What is the BEST microphone for VoiceOver? (TLM 103, TLM 102, U87ai, MKH 416, ETHOS, SM7b)

Tips and tricks for hunting down the best microphone to use for your home voiceover studio, with a comparison between the Neumann TLM 102, TLM 103, U87ai, Sennheiser MKH 416, Earthworks ETHOS, and Shure SM7b on both male and female voices.
www.jaymyersvoiceover.com
Other channels I've found helpful in learning about microphones:
/ podcastage
/ @audiouniversity
/ boothjunkievo
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Music provided by Epidemic Sound

[@homestudioacademy]

What a great review! I love the TLM102 as well (not just for spoken word but for singing and acoustic guitar as well).

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Thank you kindly! Yeah the 102 is hard to beat, especially for the price

[@Vaniteez]

Excellent review! Thank you

[@MaxMuccini]

Many thanks for your video and also the comparison with your voice and wife’s voice,Top!

[@mroctober3657]

"The best microphone is the one that doesn't exist." - Lao Tzu (probably)

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Yeah…I think I’ve read that somewhere.

[@400_billion_suns]

Great comparison, and I loved the humor too! I'm sure you already know this, but if you pull the foam windscreen off of the SM7B, it recovers a noticeable amount of high-frequency detail and brings it even closer to the competition. It's such a versatile and solid mic -- I love it.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Very true. It certainly does help to close that gap in the higher frequencies. Perhaps I’ll do a comparison with that in the future!

[@thenestpodcast]

Awesome comparison!

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Thanks!

[@MyStutteringLife]

I'm just starting out and Ive invested in a Warmaudio Jr47 mic and I really like how it fits my voice/timbre. As with anything, im sure ill be upgrading as Im moving through this industry. Great video!! (BTW, I use the Shure SM7B for my podcast and KZbin)

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

That sounds like a great mic!

[@verb3gaming36]

Great review ❤️❤️❤️

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Much obliged!

[@jeremydragon-shapeshifter]

I currently use Harlan Hogan VO: 1-A and I love it! But hopefully when I do upgrade, I'm kind of leaning towards to the TLM 103 though no denying U87ai is pretty good too! Excellent comparison video!

[@paweplinta1565]

Thanks for the comparison. They sound similar. It looks like they are well chosen for your voice

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Of course! I hope you found it helpful.

[@paweplinta1565]

@@jaymyersvoiceover Of course. Thank you. The conclusion is clear. Good voice. And good microphones

[@LemonLimeSqueeze]

Well put together review, thank you! I use an MKH416 and couldn't be happier with it The two that sound the best on your voice imo were TLM103 and MKH416 They both bring so much vibrancy and life to the voice Glad you mentioned the Rode NT1, its a great mic and imo sounds better than the U87ai Some people might crucify me for that opinion but i stand by it hahaha

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

For the cost, the NT1 is hard to beat for sure!

[@reddeadryan78]

Usb mic over the legendary u87? You're smoking good stuff. 👍

[@danwebb6766]

The Earthworks ETHOS sounded fantastic to me, compared with all the others. So much so that I decided I'll grab it, as my voice is very similar in tone to yours. Thank you!

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

It’s definitely one of my favorites too

[@TheAshishDdaviddShow]

what a fantastic video man ur a rock star

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Thanks! That made my night

[@annekedebruyn7797]

I went with the Lauten LS208. With the way how the filter switches frequencies are set, you can go from a SM7b or ribbon mic dark but with still a bit of extra depth to a MKH416 bright and in your face. Rejection is pretty industry leading which is nice. But the biggest part is that it isn't in the way of your vision when reading. It's essentially a bit larger handmic-shaped. Love that.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Nice!

[@spikeboydell]

U87 & MKH416 sounded optimal on both your voices to my ears. 🎤👍

[@t0nyxgq]

Thanks for sharing your mics. Here are the differences I noticed: On my mid-fi audio system connected to my TV watching KZbin, the U87AI were the winners for both you and your wife. I had a subwoofer on so the voices sounded natural and full. On my mid-fi planar magnetic headphones connected my computer, the TLM103 sounded best on you and SM7B sounded best for your wife, imo. The U78ai does have that more natural sound but sounded thin in comparison to the others. I'm sure a little EQ can send it over the top. The Ethos and SM7B sound dark in comparison to the others. The Ethos had some sort of weird resonance with your wife's voice (maybe it's my headphones) but the SM7B didn't. They both thickened up her voice and didn't contribute to the sibilances that the other mics had.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Thanks for the thorough reply! The detail and consideration is much appreciated. I agree on most all counts, and am pleasantly surprised the sm7b was a competitive choice for you on my wife’s voice.

[@MaxMuccini]

Ethos for me played so as a fake dark sound, what does not the shure sm7b,definitvely for podcast and youtubers shure sm7b wins with great distance. Neuman are outliers,for voice overs top of the tops, i appreciate the mkh 416 so much.ciao max from italy

[@claudioagmfilho]

🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏻, Loved the U87, hated the SM7B and the other like it, third place was for the Sennheiser mkh416, thanks a lot for the video very informative and decision making helpful! Please skip up the good work. Oh I forgot to say the second place was for the tlm 103, first place was the Norman u87 second place was the tlm 103, third place was the Sennheiser mkh416, even though they have their different needs and characteristics, I'm just saying it in terms of what it sounded to me when both of you were reading Winnie the Pooh text.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

This is so well put. I sometimes obsess over “needing” a U87ai because I think I should use it over my 416 or 103. Or I’ll fixate on the UA Sphere or the Soyuz 017 Fet, the Austrian mics, and on and on… Your voice is good on each of them. I also had and moved the NT1 on for the 103. I think some of us simply want to buy microphones. I returned the Ethos, and gave my SM7B to a friend, and even had a KSM-32 phase for exactly one week. Point is, this video should be seen by anyone into VO, be it an aspiring actor or a person like me who wants to record his own audiobooks. Thank you.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Thanks Jeff! Well put. There is a satisfaction in trying different microphones once you start to become interested in the nuances in the engineering behind them, but from a practical perspective you don’t need much for killer sound and everyone has a different angle. I hope the recording of your books is going well!

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

@@jaymyersvoiceover Thanks, man!

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

@@jaymyersvoiceover Oh, picked up a U87 a few days ago. Finally succumbed to the war within. Haha. But it’s seriously awesome.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

@@liquidvelvetliterature Glad to hear!

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

@@jaymyersvoiceover Thanks, man. It’s, well, different, than the 103, isn’t it? Time to REALLY learn eq. But the U87 sound is beautiful. Sounded a lot better from the pro room where I bought it from a producer. Took it back to my VO fort and started surfing EQ videos immediately.

[@nickoricko4564]

Great review and great channel. You are very likeable! Keep the content coming. Subbed (i would've subbed twice for the sweet mustache)!

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Much appreciated! Thanks for the kind words. And I'll contact KZbin regarding the mustache to see if we can get a second sub button for ya. ;)

[@nickoricko4564]

@@jaymyersvoiceover Sounds good! When you get a chance, please do a video discussing the vocal chain you use to record and process your vocals. Plugins, hardware and whatnot... That would be super helpful. Thanks again!

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

You got it! I'll put that towards top priority.

[@cmd_f5]

Great stuff. Agreed on USB mics. Go XLR in the beginning and it'll pretty much work regardless of whatever mic you stick on the end of the cable. No driver issues etc. Excellent comparisons and information. 👍🏼 What are your thoughts on sE Electronics? They make quality mics and value for dollar IMO. I have the sE7 and 2200 and like both for different reasons. :) cheers

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Thanks for the note! I haven’t had the opportunity to personally try SE mics, but from the samples I’ve heard and the specs I’ve seen, they do seem like great options!

[@teatrumyslurpg]

Very nice video, what kind of audio interface are you using? I have focusrite 2i4 1 gen but it has many flaws.I noticed that you are using beyerdynamics 770 here if I'm not mistaken, if you would mind telling me if your interface is supplying enough Ohms to them. (dunno which Ohm version you own.)

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Thanks very much! I'm running everything thru a UAD Apollo Solo, and am indeed using the 770s which are 250 ohms. The interface does drive the headphones well, though were I to purchase again I might consider lower ohm headphones as my daily drivers just to have more flexibility with volume control. They sound great, however my interface's volume output is at about 85% with these to get a usable level. If you're considering a new interface, I'd also let you know that UAD--while they do have wonderful preamps and plugins available--they have been a bit of a pain to use. Requiring frequent troubleshooting with my Silicon chip Mac. So while they offer great audio, they're just pretty high maintenance in my experience--so much so that I often consider switching to a different interface despite the sound quality. For what it's worth!

[@chrissmart9761]

Thanks!

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

You bet!

[@MATTHEWJOHNBELL]

There's a reason the 87 is the king. The 102 and 103 come close, but the 87 is perfect.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Particularly when you’re using it for multiple different voices for different use cases.

[@tybrady4598]

I notice that lots of KZbinrs use the SM7b, so it might be the winner for price and sound combined. The U87 is the best mic overall I think, but you’ll need to be able to justify the price with some income from the mic, lol. On a budget? The new Rode NT1 5th gen is great for the price, plus you don’t need an interface, it has USB out straight to your computer. Use a free DAW and you’re all set.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Indeed! My personal take, I prefer the Earthworks Ethos over the SM7b, but couldn't agree more with all of your points. Well put.

[@me_lolo]

ive got an sm7b and am interested in getting into the industry - would you say, for the purposes of eventually getting into animation if possible, that it's a good starting point while learning and being coached? I've been told it's less than ideal for character voices and better fits what you were talking about (narration and broadcast). I got mostly negative opinions in terms of the sm7b in VO/VA. what do you think?

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Solid question. To answer it, first I think ANY mic is a good starting point to get the ball rolling and to begin learning the ropes. With that said, yes to many in the industry the SM7b lacks the detail that condenser microphones give to a performance-specifically large diaphragm condensers. Essentially, the SM7b is designed to ‘hear’ in a very specific way that omits a lot of valuable information in a performance, particularly in animation and video games. That said, condenser mics are pretty affordable, some high quality ones being less than the SM7b in fact. The Rode NT-1 is my go to recommendation for a starter mic. Hope that helps, and best of luck!

[@MichaelW1980randoms]

I’d be interested in whether the SM7B still sounds so very smooth, if you enable the high frequency boost dip switch. I ask this question, because technically speaking, the feature is the other way around and thus by default activated, though the dip switch says otherwise.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Hey Michael! Great question. Here's an audio file running thru the different options. www.dropbox.com/s/mcudnplwug4w2br/SM7b%20Test.mp3?dl=0 Also for clarity, (you may already know this but just in case others get confused) the SM7b has two switches: a Presence Boost and a High Pass Filter. The Presence Boost adds additional volume (dB) to the higher frequencies the mic records, and the High Pass Filter reduces the mic's sensitivity to lower frequencies (allowing Higher frequencies to "pass" thru)

[@kevinedwards2658]

I’m a self confessed microphone nerd, that being said I have different mics for different suggested uses, that’s not to say that in many cases they work well for different purposes so much is dependent on voice and room

[@LeSaff]

Nice review and collection of mics !! You just need to get the Earthworks icon USB who makes you won't say anymore a USB mic cannot be as good as an XLR mic 😀and will probably become the one you'll bring with you on holidays. In addition, thanks for adding a female voice to your test. Just if you could mention what audio interface(s) do you use, same about the cable as a stupid basic one can ruin all of your efforts.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Thanks for asking! The interface is a UAD Apollo solo, using a Mogami cable.

[@LeSaff]

@@jaymyersvoiceover Thanks for your answer 👍👍

[@hwreviewers]

Hi, please I would like to know on witch preamplifier and audio Interface did you record the audio session? Many thanks

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

UAD Apollo Solo :)

[@whisperofwordsdz]

TLM 102 ...the best 👍

[@AliceVixie]

Sennheiser MKH 416. Both voices. Clearly.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

It's a good one!

[@MyHackrifice]

smb87 is muddy, tlm 103 and 416 all the way. I think the audio techinica2020b beats the 87 for the price if that is the concern.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Yeah the 103 and 416 are wonderful. And for sure, if budget is a concern the u87ai isn’t the best option :)

[@larrycom]

Couldn't one add a little high frequency to the 102 ?

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

If you wanted it to sound closer to the 103, a bump around 5khz would certainly bring them closer. Up to personal taste.

[@thesilencer6736]

Jay, would you consider sm7b, a voice acting mic?

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

It certainly works for it! By many accounts a large diaphragm condenser is ideal, but it’s not a rule by any stretch.

[@thesilencer6736]

@@jaymyersvoiceover Problem is that my recording room is right at the street, it’s a rented place, so there isn’t much that I can do on blocking the sound, or reduce it to a point where it doesn’t affect my recordings. The room is treated with acoustic blankets and rockwool acoustic panels, that’s about it. I own an MK4. Considering my scenario, a dynamic mic MIGHT be the solution, since I’m hearing all sorts of opinions about dynamic mics and voice acting.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

@thesilencer6736 Many of my colleagues with similar situations in NYC use dynamics for the exact same reason. If the folks you’re working with are really set on a condenser, since you have one you can throw it on for certain gigs or they’ll send you to a studio. :)

[@zerobubble3063]

Sm7b work for voiceover or not?

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

It does! It’s certainly a good option. However, more often working voiceover artists use Condenser microphones as opposed to dynamic mics (like the SM7b) simple because of the higher sensitivity they offer. Hope that helps!

[@estherk7682]

I noticed more variation in the tones with the female voice. I like that but why is that? 🤔

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

That’s interesting! In all honesty I’m not sure. It could be either that the microphones just behave/sound different with her frequency of voice, or it could simply be that she didn’t read the sentence with the same consistency across samples. Interesting to note though!

[@BPMusic06]

Can’t agree more. Listeners don’t know what microphones we use, or care.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Not to mention most folks are listening to audio through phone speakers these days.

[@who_is_dis]

Obviously not - but they feel the difference.

[@ali_relax]

Sphere lx or tlm 103

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

If you’re asking my opinion between the two, I’m not terribly familiar with the sphere. Though if you want or need flexibility it may be worth a try!

[@zeitakulobusta9708]

103 is the non-engineer's vo fetish mic but actually sounds kinda trashy and scooped. Not impossible to use for sure but typically overpriced Neumann for what you get.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Interesting! I’ve had engineers specifically ask that I use the 103 on certain projects. Though I agree you can find mics with comparable sound for less, or second hand.

[@zeitakulobusta9708]

@@jaymyersvoiceover like the 87 it's fairly predictable, which maybe explains your engineer experience (not mine mind you lol) but there are so many other mics that sound so much better. I guess my main point was that so many VO folks seem to go oooh 103 but actually if you hang round mics much it's kinda meh. Even 87s are famously honky on a fair few voices (mine included).

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

@zeitakulobusta9708 gotcha! Very true

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

@zeitakulobusta9708 do you have a mic you prefer instead?

[@zeitakulobusta9708]

@@jaymyersvoiceover Brauner Valvet X, Sanken CU51...Sennheiser MKH 40 is really nice too. There are mics that sound gorgeous ie Bock 251 but it's not really the best flavour for VO. More than this/that brand it's the right mic/voice combination- Michael Jackson could have used ANY mic in the world and ended up on an SM7 because that was the one that worked for him for singing. There's no one-size-fits-all 'best' VO mic - styles/flavours that tend to suit the end use yes, but beyond that try a few and get the most suitable you can for your budget.

[@reddeadryan78]

Voice over? Get the shureSm7b.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

It’s definitely a top contender for podcasts/streaming/audiobooks and the like I agree.

[@reddeadryan78]

@Jay Myers Voiceover I have a tlm 102 ,103 and the sm7b. The Neumanns are fantastic. And, Howard Stern uses a 103 I noticed. But the sm7 is a beast for the price. 👌

[@xyzct]

Spend your time and money on treating your space. Your mic is a distant second.

[@jaymyersvoiceover]

Dead on. 👍