looking for a great semi-pro vocal mic

Personally - a Shure KSM 27 is right there in that range.

MXL has a few deals that are good as well but less expensive. Shure is the best quality in that range though no doubt about it.

Very subjective of course, but within your budget I'd choose a Rode K2 or NTK, depending on the features you're after.

You should try the Studio Projects C1 microphone

http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/c1.html

It won't break the bank (about $200) but sounds almost as good as a Neumann U87!
I have the RØDE NTK and the C1 sounds better...

I've got a RODE N2, and it's a beauty - also recommended industry-wide.

+1 for Shure KSM27 - real underdog and a jack of all trades...

H.

2 mics you should consider trying out are the Electrovoice RE-20 and the Sennheiser MD 441. These days the tendency for the home studio market is cheap condensers, but some really great sounds can be had with high end dynamic mics like the 2 listed here. I'm not saying you should definately buy one of these, but if you can find a shop where you try them out next to budget ot mid range condesers do it. You might be surprised.

ZE Z5600 A,
takes the cake it wil do the trick it has ove 9 different settings, so its like 9 in one you don't even need a Mic/Pre believe.

Fr.BlayZay.

If you can pump your budget up just a smidge, the AKG 414 is an industry standard condensor mic that sounds great on just about everything, including vocals. It has a very clear vivid sound, and you'll find it takes care of lots of condensor mic needs really well. I've seen it in most studios, it also sounds great as a room mic, distant amp mic, even nice as a kick mic

It doesn't have the warmth and character of more expensive vocal mics, like Neumanns, but cheaper-priced condensors sometimes have too much dark character for me. This would keep your tracks more on the clear and pro side.

Zzounds sells it for $900.

Don't know where you live, but in NYC B&H Photo Video used to have a room where you could test out microphones. Really best to get your mouth in front of a bunch of options to find the right one.

We would recommend a manufacture that has been making mics of all types, for more than 20 years. That seems to be the time frame necessary to become an industry standard manufacture. With that in mind our suggestions would be: Shure KSM27, Shure KSM44, AKG C3000B, AKG 414. The Shure mics will be warm, while the AKG mics will be clear as a bell. Both great choices, just pick your price point.

i suggest you save until you have a little more money and then buy a tlm 130 from neumann. incredible mic, you can put it on anything and it will sound just great (provided you have some kind of idea of how to do it)

When I was buying, for me it was a toss up between the Rode K2 and the SE Z3300A. I eventually bought the SE

Hi,

If you stop saying and thinking "semi-pro" then you will stop thinking the gear is what is missing. The performance is most important.

With that said, try the Neumann TLM103. It's more, but it is worth the price.

Also, try different mics for a singer you have not worked with yet, you'll be surprised that a mic that you might think will not work yields great results for that particular singer. Experiment is key.

Cheers