Alastair Couper wrote: > Yes, I should state the intention. I have a SM58 knockoff (by Fender) > that I use on hand drums. My interest de jeur is to record a female > vocalist. > > I am an electrical engineer by education, so am amenable to freq > charts, THD, spatial plots and such. But the "warm" thing seems to me > empty. Seems like judicious EQ should get you what you want, given that > the transducer is coming up with a clean reproduction to begin with. > But then one gets into subjectivity and black magic again. > > I am looking a Studio Projects B1, for instance. > I don't personally know the B1 so I cannot say much about that. In that price range ($159) although a bit higher, and a really nice mic is the Rode NT3. Unfortunately it's a smaller diaphram so it may not work as well as the B1 for vocals. Not sure... A bit higher price, but very much what you are looking for (I think) is the Rode NT1 Aniversary Edition at $199. I have two NT1's and they have been good mics. They stand up to high pressure situations, are ruggedly built (cannot say that about Octavias) and generally people who comment on my work will tell me they like the sound when I've recorded using this mic with the 002 preamp. The NTK ($499) definately moves you up a big step from the NT1 and is very much what you'd find useful, I'd think. They have been very nice to use when I've had the opportunity. Vocals, acoustic instruments, etc. I think for the price this is one of the best I've used. All of these mics (probably including the B1) are good enough that a bad preamp or a bad A/D will cause you enough problems to mask the quality of the mic. Make sure you have those bases covered also. Have fun shopping! - Mark
