MICROPHONE SHOOTOUT
What is a microphone shootout?
The best way to compare mics is by hearing them! So I took my microphones to Razdabar Sound and Management and met up with Russell and Carl, my fellow engineers at the studio, to record male vocals under controlled conditions. Russell sang the first part of a country song into each mic.
Polar Pattern = Cardioid
Pad = 0 dB
Low Cut = Off (Flat response)
Gain = 0dB (unity)
Same booth. No processing. No Edits. Just raw recordings of each microphone.
Listen below to hear the recordings from each mic!
Neumann TLM 103 (left) - Aston Spirit (right)
Mojave MA 201fet (left) - RODE NT1-A (right)
AKG C 414 (left) - AT4040 (right)
GAUGE ECM 47 (left) - GAUGE ECM 87 (right)
CAD Equitek E100 (left) - Aston Spirit (right) [we re-recorded the Spirit shootout with the low cut on to hear the difference)
Shure SM57
Prices
Neumann TLM 103 - $1100
Aston Spirit - $450
RODE NT1-A - $230
Audio Technica AT4040 - $300
GAUGE ECM 47 - $1000
GAUGE ECM 87 - $300
AKG C 414 B-ULS - $1100
CAD Equitek E100 - $500
Shure SM57 - $100
Mojave MA 201fet - $700
What are your thoughts?
Leave a comment and let us know what your favorite mic was and what mic you hated!
Click the link below to check out the official Vocal Mic Shootout from Sweetwater!
HEAR 50 VOCAL MICS SIDE BY SIDE