Mike, IMO your on the right track. An omni mike will do the job and do it well/best. A $50 mike is as good as any if you hook it to the right accessories for your intent. More details about your intent will bring more details for you to consider from those of us that do it all the time. I am assuming you want to make a studio sound recording. First you need a "soft" quiet room (no need to EQ) place the loudest voices/instruments at a greater distance to the mike. If that is not possible you will have to move about and "work" the mike. Probably a circle with an omni mike hanging centerally from overhead would be a good beginning. A Sure SM 58 is bulletproof and the most popular so one can easily be found used. New they are $99 including 20" Lo-Z cord, internal windscreen and "pop" filter. Condenser mikes are more sensitive and expensive and more hassle so need more study more accessories such as "phantom power", EQ, parametrics, & db's of preamp. Skip learning all that for now and concentrate on your music. Just be sure the mike cord [up to 16 to 20 feet] terminates with a 3-pin "Lo-Z" plug. (Don't use 1/4 inch plug, ever) There are three types of mikes. Type 1. Sound reinforcment. 2. Studio. 3. Broadcast. 2 & 3 are easily damaged and require much study and many accessories. If hanging a "58" overhead gives a "hard" sound [from celing reflection] I suggest hanging it vertically over the back of a "soft" chair [only half the pattern is then used and "extra sound" is absorbed by the chair. Position your "band" in front of the chair. A very clear soft detailed sound will be recorded and you can work from there. Your recorder need have 3-pin Lo-Z input, that is where the money is best spent. If later you want to do "field recordings" or "studio" work the Sure 58 is still surely the right choice. Just put an external foam windscreen on it out of doors. I do a weekly 2 hour radio 30's/40's Barndance stage/studio show with live bands/audience and use only this single mike (announcer uses a $$$ "broadcast mike") with less hassles and better results than the absolutely GREAT & versatile CAD E-200 it replaced. Check the price difference. If you have specific questions just post them here. Give a listen to the show on WWW Radio. http://WWW.WDVRFM.ORG Sat eves 6 - 8 PM EST "Heartlands Hayride" :) Lots of luck! mountain tyme.