Top 9 Microphones For Recording Female Vocals: All Budgets

Which microphones are best for recording female vocals and why?

The list of our top 9 studio mic’s to record a female’s voice took a bit longer to create than expected. However, with the help of some of our producer friends, sound engineers, reviews, and consistent comparisons between recording male and female voices with a large variety of mics; We were able to find a list of 9 studio microphones for recording female vocals.

Before We Get Started, A Few Things To Keep In Mind

• USB Mics are cheaper and simpler to use because you don’t need to purchase an additional interface. However, there are no USB microphones on this list.
• Microphones that need Phantom Power require an additional interface. (Every microphone on this list)
• Depending on whichever preamp you use also plays a factor in the sound of your vocal tracks.
• There are 2 types of studio microphones; Dynamic and Condenser. Every microphone on this list is a condenser mic which is typically better for recording vocals in a studio.

1. Shure SM27

Don’t let the low price fool you. The Shure SM27-LC is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone that is incredible at capturing a female singer’s voice. Tailored specifically for vocal applications of any kind, this microphone has a rich sound and an incredible off-axis rejection. One of the reasons this microphone worked so well with a female singer was because of its flat frequency response. The flat response helps capture the essence of a higher voice frequency without it sounding harsh. It will not only help smoothen out the voice while recording but also, it’s better able to be EQ’d in post. The only bump in the frequency is in the “airy” frequencies that help capture more breathe and the essence of the voice.

The SM27-LC has three separate mesh layers that help reduces wind and breathing. The mic also has an incredibly high SPL for its low price at 133dB with pad 147dB. The high SPL definitely comes in handy for the loudest of singers or instruments. For female singers with a harsher voice or who tend to sing more through their nose, the proximity effect for the SM27-LC actually sounds very good while singing close up to this microphone. It helps smoothen out the voice while making it sound more prominent with more authority.

Overall, the Shure SM27-LC is an incredible bang for the buck studio microphone that has been tested for only positive results for a female voice. 

Included Accessories

• Microphone Pouch
• Stand Mount

Features

• Neutral frequency response that helps smoothen out the voice
• 3-position switchable low-frequency filter
• Low Cut Filter: 80Hz (-18dB/octave), 115Hz (-6dB/octave)
• Pads: -15dB
• Great off-axis rejection
• Incredible transient response
• 3 mesh layers that help reduce breathing noise/wind

2. MXL V69M EDT MOGAMI

The MXL V69M EDT MOGAMI is one of the more sought-after sounds in the modern music realm. It’s a perfect choice for a female singer if you’re looking for a low-budget microphone with a tube sound. With its classic tube warm, bright, and vibrant tone; I was surprised by the amount of detail the Genesis picks up while smoothing out the unwanted high end. Mic junkies may believe, as I do, that this mic at $399 can go up against some of the more expensive $1000 tube microphones. Everybody’s opinion may differ. However, I genuinely believe the MXL V69M EDT MOGAMI is underrated and underpriced.

This mic gives you a full frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The tube condenser microphone produces an accurate sound with a flare of rich warmth from the tube. It is not only an incredible mic for a women’s voice but for just about any vocal type as well.

3. Neumann TLM 102

In my honest opinion, the Neumann TLM 102 is way too good for its price range. $699 may not be cheap. However, the incredibly clear and natural sound this microphone produces can stand toe to toe with some of the most expensive Neumann microphones on the market. The TLM 102 may be small, but the sound quality it produces is tremendous with incredible clarity.

All TLM microphones by Neumann uses low-noise circuitry that captures the true nuances of the sound without any audio manipulation. A female vocalist tested the TLM 102 up against 11 of the much more expensive Neumann microphones. I was incredibly shocked that the TLM 102 placed in the top 4 while being substantially cheaper than the rest. Although the capsule is small, it still uses a large diaphragm for the added acoustic energy. It has very low self-noise and low handling noise.

Overall, Neumann TLM 102 is the very best bang for the buck condenser microphone for professional/high-grade studios while performing incredibly with a woman’s voice.

Included Accessories

• Stand Mount

Features and Details

• Low self-noise at 12dB
• Large Diaphragm
• Dynamic Range: 132dB
• Incredible versatility

4. Audio-Technica 4040

The Audio-Technica 4040 is another incredible low-budget microphone for capturing a female singer. It’s a large-diaphragm condenser mic with a full frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz. The mic’s build quality is excellent, with an excellent shock mount that comes with the purchase.

The sound quality this microphone produces is very smooth and is much richer sounding than its low-price. The 4040 is, in my opinion, the best mic by Audio-Technica. It gives a slight boost in the upper airy frequencies that add more depth to the voice. When a female vocalist tested this mic, it most definitely stood out considering its excellent presence in the low and mid frequencies while embellishing the highs without any harshness. In case the Audio-Technica 4040 picks up unwanted low-end, the highpass filter switch in the body of the mic helps reduce it.

Overall, the Audio-Technica 4040 is another incredible bang for the buck condenser microphone that works great with a female vocalist. 

Included Accessories

• AT8449 shock mount

Features

• 80dB highpass filter option
• -10db pad option for recording loud audio
• Large diagram condenser
• High SPL at 145dB

5. AKG Pro Audio C214

For its affordable price, the AKG Pro Audio C214 is one of the highest-rated condenser microphones on the market. With its full frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz, low self-noise for the price at 13dB, good SPL handling at 136dB (156dB w/Pad), and good dynamic range at 123/143dB-A (0/20dB Pad), it will be hard to go wrong with this mic below the $400 price range. The sound quality is very accurate as it uses a built-in capsule suspension minimizing mechanical noise.

For a female singer or speaker, the AKG Pro Audio C214 works incredibly. With a minor boost in the upper frequencies, the C214 naturally brightens up the voice while keeping the higher frequencies smooth. This microphone is another excellent solution for those who prefer a pleasantly bright but smooth vocal sound at an affordable price.

Included Accessories

• H85 Shockmount
• Metal Carrying Case
• W 214 Windscreen

Features and Details:

• -20dB pad
• large-diaphragm condenser
• 160 Hz low cut filter option
• Dynamic range: 123dB

6. Neumann TLM 49

According to 19 multi-platinum, electronic music producer who is also the chief producer of my band’s record label FORD, the top microphone to record vocals for men and women alike at the best bang for the buck is the Neumann TLM 49. FORD has been a happy user with that mic for many years now and is not planning on switching it any time soon. 

By the looks of it, the Neumann TLM 49 looks a lot like a vintage mic when in fact it’s not. The design is based on the M49 and M50 microphones of the 1950s but within the mic has the K47 element. The cardioid directional condenser microphone was also fused with some of the newer technologies by Neumann. One of the more modern technologies the mic was combined with is called “Transformerless Output,” giving the mic optimal vocal reproduction and clarity. Along with the professional look, the Neumann TLM 49’s durability and robust build quality ensure that you will get the most out of your investment for years to come.

Specifically optimized for a vocal performance, one of the primary elements that make this microphone stand above the crowd is the linear frequency response with a presence boost of 3dB above 2kHz. This minor boost captures more air in the vocals giving the Neumann TLM 49 permission to bring out more presence in any voice type.

The Neumann TLM 49 is a solid-state microphone specially designed to give out the incredible sound most expect from power tubes at a more affordable price. The sound quality is very detailed, making even the softest voices sound bigger.

It uses Neumann’s state-of-the-art transformerless circuit technology that empowers the microphone to use high gain levels while maintaining low self-noise. When looking at the frequency response curve, it becomes clear that the microphone was optimized for vocal use. It shows the presence peak at 5kHz gradually sloping downward till it reaches 20Hz while everything below 1kHz registers below 0dB.

Most users of the Neumann TLM 49 claim it gives off a full, round, and precise vocal sound that holds out the breathiness low end. This is because its large-diaphragm mic mixed with the internal design emphasizes even harmonics resulting in a high-quality studio microphone that’s not only great for singers of either gender but voice-overs and talks as well.

Here is a song my band recorded using the Neumann TLM 49 for vocals.

If you’re interested in reading more about the Neumann TLM 49, view Top Studio Microphone To Record Both Male And Female Vocals

Included Accessories

• EA 3 shock mount

Features and Details

• Cardioid condenser mic
• Weight:1.82 lbs.
• Includes EA 3 shock mount
• Length: 165 mm
• Max SPL: 129dB
• Rated impedance: 50 ohms
• Rubber shock mount for capsule
• Acoustically very open wire mesh headgrille
• Dynamic range 102dB (A-weighted)
• Common mode rejection
• Capsule diameter 34 mm
• Signal to Noise Ratio: 71dB, 82dB (A weighted)
• Requires +48V phantom power
• K 47 capsule is a proven performer
• Polar pattern has a tendency toward supercardioid for excellent rejection
• Acoustical operating principle: Pressure gradient transducer
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
• Self Noise: 23dB, 12dB (A weighted)
• XLR connector

7. Neumann TLM 103

The Neumann TLM 103 is another outstanding large-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone. On top of being an overall exceptional professional microphone, the TLM 103 is incredible at picking up a female’s voice. Something that makes this microphone unique is its extremely low self-noise at 7dB mixed with 131db dynamic range.

This combination was only possible due to its transformerless circuitry customized by Neumann. The off-axis rejection of this microphone is excellent, making sure only the voice is being picked up. The TLM 103’s smoothed-out proximity effect can be used as a plus for this microphone in some cases.  

This microphone is incredibly clear, accurate, and smooth while pleasantly accentuating the upper frequencies. It is perfect for any singer or engineer who prefers the high-end to shine before any post-processing naturally. However, the Neumann TLM 103 is very good at handling processing of any sort.

Included Accessories

• Wooden box
• Shockmount

Features

• Large-diaphragm
• Extremely low self-noise with only 7dB
• Pressure gradient transducer
• Transformerless circuitry
• Dynamic range: 131dB

8. Rode K2

The Rode K2 is an excellent tube condenser microphone with an incredibly rich sound. This mic is one of the better tube microphones that worked incredibly well with a female singer. Rode was aiming for the tube sound of the ’50s and ’60s while creating the K2 and it worked!

The large gold-sputtered diaphragm and class A valve circuitry, the K2 produces a full tube sound that makes even the softest of voices more authoritative. The Rode K2 has one of the highest SPL handlings of most microphones on the market at 162dB.

The dynamic range is abnormally wide as well at 150dB while maintaining a low self-noise of 10dB. On top of its incredible tube sound and overall impressive technical specifications, the mic is exceptionally versatile as well. It can use three different polar patterns for use outside of recording vocals with Cardioid, Omni, and Figure-8.

Overall, the Rode K2 is one of the better tube condenser sound microphones with incredible dynamic range, high SPL, and low self-noise for a female singer. Not to mention, it’s also well below the $1000 range. 

Included Accessories

• Shock Mount
• Carry Case

Features

• 3 different polar patterns: Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8
• Low self-noise at : 10dB
• Extremely high SPL at 162dB
• Large-diaphragm
• Internal shock mount for low handling noise
• Extremely wide dynamic range: 150dB

9. Neumann U87 Ai

Once again, to bring up the chief producer of my band’s record label. FORD the 19 multi-platinum electronic music producer did say the previous Neumann TLM 49 was the best mic for both voices of either gender. However, when FORD was asked which mic is the absolute best for specifically a female voice, the answer without hesitation was the Neumann U87 Ai. Keep in mind that there are numerous other reasons why this microphone is fantastic for a female’s voice than just FORD’s word alone.

The Neumann U87 Ai is the more modern version of a classic mic. U87’s are, and have been since the ’70s, the favorite go-to microphone for top-of-the-line recording studios. Used for overheads, string instruments, piano, guitar cabinets, and of course vocals as well, the U87 is one of the most versatile microphones on the market. It is the large-diaphragm condenser industry-standard microphone.

To best describe the Neumann U87 Ai sound quality without using the word professional is best described as “authoritative clarity.” It captures the most identical sound to the singer’s voice of every microphone I have ever heard in my career. It’s almost as if they are literally singing directly in front of you.

Overall, the Neumann U87 Ai is the top-of-the-line industry-standard versatile condenser microphone that works flawlessly for female vocals.

Features

• Large-diaphragm
• 3 switchable polar patterns: Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8
• Switchable 10dB pre-attenuation
• Updated with modern circuitry
• Pressure-gradient transducer with double-membrane capsule

To Sum It Up

Here are the top 9 best studio microphones for recording female vocals of every budget

• Neumann U87 Ai
• MXL V69M EDT MOGAMI
• Neumann TLM 102
• Audio-Technica 4040
• AKG Pro Audio C214
• Neumann TLM 49
• Shure SM27
• Neumann TLM 103
• Rode K2

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