I encountered this issue a few months ago.Input gain and preamp was okay and also all other parameters.I had a very cheap condenser mic before and totally untreated room and never had that problems with female singers.After That i tried some other like the MXL 990 and Blue Ember and after that the RODE NT 1.And I also bought a new cable.First time i heard that distortion was with the mxl but it was still okay and very slightly.With some EQ and harmonics i could fix it.But it really came to the worst case with the RODE NT 1. I have never heard such an unpleasant distortion.Especially from 500 Hz up 3500Hz it´s so annoying that it makes you wanna throw your speakers right out of the window.I had already doubt about my hearing and thought it was my ears.So after checking all inserts and the signal chain i came to the conclusion that it must be somewhere in the cable or the mic.Because the instrument tracks were totally okay.No distortion anywhere.And that´s what it was.I tried with Shure beta 58a and SM 58 and the distortion was gone.After recording again from soprano to bass it was clear.Something made the RODE distort like hell.Tried thRODE again after 3months with my own voice and for my surprise no distortion.So from now on i will take the beta 58a for all other people and the RODE for myself.
