Hey guys!

Years ago you helped me pick out a vocal mic to suit my voice (male tenor), I ended up going with a BeesNeez Tribute 1 which I have loved ever since.

I’m now looking for a mic for backing vocals/harmonies to contrast with/compliment the Tribute 1 for under $1500. I have an SM7B but I’d like another option as I do a lot of three part harmonies. Bonus if it also sounds decent on acoustic guitar.

I’ve been looking at the JZ Vintage 67 and Mojave MA-200 but I’m open to any and all suggestions.

I’ve attached a file just to give a sample of what my voice sounds like (skip about 35 seconds in to get to the chorus).


Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions!

Edit: signal chain for lead vocals is BeesNeez Tribute 1->Electronaut m63->Black Lion Bluey->Lynx Aurora (n)

Hoping to add an Audioscape Opto Comp and EQP-A to that eventually.

I can't think of anything in particular that would make a specific mic more tailored to "backing vocals," or what qualities one would necessarily look for in a mic for the application of backing vocals. I mean, if you just want something blander sounding that doesn't stand out too much, then an Electrovoice RE-20 would be a good one to look at. It's pretty neutral sounding; not much of a sonic signature. Real versatile and can be used on just about anything (including lead vocal in certain situations).

I probably should have put it in the title of the thread as opposed to the book I wrote in the subject of the post - but I’m specifically looking for something that will compliment/contrast with a u47 style mic!

RE-20 is definitely a good budget friendly option. I don’t have a ton of experience with them outside of throwing one on the odd floor tom: would it be covering similar ground as an SM7B?

I don't know if there is such a thing as one mic complimenting or contrastng with another, necessarily. But as you start layering, certain artifacts can become more apparent as they multiply. So I would usually opt for something with as light of a footprint as possible. And re20 is about as neutral as it gets for a < $1K mic, outside of the usual suspects like the Shure ksm32 / SM-81 and similar.

(On a shoestring, there's the Line Audio CM4, and for peanuts the CAD e100sx which I could see holding up with multiple layering)

You have a classic-styled 47 tube mic and the actually classic SM7b. I would suggest that the WA87 R2 is another classic flavor. I liked my first one enough that I bought a second. The current price allows that. It has the fairly flat EQ and transformer flavor that 80s 87s had. It isn’t a Neumann, but it is a fair distance in that direction.

Yes. To my ear the RE20 is a somewhat more refined SM7b. Nothing wrong with having both, but the RE20 wouldn’t give you a clearly different vocal sound.

In that price range you can get a seriously good FET LDC... Austrian Audio, Milab/Pearl, Gefell, or one of the better Neumann TLM like the 107 or 193. Might as well get something high quality that you can keep forever!

Absolutely nothing wrong with the RE20, it's a great mic, but I'd spring for one of the above in my position. Get a really good solid state LDC as an alternative option to your cool tube mic.

If you really want a mic as a complement to your main mic, I would suggest looking at mics that could be your lead vocal mic... on a different song. Don't think of it as a "backing vocal mic". Think of it as an "alternative lead vocal mic." Often I use the same mic for backing vocals and then just process them differently in the mix. And if I want it to sound 'realistic', getting different humans to sing on the same mic will get me closer than using different mics on the same human.

For some songs, I am really digging ribbon mics on lead vox these days. But that's quite a 'contrast' in sound, and you'd have to be sure that you would want it.

again, not for everything, but I love ribbons on acoustic guitar and even more so on electric guitar cab.

$1,500 budget? Get one Shure KMS44 and one Cascade Fathead II.

But be sure to read joeq's post ^^^above.

Thanks, Bushman! I’ve had the pleasure of working with some nice vintage 87’s and they were fantastic - a more affordable clone/inspired mix like the WA87 or a Stam SA-87i is definitely on the list now and would be a nice flavour to have as an option.

You’re right, I should definitely be thinking of this as something more than just a “backing vocal mic” as I could make a purchase that is much more versatile than something intended for that singular and rather shallow usage haha.

A ribbon sounds great. Would provide a totally different flavour and, I’d imagine, would be useful for a lot of the super high/tinny harmony vocals since many ribbons have a rolled off top end. Since you’ve commented I’ve been looking up YouTube demos as well as reading threads on here to decide on a ribbon.

I’m thinking I want something more “vintage” and dark sounding that will sound good on higher/more shrill vocals and that can also add some heft to acoustic guitars. I’m generally playing spruce topped/rosewood backed Taylor’s and the tend to be pretty bright through my BeesNeez lulu’s or Josephson e22S.

The NoHype LRM-V almost sounds like a no-brainer purchase considering some of the sound examples and comparisons posted here though the AEA R84 or Stager SR-2N are also alluring.

Thanks for the suggestion, man!

Reading some threads on the KSM44 it seems like it’s very well liked and versatile. I’ll have to look up some sound examples/comparisons. As I said in my reply to joeq I’m kind of gravitating to the NoHype LRM-V, AEA R84, or Stager SR-2N (or SR-3) but I’ll add the KSM44 to the list of ribbons to check out!

The LRMV is a fantastic mic. I have one and A-B'd it with some lovely AEA mics, and while the R84 was my favorite overall, the LRMV was so close that I couldn't justify buying the more expensive one. I don't use ribbons that often, so just having this one makes sense... it does all the ribbony things I need when I need them, it's good quality, and it was affordable.

A much more universally useful mic, though, would be something like an Austrian OC818, with tons of polar patterns and a relatively flat midrange (with some air on top that's easily filtered out if needed). Very different frequency emphasis to a Neumann-style capsule. I tend to have one Neumann and one OC818 set up in my small studio all the time, and between the two I can get nearly all my work done quickly.

EDIT: KSM44 is a great suggestion too, I don't own one but have tons of respect for Shure!

My call would be anything in the C12 lineage. That could be an OC818, a good option at your price point, or you could go upscale and get one of several very nice '251 recreations. The point here is that it's a completely different sound than what you have: more top extension, less midrange. Of course, if you want BGV's to "blend", you can just use the same mic you have now. Based on the song sample, I could see the two mics swapping roles on some songs.

I was going to suggest something in the C12/251 family to compliment your more mid-forward lead vocal.

The Vanguard mics are also a great value for that style. BeesNeez C12A clone fits your budget too, and it sounds great based on what I’ve heard.

I agree with this. Oftentimes, I’m cutting between 2-5 kHz on backing vocals to get behind the lead, and adding air.