@@SanjayC u got the nt1a.. didn't really liked the sound of it, but it was the best for a cheap budget. now I got the wa251 + uad plugins in the console.. I really like the sound now
Wow, the Manley mic was my first choice in the blind test, it sounded a lot rounder and smoother than the other mics. Second was the tlm103. However I didn’t like the sound of the warm audio mic at all. It sounded pretty unbalanced and bad to me, no match to the u 87 Neumann. However I was surprised, that the Rhode Nt 1A stood up so good against the other mics
You named my top 2. I didn't like the Warm Audio mic either. It sounded very band-passed: like it was in the inside of a trash can. However, I also didn't like the Rode. Maybe it's because I used to own one and was able to recognize what I don't like about it. It can work on a lower pitched voice, but it's bad for bright or sibilant voices.
In fact after hearing the first I was like wow. It was the best to me and the D mic......but with the other songs he sang....the u87 sounded nice but taming the high ssss but still I preferred the mic A
AT2020 Rather neutral not as transparent as the ones shown here. I saw especially the AT4050 having a male vocal sensing transparency as well and it is not that expensive. The U87 has a transparency that is unreached and you always have the feeling there is some more in the recording.
Neumann U87 the best ... as usual. Simply it fits in the mix really nice and sounding natural, with the ability to sound as anyone's taste as it accepts processing really great.
I have worked a lot with U87s and C414s in the eighties when I assisted my father who recorded Jazz and Classic at that time. Definitely the 87 still is the go-to mic for vocals, but for male voices in certain cases the AKG 414 (depending a bit on the version, I prefer the EB) sounds more complete. My father’s Neumanns and AKGs are long gone and today I am more on the budget side owning a Rode NT2A, an Audio Technica AT4035, a JZ BH-2 and an Austrian Audio OC818. The Rode is a great allrounder, the AT is awesome on guitars and drums (I do not really like it for vocals). When it comes to the JZ it is an outstanding mic that Is somewhat perfect for almost everything. It sounds modern and neutral without any harshness or sterility but also without any vintage vibe, just pure and clean. My go-to mic for female and many male vocals. When it comes to rock vocals in deeper ranges or even shouting and growling in metal the OC818 is a weapon. It is a modern version of the C414 (in fact the Austrian Audio engineers are the former R&D department of AKG). Changing polar patterns after the recording via plugin, even with multiple patterns for different frequency ranges, is a killer feature.
My number 1 was the AKG C414 in all contexts. Definitely on my wish list. Number 2 was the TLM 103, a close second to the C414. Number 3 was a tie between U87 and the Rode NT1A. In the context of a mix the U87 shaded the NT1A, but on a performance/price basis the NT1A is a clear winner. I was surprised that the U87 wasn't 1 or 2.
Hi David...I think a lot of listeners are going to notice only minor differences between some of the mics. Definitely NT1A is an amazing value. You know when I put the U87 through a high quality preamp and compressor, it really stood out - pro studio sound!!
I’m not even in the market to buy a mic right now bc I’m doing pretty well with my sm7b/cloudlifter combo. I just like watching your gear reviews but I just wanted to say I usually cringe at singing videos bc it reminds me of my own singing but Sanjay, you’ve got a great singing voice! I hope one day I could be as talented and have a studio like yours and be able to use it fully. Keep up the great work, brother! Many blessings 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you so much for the compliment. I sometimes don't like the sound of my voice and there are a lot of things that bother me too. But we must keep doing it! Keep the vocals coming, my friend!
Hey man so I also been trying smb7b with cloud filter but not happy with how I sound… I think the smb7b requires lots of EQ and compression to sound good in contemporary vocals apart from rock screams which is not really my main genre I like singing to… I’m considering trying out the AKG or the TLM 103 which of these two you like best for a pop bright tenor ??
@@SanjayC i personally love the manely microphone. The sound has great clarity and is very rich. I feel like the manley microphone naturally help with my nasally voice when I sing.I have used the Rode NT Microphone as well and is a great mic for its price, but definitely sometime feels harsh on my ear on the higher frequencies. The AKG 414 i think would sound good with acoustic or live instruments. But overall I would say the Manleys are my favorite! A hit hefty in price, but would be a good and worthwhile investment!
Thank you Sanjay, this is the video I’ve needed. I picked the AKG and the Manley. The AKG has been on my wishlist, and now I feel ready to get it. Besides, it’s great for multiple uses. Yes!
Obviously it's all subjective, but to my taste AKG C414 fits your voice the best in the long demo. Also, Rode NT1-A is a great example of how to be efficient on a budget. It's always a blessing to have access to desired gears, yet true creativity should set no limits in finding ways ;) Greetings from NYC ✌️
@@SanjayC 100%. If you dig deep enough, most likely you'll find the solution for many problems (if not all) with the most available tools that many seem to disregard. "Perfect tools" aren't necessarily the most exclusive/expensive ones, I guess that's my point.
So well done loved the comparison. I owned and sold a u87 - one of my biggest regrets. There’s something about the sensitivity that detailed without being overly hyped. A seriously underestimated mic that can be found cheaper is the se Electronics T2 mic, like a cross between the control of the AKG 414 and a TLM103 but smoother sounding. A hidden gem? One of my main mics.
Ooohlalaaa, this gonna be an interesting one. Thanks for doing this comparison for us and keep up the good work! Love and light from Khao Lak, Thailand 🇹🇭❤️☀️🏖🌴🥥🐘🎶
@@SanjayC I'm on the fence with the Manley and the AGK both being my favourite picks. If I could choose freely, money not being an issue, I'd go for the Manley since it also seems to be the perfect mike for saxophone... Reading many articles about the Manley, it seems to be a modern day U47 - need to talk to accountings tomorrow 😅 Keep up the great work! You're a huge inspiration to me! Thanks for being there for us and for what you do! Love and light from Khao Lak, Thailand 🙏
U87 - clear winner for ballad. C414 - overall winner for me. WA87 - not the best in this round up, but has interesting sound. I'd love to have it. TLM103 - not a fan of this sound, but I like it in song 1. Manly - 2nd overall favorite. NT1A - 100% agree with you. good for the price. if budget is not concern , I'll go for C414 and U87. But for that reason, I'd get other budget versatile mic and WA87.
The U87 actually performed really well when I put it through a high quality preamp and compressor. Even better than the rest. The C414 is excellent! Really want to keep it
Thank you for balancing the volume levels so well that the tests were fair. That said, I’m thinking of the story of the emperor’s new cloths (where no one would admit he was actually naked). I have older ears so maybe my highs are not as sensitive, but i can still hear relative differences and i have a lot of music experience. I could barely tell the difference between any of these mics, and in a mix, after eq-ing for slight differences, i’d be happy to challenge anyone to tell them apart. I’m not dissing the author but the heavy autotune also imparted it’s own flavor and made all the mics sound even more alike. From my perspective as a singer i’d say that if anyone is thinking of paying thousands of dollars for a mic you’ll get a much better sound if you pay only a few hundred and then spend the rest on singing lessons.
The warm audio sounded very Nasal and skewed in the mid frequency. That really surprised me. Neumanns always do their finesse thing and sound awesome. I own the 414xlii and really like it. The Manley is amazing and detailed. The NT1a is maybe the GOAT on a budget.
The NT1 fared pretty well here. Not the best, but really good bang for the buck. Unfortunately, I found it pretty awful on the female vocal shootout, and I'm currently prioritizing a mic for my wife. TLM blew me away over there, but was probably my #3 here after the AKG and Manley. I didn't care for the AKG on the female vocal test
Mic A definitely captured more of the low mid fundamental of the voice. The most noticeable difference began at Mic C, where those lower frequencies were starting to be cut off. Nice review
I literally blind picked the 103 and Nt1a each time except the last test and I picked the u87ai. I was in the market to get a couple of mics to compliment my slate ml1, and now I can say that I know my next 3 mic buys and the 2 big buys after those! I can wait for the original song that you made for the first test.
Thanks Sanjay! Well - I picked E in the blind test, dang it! Was hoping to pick the Rode first as the Neumann 87 is out of reach for me : ) You can make any of them work though as the vocal performance is the most important part.
I have the rode nt1a and love it so much. I will say though, you got me wanting that Neumann TLM 103! Awesome review! And also your vocals sounded great!
Great effort on the variety and methods used but it depends on the actual voice. Years back working at Criteria/Hit Factory we would put up all the mics for a particular artist. Sometimes it wasn’t a vintage U47, C12, C12 fet, M49, Klaus 87, or 414. But a standard U87... a vocal may sound perfect solo’d, but with all the music together is when you know how it fits and feels. Besides that when you begin laying vocals and doubled parts you start to hear why THAT particular mic fits that artist so well. I’ve always found doing a shootout never really determines much unless all the tracks are up and the rhythm tracks are nearly complete. Even more importantly, to all singers out there, take vocal lessons...continually..and hit record as much as you can with any mic that’s in front of you. It really is the song.
You've really shown me that different mics and good for different jobs. I liked the Newmann TLM 103 on the first track but some others on the others types music. Waiting for the vid on female vocals :) Thanks for your content - it always brightens my day.
A better comparison is with zero processing, you hear the dynamics of the voice better in each mic. A dry vocal is a great test of any mic. Processing normalizes the dynamics thus losing the subtitles of each mic. I heard to much processing and auto tune.. public mic shoot outs are difficult, no one wants to expose their vocals to untouched listening. I understand..
I’d much rather hear them processed! … That way we can hear how the mics intersect with plugins and compressors etc. I’m pretty sure most of us process our vocals anyway so this way we know what it’s gonna sound like… although having both dry and processed would be nice. Cheers
I have used Akg 414 for a long time and im using neumann u 87 ai now. I think the Akg c414 wins. The akg gives details while the neumann has unneeded high end which makes the vocal super bright.
How about a U47 or U67? The SM7 is an excellent blues vocal mic. I used the U67 for The Bee Gees and Michael Jackson at Middle Ear in Miami. The 414 was the Michael McDonald mic. It has that huge proximity effect. Steven Tyler loved a sure 57 Tom Dowd used to say that a great record could be made on a cassette recorder.
WOW!! You recorded the Bee Gees and MJ!?!? Much respect! I would love to have a U47 and U67 to try out too. Maybe the next video? Any SURPRISING mics you've tested in your career?
Great format fir the video. I especially like the longer demo at the end. I listened to this on my phone but to really get a better feel, I am going to have to do it later in the studio.
❤️🔥😍😍😍 I looove your voice!!! I love all the songs you sang especially your original song🤯❤️🔥🥰😘😘😘This video is SO WELL DONE🙌🏾💪🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 so proud of you! 😆OMGGG I CANT WAIT for everyone to watch the other Artists in Part 2&3 - one of who got the video through your competition🥳🥳🎉🎉🎉!!!
U87 is my favourite to use whenever I get the chance in the studio. The NT1A has been my work horse for over 10 years now in my home studio. Just needs a little more processing to get it sounding as good as the U87.
Having tested many microphones including the Rode NT1, Neumann TLM103 and the Sony C800G, for me the best value for money microphone is: the Warm Audio 47 JR, which is more than sufficient for a home studio, combined with good elements in chain.
Thanks for the vid. I think that beyond a certain price point (that price point can be pretty low, btw), people are really doing the equivalent of pixel peeping with a lot of mics. The tech is that good nowadays. The rest is mostly marketing and recording artists/engineers doing hyper-critical listening that is waaay beyond what the audience cares about or even notices. Go ahead and spend five grand+ on a mic if you have the means, but, honestly, if you can't get a good sound out of an NT1a, you won't get it out of anything. Don't sweat it. 🙂
I am working on a 4 capsule microphone project. I hope it will be amazing. Later I will increase it to 8 capsules. Of course, it doesn't just end with capsules. Mirophone boards, separate 48v and mix boards. Even U87ai's voice does not satisfy me. The algorithm is not stable on any microphone. This can only be obtained with the help of a capsule collection.
Excellent shootout and vid, by the way your vocals and arrangements have distance in them… from the blind test it was A and E no question… they did excellent producing the warm coating over the “shush” brightness sound ( sorta like when bumping the eq in the 11,000 to 16,000 area to get the air, then using a filter and deesser to coat the highs in a silky manner) which provide a clear sound that is intelligible without becoming cringy, fatiguing or harsh! Again excellent vid, and your channel is top notch!!!!
Oh man, this is so helpful. With my sort muffled vocals (Tom Petty, sometimes Cat Stevens or Peter Gabriel ), the Neumann TLM 103 is probably the way to go. You have fantastic tenor voice, BTW. I'd love to sound that clear!! Anyway, I tried using my stage SM 57 on recordings, and it sounds pretty terrible. Thanks for posting this!
Loved nearly all of them. But I really hate to hear the harsh mids of the rode nt1a 😂. Maybe because I've used it way to long. Now using the Warm Audio 47jr and love it! Btw top video, I'll come back when I will choose a new mic in the future 🖤
Cool, good video 👍🏻 I’ve got the 103 , I really like it . A little bright , but doesn’t need too much EQ for me personally . I’ve banned myself from buying any more mics anyway now lol …
I have a U87 and run it through a UA6176 and its sounds great on male vocals, its doesn't work on every song, but when it does its hard to beat, I also have a ADK Z67 and its incredible Mic it has a very warm magic sound and on some songs its just pure magic you should try it out, I'm sure you will be amazed.
What I can conclude in this video is, TLM 103 are suitable for most modern music like modern RnB type of music and Rap. More natural sounding microphone goes to U87 and WA 87. Neutral goes to AKG C414. but, the NT1A are great for a start but it all depends on the mixing and mastering.
Crazy, at the beginning of the video I was at a drive through window not really paying attention to the video, but when E came on it felt and sounded so comfortable to me that really stood out. I was shocked when you revealed it was the u87ai.
When the sound of a mic wakes you up...that's when you know its the one. The U87 did that for me, especially when I put it through a preamp and compressor before recording.
i heard this in a sony cheap headphones and i can't tell the diference. haha. i know that if i put my pro headphones it probably will be a really dramatic difference, however, this make me think a little bit about a point: you can make music with any of this mics no matter your bundle. thanks for this video, Sanjay. I heard you from México.
If you consider how so many people listen to music on cheap earbuds or just their mobile phone speaker, the difference in these mics are even less important!
Always enjoy your videos- Thanks. Another mic used by many male artists like Don Henley is the Blue Blueberry and at times the Senheiser 441 used by Don Henley and Stevie Nicks
Hi, I listen to this material on eve audio sc205 monitors. For me the best mic is Neumann u87, but winner is Rode NT1-A. Rode in this price sound amazing. Great Test.
@@SanjayC have you ever tried SONY C800 and TELEFUNKEN 251? For high price range mic I think C800 will be good for your vocal in those R&B song😃 Moreover, U67 or U47 may be good for ballad for your voice. For female I usually use C800 😁
I’m broke, I have the NT1, it’s ok for me cuz I’m not good at singing but if by chance or miracle I become a good singer one day I’ll buy one of these high end mics. The k you for this awesome review. If only could sing like you I would be very happy.
I don't hear enough of a difference to pay the extra $$ if you're not selling records, so it really depends. I do hear the brightness difference in some of them but as you said, "buy what you can afford". Folks listening on streaming services on earbuds don't really care what you recorded it with. For the money, I have the Townsend Labs L22. It emulates most of them pretty well.
If anyone's interested, the mic Finneas uses these days (for his vocals) is a Chandler Limited REDD and he uses a Telefunken ELA M 251E for Billie Eilish's recent stuff.
My favorites in the blind test were the Manley and the Neumann TLM 103. My least favorite was the Rode. I guess it helped that I currently own the TLM 103 and used to own the Rode. The Rode has a harshness that I don't like. It can be fine on lower voices, but I have a relatively bright and sibilant voice. Anyway, I know the TLM 103 isn't the best Neumann. But I've had really good results with it. I was impressed that I actually picked out two of the mics I've used before in a blind test. I'm usually awful at these blind tests, and they leave me doubting my own senses.
I own the Manley Ref C and I absolutely love it for melodic vocals and hip hop as well as worship music. My latest albums first 5 songs were all recorded with the Manley.
