Mic Archive

Voice

Mezzo-soprano

The middle female voice, between soprano and contralto. The harmonic source is the larynx, shaped by the vocal tract; the sound leaves the mouth (and, less, the head and chest).

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

Range
A3–A5
Sources
11 (10 independent)

Recommended mics

Mics sources recommend

25 setups from 11 sources, 10 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

Spot

Distant

Close

The 21 setups behind this: placement and quotes
  • Spot Neumann U 47 FET or Neumann U 67 or Schoeps V4 U or Superlux R102
    spot, voice with piano, 2-3 ft
    One of four spot mics tried on a mezzo-soprano with piano; the U47 FET needed repositioning and was the least liked (paraphrase). ... Engineer liked its sound best; switched to figure-of-eight to cut piano spill (paraphrase). ... Second choice; sounded respectable straight away and needed only a little low shelf boost below 400 Hz (paraphrase). ... Budget ribbon in the shootout; needed only one move to find a promising position (paraphrase).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).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

A3 to A512220 Hz – 880 Hz

some singers reach F3 and C6

Where the sound comes from

Recording it

Mike Senior's session with a mezzo and piano is the one detailed source. Four spot mics were tried, all on the singer's two sides to keep sight lines: Neumann U 47 FET (supercardioid), Neumann U 67 (cardioid, then figure-of-eight to cut piano spill), Schoeps V 4 U (cardioid) and Superlux R102 ribbon. Distance: first about 3 ft (0.9 m), then 9-12 in (23-30 cm) closer for a drier sound. His favourite was the U 67 but its tone changed when the singer turned her head to read the score; the V 4 U was the fallback with 2 dB of low shelf below 400 Hz. He shock-mounted all mics because footfalls thumped.1

Problems to watch

A mic at the mouth gives "a thin and lacking body" sound with a trained voice, which projects using head and chest resonance. A music stand can reflect into the mics and cause comb filtering.1

About the range

Typical A3-A5; some singers go down to F3 and up to C6 (soft limits). Source: McKinney and Boldrey as given on Wikipedia, Voice type. Existing female entry has the same A3-A5.12

Names

None needed (Italian "mezzo"). New to the atlas; the existing generic female entry already uses the mezzo range, so the two overlap.

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
74–110.5 dBat 0.3 m; professional female opera soloists, mezzo-soprano (n=8), voice range profile while singing an aria excerpt (performance profile), minimum to maximum SPL13
55.5–115.5 dBat 0.3 m; same singers, mezzo-soprano, physiological voice range profile (softest and loudest possible)13
66–112 dBat 0.3 m; 3 sopranos and 2 mezzo-sopranos singing /papapa/ in piano, mezzo forte and forte, C4-G513
Dynamic range
36.5 dBat 0.3 m; mezzo-soprano, mean SPL range in the aria-excerpt profile13
Player's exposure (dosimeter)
77.4 dB(A)dosimeter on the shoulder; St Paul's Cathedral, London: the female adult singer (mezzo) in a 37-min rehearsal with 24 boy choristers and 11 men; LCpeak 113.8 dB14

No mezzo-specific source. See soprano and female voice.

Sources

  1. Sound On Sound: Session Notes - Classical Vocal & Piano Ensemble (Mike Senior)magazine · soundonsound.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. 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. Wikipedia: Voice type (ranges after McKinney 1994 and Boldrey 1994)reference · en.wikipedia.org
  13. KTH doctoral thesis: Lamarche, Putting the Singing Voice on the MapAnick Lamarche · academic · 2009 · csc.kth.se
  14. Noise & Health: Dance and Zepidou, Sound Exposure of Choristers (21(98), 41-46)Stephen M. Dance; Georgia Zepidou · academic · 2020 · pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  15. Katz and d'Alessandro: voice directivity measurements (ICA 2007)academic · 2007 · groupeaa.lisn.upsaclay.fr