Choosing the Right Vocal Mic by Sweetwater

[@MyAustin4]

Literally was looking forever for a comparison of these three, looking into all of them. Always LOVE sweetwater, you guys rock

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for watching, Austin McCauley!

[@lm4349]

But which one did you pick? I was digging the Shure until The 301 took the limelight for me.

[@laineyxlavender]

Those sound vastly different. For his voice, I like: 1) AKG 2) Mojave 3) Shure

[@mrpositronia]

I work with the AKG when recording voice over artists, so I had an idea of that, but I think the Mojave is the nicest sounding, for Nick at least.

[@neilbarbu]

Yes I agree, the SM7 works on some rare voices with clarity and growl like Mikey J. But even Bruce Swedien says that he prefers the original sm7 over the new ones maybe due to the magnets getting weaker

[@byronhubbard8767]

Agree

[@BDAILY365]

xls, mojave, and sm7...in that order. xls was so smooth and sat well in the mix.

[@astralaudio101]

The K67 capsule in the Mojave definitely made Nick’s voice sit above the music. The AKG is natural. The SM7B is excellent and balanced.

[@CoolBreezeMusic7]

414 and 301 both I liked - but each had pros and cons imo. handling sibilance and hi SPL is my main concern

[@TylerAlexis]

Really liked that Mojave, and the AKG was not far behind! I love videos like this. Super helpful when trying to choose a mic. Especially while in quarantine XD

[@neilbarbu]

For me the Mojave was silky smooth on Nicks voice yet detailed like a more expensive Neumann

[@riktascale4]

Finally someone got this right. The comparison was done in the mix and not solo. Here someone like me without "golden ears" could really recognize the difference. I choose the 414 as the best option. Thanks SwS!

[@ironwolg]

The sm7b was a bit too harsh AKG sounded a little dull, but not bad Mojave was just right. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

[@njhgv9192]

yea I think that too

[@martinlin621]

Yeah, it's true

[@MajorSeventh]

The Mojave all day long. In the early 90s there was a band called Jellyfish that released two excellently-recorded albums, that Mojave gave me an instant flashback to them.

[@ChinoMagliba]

I'd go for thr Mojave 301 on his voice. So smooth sounding. Though sm7b for the genre (for most singers I guess)

[@c03x157]

SM7b, the others mics sounds very good but for rock that sound its very cristal and more esses Shure 02:23 Akg 03:01 Mojave 03:38

[@weschilton]

Sm7 sounded harsh and unflattering... like the over-hyped hipster mic it is. You need new ears.

[@stringsnare]

Hey guys, can do you acoustic guitar mic shootouts as well? Would be nice to see this for other instruments too. Thanks!

[@marin4311]

The Mojave shines out on this kind of voice.

[@StarsoundStudios]

Just shows microphones are colors... which color do you want for your track.

[@highstyleproductions5112]

SM7B for me, the Mojave and AKG in the high end just wasn't pleasant to my ears

[@weschilton]

SM7 was the worst sounding. Its an over-hyped hipster mic.

[@the_newvoice]

By the way, which mic was monitored through?) Third was def better. SM7B probably should be changed with a different pre or adjustet the input inmedance.... Or putted a windshield)

[@WaterSoundStudio]

Aren't those headphones open-back? Why would you want to use those?

[@kingyertle100]

+Kurt Li a lot of vocalists prefer them so they don't feel so isolated from the vocal in the room. It can feel kinda weird sometimes to only hear yourself through headphones, without any ambiance.

[@WaterSoundStudio]

+Ryan G. Osborne I see what you're saying. I personally wouldn't use open backs for tracking. Some singers prefer to listen to only one side of the headphones. I usually send some reverb of the vocal to the headphones that makes it sits better in the headphones.

[@kingyertle100]

+Kurt Li totally. Same idea. Removing one ear is the same concept at least. Closed-backs are sometimes TOO isolating for vocalists.

[@WaterSoundStudio]

+Ryan G. Osborne But listening to one side of closed backs wouldn't have the bleeding issue you get using open back headphones.

[@neilbarbu]

Isolation is not always needed when being so far from the diaphragm

[@kennethbernard1723]

My opinion doesn't matter. LOVE IT!

[@Hechizero0707]

I love it too hehehehe

[@kalki2176]

@@Hechizero0707 🤣

[@Hugosanches594]

3:05 2:26 3:41

[@junecolin3003]

Just bought an AKG XLII (from Sweetwater of course) but in this comparison, Mojave takes the price! True: one mic can't fit ALL styles of voices..I'm ordering a Mojave right now!!!

[@notyouagain7220]

There's a detail you aren't getting in the shure and Mojave with the akg

[@ryanstratton1925]

I think the Mojave has the best audio quality and clearest smoothest sound. Even though it's not the best sound I think the Shure suits this guy a little better. No offense but this isn't a great vocalist (IMHO) and sometimes it's better not to hear everything. I would not aim for the cleanest sound with this and would think to maybe obscure it just a bit which I think the Shure does.

[@themarmots1]

I like akg 414

[@redmase1]

Great review thanks

[@devashishs7061]

no comb filtering recording on three at the same time?

[@Heartofadracky]

They're being recorded to separate tracks. They're being recorded three at a time, but played back in solo.

[@devashishs7061]

got it,thanks bro :)

[@thinkofparis]

It was hard for me to listen to the mics due to the pitch issues. I hate to suggest to tune every vocal performance, but some tuning would have helped here. When comparing the take would be cool to be the exact same. Is there a thing for vocals like reamping for guitar. LOL. We need to "ReAmp" vocals. HAHAHA. And Not to be that critical GUY, but i'm surprised that Sweetwater has a video with so many notes sang flat. I've heard this guy drum. He is amazing. And a pretty good voice, in regards to tone. But like so many other singers..... they want to sing at the very tip top of their voice when they don't have a developed mixed voice.

[@weschilton]

Its called a REAL performance. Some of the best recordings in history have "pitch issues" while auto-tuned and grid-locked performances sound fake.

[@beanotraffini681]

I mean, other than some (minor) gain differences between the 3 mics, not worlds of differences to my ears. The market is so glutted right now, that I say just go for economy as you'll probably change your mind about what you "like" in a short while! There is a desire on the part of all retailers to continually sell us more and more gear: Just get a few relatively good sounding vocal mics (yes, even the Chinese made gear can work well if properly EQ'd), get used to working with them in your space (like you do with your monitors...), and have at it...

[@garykarczewski6678]

Liked 424 and the Mojave. Had to deal with a few flat notes on the first two but he nailed the 3rd take with the Mojave nice detail.

[@guitarheadhunt]

The bad notes are still there. This was one vocal recorded on 3 mics at the same time.

[@connorr5626]

What's a "seener"?

[@calebwalker672]

How are there not phasing issues with mics this close together? I was waiting for him to say that he flipped one or something...

[@weschilton]

Because you aren't hearing them together.

[@cameronball3998]

I liked the AKG the best.

[@ronedwards8239]

If you want to reveal bigger differences, sing something softer with some air. Belting is not going to reveal all that much.

[@mohamedabdelrazek872]

Thanks Bro for this useful video :)) I need your advice to choose the best 3 mics from your opinion to perform in a very big open (Outdoor) event as follow: 1- one exceptional Mic for Public speaking 2- one Mic for Vocal Solo (Main Singer) 3- three Microphones for Choir vocal Please it is an open place , thousands will attend , we search for high quality mics.. Thank you in advance

[@imaginarytube]

they all sounded good. let's make some music folks :)

[@supremo-official]

SM7B!!!

[@weschilton]

No.

[@kalip5742]

Great vocals!!!

[@yen3dapp]

Mojave 301fet for his voice

[@kevinhurley23]

It looks like Mark has been taking lessons from Mitch Gallagher. He's got those hand movements DOWN!

[@highstyleproductions5112]

I thought the same thing lol Sweetwater video speech class lol

[@asarsalari]

Damn, Nick can sing too eh!

[@VincentRicciardi]

Mojave won for me on his voice.

[@ARRiiVE]

Hands down. Agree

[@nathanalger5272]

If you want great vocal quality get yourself the NT1!! CAn't regret it lol

[@walterwilliams1323]

Unlike the others the Shure wasn't distorting on the high end. SM7B wins on this voice.

[@highstyleproductions5112]

The Shure had better warmth and didn't have the harshness of the highs I agree with you

[@DanielKepelMusic]

It's also a third of the price of the other two

[@walterwilliams1323]

@@DanielKepelMusic I'm just not a fan of it for VO or any dynamic mic, but singers love the SM7B.

[@thathashmifamily1504]

Shure too harsh on that vocal. Mojave sounded the best to my ear

[@yukijenkins86]

if you have a great vocal technique and sing great then akg >>>> For podcast n stuff i dont think it matter much but i hate the radio sizzle

[@danjwalker]

Grrr...Tell me what to think!!!! Damn, you! ;)

[@Digiphex]

Seeneen,

[@gggBassman67]

Really?!? All at slightly different angles is "apples to apples"? Cool.

[@thepeladeauprojectband8943]

Nick should stick to drums lol.. Good vocal representation of average local bands though so not terribly bad. Kind of a lazy shoot out overall though. Did not sell any mic for me. :(

[@DarkPa1adin]

all of them are expensive!

[@weschilton]

Aw, you want one for free?

[@oldgoody1]

Not a blind test. Don't tell us which is which.

[@denissehatcher9539]

They sound the same😫😩

[@kingofbonngo]

1. AKG, 2. Mojave, 3. .... 13. Shure ... for me it sounds horrible with his voice.

[@konjino78]

wow he can sing too?!

[@sweetwater]

I had the honor of watching him drum and sing the entire Lamb Lies Down On Broadway album with his friends at a local pub. I've also seen him play bass and keys. Endless talent!

[@VESANG]

It would have helped if you actually had somebody who can sing ...

[@weschilton]

He sings better than you.

[@astralaudio101]

He was very suitable for this shootout. I could definitely hear the difference in tonality for each microphone.. 👍

[@DS-ff6ze]

singing is very offkey. none of the mics are flattering

[@GabrielXDrums]

??? ??? Says the gaming channel that knows nothing about mics. Not flattering? One of those alone is the cost of your gaming console lmfao

[@Typhoon792]

I disagree. It matters how the vocal sounds isolated when shooting out a mic. How it sits in a mix would further be corrected... in the mix. That's what every single other mixing/processing tool is for. As far as the actual sounds of the vocals with these mics, well, it's sort of hard to tell given the nasally performance (not optimally recorded at that distance actually) - the end result being rather shrill sounding. Still, I found these to be the expected results from these mics though. The SM7B probably had the most balanced sound, though further more optimally used with proximity effect (I'm actually not a fan of the mic myself); the AKG C414 sounds kind of deadened (as usual), as if the singer can't fully project (even more than is actually the case); and the Mojave MA-301 has a distinct peak/resonance in the lower high frequencies which would pretty much undermine any performance (even if not ruin). Resonance aside, the Mojave still probably sounded best, but the SM7B can likely be the most optimized.

[@connormclaren5883]

Why would it matter how a mic sounds solo'd? I mean, if it sounds good in the mix, why would anybody judge it based on how it sounds alone? Of course there will be further work done in the mix, but I don't see why, for any reason, a mic's merit would be judged on an isolated track. People are going to hear the mix, not the isolated track, so when everything is taken into account the way the mic picks up vocals in the context of a full mix (regardless of how you EQ, compress, etc) is all the REALLY matters.