I am about to purchase a new vocal mic and just wanted to hear if someone has had any luck with any of these mics. I was really looking for a U47 clone, but I can't go much over 1k so it's either the u195 or the mojave 200.
I will be using a LA 2A modded with Telefunken tubes and a Focusrite isa 220 session pack as my main vocal pres. I also have a dual Telefunken v672 which I rarely use for vocals. I don't know if using a tube mic with a tube pre is a bit too much?
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There's nothing wrong with using a tube mic with a tube pre. That's how things were done for years...
If you really want something that sounds like a U47, you'd be better off with the Mojave. They're both great microphones but the Soundelux is more similar to the U47 FET, which is an entirely different animal. Is there a particular sound you're going for?
I just want a good sounding mic for male vocals. I get great sound out of my 414 for female vocals, but I am a bit weak on male vocals.
I will try the 414 first and if I don't like it I will switch to either a sure ksm32, or AT 4050, but sometimes I know that I can get a better sound with something else e.i. u195 or mojave 200.
If the MA-200 sounds anything like a U47, it will have more balls in the midrange than the U195, and more texture as well. It will have less in terms of extended top end or top end lift. The U195 is be brighter and cut through a little more. It's still colorful, warm and big-sounding compared to the other mics you mention (Shure KSM anything, AT 4050, 414, etc), and with more character.
Generally, I would use either the U47 or the 195 on many more male vocals than something more mainstream and cleaner. The 414 works occasionally on males if you're after a very clean pop sound (I like the TL for vocals). The 4050 almost never wins a vocal shootout, and when it does, it's on females. It's a good "all around" mic, doing most things well, nothing spectacularly.
Well from Michael's post I guess I have a clear cut choice and it's the MA-200. What I am looking for is a deep rich vocal sound with lots of "umpf" and character! I have the clean vocals covered with the 414 and the 4050 so I need less hi fi and more grit. So I am about 90% sure on the MA-200 unless anyone has another suggestion in the same price range even used on ebay. I still have 10% left over for further thought.
Conguero, if you're interested, I have some scratch vocal tracks from an informal shoot-out we did with the U195 and our M147, this particular example of which actually sounds pretty close to a U47 (I've had a lot of time on real U47's, so I can make this judgement without it being a lot of BS). I could knock off a couple of mp3's and post them, if you think it would help you get an idea of the differences.
Not exactly a direct comparison with the MA-200, which I haven't heard, but a good test for whether you like the general character of the thing.
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