Neumann - TLM 193

The technology of the transducer won't change the ratio between the direct and the reflected sound. What matters is the pickup pattern and how close you are to the mic. My favourite mic for this role is TLM170 and its close sibilings - TLM193 and U89. Schoeps MK4 is also great if you want something even more neutral but IMO it truly excels if you give it some distance which you probably shouldn't if your room isn't great. MK41 is likely a better choice for the not so good rooms.

The tlm193 I always thought was an under rated vocal mic and it's fairly dark sounding.

Have you tried the TLM-193? It's considered a "dark" large diaphragm condenser microphone. Definitely darker than the mics you listed above. It's my go-to vocal mic for me. Someone above mentioned the tlm 170r, which is technically a better tlm-193. Also I heard the U-89i is a good option which is also technically the same mic as the tlm 170r but with a transformer in it.

Ur first and only mistake was using the tlm 103 for vocals, shit is the KING of creating sibilance issues Try an Austrian Audio OC818, around the same price as a 103, and it's bright too, but without any of the trashness. If you wanna spend double, Nordic Audio Labs NU 24k is genuinely amazing and might be the best vocal mic on the market. It's up there, and it's only like $1800ish. Or if you want a duller, darker sound, Audio Technica AT 4047 or Neumann U89i/TLM 170R/TLM 193. Using dark mics isn't bad. You have eq lol, just make it brighter in post. But you can't really fix a shitty sounding bright recording from a bright mic once it's recorded.

I’d say it is, yes. I would personally only pay $1500 for that 170 but it’s nearly $3500 new. (Notice you can find them at almost half price buying used. They don’t hold their value at all) The 193 is very very similar in sonic character, like you said just one polar pattern. Its SPL rating is also lower so it limits what you can record with it. They go for $1600 new, I’d say that mic is probably worth $800-1,000. Unfortunately the Nuemann name is what allows them to sell these mics at higher prices. So many good microphone companies out there, just gotta keep an open mind!

Proximity effect can be problem for male singers but it's often a help for women, as it is with you. To get that at a reasonable singing distance, you need a mic with a pattern tighter than your C214, which happens to be cardioid. If you like the top-end presentation of your voice as it stands, then try borrowing a C414 and set it to hyper-cardioid pattern. That will give you the warmth you like at a more reasonable singing distance. A side benefit of using a tighter pattern is that it will pick up less room sound. AKG 414's have been made for many decades and different models are known to have different sounds. Because of that, used pricing is all over the map: some of the oldest ones go for stratospheric prices, while recent models can be found for as little as $600. Among these, the XLII and TLII variants have a brighter top end, while the XLS and ULS versions sound more neutral. Microphone condition can vary: I recommend that you try before you buy, or buy through a dealer with a no-fault return policy. Alternatively, you can find a cardioid-pattern mic that suits your voice a bit better to begin with. Many Neumann microphones have a characteristic upper-bass thickness that reaches into to bottom of the female vocal range. It's fairly common to find female vocals cut on U67's and U47's (Taylor Swift uses the latter), but these mics are way out of your price range. I find that U87's (still very expensive) are unsuitable for many female voices. Two Neumann mics that I have used with considerable success on women are the TLM 193 and the TLM 107. While I've recorded many women with both of these mics, the voices each mic works on are pretty much polar opposites. The TLM 193 has a gentle, un-hyped top end and a smooth, midrange that's made it my go to choice for women whose voices are naturally bright and interact badly with forward-sounding mics like the U87. The upper bass response is slightly larger than life. The overall impression sounds natural in a very classy way. New TLM 193's are out of your price range, but used ones sell for between $800-900. That's not chump change, so it's important to understand whether you have the correct type of voice for it. The TLM 107 is a five-pattern mic like modern '414's and can be set to the same kind of tight pattern. It has a very modern-sounding top end that can be helpful to bring out more detail when a mezzo soprano or alto is singing contemporary pop. It takes EQ very well and doesn't cause the extreme sibilance difficulties that its cheaper sibling, the TLM 103 is known for but, if your voice tends towards harshness, I'd direct you back to the TLM 193. Because it's rare to find used TLM 107's priced below $1200, your best choice for multi-pattern mic with similar versatility remains a used '414.

OK, those samples were helpful in understanding what kind of sound you're going for. I'm fairly certain that the mic for #5 was a modern version of the ELAM251, probably the Telefunken USA reissue. Irrespective of cost, it doesn't suit you. I think you would benefit from a less strident mic than the C214. I never felt they lived up to their billing as a cardioid-only '414 -- they sound more strident to me. Between the mid-priced Neumann's I mentioned, my pick for you would be the TLM 193. As for the expensive stuff, try a good U47 type mic the next time you're in a professional studio. Final comment: Your engineering intern did a fine job in sample #4. Much of the warmth in that track is coming from a judicious choice of the reverb patch, but the mic still had to capture enough chest voice to make that work.

Those are great for shows/touring. But for vocals, you definitely want a condenser. I used the MXL for years, and then I got a VERY good deal on Amazon on a Neumann.

I have an mxl condenser mic that works well, but just bought a Neumann condenser mic off Amazon. In the studio, they always said they used the $4k Neumann on me. Not sure that it is a knock off, but supposedly the same one Billie eillish uses and it sounds great. Under $400.

It matters massively and you’ll see that with experience your ears will learn to recognise the difference. It doesn’t matter how much you process a 57, it won’t compare to a Neumann, no matter what you do to it. It might sound cool in a different way, but you won’t get the high fidelity of a top notch condenser, if that’s the sound you’re going for. Think about this: If you go for an “expensive” vocal sound and have a U 87 and maybe a nice compressor, you won’t need to process it much, maybe a bit of eq and some reverb / delay. In that case you’d be MIXing. If you have a 57, you’ll have to use a ton of processing to make it sound more “expensive”. You’ll have to use multiple compressors, color eqs, cut resonances, etc. in that case you would be FIXing. Makes sense?