Better than SM58 for vocals but not too sensitive?

[Fencible]

Can you recommend a vocal mic that will capture more of the subtleties and detail of a voice without being so sensitive they pick up too much background noise in my less than perfectly soundproofed studio?

Putting it another way, are great vocal mics only about extreme sensitivity?
If not what else should I look for in a vocal mic?

[Scott Greenberg]

You might want to consider some kind of acoustic treatments in your "studio". Even if its just hanging some curtains or blankets to absorb some of the outside sound.

Then I think you'll have a lot more options for mics, and can probably get more usable results from sensitive/condenser mics.

OR

if you completely ignore the first half of my comment, there are lots of other dynamic mics I record with (RE20, M88 etc) That are going to be less sensitive and may get you good results.

[kslight]

SM7

[@?,*???&?]

Can you recommend a vocal mic that will capture more of the subtleties and detail of a voice without being so sensitive they pick up too much background noise in my less than perfectly soundproofed studio?

Putting it another way, are great vocal mics only about extreme sensitivity?
If not what else should I look for in a vocal mic?

Pick up a Supercardioid or Hypercardioid pick-up pattern mic. Cuts down ambient noise by 8% over what a lone cardioid allows for. If an Omni mic allows 100% ambient sensitivity, then cardioid allows 33% and hyper/super allow around 25%. These figures are from Shure Microphones.

Another caveat to keep in mind is that the sphere of sensitivity is around 20' for a condenser mic and around 5' for a dynamic. Therefore, your super or hypercardioid mic should be a dynamic.

[chris harris]

SM7

[@?,*???&?]

SM7

Still a cardioid with 33% ambient leakage.

[fossiltooth]

SM7

Still a cardioid with 33% ambient leakage.

Still an ideal choice for this poster.

As I'm typing this, I'm sitting 5 feet from a singer who's doing a live vocal take in the CR. I can promise you it'd be totally useable if we wanted to keep this one.

[Recycled_Brains]

SM7

or 441.

[kayagum]

Maybe Heil PR40 or PR30?

+1 on SM7

[ott0bot]

sm7 is good, but you if you don't project your voice enough...they can really sound dull to me. Just my experience.

I'd opt for an electrovoice re11, re15 or even a re20. With the lack of proximity effect you can put on a windscreen and get fairly close without getting too boomy. The 11 or 15 will have a tighter pattern but re20 is a bit more sensitive so you can use a bit less gain and get a solid signal. All the mics have a nice and clean sound with decent midrange and character. Then you can eq and compress to taste after tracking. Avoid compression to tape so you get less room sound.

That sennheiser 441 would be boss for this too!

Also...using a low cut on the mic or preamp can help get more midrange and high frequencies through with less room sound. If you don't have money for real acoustic treatment, put up blankets on reflective surfaces and sing out of a corner not into it so you can have less early reflections. Keeping the mic out of the space directly between the ceiling and floor can keep standing waves minimalized as well.

[Fencible]

Note my room does not have reflective sound problems, only external sound penetration bothers me a little. ie sound damping is OK but sound proofing less than perfect.

Some great suggestions to check out. I appreciate it and will certainly try the ones I can afford.

[Snarl 12/8]

Keeping the mic out of the space directly between the ceiling and floor can keep standing waves minimalized as well.

How is this possible in an indoor environment?

[Producer/Engineer]

Can you recommend a vocal mic that will capture more of the subtleties and detail of a voice without being so sensitive they pick up too much background noise in my less than perfectly soundproofed studio?

YES I CAN. The Telefunken M80 Dynamic Microphone.

http://www.telefunken-elektroakustik.co ... 4&cat=mics

[Scodiddly]

Another caveat to keep in mind is that the sphere of sensitivity is around 20' for a condenser mic and around 5' for a dynamic. Therefore, your super or hypercardioid mic should be a dynamic.

Assuming gain settings for equal output, no difference in "depth of pickup" between condensor and dynamic.

[drumsound]

M88