Best Affordable Mic

Subject: Best Affordable Mic
From: GUEST,SlickerBill
Date: 28 Jan 02 - 03:24 PM

I'm getting into home recording, and have been using SM 58's until now. I'm interested in checking out better mics, but not sure where to start. Anyone got any advice on an affordable mic that would be a step or two up from the 58? AKG offer a good alternative? What models and makes have worked for you? We're talking small, 8 track digital home studio. SB

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From:
Date: 28 Jan 02 - 03:52 PM

Hi Bill

This question really depends on whether you are recording instrumentals or vocals and your needs may be different if you are also going to use the mic for performing Every voice and instrument sounds different with different mics. You can go to any good audio store and try some of them out to see what you like. I personally think a Shure 58 is not a great vocal mic, though it is ok with instruments.

I have an AKG C525 (?not sure if I got the # right) and I love it. Just this weekend I had a show in a big auditorium with a really great sound technician who suggested I sing into a SM87 (a great mic). After comparing, we both agreed the AKG was the best with my voice. He told me that he had not found it was best with other voices he tried it on. Conclusion.... you just have to listen.

Good Luck, Claire

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: Justa Picker
Date: 28 Jan 02 - 08:07 PM

For home recordings of acoustic instruments, the AKG C1000S is a very nice condensor. Runs around $160.00

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: GUEST,SlickerBill
Date: 28 Jan 02 - 08:28 PM

It's the vocals I'm most concerned with. I really tend to belt it out, at least for the upbeat stuff, and I've found the 58 just doesn't seem to give a good result. I was wondering about the AKG's so thanks for the recommendations; I'll give em a try. I've also read something about an AKG c900 for about $250. Anyone else got any advice? SB

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: RichM
Date: 28 Jan 02 - 09:52 PM

Large-condensor mics, either cardioid or omni,do a nice job.
Examples are Audiotechnica 4033, rode NT1 or NT2,and many others.
Large-condensor mics have a wide field of pick up. I use a 4033(cardioid) live, and have used the rode NT1 (also cardioid) to record guitar and mandolin duets.

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 28 Jan 02 - 10:45 PM

All the advice on this thread is obviously going to be personal opinion.

FWIW my opinion is that the Sennheiser e835 is a really nice vocal mike. I can't rememember how much it cost me but I am pretty sure it was under $100. It is way, way superior to the SM58 for vocals on stage, maybe a condenser would be better for recording purposes.

Murray

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: AKS
Date: 29 Jan 02 - 04:25 AM

Have a look at Cyberstore Thomann's Hot Deals (www.thomann.de). Right now they seem to offer AKG's C3000B at 309 € / 193 £ (c. 240 $?), which is not a bad price for a studio mic.

AKS

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: GUEST,SlickerBill
Date: 29 Jan 02 - 12:59 PM

Great. thanks folks. SB

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Jan 02 - 01:08 PM

All the advice so far has been in terms of particular models. It'd also be handy to have someone advise about what sort of mike might be best for different situations - a single person singing and playing, or a small group etc. Or with different levels of tape recorder.

I mean, to use an analogy, before you get into deciding what sort of guitar you want to try to get hold of, it's advisable to decide whether you actually really want a guitar rather than a mandolin or a fiddle.

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: NicoleC
Date: 29 Jan 02 - 06:38 PM

I'm not sure how "affordable" you mean, but for belters I was always fond of an RE20. You can usually pick them up used for about $400. They seem to last forever and can handle being dropped down a stairwell or two ;) They also travel well.

In the same (used) price range is the C414. Not quite as durable but much smaller, and a great all-around mic for vocal-range instruments like strings, piano, acoustic guitar, etc. Plays nicely with digital. They don't suit everyone's voice, though, as they tend to reveal every little detail (good or bad!)

I would definately try to do some borrowing and/or renting of mics to play with before you buy.

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 29 Jan 02 - 07:30 PM

I have a number of shure mic's that work quite well with our PA system. However, when I try to use them on my TASCAM 424 mkII I have to turn the gain up about as high as it will go. These are HI Z mic's and I have been told that I need an impedance matching transformer to connect them to the TASCAM. So far I have been unable to find any such matching transformer. My question is: Do these things exist and if so where can a person buy them? ANYONE HAVE A CLUE? Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: NicoleC
Date: 29 Jan 02 - 08:00 PM

Radio Shack's got 'em, or at least they used to at the nicer ones.

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Jan 02 - 08:03 PM

$400 affordable? Wow.

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: NicoleC
Date: 29 Jan 02 - 08:21 PM

In my (brief) stint as a studio engineer I recall gleefully dropping mics into milk crates with nary a care. It wasn't until later when I was buying my own equipment that I realized that many of those mics cost $3k and up, and none of them were even considered expensive. (Nor was this a particularly nice studio, as pro studios go. "Budget pro.")

Fortunately I never broke one!

Subject: RE: Best Affordable Mic
From: GUEST,SlickerBill
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 12:09 PM

As I understand it, the really nice studio condensers get unbelievably expensive; around 4-5 grand in Canada, and up! By affordable, I guess I mean up to $400, though really something in the $2-300 range is probably what I'm most interested in, given my set up. The travel considerations and performance applications are great points to consider. I know I've had gigs where I was given "half" a 58 to sing into; ie the top of the mic was gone and the guts of the mic were totally exposed. Mmmm. sounded terrific. SB