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Need "Warm" sounding Mic,

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Topic Need "Warm" sounding Mic,
Help anyone/everyone. I am in the market for a quality "warm" sounding microphone. I want to have that warm/fuzzy character from lead male/female vocals. I know valve mics are one of the best ways to go but there is so so many. I will have to start demoing these but can anyone give me their best/warmest mic in your opinion? Could you give me a few in each price ranges (above $1,000US, above $500, and below)
2
I think it really depends the preamp you use... what is your set up today? I mean what are the mics you are using and what is your preamp?
3
As far as my current set-up, I have an Aphex Tubessence 107 Preamp that I believe is fairly nice (any suggestions?) connected to dual FMR RNCs compressors. I only have two low end mics. A cheap CAD dynamic mic and an Oktava 319 condenser. The Oktava does quite well in general application but... that's why I am asking for your help.
This goes to a Delta 1010 card to my WinXP PC running Cubase SX 2.0. PC has AMD chip @ 2.0 gig speed (good) with 1 gig PC3700 RAM (awesome). My computer setup is almost flawless (can get very, very low latency w/o delay or clicks.
Other gear is/are: Tannoy SBM Monitors, Carver Power Amp, Behringer Headphone Amp w/ Sony monitor headphones, etc.

Please reply as to which mics fit each three of my price ranges.
4
Give an example of warm and fuzzy....Like Nat King Cole Unforgettable or like cause that is a Ribbon mic such as AEA (Audio Engineering Associates) R84
OR a gutsy and sizzley sound like Nickelback stuff. That could be a standard condenser with tube pre, or Tube condenser. Nuemann U87, Rode NTV, NTK valves, . There are a thousand of them.
T3 Studio Projects....etc..etc.
5
I use a U87 with an Avalon 737... you can basically get any sound you want out of the combo, but both items are over $2000. You may be able to rent them for short term use.
6
did i just read the word avalon?

*faints*
7
I have been using a Rode NT1 for the last couple of years. For under $500, its an all purpose large diaphram mic. I've used it on everything from vocals, a grand piano to a guitar amp. Rode also makes some high end mics (the Rode Classic) that I have rented and had great success with.
8
I have found that in the $500 to $1000 price range your best bets are going to be the Shure KSM-32, and maybe the Audio Technica AT3060. The 32 has that "wrap your arms around you, and give a big hug" sound for male vocals, but it also doesn't give up any of the pristine detail you would like for female, or instrumental tracks. As for the AT3060, it's a little newer to the market and has an integrated tube. The mic has some of the warm characteristics of the high end tube mics, but not quite the quality. I have never used this mic on anything other than vocals, so I'm not sure how versitle of mic it could be. As far as above $1000, I would go with the AT4060 tube mic, or any one of the Neumann mics(U87 and an Avalon pre is a great setup). There are a lot of other choices out there, and your best bet would probably be to try to audition some mics, and let your own ears decide what your looking for.
9
What's the deal with Avalon? I hear a lot of folks who hate it. They say their stuff sounds "boring". I'm not sure what this means exactly.

To be honest, I'd guess that most of the tone of a female vocal comes from the female singing.

What the hell does warm mean?

Brandon
10
ive used a AT4047 with a Grace pre and Summit tube leveler and gotten very warm fat results.