Originally Posted by joeq ➡️

What's it to you how many "inches" you are from the mic? If a different mic sounds better at a different distance get to within the amount of inches that sounds best.

Dynamics tend to have less gain. As you get farther away you will need to turn them up more for the same level of singing. With a decent preamp, or a loud voice, the volume requirement may not be an issue.

But the further away from the mic you are, the greater the percentage of 'room' you are going to get in the recording. You will have to make a choice. Fix your room or sing closer to the mic.





first of all, IMO, while the whole "forgiving of a bad room" is something of a truism, it is taken way too seriously around here IMHO. People who do studio vocals on condensers often get to within 3-4 inches too. People with bad rooms get that room leaking onto their dynamic mics too. It's not a magic bullet. It's a slight edge in my opinion and an edge that can be overwhelmed by other considerations.

Dynamic cardioids tend to be a tighter pattern than condenser cardioids. But they are still mics, they still in the same damn room. When you get really close to a mic you get proximity effect which is probably the "directly in the listener's ear" thing you are talking about. Some mics - like the RE-20 can allow you to get really close and minimize this effect. Sound more natural.

Omni mics can as well, but you are trying to keep the room out, so forget them.

There are ways to treat your room and then you should use the kind of mic that sounds best for the recording you are trying to get. Don't buy a mic based on your room. Buy the best mic you can and fix your damn room. Personally, if I couldn't fix the room, I would still choose the mic I liked the sound of best.

Originally Posted by Wayne ➡️

To add to what's been said, typically live vocal dynamics (like your E835) are tailored -voiced- with a low freq roll off -to compensate for the strong proximity effect of their intended close working distance-
And it's mostly the closer working distance that gives them better 'voice to room isolation effect.

The down sides here are; the (arguably) compromised tones of being 'real close up', and the very strong swings in tone and level from small distance changes for the same reason.
And their generally thin tone when you do use them farther back.

Up shot is, get some baffles -at least, a couple inches thick, around you and the mic, some above to do the ceiling? Now you have expanded your available usable mic working distances, which also opens up your mic choices.

Originally Posted by Monsieur_R ➡️

Fantastic advice! Have someone come over to your place, and have them set the template up with you so you understand.

Originally Posted by el_gringo ➡️

From what you've posted IMO the best thing for you to do would be to ignore the room entirely, mix on headphones and buy an Isovox or Auralex Headbooth.

Originally Posted by patshep ➡️

I'm sorry but an sm57 can do some awesome vocal tracks, and has made a lot of hits, and it's cheap
with a good singer you can get amazing results with a cheap condenser, but the m88 has such smoothness, i'd rather it (still not expensive at $200 used)

Originally Posted by walterlopez8 ➡️

Because of your post and finding a Mint conditioned M88 for $275, Ive narrowed down my mic choices to keeping the e835(arriving today) or returning it for a M88. Since its hypercardiod, it will be helpful because the bedroom I have access to is untreated. No more Yeti usb and decided to avoid going down the cheap condenser route. Its come down to the e835 or M88 at this point. The SM7B used is more expensive(im on a budget) and I've heard both the sm7b and m88 are Hi Fi. So the M88 is basically on the same level. I just dont know if I should spend the extra $175 on the M88 for a slight improvement?

Originally Posted by walterlopez8 ➡️

Because of your post and finding a Mint conditioned M88 for $275, Ive narrowed down my mic choices to keeping the e835(arriving today) or returning it for a M88. Since its hypercardiod, it will be helpful because the bedroom I have access to is untreated. No more Yeti usb and decided to avoid going down the cheap condenser route. Its come down to the e835 or M88 at this point. The SM7B used is more expensive(im on a budget) and I've heard both the sm7b and m88 are Hi Fi. So the M88 is basically on the same level. I just dont know if I should spend the extra $175 on the M88 for a slight improvement?