Best home studio mic on a budget?

[leedsquietman]

A lot depends on a lot.

If your environment is noisy or doesn't sound great (and is not treated with some kind of acoustic treatment) you are better going with a dynamic mic, even though really, a condenser will get you more frequency range for vocals. Condensers are more sensitive , so they pick up more background noise, which gets noticed even more when you compress a vocal track. If your environment is quiet and/or OK sounding, a condenser is the best way to go.

The AT2020 is certainly OK for a budget mic. I got one on clearance together with some AT headphones in a package for 40 bucks at a Long and McQuade here a yeat ago. For that money it was stupendous value. It is not a tube mic but sounds better than many condensers costing quite a bit more.

Stuff like the MXL, Rode NT1 (might pick one up for 200 dollars if you shop around) and Studio projects C1 are also all good.

The SM57 is a very versatile mic but it's strengths for me are micing snare drums and electric guitar amps, although I have used it on vocals a few times and it provided what was needed on a particular vocalist, although I would say this is the exception rather than the rule. The SM7B is a better dynamic mic for vocals actually.

[4ace]

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

+ A MILLION

It took me YEARS to learn that. Luckily i haven't spent TOO much on shite gear because i usually try before i buy.

Back On Topic

A Shure 57 will be the best thing for ya in that budget. IMO

[smili]

If I was on a tight budget an SM57 is the way I'd go. You're going to need money on lots of other stuff and it's a good mic for lots of sources, and will still be useful for lots of stuff even when you have the funds to buy other better specialty mics. I have TLM103 and KSM44 but think highly of the SM57 for lots of stuff.

[Dr Dub]

This is a good read for your Questions:

http://tweakheadz.com/microphones_for_t ... studio.htm

Buying a sm57 is always a good thing, because no matter what other Gear you will buy,
there will be a place for this one.

If you will have only one Mic and use it for your Homestudio, i would go with the Rode
NT 1a, which i own myself.

http://tweakheadz.com/review_of_the_rode_nt1.htm

[joeyfivecents]

MXL 990 condenser $60. Well worth it.

[dancerchris]

Go with a condenser, like the Rode NT1A or the Studio Projects C1. Both are excellent and great value for the money. Unless you have a GREAT dedicated preamp for a SM57, you won't get as good a sound as a condenser for lower volume levels, like vocals or other acoustic sources. The SM57 shines as a high SPL level recorder for things like drums and guitar amps. Many have done remarkable recordings of lower level sources but they used EXPENSIVE ($2000+) preamps to do it.

My $0.02

[Hidden Driveways]

The plastic cap of the SM57 seems like it was designed to break. The grill of an SM58 seems like it was designed to dent.

The Shures are good sounding mics, but there are lots of great sounding mics in the same price range that will last a lot longer.

SM57 or Audix i5 or a Audio Technica ATM-650? I'd spend money on either before one before I spent money on the plastic headed 57.