Freddies vocal mics

Does anyone know which vocal mics were used (by Freddie) on Sheer Heart Attack and/or A Night at the Opera?

I can hazard a guess, so please no guesses. I've seen the picture of them on the ANATO DVD showing the vocal booth with all three singers inside and a mic (which looks like a neumann...U87 or 67), but it's covered by the wind cover so I can't tell which model it is. Aside from that, it won't tell me necessarily which mic was used for lead vocals, either.

Any data?

Shure 565D. Of course they'd use different things every now and then but vocal microphones were almost always Shure, from the very beginning.

Thanks, Sebastian.

What is the source of that info?

Peter Hince

It is clear that is the vocal used on stage, but are you sure (no pun intended) it was used in studio as well?

You know, I recently heard from someone (can't remember where now) and they said that Freddie had a Shure SM57 in the studio at times. Now, I've never passed on this kind of information before because I was never confident that it was true. How could it, I thought. But apparently he had been there when the red light went on! But I'm still in doubt about it all. Anyone else chime in here?

Adam.

I guess anything's possible, I know or at least I heard that he had an SM58 in Silver that was in a wooden presentation case that he took everywhere for a time, but that was I assumed his live vocal mic.

At the end of the day he may well have done many guide vocals with it but surely they would have been re-done with something else on the final take?

Mind you, it's always good to remember that Bono records with an SM58.

Adam.

THere certainly was a 57 or 58 set up as a guide vocal mic. I *think* RTB mentions this in the article where he discusses recording ANATO.

I'm stil skeptical that the shure mic was used for tracking lead vocals... it's certainly not impossible, but there's more detail in the pickup than I would normally associate with a shure dynamic.

Just to muddy the water a little here. I recorded a lead vocalist back in May with a Rode NT2A and Shure Beta58 mic at the same time. On one of the recent tracks I was mixing, I chose the Shure over the NT2A as it worked better in the mix of this particular track. So, I think it's certainly possible either way. Sometimes, it could be just what the track wants and fits better.

Adam.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Adam Baboolal wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Mind you, it's always good to remember that Bono records with an SM58.[/QUOTE]

Exclusively? Hey I love my 58, and my Beta 57, but in the studio isn't a Nuemann or equivalent more preferred?

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]½Microwave wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
Exclusively? Hey I love my 58, and my Beta 57, but in the studio isn't a Nuemann or equivalent more preferred?

[/QUOTE]

It really depends totally on the voice and the track.

Really, you'll find that there are singers that like the way they sound through a particular mic or piece of gear, etc. etc. Bono's famous for recording with the 58. I'm sure he's tried other stuff, but he sure loves that mic! And yes, it's really down to the situation like Tenchij says.

Some people just don't like the way they sound through certain mics, which is good that they recognise that. I've recently found that I can get a great full-on vocal (for myself, that is) with a beta58. Yet, through some condensers, I don't like the sound. However, because of my studio knowledge, I now record with more than one mic exclusively because, it gives me the choice for mixing and getting just the right sound without messing with things like EQ or other processing.

Adam.

Well then I don't feel so bad thinking this Beta 57 is the best mic I've ever used on my voice. I need that extra "oomph" the 57 gives you opposed to the 58.

bono sucks big time