Electrovoice RE20 Microphone

Electro-Voice RE20 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

The Electro-Voice RE20 is a professional-quality dynamic cardioid microphone created specially for recording, broadcast and sound-reinforcement applications requiring essentially flat response over a very wide frequency range. The wide frequency response, coupled with excellent transient response, make the RE20 easily comparable to the finest condenser cardioid microphones and an easily operated bass tilt down switch corrects spectrum balance for use in longreach situations or other applications where bass attenuation is needed.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ElectroVoice
• EV
• SamAsh
• RE20 Mic
• microphone
• mics

[mattCTB]

I heard this mic is good for rap vocals as well?

[TheShockMaster]

@TheJamezMan

I haven't heard about it but I will stress again that how your recording environment is treated has a WAY bigger impact on how things will sound than the equipment. I grew my business on a Blue Baby Bottle mic and a CENtrance MicPort Pro USB interface. Granted, I also did some EQ adjustments, normalization, background noise removal and compression...but I would prioritize stuff like this:

1) Your treated environment.

2) Your editing ability.

3) Your equipment (use a condenser mic).

[TheJamezMan]

@TheShockMaster Have you heard anything good about the Universal Audio 710? It's sounds very warm. Might be good for voice over work as well.

[TheShockMaster]

@TheJamezMan

The TLM 103 will sound wonderful on the 737...if the environment is good. One of the things I wish I had learned before I started doing VO was how important your recording environment is....it actually means A LOT more than your equipment. Your equipment certainly isn't irrelevant (AT ALL), but it doesn't count as much as a good recording environment. Preferably one treated with rigid fiberglass insulation panels wrapped in specialized sound-proofing fabric like Gilford of Maine.

[TheJamezMan]

@TheShockMaster I have heard similar things about the U87 and 103. I'm building a recording studio to produce voice over work and also for high quality broadcast work simulcasted. I have a Avalon 737sp I plan to buy as well. I want clean, smooth, and quite response. I already have a Aphex 203 but I don't plan to use that to much. I want pure balanced response. Tone is a necessity. I need to be able to read material for a large audience of listeners (business and non-profit).

[TheShockMaster]

@TheJamezMan

The TLM 103 is a WONDERFUL mic. Some engineers hold it in even higher regard than the U87 (not to mention that the U87 will sound terrible without some EQ adjustments to get rid of a natural "honk" sound that it has, and that even with that EQ adjustment it will sound terrible in an acoustically untreated environment). What exactly do you mean "for professional uses," exactly? I ask because I'd be glad to give you my thoughts. PM me if you're interested.

[TheJamezMan]

@TheShockMaster Well, I was considering a voice-over/Radio microphone for professional uses. RE20 seems to have a smooth but low response. I was also looking at the Neumann TLM 103. The u87 is quite nice and I could go for it but I would rather spend the money on equipment over just a good microphone.

[TheShockMaster]

@TheJamezMan

That's kind of like asking what the best car is...it's very much an opinion-based question, and different mics work better for different voices. Like I said, I do know a few voice actors who use RE20's, but not many. Really, any good condenser mic is the most well-suited mic for VO purposes. I will say, however, that the most common mic to find in a VO studio is a tie between the Neumann U87 and the Sennheisser MKH 416. Both very expensive, though. Why do you ask?

[TheJamezMan]

@TheShockMaster If not the RE20 what microphone would you say is the best for voice overs?

[TheShockMaster]

It's an incredible microphone for radio broadcasting, there's a reason why it's considered the no. 1 mic in the world for that purpose. I would stop short of saying it's one of the best "speech" microphones though, because that implies that it's good for voiceover, which (I think) it isn't. Yes, I do know some voice actors use it in their home studio, but I have yet to be impressed by it. It doesn't capture the crisp, clear quality of a condenser microphone. For radio, though, it's awesome!