The Best Condenser Microphones for Vocal Recording
Record vocals in your home studio.
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Recording vocals at home can be challenging, no matter what style of music you make. To assist you, we’ve selected some of the best condenser microphones at different price points.
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You’ll require phantom power when using condensers, but also these mics prefer quieter, non-reflective environments. They’re also sensitive to plosives and sibilance, so pop shields and reflection filters are worth looking into.
The more you push the gain of your mic preamp, the more room ambience you’ll pick up. So keep this in mind, especially when working with a softer singing vocalist who doesn’t project their voice in a pronounced fashion.
Choosing the Best Condenser Microphones
For the purpose of recording solo vocals at home, you generally only use a cardioid pickup pattern unless you’re doing something experimental and ambient, which would likely also require the use of a more professional live room.
The mics we’ve chosen each have their own distinct characteristics, so we’ll discuss these and hopefully find something suitable for your home studio.
The Best Condenser Microphones: Audio-Technica AT2020
It might not suit everyone’s voice or vocal style, but the AT2020 is arguably the best $100 mic you’ll find of its kind. While technically a medium-diaphragm mic, it still captures plenty of detail and can handle high-SPL sources.
It doesn’t have low-cut or pad switches, but these aren’t features you’re looking for in an entry-level mic at this price. Meanwhile, the AT2020 is also great on instruments and amp cabinets.
Overall, it’s a great first mic for any home studio‘s mic locker that will likely still get plenty of use should you choose to upgrade in future.
- More from Audio-Technica
The Best Condenser Microphones: Rode NT1-A
The Rode NT1-A is another tried and tested budget mic that can easily yield professional results. Provided you watch your distance, it provides excellent intelligibility, and the high-frequency detail favours plenty of modern music styles.
The NT1-A is prone to picking up plosives, but luckily it comes with a shock mount and pop filter to help regulate this. In addition, there is a slight peak in the 3 kHz range that will need some tweaking in post.
Nevertheless, this is still a great vocal mic that will also get decent results on acoustic guitar, or in overhead configurations.
- More from RODE
The Best Condenser Microphones: AKG P220
The trusted AKG Perception series condenser mics have been around for years, and the P220 is still a great value option for home vocal recording. It can handle high-SPL sources and is also equipped with a pad switch and a 300 Hz filter.
The large 1-inch diaphragm has a characteristically bright overall sound, but it still provides plenty of warmth in the lower end of the spectrum. This makes it suitable for a wider range of voices and vocal styles, which also favours beginners still developing their technique.
Overall, the P220 is a budget studio workhorse that can also work wonders on instruments and amp cabinets.
- More from AKG
The Best Condenser Microphones: sE Electronics SE2200
The SE2200 is a clean-sounding condenser with an amazing amount of clarity and detail. In addition, it gives you more customization options with two pad settings (-10 and -20 dB) and two low-cut filter settings (80 and 160 Hz).
What sets it apart is it doesn’t colour the sound or add any type of vintage vibe, so look elsewhere if that’s what you’re after. The characteristically transparent tone also makes the SE2200 suitable for different vocalists, which is useful.
Although it carries a slightly higher price tag, this is still an excellent and versatile recording tool.
- More from sE Electronics
The Best Condenser Microphones: Lewitt LCT 440 PURE
Austrian mic manufacturer Lewitt is a relative newcomer to the game, but has nevertheless built a stellar reputation in the recording industry in this short time. The LCT 440 PURE is certainly a testament to the impact of Lewitt as a company.
It combines meticulous construction and build quality with incredibly transparent detail and low self-noise. What’s more, you don’t need to drive your preamp too hard to get a decent signal from the LCT 440.
As a package, it’s hard to beat in terms of overall value and the endless positive reviews speak volumes.
- More from Lewitt
The Best Condenser Microphones: Austrian Audio OC18
The OC18 is the cardioid-only version of the OC818, a modern recreation of the famous AKG C414, from Austrian Audio. Using the handmade CKR6 capsule, the OC18 has been created with an Open Acoustic design, which makes the OC18 ready to become your studio workhorse microphone for many years to come.
To configure the mic for optimized recording, there is a high-pass filter with three different settings (40, 80, and 160 Hz) to roll off the low-end. Meanwhile, when dealing with high-SPL sound sources, you can choose to activate one of the two Pad settings (-10 or -20 dB). This makes the OC18 usable for almost any sound source, especially vocals, acoustic guitars, amp cabinets, and in stereo configurations such as drum overhead pairs.
The OC18 ships inside a protective case with a molded foam insert that houses the mic, the shock mount, a mic clip, and a wind shield. One thing to note is that the OC18 has a higher impedance rating than most mics in its class. Therefore, it will perform better with a dedicated discrete mic preamp, rather than the one built into the average audio interface. Get it at Thomann.*
The Best Condenser Microphones: Mojave MA-200 SN
The cardioid MA-200 SN and its multipattern counterpart, the MA-300 SN, are tube condenser mics that are designed to fulfil many of the roles performed by mics like U87 and U67. Mojave microphone designs have been created by David Royer, so you can be sure that a fair bit of thought has gone into them to ensure a great quality vs pricetag ratio.
Inside the all-metal body, the MA-200 SN uses a 3-micron 1-inch gold-sputtered diaphragm in its K67-style capsule, combined with a custom Mojave transformer and a JAN 5840 vacuum tube. There are no frills to this design, with no switches of any sort on the microphone body. All you need to do is plug the MA-200 SN into the included power supply, and you’re good to go.
Mojave microphones are renowned for their gloriously detailed top-end, and the MA-200 SN is no exception. So you can achieve that ultra-clean vocal sound for modern Pop and R&B production. What’s more, the MA-200 SN will get a great sound from your acoustic guitar, VOX amplifier, or if you use it in stereo configurations. Get it at Thomann.*
The Best Condenser Microphones: SONY C-100
If you plan on using more than just a cardioid pattern for your recording workflow, the SONY C-100 is a great option for the price. Inspired by the legendary dual-diaphragm design of the C-800G, the C-100 has a similar sonic profile, which makes it perfect for modern pop vocal recording, or any style that uses a fair amount of processing in post-production.
Unlike the traditional Neumann-style microphones, the midrange of the vocal is not as pronounced. This allows you to recreate the sound familiar to any rapper or singer simply by adding their favourite plugin chain after recording. Also, its multipattern functionality makes the C-100 a versatile workhorse for use in the live room for capturing vocal or instrumental ensembles.
With a relatively low impedance rating, it allows you to achieve a decent signal-to-noise ratio, even in a home recording environment, plugged directly into the average audio interface. Overall, the C-100 provides a good balance of quality, versatility, and value for money, and it really suits modern music production. Get it at Thomann.*
The Best Condenser Microphones: Manley Reference Cardioid Microphone
When you want this to be the last studio vocal mic you ever buy, you choose the Reference Cardioid Microphone from Manley Labs. Sure, it’s a considerable investment, but this renowned tube mic is a sure way to put your studio on the map. If you’re shopping for a mic in this range, chances are, you’ve already acoustically optimized your vocal booth.
If you’re familiar with any gear built by Manley Labs, it’s about as rugged and reliable as it gets, so the Reference Cardioid can deliver the same consistent results from one client to the next. Although these prestigious microphones have been around since the early 1990s, they were recently upgraded with Manley’s ultra-stable switch-mode power supply.
When combined with the custom-wound transformers and 12AT7 dual triode vacuum tubes, the Reference Cardioid captures every detail of performance with the utmost transparency. This makes it ideal for vocal recording, but it will also produce amazing results in your live room within a stereo overhead setup. Get it at Thomann.*
More about the Best Condenser Microphones
- All about mics
- Thomann’s Guide to large-diaphragm mics
- More about home recording
*Note: This article about the best condenser microphones contains promotional links that help us fund our site. Don’t worry: the price for you always stays the same! We will receive a small commission if you buy something through these links. We appreciate your support!
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6 responses to “The Best Condenser Microphones for Vocal Recording”
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Sometimes you can get the sE Electronics SE2300 for the same price as the SE2200. It has a sweeter top end than the SE2200.
Thank you
Aston Element, I think Behringer now own Aston Mics. Not the easiest mic to handle, a space-age shape, but sounds great, low noise.
I have the Lewitt 440 PURE Vida, and it’s great, clear, flat response sounding to me, but I EQ it to bump presence slightly. I think this mic performs like it’s twice the price.
I am sorry, but can you sometimes make reviews of the expensive gear for a change?
No Nevaton mics mentioned (