I’ve been using the SM7B for years in my home studio but want to finally move towards a different sound with a condenser as I feel like I have to process the vocals way too much with the SM7B

I mostly make modern sounding pop punk so would want that high end clean sound from the mic if that makes sense.

Recently I bought an AKG C414ii and absolutely hated it on my voice and will be sending it back.

I’ve been looking at a ton of other options;

Sony C100
TLM 103
TLM 49
U87ai
Telefunken TF51

My room is semi treated - will be adding more panels soon and I run all my microphones into a Scarlett 18i20. Would I need a better preamp to get the most out of these mic? (Im looking at some RME options currently)

Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately I live in a country where renting or trying out gear is almost impossible so would have to be blind buying.

The AT 4060 with a Mullard NOS tube is a killer with 47ish quality sonic delivery. It and some of the Pelusos tubes are IMO the best all around sub 2K mics available.
Hugh

Don't buy anything for another 3 weeks or so. As if you do buy something in that price bracket before then you are likely to want to send that back as well. Whatever it is. Can't really say much more right now......

Could you order from thomann or a dealer that let you send back the mic in case you won’t like it?
I believe it will be the only way..

Some sources are more picky than others..

The AT 4060a is a good suggestion though.. works with almost anything (IF that’s you I don’t know..)

A Vanguard V13 could also be a good option, I have to admit they sound quite nice, they did a good job.

Btw none of the mics of your list are tube mics… (other than the tf51)..
Not that is too important..
you need to find the right mic for your source/voice..

It is not a tube mic but a Milab DC196 could also be a good candidate.

What wasn’t good on the 414 you tested?
What was not of your liking?

howdy

Cheu

where is the u87ai sold new for under $2000?

it lists for $3595 in the united states.

i'm confused: you said returns for you are impossible, but you also said you are planning to return the 414. you said your budget is <$2000, but you listed a mic that is $3595.

please clarify.

What didn’t you like about the 414? I’d be looking at Austrian Audio oc818 in that price range, but that is definitely in the 414 realm. I think Soyuz 017 fet is over $2,000 now, but it’s somewhere around there.

I really like the Beesneez b67-269, but it doesn’t make me think “high end clean”, but either does the u87, for that matter.

All suggestions will be shots in the dark and will have about 0.03% chance of working out for you.

If you keep buying expensive things because some random GS guy shot an idea from their arse at you, you'll be in a lot of (financial) pain.

I'd start with a cheap modeling mic (maybe used one if possible) to find out what mic type works for your voice first before spending that much money on some nicer, final choice..

Also, expensive mics are a waste of money until you get every other duck in a row (room, recording technique, mixing skill). Any duck not in a row will screw up all your efforts and that $2000 mic will sound no better than a $50 one.

Seems my being vague was even too vague lol. I guess that's better than the other way around, as that would be uncouth.

Welcome to the Forum!

Please post one or more raw, unprocessed WAV clips of your voice in isolation singing into the AKG C414 XLII.

(Don't worry about an equivalent SM7B clip for now as no one in the history of Gearspace has ever posted a raw WAV of a half decent vocal with this mic straight into a Scarlett preamp; it's a match made in hell, as literally thousands of tearful/furious posts here will confirm.)

A raw WAV will instantly help establish a) the general tonality/style of your natural singing voice and b) what it was that you say the AKG LDC is doing to your voice that you "absolutely hated".

Absent some WAVs and this is just another $2k mic crapshoot; and by that I mean you're just gonna get a list of mics for +/-$2k which doesn't actually inform you any better than 5-minutes on Google.

Hey, i forgot mention in the main post that im willing to break the budget a bit for something if it can last me years and will sound good on most sources.

I order from Thomann but it’s a hassle returning things overseas, and I’m not sure how many mics I can try out with them being open to me sending it back if I don’t like it.

well I like my tlm103 despite the hatred it often gets here, try listening to some audio clips online, you will need to know what you want before buying, try finding a studio who has a good collection of mics and ask if they can record you in some downtime, you never know, it would be worth paying for studio time if they'll do it.

If you can spring for it, U87ai is a very safe bet. It will sound good on most sources and last you years.

Are you actually in the Bronx? You're a quick train ride from some of the best recording studios in the world, and rates in NYC aren't as crazy as you'd think. Book a B room at a good studio with ten great mics and try them out. Figure out what you like from experience in a great room with another good set of ears to help you out. Money well spent.

Otherwise, if I were looking for an all-purpose great-quality modern LDC under $2k USD, I'd be checking these out: Austrian OC818, Gefell M930, Gefell UMT70s, Neumann TLM193, Neumann TLM107, or Milab DC96.