Microphone recommendations please

NorthernMonkey · Post by **NorthernMonkey** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:14 pm

I'll tell you now that I know nothing about them but I want a reasonably decent one that can handle a broad range of sounds. I'll probably just be experimenting with it initially to get the hang of it, so can anyone recommend a decent mic, say under £200, or do I need to spend more?

horselesspaul · Post by **horselesspaul** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:46 pm

Condenser? Dynamic? Ribbon? You need to be more specific about what you need to do with it.

cosmosuave · Post by **cosmosuave** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:31 pm

Read this...

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 48&start=0

NorthernMonkey · Post by **NorthernMonkey** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:47 pm

cosmosuave wrote:Read this...

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 48&start=0

Thanks cosmos

SubLik · Post by **SubLik** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:31 pm

RODE NT2 or spend just over 200 & get RODE NTK valve condensor.

NorthernMonkey · Post by **NorthernMonkey** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:52 pm

SubLik wrote:RODE NT2 or spend just over 200 & get RODE NTK valve condensor.

Think I'm going with a Shure SM57, seems to be a good all rounder until I know a bit more about mics. Thanks for the info though.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:13 pm

Strongly recommend Studio Projects C1. It's a Chinese knock-off of the Neumann U87 (a $2K standard for vocals), and sells for about $150. Best mic I've ever used.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:14 pm

NorthernMonkey wrote:
SubLik wrote:RODE NT2 or spend just over 200 & get RODE NTK valve condensor.
Think I'm going with a Shure SM57, seems to be a good all rounder until I know a bit more about mics. Thanks for the info though.

The SM57 is generally used for mic-ing guitar cabinets and some drums. Not the best overall mic for vocals and sources requiring a broad range.

NorthernMonkey · Post by **NorthernMonkey** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:09 pm

nebulae wrote:
NorthernMonkey wrote:
SubLik wrote:RODE NT2 or spend just over 200 & get RODE NTK valve condensor.
Think I'm going with a Shure SM57, seems to be a good all rounder until I know a bit more about mics. Thanks for the info though.
The SM57 is generally used for mic-ing guitar cabinets and some drums. Not the best overall mic for vocals and sources requiring a broad range.

Thanks Neb, any alternative suggestions? I just want something that I can use on a wide variety of sources to get to grips with mic recording.

Edit: Ignore that, missed your post above.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:13 pm

It depends on what you want to do. But I'd seriously look at the Studio Projects mics, and I'd get a condenser. Sure you need phantom power to drive them but you get a really nice frequency range. You can always EQ out what you don't need, but you can't use frequencies you never recorded in the first place.

The only time I wouldn't use a condenser mic is when recording very loud sources, like loud amps with lots of distortion guitar, or direct mic-ing drums (but for room mics, definitely condenser) , or really loud wind instruments. But for vocals, acoustic guitars, strings, definitely a condenser...Studio Projects will do you very well.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:13 pm

NorthernMonkey wrote:Edit: Ignore that, missed your post above.

Ignore my last one. I missed this note.

NorthernMonkey · Post by **NorthernMonkey** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:37 pm

nebulae wrote:It depends on what you want to do. But I'd seriously look at the Studio Projects mics, and I'd get a condenser. Sure you need phantom power to drive them but you get a really nice frequency range. You can always EQ out what you don't need, but you can't use frequencies you never recorded in the first place.

The only time I wouldn't use a condenser mic is when recording very loud sources, like loud amps with lots of distortion guitar, or direct mic-ing drums (but for room mics, definitely condenser) , or really loud wind instruments. But for vocals, acoustic guitars, strings, definitely a condenser...Studio Projects will do you very well.

Cheers Neb, very helpful.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:00 pm

And for a really low cost, but highly effective solution, you can drive a Studio Projects C1 with a presonus tube pre. Both items together will cost about $250, but you'll get silky warm crisp recordings that'll make your ears melt.

e.maynard · Post by **e.maynard** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:56 pm

I also own a C-1, and it is indeed a decent vocal mic (especially for the price). A C-1 works well on some voices, but not all.

Honestly, look at some quality dynamic mics first. A really great all around mic is an EV RE-20. Great on vocals, guitar cabs, kick drums, bass cabs.....etc.

STRATEGY_510 · Post by **STRATEGY_510** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:12 pm

nebulae wrote:
NorthernMonkey wrote:
SubLik wrote:RODE NT2 or spend just over 200 & get RODE NTK valve condensor.
Think I'm going with a Shure SM57, seems to be a good all rounder until I know a bit more about mics. Thanks for the info though.
The SM57 is generally used for mic-ing guitar cabinets and some drums. Not the best overall mic for vocals and sources requiring a broad range.

It may be the best vocal mic for under $100 though..

STRATEGY