Hi,

I’ve got quite a few jobs coming up where I’m recording some very quiet and sibilant voices for radio interviews and for other general vocal duties. Some of the recordings will be young children who speak very quietly.
I would like a non tube mic with a very low noise and high output that is also good and reducing sibilance.

I currently have :-

Audio Technica AT4040
JZ Microphones V11
Shure KSM32a
Miktek MK-300

All of these mics have their strengths but these are the things I’ve noticed about them

AT4040 - needs the least amount of gain and generally has a good sound. It can sound a little sibilant on some voices and the high mids can sound a little phasey on certain voices.
JZ V11 - great at reducing sibilance and has a nice ribbon like tone. It does perhaps sound a little too dark on some voices.
Shure KSM32a - is the darkest of all the mics. Doesn’t sound as articulate on some voices.
Miktek MK-300 - is the brightest of these mics but also sounds larger than life. The sound is articulate and the high mids are less smeared than the AT4040. However, the self noise is higher than the other mics and has the lowest output requiring more gain on the preamp. This is also the most sensitive to sibilance.

Ideally what I would like is something with a similar sound to the Miktek MK-300 but better at rejecting sibilance. I would also like something with at least as much output as the AT4040 but even less self noise.

My budget is around £500.
What would you recommend?

Why not just add some EQ to the KSM32? It’s an excellent neutrally-voiced mic and takes eq well. I cannot make sense of wanting a 5th mic in the exact same price range.

This seems like the solution that makes the most sense to me.

Otherwise, the mic that comes to mind is the Gefell M930... should be great for quiet sources, and sibilance can always be controlled with positioning technique (and vocal technique). Very low self-noise and a generally pleasing sound.

Alternative plan...
Particularly for the Kids.
EV RE50 cranked up and close to their mouth.
(EV 635a was a TV Broadcast Standard 60's to 80's-for a reason )

Or just ask Bob Ohlsson, if any of you don't believe me.

The High Rent version, would be RE20's all around.
Chris
P.S. IIRC Dickie you already have nice Pre's.

No mic is going to completely take care of the natural sibilance in most people's voices, and while there are some known microphonic offenders that are guaranteed to make this worse (NT1, TLM103 etc), there are many others where their overall fidelity is fairly true and natural vocal HF is just something most of us are used to dealing with in post.

I also think for someone who already owns excellent preamps like yourself, your "very low noise, very high output" demand might be worth revisiting in view of the fact that affordable modern DSP tools like RX Elements can so easily make excess noise a virtual non-issue in most realworld situations.

Anyways...

Sticking with what you already have... I can say that in my own experience on my own voice I find the KSM32 to be a superior mic to the AT4040. While it's not what you might call an exactingly neutral sound, there's no trace of harshness or boxiness in a KSM32 and they just seem to work well and sound decent on a lot of sources. I can't say the same of the AT4040; I usually prefer a KSM32 to a C414-XLS in cardioid too.

(Is there a particular reason you've taken your Vanguard V13 out of the running?)

The flattest LDC I encounter in my voice-over work is the TLM193, but that's going to be double your budget - it's a very good all-round 'can't go wrong' choice of LDC though, with little to none of the HF lift that so many others exhibit.

While I'm still not clear on the exact parameters of your brief, I'd perhaps choose a mic more suited to the task, so if you're out interviewing kids who have no mic technique and can't sit still for two seconds then I like Chris' suggestion of the classic EV635a interview omni. It's also perhaps less intimidating than having them sat in front of a huge Neumann that is bigger than they are and telling them to sit absolutely still or else!

The MD-441 is probably the 'smoothest' mic I own but the sweet spot is narrow and I wouldn't necessarily think it the best choice for working with youngsters. And it does need oodles of clean gain.

Nevaton MC 440

I agree. No such thing as a non-sibilant mic. Vocalists or voice-over people are sibilant. Mics are not.

Sibilance is why de-essers were invented.

The KSM32 doesn’t really have any issues with being “articulate”, though it’s not particularly hyped in the treble range.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm not knocking the KSM32. It is a great mic. I do slightly prefer the voicing of the JZ V11 overall on vocals which I use a lot more often.
However, I would like to add another mic that is voiced somewhere between the JZ V11 and Miktek MK-300.

The Vanguard V13 is my favorite vocal mic that I own and is consistently my top pick on a wide variety of vocals. However, I sometimes need to just stick a mic on a stand and press record quickly. The V13 tends to get used more on premium jobs or when I have the luxury of time and I often use the V11 or MK-300 for quick jobs.

I own Acon's Acoustica Premium which is excellent at reducing noise on recordings but I don't want to spend extra time doing this. I would much prefer to capture the source more efficiently with the least amount of noise in the first place.

I've been offered a secondhand Shure KSM44 and Audio Technica AT4047. I'm also quite interested in the new Sony C80 and Roswell mics.
What I would like is something that is a little brighter than the KSM32/JZ V11 but not as bright as the AT4040 and Miktek MK-300.

A couple of mics that I’m interested in are :-

JZ Amethyst
Blue Baby Bottle

From what I’ve heard listening to various comparisons on Audio Test Kitchen and online shootouts, both of these sit somewhere between the KSM32/JZV 11 and the AT4040/MK300 in terms of brightness. They both also have high output and low self noise.
I might pick one of these up to compare to my other mics.

Also, I’m tempted to change my Warm TB12 mic preamps for the Cranborne EC2. Whilst I really like the TB12’s and find them to have low self noise (-129 dBu EIN according to Warm Audio) the Cranborne EC2 potentially has less self noise and I really like the sound of the Mojo circuit and the other features such as the C.A.S.T. system and high quality headphone amplifiers.

I was going to suggest the AT4047 actually. This is a good mic with a Neumann type mid forward and rounded top end. I was really impressed with it. We picked one up for about £250.00, it’s essentially supposed to be a U47 fet.
Bit of a sleeper I feel.

Just to add, I had the Shure KSM32 for a short time before the 4047 arrived. The KSM is a solid mic, its going to give you a quality capture. I got it specifically for a sibilant vocalist but I found it didn’t actually help and I didn’t especially like it - oh and in removing the XLR cable managed to pull its innards out through the hole - not reassuring for a brand new product.

The 4047 is quite like the KSM in some ways but has a more intriguing character at the top end.

I still have this, but the poor thing never had its day because a Flea47 arrived soon after.

Thanks Griff. I tried the AT4047 a few years ago and liked it. I did find it similarly bright as the AT4040 but with richer mids

Unless you move up a price point or two most microphones are going to be ‘flawed’ in some way and work really well on fewer voices and ok on most. Lauten Audio have a great reputation for microphones with smooth top end, often quoted as an antidote for harsh sibilant mics.

Are dynamic mics out of the question?
AKGD202 is a wonderful sounding vocal mic if its in full working order (many are not these days) but used can be less than £200.00.
Senheiser MD441 can also be a nice balance between almost condenser like performance but less detailed high end, for around £800.

Yes I like the look of the Lauten Atlantis.

What are your thoughts on the Austrian Audio OC818?

If you do get your hands on a JZ Amethyst, I'd be very curious how you find it. I heard only wonderful things about the Violet Amethyst, so if the JZ version is comparable, it's probably quite a nice mic. I know JZ had a few controversies in the past but I'd hope they've ironed out any QC/logistics issues by now.

Sadly, Logitech (who bought Blue) are discontinuing that venerable brand, it seems – so if you want a Baby Bottle, you'll probably have to get it used, and go to a third party if it ever needs service!

Regarding the OC818, I have two and think they're top-notch. Currently my top recommendation to anyone looking for a studio all-rounder in the $1000 ballpark.

Thanks. Yes, that's a shame regarding the Blue range of mics!

I think I'm leaning towards the Austrian OC818 or JZ Amethyst.

I gave my Baby Bottle SL away as a gift...
To a family I'm close with.
Husband is Bass Baritone/Wife and their adult Daughter Mezzo's.

Better fit on them.
Me? Not a fit on this High Baritone (also Irish Tenor in long term training)

BTW the Baby Bottle's are all excellent on Acoustic Guitar.

The original Latvian made BB's are bound to go up in value BTW.
Chris
P.S. Not sure if Cheu still has his JZ.
You may want to PM him.

I think the Austrian Audio OC818 would be a far more useful mic than the Baby Bottle. Also, the JZ Amethyst is the next step up from the V11 in JZ's lineup regarding brightness! As I like the V11 so much this could be a great option?

A strong Pre and some EV 635a's might save you some headaches.
Omni can be a blessing and 635a's still sound good.
Chris
P.S. More than one blind Radio Station shootout...
Had the 635a/RE50 finish top 3.
Versus RE20/SM7/etc.

Yeah the 818 is the obvious pick here but it's out of budget. You won't regret it though.

If you're willing to go used, my 414 B-ULS is the best mic I own and I use it on everything.

Isn't the AA OC818 an edge terminated capsule?

In my experience that's never a great capsule design if you're trying to avoid sibilance, at least that's been true of my voice and others I've recorded who have sibilance issues.

I’ve no experience with the OC818, but have owned the 414 and a 414EB with brass capsule.
I know people who love the 414, me personally I think they are ok. I’m not sure it really would tackle your sibilance issue particularly.

Shure KSM 44a

With kids?


Chris

If you want all those qualities in a mic, I suggest a non-5K hyped Neumann like U89 or 170R.

As a cheaper alternative, Look at Mic's from Advanced Audio like CM414.

The high end on the 818 is quite pleasant and very easy to tame on bright sources. I find it to be a chameleon of a mic, I can make it fit into just about any application I need it for. My most versatile mics, I think, by far.

AA are making world-class capsules while charging reasonable prices. Classy folks, it seems.

I don't know if that's completely true even though it is a brighter type of capsule in my experience. My 414 B-ULS has an edge-terminated capsule and that mic is completely flat. Maybe the transformer helps, but I wouldn't rule a mic out based on capsule alone.

I haven't tried the OC818 myself, but from everything I've listened to, it seems to be just a tad brighter than my 414, which would be not that bright at all.

- Studio Projects CS1
- 3u Audio Warbler MK I
- Rode NT1 Newer Black edition

From reverb, I suggest this:
https://reverb.com/item/70479951-son...-condition?bk=