BEST Mic for Metal Vocals (+ tips for recording heavy vocals)

What's the best mic for recording metal vocals?

The typical condenser mic setup is NOT ideal for recording a screamer. You need something that will handle high SPL and allow them to be comfortable while tracking vocals.

Here's my pick for the best mic metal vocal mic in the studio and some important tips on how to use it.

Plus - watch to the end for a bonus suggestion on another unexpected mic that sounds killer on heavy vocals!

[CLELDKFKEJ]

All these people up here "ThAt'S NoT AffORdAblE"

Yeah, really dig into studio gear. You'll understand how $350 is actually very affordable.

[slipknotcoreyno]

DUDE!!!! you are a LEGEND!!!! Not only did you answer my question about which mic to get, but you’ve also done a pdf to help with recommendations for everything else?? Much much appreciated, thank you 🙏🏻 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[AlecWyld]

$350 for this mic is an absolute steal, man. It's so dynamic. Studio podcast use, general use, vocal recording. It's amazing.

[mdman]

I use Warm Audio Tone Beast preamps with my SM7Bs. They have so many options and more than enough power for these mics. They're not cheap but they are far more affordable than any equivalent mic pres I am aware of. They are well worth a look if you are wanting a nice preamp without completely breaking the bank.

[xaosnox]

So agreed about the high end condensers. When I was a recording/touring vocalist, they'd put me in front of a Neumann/Telefunken U47, then EQ it to sound like an SM7B or SM58! I was not a screamer or growler at all. The comparison I got the most was Ronnie James Dio. Super high SPL. People would hear me practicing in the shower (best place to sing, right?) and say they thought the door was going to blow open. (Not bragging. Couldn't do that now. It's like talking about another person.) But the SM7B could handle it, but I wasn't crazy about the sound on my voice. And you're the first person I've heard mention the 421 for vocals! I used that for a pre-production demo, and liked it so much that I ended up borrowing it when we went to the real studio because I wan't liking the Neumanns. But, better than both of these is my secret weapon mic. It's awesome on so many things—kicks, toms, but especially vocals and VO. It's the original CAD e100 from the 90s. The newer ones are NOT the same, so caveat emptor. This mic is amazing. It's a condenser, but only a medium diaphragm (3/4"), has a built in metal pop filter behind the mesh, and has 2 rechargeable 9 volt batteries inside to boost the power above 48 V if needed to catch super loud transients without distorting. It has a 20dB pad, a HPF, and can handle 120dB with the pad enabled. Best thing about it is, when you can find one, they go for around $200. Only reason I'll even share my secret weapon mic is because I've got two of them now. Only thing they slightly less than great for is drum OH, but they are still really good in that application. In fact, they used to sell sonically matched pairs just for that purpose. It has a super tight cardioid pickup pattern, so you can get great recordings in less than ideal rooms. (This is why I don't like them so much for OH.) They have all the benefits and more of a condenser without the drawbacks. IMO, one of the best mics ever made. Every studio should have a pair. I'd take it over any of the current Neumanns except MAYBE the TLM 107 for some things, and I like it as much as the Sennheiser MKH 416 for VO.

[turtle_co]

I feel like the Sennheiser MD421 has such a nice tone for other singing too. It's surprising to me so many people think its not made for vocals.

[chronicmango]

I use a Scarlett solo with the SM7B and I’ve never struggled with gain.

[EvenTheTrees]

Somehow I knew the bonus mic would be the 421! With a friend of mines EP, we tried a few mics, but my SM7b was in use for Guitar at that moment, we tried the 421. Blown away for all the reasons you mentioned, it definitely works well for aggressive vocals! Great video :)

[DragunnitumGaming]

Exactly what i have been looking for! Thanks a lot for the useful information! ❤

[eamonjosephus]

if its reviewed on this channel. Im sold.

[brd]

Never thought on the 421 for screams... Now I have to try it !
Thanks Jordan :D

[Lord_Sneetus]

Mine is plugged into an Audient iD4 @60% gain, no cloudlifter. I can peak it with screams. If I push it to 80%+ gain it will pick up quiet talking, almost whispers

[jhpv]

There used to be an sm7b laying in the corner of my school for years because someone had claimed it was broken. Turned out that it wasn't and the problem was that nobody knew it normally gives such a low level signal. Since then everyones been using a fethead with it which is like a small adapter and gives +20dbs free gain.

[boldbearStudios]

Thanks Jordan! I've ordered an SM7B yesterday and that video proofed that I was not wrong! :-) Great tips, thanks a lot. Really appreciate your work!

[lodougherty]

Found your channel on Recommended. Watching the third video now... and *subscribed* super helpful stuff man.

[thegreatsiberianitch]

G.G. Allin always used U87s so that's the only mic I use for my vocals.

[MichaelCozineSounds]

I honestly thought you were gonna pull out an SM57 instead of a 421.

[winstonmeyer]

Love the Intervals track in the background, also love your channel! Tons of good information

[nerdpunk]

I’m a metal vocalist and I use Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen with a Klark teknik mic booster and it sounds amazing in my daw 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[vinniesings]

I use this mic to record from my bedroom for my music videos and it's fantastic. People think I am recording in expensive studios haha