Mic Archive

Voice

Countertenor

A classical male voice in the contralto or mezzo-soprano range. Most countertenors sing the upper half of the range in falsetto; some use a "head voice" described differently by different authorities.1

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

Range
E3–E5
Sources
10 (9 independent)

Recommended mics

Mics sources recommend

24 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

Distant

Close

The 20 setups behind this: placement and quotes
  • 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).8
  • 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."9
  • Close Voice advice Shure SM57
    close, budget vocal
    Found in nearly every professional studio; works from lead vocals to kick drums (paraphrase).10
  • 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).10
  • Close Voice advice Neumann M 49 V
    close, studio vocal, high end
    Listed as a top-end vocal mic with a rich history (paraphrase).10

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".11
  • 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."9
  • Handheld Voice advice Shure SM58
    handheld, live vocal, budget
    SM57 and SM58 are mentioned in budget guides without fail; durable, versatile (paraphrase).10

Range

E3 to about E51165 Hz – 659 Hz

generally E3 to D5 or E5; a sopranist may reach C6

Where the sound comes from

The sound

Same source-filter set-up as other voices. The only directivity measurement I found used a professional countertenor in an anechoic room (24 mics on a semicircle): near omnidirectional up to about 600-1000 Hz, more cardioid-like in the 1.25-4 kHz bands, with little difference between /a/, /i/ and /o/, between piano and fortissimo, or between normal and "projected" singing (projection mainly adds energy above 5 kHz). The authors conclude that radiation depends mainly on head radius and mouth opening. One singer only.12

Recording it

No countertenor-specific recording source found. A professional countertenor on a forum says he was "spoiled" by Neumann and Schoeps on label recordings (search summary only, thread not opened, so not recorded as a recommendation). Use the classical solo advice (mezzo-soprano entry): 1 m or more, large-diaphragm condenser or a ribbon, U 87 at 1-1.5 m.

About the range

Generally E3 to D5 or E5 (Steane, New Grove Dictionary of Opera, via Wikipedia). A sopranist may reach the soprano range of C4-C6. The lowest notes are usually not used. Compare the male voice A2-A4 in the existing entry.1

Names

Contratenor altus; male alto. Sub-types: sopranist (male soprano), haute-contre, and the historical castrato.1

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Countertenor, and Voice typereference · en.wikipedia.org
  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. Sonicbids blog: The Best Microphones for Every Voice Typemagazine · blog.sonicbids.com
  9. Sound On Sound: Vocal Recording & Production Masterclassmagazine · soundonsound.com
  10. Splice blog: The 13 best vocal microphonesmagazine · splice.com
  11. MusicRadar: Best live vocal microphones 2026magazine · musicradar.com
  12. Katz and d'Alessandro: voice directivity measurements (ICA 2007)academic · 2007 · groupeaa.lisn.upsaclay.fr