EX-25 Extreme Isolation Headphones

In any recording environment, the elimination of unwanted noise is essential to achieving a quality recording. Undesired noise can often “bleed” or leak out of studio headphones during the recording process. Having a pair of headphones which can isolate or contain noise are an indispensible tool for any recording studio. Closed-back headphones are designed to [...]

Singer’s Tea : Vishudda Tea for Singers Review

Ask any vocalist what one of the keys to staying fresh vocally is and undoubtedly hydration with be on the short list.  While each has their own opinion as to what might work best IN said liquid generally water remains one of the key ingredients.  As for the guy in the corner with the jug [...]

Gator Cases Model GM-1WEVAA Wireless System Case Review

With the sheer amount of capital tied up into gigging gear it goes without saying that portability and protection is paramount.  When wireless mic systems can cost upwards and beyond $1000 the last thing anyone wants is to have is their wireless receiver unit sitting naked on the floor waiting to be crushed when Chieko [...]

TC-Helicon MP-75 Microphone Review

If somehow you hadn’t noticed there has been an absolute explosion over the last 5 years of excellent professional qualityvocal gear designed to give the modern vocalist absolute control over his or her sound.  With the likes of EV, DigiTech, and Electro-Harmonix in the game the list is long and noteworthy.  All focus on multiple product [...]

Lampifier 711 Dynamic Mic with Sound Processing Review

In a vast sea of dynamic stage mics, it’s not often that a manufacturer stands out for being as practical and refreshingly innovative as Lampifier Microphones. Most microphone companies release new models which feature tweaked EQ responses or pickup patterns, but seldom offer something truly ground breaking. Gary Osborne, the man behind Lampifier microphones, has [...]

RODE M2 Live Vocal Condenser Microphone Review

When shopping around for a live vocal microphone, I had never really considered trying out a condensermic, as the vast majority of vocal mics out there are dynamics. While I have used plenty of great sounding dynamic mics, I always thought it would be great to find a live vocal mic that could combine the [...]

TC Helicon VoiceTone T1 Review

If you were following The Modern Vocalist Journal earlier this year with the debut TMVJ Product Reviews of you may recall the review of the  TC Helicon D1 VoiceTone pedal.  The VoiceTone Singles series feature 7 new single function pedals designed to add professional vocal results and offer maximum flexibility and portability.  The are all stoutly built [...]

Telefunken CU-29 Copperhead Review

Telefunken has long been a name synonymous with high-grade professional audio equipment. Dating back to the turn of the 20th century Telefunken was founded in Berlin, Germany in 1903 after patent disputes arose among two different German inventors resulting in the formation of Gesellschaft für drahtlose Telegraphie System Telefunken (“The Company for Wireless Telegraphy Ltd.”). During [...]

EV PL80a High Performance Dynamic Mic Review

Choosing a live vocal mic is a personal thing for most vocalists. Every voice is unique and different mics accentuate different qualities that can bring out the best or worst in a singer. In addition, when choosing a live vocal mic, it is important to choose a microphone that is rugged and durable, cuts through [...]

Audix OM2 Dynamic Vocal Mic Review

You may recall a few months back we at TMVJ happened to get our hands on a rather svelte yet excellent sounding  Audix VX5.  Well as luck would have it our friends in Wilsonville, Oregon have again been kind enough to bestow upon us yet another offering from their lineup.  This time around we have [...]

It’s OK to light up. Lampifier Model 111 Vocal Mic Review

Certain things just work well together.  Think Peanut Butter and Jelly.  Ham and Cheese. Gin and Tonic.  With that in mind those of you who use a bit of compression on your vocal mix raise your hands.  Nearly everyone?  No news there.  Who among you get tired of either dragging around an extra piece of [...]

MXL 2003a Large Diaphragm Condenser Mic Review

In today’s market there are hundreds of low-cost microphones geared towards the budget-minded consumer and hobbyist. While some of these microphones do sound quite good for the price, the majority of them suffer from an overly hyped sound, being both bright and shrilly on top, and having a deep, but muddy low-end response. Enter the [...]

Sonically Slick: Audix VX5 Condenser Vocal Mic Review

What do Travis Barker, Buckcherry and Ani DiFranco all have in common? Give up? They all swear by Audix microphones. From its humble start in Redwood City, California in 1984 to its move to a state-of-the-art facility in Wilsonville, Oregon in 1991, Audix has a long-standing reputation of engineering and building world class microphones. They [...]

Headshot! Direct Sound EX-29 Isolation Headphones Review

Headshot! Direct Sound EX-29 Isolation Headphones Review @author travis north : travis@themodernvocalist.com Kevin Martin, former vocalist of Seattle band Candlebox once said “It’s called Rock and Roll – look it up.”  Whether or not he coined the term I haven’t a clue but it does a fine job of summing up what we all do [...]

TC Helicon VoiceTone D1 Review : Doubling Your Pleasure

No matter where you look every market has two kinds of companies:  those that innovate and those that imitate.  Consider the old Apple OS vs. Microsoft Windows comparison [pretty much a direct rip-off]  or German vs. Japanese auto manufacturers [ a la Lexus LS400 being pretty much a  copy of a Mercedes S-Class ].  Sometimes [...]

Superior Vocal Health: Vocal Health With An Herbal Twist

This installment of our ongoing product review series is a bit of a departure from the norm.  While the gear we use to amplify, process and polish the voice is a critical link to a great performance or recording it’s only 10% of the entire picture.  Here the saying you can’t polish a turd holds [...]

Not your fathers vocoder: Electro-Harmonix v256 Review

“Don’t they make guitar pedals?!,” I thought to myself when I first got word of a new Electro-Harmonix Vocoder box coming home to roost in the The Modern Vocalist Journal test barn.  While over the years a lot of EH pedals have likely been used for vocal effects in the name of experimentation it has [...]

Allen & Heath ZED-22FX Mixing Desk Review

Hello everyone! My name is Sebastian Zuendorf (yes, even hard to pronounce in English for myself) and I’m both a sound engineer and singer. In the future, I will review some vocal-related products like microphones, mixers, effects processors and other equipment like that and show you what it can do for you. For now, I [...]

Rock Solid. RODE M1 Vocal Microphone Review

Somebody told me once that Australia is like the United States minus about 10 years of progress.  I didn’t exactly get the point but I would have to disagree.  The Aussies have given us things such as the Electric Drill as well as the modern WiFi standard ( Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11 ) used in [...]

Smooth Operator : Electro-Voice N/D767a Dynamic Mic Review

INTRODUCTION A vocal microphone is a very personal item.  It’s the key element you have for showcasing your work and talent.  It can also be the difference between an outstanding performance or blowing your voice out halfway through the set. Admittedly a competent sound engineer can do a fair amount to remedy vocal issues in [...]

Vocalist Gig Bag & Other Vocal Gear For Singers

What is a vocalist’s gig bag? Generally speaking, it is a bag that you will keep all of your tools as a serious vocalist so that you will always have everything you need for the gig, practice or your voice lessons. I have been training contemporary vocalists for over 10 years and performing live and [...]