What microphone do you use for UTAU?

P

partial

Guest
Word of caution for those lurking/reading: This is discussion thread, and we're just listing whatever equipment we happen to have at the moment. If you're looking to purchase a new microphone, you're better off researching all the various options within your budget! Copying exactly what other users have done in the past may not result in the best setup for YOU. Check out threads in Help & Advice instead, and consult with people who have tried a large variety of equipment (like Caustic) who can give you more objective comparisons.

I was reading thread from a while back and got curious. What microphone do you use, and if you bought it, why did you pick it?

I use a Blue Yeti.
The reason I chose: it's because it's what Paintedcz used for her UTAU, and the VCCV demos had me sold.
That's really the sole reason I ended up with one, lmao.

It works well enough for me, however, and I like it!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: Mitt64 and Melomad

Melomad

Ritsu's Renegades
Defender of Defoko
I took a Blue Nessie! It works well but I wish I knew about other microphones as well ;;w;;
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: partial
P

partial

Guest
Thread starter
I took a Blue Nessie! It works well but I wish I knew about other microphones ad well ;;w;;
I sometimes feel that way about my Blue Yeti. It works well for me and I'm satisfied enough not to look for another microphone, but I also am not too knowledgeable on microphones in general.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mitt64 and Melomad

WinterdrivE

Ritsu's Renegades
Defender of Defoko
I use a Samson C01U. So far its served me well, and its a nice, sturdy microphone. I've dropped it several times and its gone to Japan and Korea from the US with me and it still works fine. i've had it for, like, 5 years now, too.

I only have 2 real complaints about it. one being that its a little finicky about proximity issues. This may be condenser mics in general or just microphones in general, but just a slight change in distance from the mic can change the color of the recording a lot. i.e., I can never get the same tone color twice in two different sessions because my setup may be slightly different. If you just set the mic and your recording setup in one place and leave it, this may not be as much of an issue, but as someone who isn't constantly recording with limited desk space, I break it down and set it up every time. (Perhaps the real issue here)

The other thing is it creates a little bit of hiss on its own that's just impossible to eliminate. With louder singing styles on more densely arranged songs its not a problem, but with soft vocals or in soft songs, it gets noticeable.

Otherwise, the recordings come out nice and clear and if you have a ~$100 budget for a USB mic, i'd recommend it.

Right now I'm looking to get an actual audio interface and get an AT2035. We'll see what happens, though.
 

Avalia-Kasa

probably a potato tbh
Supporter
Defender of Defoko
Rode NT1 with a scarlett 2i2 interface
i love it so much but it sometimes doesn't wanna record :sad:

@WinterdrivE condenser mics are really good for quieter vocals but it has the problem of picking up nearly everything. Try batch cleaning files with noise gates and equalizers to get the hiss out, that's what I do.
 

WinterdrivE

Ritsu's Renegades
Defender of Defoko
^ I don't mean its picking up background noise. I mean its creating noise inherently on its own :/ I've tried both of those options, but once the noise is there, there's nothing that can really be done. The gate will get rid of the noise where there's not vocals, but when the vocals come in, so does the noise. And gouging out the frequencies that the noise is at will get rid of the noise, but it'll gouge out those frequencies in the vocals as well. :/ Thus the problem with noisy recordings.
 

VocAddict

The Voice Within Us
Defender of Defoko
I use one of those headphone mics that comes with a phone. So, basically every time a new phone is bought in the house, I record a test bank with it.

I do need to invest in a proper mic but I know myself and I won't be able to use it as much as I'll like.
 
  • Like
Reactions: partial

Neku

Teto's Territory
I use a Krom Kimu. It's relatively cheap (40 bucks) and has a very good quality overall.

It got rid of the annoying buzzing noise my old voicebank had so I was sold with that :uhuhu:
 
  • Like
Reactions: partial

Kiyoteru

UtaForum power user
Supporter
Defender of Defoko
I use a Blue Snowball, solely because when I was 13, the UTAU user I looked up to had also gotten one. I made sure to get the exact same color, too. He later went on to sell it and buy better recording equipment, but now I'm stuck here with my poorly informed bad decision.

But it's not currently broken or anything, so I don't have much of a reason to replace it when the stuff I use it for isn't very serious. I'm also currently using a cheap hack to record guitar. Once I have a proper interface for that, it won't be too much of a jump to get a new microphone too.
 

Shasta

Professional Lurker
Global Mod
Defender of Defoko
I literally use a mic from that rock band game. It's a logitech usb mic, and it does the job. I have no reason to get a new mic, so Imma stick with this one til it dies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mochlin

HixaiU

Ruko's Ruffians
Defender of Defoko
I have a plethora of microphones at my disposal. I do have one that I use for UTAU quite a lot though. I use the SE4400A due to the multipattern settings. I have a pro tools interface though so it helps. Other than that I use the AKG C414 because its the closest you can get to the voice you hear in real life. I don't use USB microphones myself I had a yeti sent to me from blues rep team and sent it back it just cant handle my voice it breaks the mic. I also have to watch what mic I use for my voice because I have a very loud singing voice with a lot of power so cheaper mics tend to not handle it well... I should so a microphone comparison sometime...
 
  • Like
Reactions: WinterdrivE

수연 <Suyeon>

Your friendly neighborhood koreaboo trash
Supporter
Defender of Defoko
I use an sE Magneto with UR12 interface - expensive for UTAU hobby use, but cheap in terms of "PRO STUDIO QUALITY!TM." Does what I need it to do and my UTAU basically sounds like me if I had some gen-factor.
 

na4a4a

Outwardly Opinionated and Harshly Critical
Supporter
Defender of Defoko
I used a Shure SM7b, Blue Encore 100, and/or an M-Audio Solaris depending on how I feel. Sometimes use more than one mic at once.
I plug those into a Steinberg UR22 and use a Cathedral Pipes Durham to add more gain to the SM7b.

Then I process the audio, compress it, EQ out any non-vocal material, apply some de-essing as needed, and if I need to I'll spectrally edit it, top it all off with a really fast and specific noise gate, all to taste.
Not necessary but it adds to the bank's ease of use later on.

It's all really expensive but I wouldn't trade it for anything and I love the sound quality I get.
At times my voicebank sounds 1:1, even my family says it's almost exact.
 
P

partial

Guest
Thread starter
I use a Blue Snowball, solely because when I was 13, the UTAU user I looked up to had also gotten one. I made sure to get the exact same color, too. He later went on to sell it and buy better recording equipment, but now I'm stuck here with my poorly informed bad decision.
The reason I bought my Blue Yeti is because Paintedcz, an UTAU user I really look up to, used it for Czloid. I'm happy enough with it to feel as though I don't need a replacement despite knowing there are better microphones out there.
[doublepost=1508385010][/doublepost]
I used a Shure SM7b, Blue Encore 100, and/or an M-Audio Solaris depending on how I feel. Sometimes use more than one mic at once.
I plug those into a Steinberg UR22 and use a Cathedral Pipes Durham to add more gain to the SM7b.

Then I process the audio, compress it, EQ out any non-vocal material, apply some de-essing as needed, and if I need to I'll spectrally edit it, top it all off with a really fast and specific noise gate, all to taste.
Not necessary but it adds to the bank's ease of use later on.

It's all really expensive but I wouldn't trade it for anything and I love the sound quality I get.
At times my voicebank sounds 1:1, even my family says it's almost exact.
Do you just happen to own all these microphones lmao
or do you have access to some type of recording studio?
 

iPantasticGuy

Food Eater of UTAU
Because I currently don't have money, I use my phone's microphone XD But then I'm gonna get a microphone soon so ya :D
 

Kiyoteru

UtaForum power user
Supporter
Defender of Defoko
Word of caution for those lurking/reading: This is discussion thread, and we're just listing whatever equipment we happen to have at the moment. If you're looking to purchase a new microphone, you're better off researching all the various options within your budget! Copying exactly what other users have done in the past may not result in the best setup for YOU. Check out threads in Help & Advice instead, and consult with people who have tried a large variety of equipment (like Caustic) who can give you more objective comparisons.
 
P

partial

Guest
Thread starter
Word of caution for those lurking/reading: This is discussion thread, and we're just listing whatever equipment we happen to have at the moment. If you're looking to purchase a new microphone, you're better off researching all the various options within your budget! Copying exactly what other users have done in the past may not result in the best setup for YOU. Check out threads in Help & Advice instead, and consult with people who have tried a large variety of equipment (like Caustic) who can give you more objective comparisons.
Ooh, can I quote this and add it to the op?
 

Similar threads