Mic Archive

Voice

Alto

Voice: Solo voices by type (soprano to bass, treble, countertenor) and the generic female and male voice. Many sources write for 'vocals' in general; that advice is filed here.

Part of the Voice family; that family's advice shows here too.

Range
F3–F5
Overtones to
about 3.5 kHz
Sources
10 (9 independent)

Recommended mics

Mics sources recommend

25 setups from 10 sources, 9 of them independent of any mic maker. Each mic shows how many sources name it for that role, and how many of those are independent. Listed alphabetically: there is no ranking.

Studio

Close

Distant

The 21 setups behind this: placement and quotes
  • Close Audio-Technica AT4050
    close, studio vocal
    "Plays to the richness that can occur in an alto singer's range."1
  • Distant Voice advice Schoeps Colette with MK 2 capsule
    solo voice, classical, short distance, linear and no proximity effect
    "The choice often falls on the Schoeps Colette system with the free-field-equalised MK2 capsule" for classical solo voice (translated; generic classical singing).2
  • Close Voice advice condenser, large-diaphragm, omni (pressure receiver)
    solo voice, classical, studio
    DPA makes "a large-diaphragm condenser with pressure receiver", an alternative for classical voice (translated; model not named in the text).2
  • Close Voice advice Neumann U 87 or Neumann U 47 or AKG C12 or Sony C-800G
    close, studio vocal (pop)
    Pop vocals: transistor large-diaphragm condensers like the U 87; tube mics like U 47 or C12; C800G for soul and R&B (translated).2
  • Close Voice advice AEA KU4 or AEA RC44
    close, studio vocal (jazz)
    For intimate jazz vocals, ribbons such as AEA KU4 or RC44 are "more than great" (translated).2
  • Close Voice advice Electro-Voice RE20
    close, studio vocal (rock)
    "Many swear by dynamics such as the EV RE20" for rock vocals (translated).2
  • Distant Voice advice Neumann U 87
    solo with piano or orchestra, 1-1.5 m, 30 cm above head height
    Studio engineers placed the mic 1-1.5 m away, about 1 ft above head height; "They always used U-87" (one studio).3
  • Distant Voice advice Shure SM81
    solo classical voice, budget, about 1 m
    Forum reply: "as a bare minimum" the SM81; "probably to do it right you'd be looking at Schoeps or DPA".4
  • Close Voice advice Shure SM7dB or AKG C414 XLII
    close, studio vocal
    Chosen as best all-round vocal mic; successor to the SM7B (paraphrase). ... Listed as best studio vocal mic; "a studio staple" (paraphrase).5
  • Close Voice advice Rode NT1 Signature
    close, studio vocal, beginner
    "Ultra-flat response ... perfect for beginners" (MusicRadar, best for beginners).5
  • Close Voice advice Audio-Technica AT2020
    close, studio vocal, budget
    Top choice for recording vocals on a budget, around $100/GBP100 (paraphrase).5
  • Close Voice advice Shure SM7B
    close, studio vocal, untreated room
    Picked as best dynamic for untreated rooms (paraphrase of heading).6
  • Close Voice advice Aston Stealth or Neumann U 87 Ai or AKG C414 XLII or Warm Audio WA-44
    close, studio vocal
    Picked as best do-it-all dynamic microphone (paraphrase of heading). ... Picked as best classic studio condenser (paraphrase of heading). ... Picked as most flexible multi-pattern condenser (paraphrase of heading). ... Picked as best ribbon mic for vocals (paraphrase of heading).6
  • Close Voice advice Lewitt LCT 440 Pure
    close, studio vocal, budget
    Picked as best budget condenser (paraphrase of heading).6
  • Close Voice advice Austrian Audio OC18
    close, studio vocal, mid-price
    Picked as best mid-price large-diaphragm condenser (paraphrase of heading).6
  • Close Voice advice Royer R-122 MKII
    close, studio vocal
    "A good match for vocals due to its higher output level and slightly brighter response."7
  • Close Voice advice Neumann U 87
    close, studio vocal
    "Wonderful microphone for vocals because it lacks sibilance and gives a warm, dark sound" (go-to for soprano and tenor).1
  • Close Voice advice large-diaphragm condenser, cardioid (default); dynamic or small-diaphragm or omni also work
    close, studio vocal
    "Most pop vocal work is done using some kind of large-diaphragm, cardioid-pattern capacitor microphone, but there are exceptions."8
  • Close Voice advice Shure SM57
    close, budget vocal
    Found in nearly every professional studio; works from lead vocals to kick drums (paraphrase).9
  • Close Voice advice Shure SM7B or Audio-Technica AT4040 or AKG C414 XLII or Neumann TLM 103 or Neumann U 87 or Telefunken TF11
    close, studio vocal
    Listed among mid-priced vocal mics (paraphrase). ... Widely considered a de facto part of a professional engineer's mic locker (paraphrase of AKG claim). ... "Perfect for helping vocals stand out in the mix". ... "May be the single most beloved high-end microphone"; won over countless singers. ... "Crystal-clear vocal sound" with fast transient response (paraphrase).9
  • Close Voice advice Neumann M 49 V
    close, studio vocal, high end
    Listed as a top-end vocal mic with a rich history (paraphrase).9

On stage

Handheld

The 2 setups behind this: placement and quotes
  • Handheld Voice advice Telefunken M80 or sE Electronics V7 or Shure SM58 or DPA d:facto 4018 or Audio-Technica AE5400 or Aston Apex or Sennheiser e 965 or Earthworks SR314 or Shure Nexadyne 8/C or Austrian Audio OD505
    handheld, live vocal
    Picked as best overall live vocal mic: "studio-grade clarity to the stage" (paraphrase). ... Picked as best budget live vocal mic; "build quality and performance" above its price. ... Picked for durability: "super dependable and delivers a consistent, authentic, vocal tone". ... Picked as the live vocal mic with the more detailed frequency range; noise rejection "top-drawer". ... Picked as best condenser for live vocals: "detailed, clear sound for a competitive price". ... Listed in the top ten live vocal mics (picked for style). ... Picked as best switchable-pattern live vocal mic (paraphrase of heading). ... Picked as the live vocal mic with the best frequency response (paraphrase of heading). ... Listed as a top-ten live vocal mic (best upgrade). ... Picked as best active dynamic: "a high-end dual capsule gamechanger at a great price".10
  • Handheld Voice advice Shure SM58
    handheld, live vocal
    "The go-to for anyone needing a rugged vocal microphone" on the live circuit (paraphrase).5

Studio and stage

Close

Handheld

The 2 setups behind this: placement and quotes
  • Close Voice advice Shure SM58
    close, studio or live vocal
    "Some singers like to work with dynamic mics such as Shure SM58s, because the tonality suits their voice."8
  • Handheld Voice advice Shure SM58
    handheld, live vocal, budget
    SM57 and SM58 are mentioned in budget guides without fail; durable, versatile (paraphrase).9

Range

about F3 to about F511175 Hz – 698 Hz

Contralto range (McKinney); extremes D3-Bb5.

ChestF3–G4dark, strong
MiddleG#4–C#5between primo (G#4/A4) and secondo (D5) passaggio
Top (head)D5–F5lighter

Overtones reach about 3.5 kHz (the highest harmonic within 40 dB of the strongest, at a moderate level; louder playing reaches higher)12.

Where the sound comes from

The sound

A low female voice: strong first two formants and less energy above 3 kHz than in male classical voices.

Recording it

How loud

Sound pressure level measurements as published. Different kinds of figure (a playing level, a peak, a dose at the player's ear) can't be compared with each other, and neither can figures at different distances.

Playing level
67.5–108.67 dBat 0.3 m; professional female opera soloists, contralto (n=6), voice range profile while singing an aria excerpt (performance profile), minimum to maximum SPL13
58–113.17 dBat 0.3 m; same singers, contralto, physiological voice range profile (softest and loudest possible)13
Dynamic range
41.17 dBat 0.3 m; contralto, mean SPL range in the aria-excerpt profile13
Player's exposure (dosimeter)
92.04 dB(A)dosimeter on the right collarbone, 5-7 in (13-18 cm) from the ear; university choir (85 voices) alto, one singer, mean Leq over five rehearsals and performances of opera choruses with orchestra (each about 1 h)14,15
89.86 dB(A)dosimeter on the right collarbone; same alto, choir-only rehearsal (period 1, about 66 min)14,15
92 dB(A)chorister (dosimeter); Finnish National Opera choristers, mean exposure; 100 dB(A) in choir-only rehearsals secondary14,15

University choir alto: mean Leq 92.0 dB(A), highest 99.7 dB(A) (one singer).14

Sources

  1. Sonicbids blog: The Best Microphones for Every Voice Typemagazine · blog.sonicbids.com
  2. Bonedo (Germany): Welches Mikrofon ist am besten fuer welche Stimme geeignet?magazine · bonedo.de
  3. DV Info Net forum: Recording an opera singer (thread archive)forum · dvinfo.net
  4. HomeRecording.com forum: Recording an opera singer (2015)forum · homerecording.com
  5. MusicRadar: Best vocal mics 2026magazine · musicradar.com
  6. MusicTech: Best microphones for vocalsmagazine · musictech.com
  7. Royer Labs FAQ: Which Royer mic would you recommend for recording vocals?manufacturer · royerlabs.com
  8. Sound On Sound: Vocal Recording & Production Masterclassmagazine · soundonsound.com
  9. Splice blog: The 13 best vocal microphonesmagazine · splice.com
  10. MusicRadar: Best live vocal microphones 2026magazine · musicradar.com
  11. Wikipedia: Voice type (ranges after McKinney 1994 and Boldrey 1994)reference · en.wikipedia.org
  12. Csound Manual, Appendix D: Formant Values (sung vowels, soprano/alto/countertenor/tenor/bass)csound.com
  13. KTH doctoral thesis: Lamarche, Putting the Singing Voice on the MapAnick Lamarche · academic · 2009 · csc.kth.se
  14. Cook-Cunningham, Grady and Nelson: choir singers' noise exposure (IJRCS 4(1), 19-35)academic · 2012 · acda.org
  15. IJRCS: Cook-Cunningham, Grady and Nelson, Hearing doses of university choral singers (4(1), 2012), PDFSheri L. Cook-Cunningham; Melissa L. Grady; Heather Nelson · academic · 2012 · acda-publications.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com
  16. Katz and d'Alessandro: voice directivity measurements (ICA 2007)academic · 2007 · groupeaa.lisn.upsaclay.fr
  17. Sound On Sound: Session Notes - Classical Vocal & Piano Ensemble (Mike Senior)magazine · soundonsound.com
  18. Boren, B., Roginska, A. & Gill, B. (2013) Maximum averaged and peak levels of vocal sound pressure, AES Convention 135aes.org