Best home studio mic on a budget?

nigeljohnson · Post by **nigeljohnson** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:13 pm

first of all, im POOR! need a mic that can handle female and male vox and occasionally a guitar or random percussion shaker.

im looking at the sm57, sm58 and 58 beta. any tips or other ideas?

Lo-Fi Massahkah · Post by **Lo-Fi Massahkah** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:22 pm

Best & Poor in the same sentence...

You're not making it easy to give advice.

My first mic was a used Audio Technica ATM41. Unidirectional dynamic. It served me well. And was cheap.

.m

nigeljohnson · Post by **nigeljohnson** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:24 pm

haha ok. i've changed the post to "on a budget".

monobeach · Post by **monobeach** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:28 pm

I'd also suggest you look into Audio Technica (AT2020)

or: Studio Projects B1

j2j · Post by **j2j** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:29 pm

What is the Budget?

I'd kill for a Mojave. They are awesome!

nigeljohnson · Post by **nigeljohnson** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:31 pm

my budget is under $200 if possible.

lo-fi, the atm41 has been discontinued! But they have new equivalents, know anything about those?

j2j · Post by **j2j** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:32 pm

You can't go wrong with an SM57

nigeljohnson · Post by **nigeljohnson** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:38 pm

how about the beta 57a? any benefits over the sm57?

j2j · Post by **j2j** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:44 pm

nigeljohnson wrote:how about the beta 57a? any benefits over the sm57?

well, the SM 57 is a tried and true and famous studio workhorse. You will hear it on thousands upon thousands of albums. Mostly for mic'd guitars, but you will get a pretty descent vocal as well.

Ok, my personal thoughts....

Either you have $700 + to spend on a mic, or grab an SM57... Just keep the extra 50 bucks, in your pocket, spend it on something else... whatevers...

It is the same thing with monitors... Either grab a nice $1500 dollar pair, or stick with the $300 range

There just isn't that much difference with the in betweens, know what I mean?

Cheers

PS>.. No worries, I'm broke too.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:05 pm

found a sale on a $170 mic for $70, good only for today, December 1.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid
MXL 2010 Multipattern Condenser Mic, no clue how good it is.

knotkranky · Post by **knotkranky** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:10 pm

Tone Deft wrote:found a sale on a $170 mic for $70, good only for today, December 1.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid
MXL 2010 Multipattern Condenser Mic, no clue how good it is.

yup, do it.

large diaphram condenser w multi pattern. Hell yeah.

I think it might be harder to make a shitty mic than a good one these days.

Lo-Fi Massahkah · Post by **Lo-Fi Massahkah** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:11 pm

nigeljohnson wrote:my budget is under $200 if possible.

lo-fi, the atm41 has been discontinued! But they have new equivalents, know anything about those?

200 - that's plenty. When I bought the ATM41 it was about 40 bucks. And that's my whole point. Used. Budget.

If you're buying new - get something large diaphragm condenser. Chinese. There's plenty to chose from. For most of us, the room itself is a weaker part in the signal chain than the mic. So no point in spending much unless you also have a great room. And I don't mean with a view.

.m

bosonHavoc · Post by **bosonHavoc** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:24 pm

you could get that stupid dum deal and a used sm57 for your budget..
or buy one and start saving up for a RNP

Hidden Driveways · Post by **Hidden Driveways** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:52 pm

If you have an XLR input with phantom power, this is the one I would buy:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 ... enser.html

If you were about to drop $2500+ on a Neumann 87 and you were testing it out for a half hour, then you turned around and tested the C1 for two minutes, you would not buy the 87.

Suede Subway · Post by **Suede Subway** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:52 am

Check out Red 5 Audio.

After much debate I bought an RV10 - it's great.

If you go for an SM58 get it from someone of repute. I ended up with a fake first time out - dealer gave me my money back. The only giveaway was teh weight - the fakes are 30 grams light.

SM58 - great mic for vocals, but you lose some versatility.

SM57 - ditto 58, but with a bit more versatility.

RV10 - condenser, switchable patterns. It's just great. Really good value ofr money. Heavy. Comes with a case and a shockmount. AND their customer service didn't stink! Also with a 10db cut so you can use it loud sources.

Audix i5 - slightly warmer than the 58, slightly less expensive. Versatile.

Ian

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