he told me that in my situation, recording at home, to save up and get one high end signal path, and then save up and get another one. I got a Neumann U-87 and a UA 610 MKII. I run through MOTU 8pre-ES. This is generally my vocal path, and it seems to make everything else sound better. The results have been really great over my budget mics and pres.
A slightly different tack, but if you can solder, Mic Parts DIY mics are absolutely brilliant. I have made four of their Neumann- and AKG-derived mics and all three are excellent, excellent microphones. You can’t touch them for anywhere near the price. I’m not a fan of Warm Audio’s mic clones, I had the U87 and U47 FET clones and they both sounded listless on acoustic guitar, make, and female vocals.
Also consider downgrading your microphone. For vocals the AKG p220 kicks ASS and is only $135 on sweetwater right now. We blindfold tested it last year in an audio class I was in, most students picked the p220 over both the 414 and the u87 (at least with the singer we used for the test). I was still doubtful until I got one of my own. I've now been using a similar model, the akg p420 quite a bit now, which is almost the exact same except that it's got an omni and figure eight polar capabilities along with the standard cardioid pattern, allowing me to also get some performance out of it as the figure eight half of a mid-side setup on acoustic guitar. I don't use these for everything, but for a lot of vocalists it's very often the one I'm picking over the higher dollar mics in my studio. For $135 bucks the p220 blows me away, and for an extra $40 bucks for the other two polar patterns the similar p420 also does.
Adel , Halsey and dre used the slate ml-1. On vocals One republic used the sm57 on 2 of there tracks on vocals goes to show you it’s about having a great singer and engineer that know how to carve eq and get vocals to sit in the mix
I have always loved my Michael Joly modded mics. I have sent many mics to him over the years with the chunk being Oktava mics. It is a shame he does not mod them anymore.
I just bought the most expensive mic I ever bought, the WA-8000, a Sony 800 clone. I really dig the sound, I’ve done a couple of videos on it on my channel if anyone wants to check that out. I’m still deciding on keeping it. So far I’m leaning to yes. I also have the sm7b so I think I got my bases covered, although I would love to have the best telefunkin 251 clone. I love that mic the most listening to it on RUclips but I want try it on my voice.
JZ & Singular Audio brings some great clone builds to the table. Own some mics from both of those companies. Both of them doing great Neumann stuff with JZ using a different technology to achieve it.
I use a Rode NT1A with the Antares Mic mod plug in set to the U47 long tube emulation with a Lewitt 440 pure run parallel and in phase via distance for my vocals. I just use the preamp on my Audient ID 14 MK II. I record a separate simultaneous track for each microphone and it works well on my voice. I also run a RCA BK5 ribbon microphone for certain background vocals. I am very happy with this set up for my own voice on a budget.
Great video Barry. It's always a pleasure to see all the gear you have acquired over the years. I bought a cheap Blue Spark SL a couple years ago during holiday season right after purchasing my UA Apollo Twin MKII Quad. I got the interface off eBay brand new for 800.00 which was a great deal, and the mic on sale for 130.00, but as my learning curve has gained knowledge and my ears to, I'm realizing that I need a better suited mic for my singer songwriter needs when paired with the Apollo Twin. I think I will explore the Warm Audio and Mojave microphones for vocals and acoustic guitar. Looking forward to the future videos.
Great info, Barry. I recently came across a pretty much one man band company in Finland called Nordic Audio Labs… he makes a 47 but with completely different components. The comps he has in his videos are practically identical! Quite astonishing I found. Wondered if you had any idea about that. Certainly take a look. His stuff is on RUclips. Also wondering how you rank the Pearlman 47 against the WA, or also the Golden Age 47…? Cheers
A great "rule of thumb" I've learned when choosing an interface/mic preamp is to take the total sales price of the device and divide by the number of mic pres. For example, if your interface costs $1,000 and has 16 inputs, you're paying (all else aside) about $63 for each mic pre? You have to ask yourself, 'does that seem wise?'.
I dig my AKG P220. Flat FR, nice bump around 5K, great bang for my buck as a younger brother of the Tube 820 that I ADORE for my voice. But since I already own a UA Apollo x4, I’d say my upgrade is most likely gonna be the Townsend system…the investment seems worth it!
Barry,have you tested the Rupert Neve designed SE RNT mic? I've heard it and I thought it was a reasonable alternative to the Telefunken U-47,and it retails for $2500 instead of the $9K for the Telefunken..
I was using an SM81 for acoustic guitar but picked up a WA-84 and haven't looked back (although I'll still use the SM81 or other mics for background guitars just to mix things up). I think I just really like transformer color though (I have a few mic pres with input & output transformers too). I still haven't heard an amp modeling solution that sounds like a tube amp to me, they don't sound bad, just don't sound like a tube amp. So, I spent a lot longer micing cabs until I got the Two Notes Captor X, now I don't feel the need to mic up cabs anymore.
Love the mention of respect for the buy and return policies, these things will go away if people treat multi thousand dollar audio purchases like amazon returns.
I have Lewitt lct 840, warm 87, akg 414, and Shure sm7b, they're all excellent. The Lewitt is the best tho for warmth and clarity in the low mids. It's too smooth for my voice but female vocals are great.
Is there any test that can convince me that I need more than the internal microphone of an iPad to record singing vocals (mono is the best)? Warmth, timbre ... are no category for me. I can add that with my DAW and its plugins. I need only a very well defined sound, without instruments. (I have also a Zoom H1 and like it, but don't need it for my iPad). I was very very happy with my recordings with the internal microphone of the ipad.
Hey Barry quick question I have a Rode NT1 that goes into a Scarlett solo, do you think upgrading to a Audient ID14 or a SSL 2 interface would get more juice outta the NT1?
I just bought a dbx 286s running through my Motu M2 for my NT1. It's fairly inexpensive and brought out some great definition and punch with it's preamp and compressor. For my current budget it works until I can save up for separate units.
Do you have any thoughts on the Mojave MA300 tube mic? In my current locker for my LDCs I have a Neumann tlm 102 and an AKG 414 B-ULS. I mainly record saxes and vocals
I have the lauten Atlantis. Big huge mic that honestly I just point at whatever I'm recording and it sounds passable. That's with almost no thought in regards to placement. I've used it in both large rooms and small and while I prefer using it in a large room it definitely still sounds amazing in a smaller room. Love the people over at lauten
I never understood wtf a project studio is ... and why channels spend so much time making videos for people who don't intend on making music "what they do", so because of numbers or RUclips? You choose to make music for people (kids, grown men?) who're playing? Someone help me understand, please. Who spends 1000's of dollar to make free music?
A massive army of us worldwide. I could care less if I made any money from it, it’s a passion. Ask yourself why would anyone buy a 50k decked out bass fishing boat when a John boat with a trolling motor will get you to where the fish are? I could give many examples like that.
@@BarryJohns I see your point, but my honest answer would be hopefully because it's better (more effective) for there bottom line (eg holds more fish, gas, etc.) and fishing is "what they do"... or they're rich and it's how they relax from working so hard. My logic is, why spend 50k with no ROI if people pay for bass, and the most successful people turn their "passion" into "what they do"? I made $1,000 the first time I burned a hundred cds of my (then horribly mixed) music in 4 hrs at 20yrs old living in California where I knew noone because I'm from Houston. I can't for the life of me see going to get a job "just for money" when people pay for our passion. I literally hate fishing for just that reason, my brain nags me that I'm wasting time. I truly believe (of course you may know better than I) content creaters' (of your salt) engagement would be of a higher quality if addressing us in the industry who actually have to use the technology and the art.
I know a big time engineer in Nashville, and years ago he told me that in my situation, recording at home, to save up and get one high end signal path, and then save up and get another one. I got a Neumann U-87 and a UA 610 MKII. I run through MOTU 8pre-ES. This is generally my vocal path, and it seems to make everything else sound better. The results have been really great over my budget mics and pres.
I really like my RODE Classic 2 going into an Avalon 737 found them used
A slightly different tack, but if you can solder, Mic Parts DIY mics are absolutely brilliant. I have made four of their Neumann- and AKG-derived mics and all three are excellent, excellent microphones. You can’t touch them for anywhere near the price. I’m not a fan of Warm Audio’s mic clones, I had the U87 and U47 FET clones and they both sounded listless on acoustic guitar, make, and female vocals.
Also consider downgrading your microphone. For vocals the AKG p220 kicks ASS and is only $135 on sweetwater right now. We blindfold tested it last year in an audio class I was in, most students picked the p220 over both the 414 and the u87 (at least with the singer we used for the test). I was still doubtful until I got one of my own. I've now been using a similar model, the akg p420 quite a bit now, which is almost the exact same except that it's got an omni and figure eight polar capabilities along with the standard cardioid pattern, allowing me to also get some performance out of it as the figure eight half of a mid-side setup on acoustic guitar. I don't use these for everything, but for a lot of vocalists it's very often the one I'm picking over the higher dollar mics in my studio. For $135 bucks the p220 blows me away, and for an extra $40 bucks for the other two polar patterns the similar p420 also does.
I use the Neumann tlm 102 and called it good
Been waiting on this vid 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I always learn something good from your videos. Thanks!
Adel , Halsey and dre used the slate ml-1. On vocals One republic used the sm57 on 2 of there tracks on vocals goes to show you it’s about having a great singer and engineer that know how to carve eq and get vocals to sit in the mix
The Neumann TLM 103 is my go to mic in the studio. Absolutely fantastic on vocals and acoustic guitar.
Upgraded to the TLM 103 from the Aston Origin
Avantone CV12, but with the Black Lion Audio mod.
I have always loved my Michael Joly modded mics. I have sent many mics to him over the years with the chunk being Oktava mics. It is a shame he does not mod them anymore.
Great video Berry! I’m definitely into the clones. Stem audio may be the next choice for me as in their Sony 800 G clone.
I just bought the most expensive mic I ever bought, the WA-8000, a Sony 800 clone. I really dig the sound, I’ve done a couple of videos on it on my channel if anyone wants to check that out. I’m still deciding on keeping it. So far I’m leaning to yes. I also have the sm7b so I think I got my bases covered, although I would love to have the best telefunkin 251 clone. I love that mic the most listening to it on RUclips but I want try it on my voice.
JZ & Singular Audio brings some great clone builds to the table. Own some mics from both of those companies. Both of them doing great Neumann stuff with JZ using a different technology to achieve it.
You are a really good source of experienced advice for someone like me who wants to improve quality of own music produced at home…thanks a lot!
Happy to help!
I use a Rode NT1A with the Antares Mic mod plug in set to the U47 long tube emulation with a Lewitt 440 pure run parallel and in phase via distance for my vocals. I just use the preamp on my Audient ID 14 MK II. I record a separate simultaneous track for each microphone and it works well on my voice. I also run a RCA BK5 ribbon microphone for certain background vocals. I am very happy with this set up for my own voice on a budget.
Great video Barry. It's always a pleasure to see all the gear you have acquired over the years. I bought a cheap Blue Spark SL a couple years ago during holiday season right after purchasing my UA Apollo Twin MKII Quad. I got the interface off eBay brand new for 800.00 which was a great deal, and the mic on sale for 130.00, but as my learning curve has gained knowledge and my ears to, I'm realizing that I need a better suited mic for my singer songwriter needs when paired with the Apollo Twin. I think I will explore the Warm Audio and Mojave microphones for vocals and acoustic guitar. Looking forward to the future videos.
Mojave MA 201FET & MA 301FET mics are awesome and definitely keepers.
Great info, Barry. I recently came across a pretty much one man band company in Finland called Nordic Audio Labs… he makes a 47 but with completely different components. The comps he has in his videos are practically identical! Quite astonishing I found. Wondered if you had any idea about that. Certainly take a look. His stuff is on RUclips. Also wondering how you rank the Pearlman 47 against the WA, or also the Golden Age 47…? Cheers
Pearlman all day!
@@BarryJohns Ha. Nice. Will be checking it out for sure. Do take a look at that Nordic Audio Labs 47... sounds pretty special. Thanks for the advice
A great "rule of thumb" I've learned when choosing an interface/mic preamp is to take the total sales price of the device and divide by the number of mic pres. For example, if your interface costs $1,000 and has 16 inputs, you're paying (all else aside) about $63 for each mic pre? You have to ask yourself, 'does that seem wise?'.
4.21 pm sunday Bondi Beach, Keep this going. Cheers Colin
I dig my AKG P220. Flat FR, nice bump around 5K, great bang for my buck as a younger brother of the Tube 820 that I ADORE for my voice. But since I already own a UA Apollo x4, I’d say my upgrade is most likely gonna be the Townsend system…the investment seems worth it!
+1 on the p220. I keep going back to it. The frequency response helps hide my long-voweled midwestern tendencies
Barry,have you tested the Rupert Neve designed SE RNT mic? I've heard it and I thought it was a reasonable alternative to the Telefunken U-47,and it retails for $2500 instead of the $9K for the Telefunken..
I was using an SM81 for acoustic guitar but picked up a WA-84 and haven't looked back (although I'll still use the SM81 or other mics for background guitars just to mix things up). I think I just really like transformer color though (I have a few mic pres with input & output transformers too). I still haven't heard an amp modeling solution that sounds like a tube amp to me, they don't sound bad, just don't sound like a tube amp. So, I spent a lot longer micing cabs until I got the Two Notes Captor X, now I don't feel the need to mic up cabs anymore.
Love the mention of respect for the buy and return policies, these things will go away if people treat multi thousand dollar audio purchases like amazon returns.
I have Lewitt lct 840, warm 87, akg 414, and Shure sm7b, they're all excellent. The Lewitt is the best tho for warmth and clarity in the low mids. It's too smooth for my voice but female vocals are great.
Thanks for sharing your wealth of info..question, Is your avantone the stock or bla modified? I tried one last year and didnt hear what i expected?
Any thoughts on Antelope or Earthworks? I do enjoy the RE20… it did take a little post work for me.
Another great video
Man is the search for mics a rabbit hole. I still find myself in it here and there. At least I took the time to make some videos along the way. He he.
Is there any test that can convince me that I need more than the internal microphone of an iPad to record singing vocals (mono is the best)? Warmth, timbre ... are no category for me. I can add that with my DAW and its plugins. I need only a very well defined sound, without instruments. (I have also a Zoom H1 and like it, but don't need it for my iPad). I was very very happy with my recordings with the internal microphone of the ipad.
If you are happy that’s all that matters.
@@BarryJohns Yes, for me. But music should also be shared. Therefore the quality should be enough. Perhaps am I not hearing what an expert would.
Hey Barry quick question I have a Rode NT1 that goes into a Scarlett solo, do you think upgrading to a Audient ID14 or a SSL 2 interface would get more juice outta the NT1?
I just bought a dbx 286s running through my Motu M2 for my NT1. It's fairly inexpensive and brought out some great definition and punch with it's preamp and compressor. For my current budget it works until I can save up for separate units.
For the price the Townsend Sphere sounds like a deal with 36 different mics . Have you tried the mic and would you recommend ?
Yes and YES!! B
What about the Leapwing Al Schmitt plug in ?
Just buy 2 x L-22s, a x8p and a x4 and call it a day.
Do you have any thoughts on the Mojave MA300 tube mic? In my current locker for my LDCs I have a Neumann tlm 102 and an AKG 414 B-ULS. I mainly record saxes and vocals
What is your openion on the antelope edge modelling mics Mr Johns?
Any thoughts on JZ or Lauten Audio? Those mics look very intriguing.
I have the lauten Atlantis. Big huge mic that honestly I just point at whatever I'm recording and it sounds passable. That's with almost no thought in regards to placement. I've used it in both large rooms and small and while I prefer using it in a large room it definitely still sounds amazing in a smaller room. Love the people over at lauten
So if I’m a guitar player recording hobbyist with $2000 hard earned cash saved up to blow would I spend it on a mic? Nope.
LMAO that you need ILOK malware to use the Slate digital ML-1 into the trashbin it goes with the rest of these DRM filled copeware.
I never understood wtf a project studio is ... and why channels spend so much time making videos for people who don't intend on making music "what they do", so because of numbers or RUclips? You choose to make music for people (kids, grown men?) who're playing? Someone help me understand, please. Who spends 1000's of dollar to make free music?
A massive army of us worldwide. I could care less if I made any money from it, it’s a passion. Ask yourself why would anyone buy a 50k decked out bass fishing boat when a John boat with a trolling motor will get you to where the fish are? I could give many examples like that.
@@BarryJohns I see your point, but my honest answer would be hopefully because it's better (more effective) for there bottom line (eg holds more fish, gas, etc.) and fishing is "what they do"... or they're rich and it's how they relax from working so hard. My logic is, why spend 50k with no ROI if people pay for bass, and the most successful people turn their "passion" into "what they do"?
I made $1,000 the first time I burned a hundred cds of my (then horribly mixed) music in 4 hrs at 20yrs old living in California where I knew noone because I'm from Houston. I can't for the life of me see going to get a job "just for money" when people pay for our passion. I literally hate fishing for just that reason, my brain nags me that I'm wasting time.
I truly believe (of course you may know better than I) content creaters' (of your salt) engagement would be of a higher quality if addressing us in the industry who actually have to use the technology and the art.