Best Mic for Recording Vocals

Hey All! Hope you’re having a great day so far. Let’s talk microphones, what they do, what they don’t do, and how to pick one for your studio.

First of all, let’s talk about mics and what they do. When you sing or talk, your voice creates vibrations in the air. A microphone takes those vibrations and turns them into electrical signals that are then recorded for playback. There’s two main kinds of mics - dynamic and condenser -  and they’re suited for different applications. Dynamic mics are best for live use or for recording loud sounds. Condenser mics are best used in the studio and for recording all the intricacies of a voice or softer instrument. 

For recording vocals, most of the time you’ll want to go with a condenser mic. Generally when recording, you’ll want to capture the nuances in your performance, and condenser mics typically sound much cleaner than dynamic mics when it comes to recording. That being said, occasionally you’ll find that a dynamic mic sounds better if you want slightly grittier vocals or are recording particularly loud vocals or instruments. For the purposes of this blog, I’m gonna stick mostly to condenser mics since those are most applicable for recording vocals.

Are certain mics better for certain genres?

Short answer: no

Long answer: also no, but a little more nuanced

Microphones are pretty sensitive depending on which ones you buy. Additionally, mics each have their own characteristic tone. Some mics are darker and some are brighter. Some may feel sharper or more mellow. However, these differences are subtle. What affects tone more (outside of the actual performances from the vocalist) are distance and angle. Most microphones are optimized to record sound directly from the front of the mic. That’s where you’ll most likely get the crispest and clearest sound. However, the angle of the mic and how far you are from it will affect your tone.

If you tilt a mic so that it points closer to a vocalist’s forehead, the mic focuses on the nasal area instead of the mouth and you’ll pick up a lot more nasally bright tones. If you tilt it down so it points closer to a vocalist’s chest, you’ll pick up a darker, more robust tone from the mic being focused on the chest or throat. These are creative techniques that you can use to balance out the tone of a vocal or affect it one way or another.

Similarly, distance to a mic is just as important. Generally speaking, the tone you’re most familiar with in a voice is from day to day conversations. You’re hearing someone speak from a distance of 1-3 feet away. Compare that sound to the sound of someone talking or whispering directly in your ear. It’s much different. The closer you put a microphone to the source of sound, the darker and thicker the tone will be. This is because low frequencies disperse faster than high frequencies, so your mic will pick up more lows from the sound source the closer it gets.

So with this being said, what should you look for in a mic?

In most cases, you’ll want a microphone that sounds clear and that you can work with. If you go with a particular moody sounding mic, it might not work in most situations. My recommendation is that you start off with a decently transparent mic and get used to working with it first. Doing this will also help you get a general understanding of how to work with microphones in a recording setting. After you’re comfortable, you can start looking at more nuanced mics for special usage.

Now for the part you probably came here for. What are my recommendations?

Here’s a list of microphones that I would recommend. I’ve sorted them by budget and also given a brief description of what each microphone would be used for.

Intro Budget

Most introductory mics won’t sound incredibly clear, but they’re workhorses and will last you for years and years even if you don’t take the best care of them. They’ll usually run anywhere from $99-$399. For introductory budget mics, I recommend the following:

SE Electronics X1A - $149

The SE Electronics X1A is a basic intro condenser mic that works for almost every purpose. It’s decently transparent and works in a variety of situations. I’ve used it on vocals, guitars, percussion, and even the occasional xylophone. It’s pretty crisp and clear for the price point.

Audio Technica AT2020 - $149

The Audio Technica AT2020 is a great alternative to the SE Electronics X1A. It’s warmer sounding, but you’ll still get a very clear recording from it. I love how this mic sounds on guitar amps because it adds a warm texture to everything it records. 

Medium Budget

Medium budget mics are what I would consider microphones that successful home studios have. They’re generally clean sounding and have distinct characteristics. You’ll get a lot less problematic frequencies in your recordings and they’ll be easier to work with if you have a decent grasp on recording techniques. They’re around $400-$800 usually. I’ve listed four of them below.

Neumann TLM 102 - $872

The Neumann TLM 102 is a more affordable version of the Neumann TLM 103, one of the industry standard condenser mics. It’s very clear sounding and crisp, and works for just about every situation. However, when it comes down to transparent microphones, I prefer the one below.

Slate Digital ML-1 - $799

The Slate Digital ML-1 is the magic transformer in the world of microphones. Aside from being one of the most transparent and crisp microphones in its price range, the ML-1 also comes with a software mic locker, essentially allowing you to turn it into any vintage microphone of your choice. It’s the best bang for your buck since it works in so many situations and can morph itself into sounding like other mics.

Sure SM7B and Cloudlifter - $799 + $277

The Shure SM7B is a great mic if you’re looking to build a home studio in an apartment with less than ideal rooms for recording. It’s a dynamic mic that functions incredibly well in spaces that condenser mics don’t work well in. The SM7B also works well in live settings or when recording in noisy environments. The only downside to this mic is that it isn’t as clean sounding as a condenser mic and it also functions best with the use of an external preamp like the Cloudlifter. 

Avatone CV-12 - $699

The Avatone CV-12 is a special mention because it’s a tube condenser - meaning that it uses a vacuum tube to boost the signal it receives. Because of this, the CV-12 gives an incredibly precise, crisp, and yet warm texture to everything it records. One of my favorite microphones when it comes to adding character to instruments or vocals. 

Regardless of which mic you choose…

The most important thing is to understand how to position the mic to get the sound you want! If you need any help with that, feel free to reach out for tips or lessons!

As always, keep creating.

Spike