Shure - PGA181

A simple question, but much more to unpack. Is this for live vocals or are you tracking for a recording? What preamps, audio interface and digital converters are you using? If you're just going into a cheaper audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett) for a bedroom recording then sure, it's fine. If you're trying to get great vocals for a recording in studio environment, are you matching the type of mic to your vocals? Male vocals and female vocals sometimes dictate what mic an engineer may gravitate towards. Are you going to get the same results as a male vocalist singing into a high-quality, large-diaphram condenser mic – like a Neumann U87 or U47 – going through a Neve 1073 preamp and a Lynx Hilo digtal converter, in a professional sounding, acoustically treated room. No. Is the PGA 181 a decent mic that can capture a vocal recording – sure. Can it do 90% of the work, yep. But the other 10% is the difference between decent and great. As professionals all know, that additional 10% comes down to knowledge, experience, room, placement and gear.

If I was choosing between an AT2020, a Blue Yeti and a Rode NT1 I would definitely pick the Rode. In fact ahead of those other two I would put the Shure PGA181 (a highly underrated cheapie but definitely needs a pop filter) and the AT875R shotgun.

Just noticed the Neat King Bee II is surprisingly inexpensive on Amazon, that's always punched above its weight in shootouts; the Blue Ember is another cheapie I reckon always sounds good. I commented previously that I'd be looking at Rode NT1, Shure PGA181 and AT875R and stand by these too.

Y'all my favorite microphone in my kit (Im a live guy who records at home) is the Shure PGA 181. For $150 CDN you cannot beat this mic. I use it for guitars, horns, piano, drum overheads... It does a lot really well. My favorite use so far has been for brass. It kills on trombone. https://www.shure.com/en-us/products/microphones/pga181/