| |
| Author |
Message |
|
| kapkana |
 Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:16 pm |
 |
|
|
|
Hey all--
I really need a microphone, and advice one what sort of mic to get on top of that. I figured I'd come here. I've been thinking about getting a Shure, because I want one of good sound quality and one that will last and not break, but at the same time I'm looking to spend not much more than a hundred bucks or so. So, can someone recommend me a mic to get that's reliable, good sounding, and can be used to record most basic instruments? |
|
|
| Back to top |
 
|
| Alex |
| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:33 pm |
|
|
|
Location: Madison, WI
|
| Well, it depends on if you want a dynamic mic or a condenser mic. Condensers are best for acoustic instruments, vocals, and drums when you need a really clear, crisp sound (these are what you usually see people singing into in the studio). Dynamics are all around versatile mics that work on pretty much everything, but don't sound particularly spectacular (these are what you see on snare drum or on a guitar amp and on vocals in live situations). Your best bet for a dynamic mic at that price level would be a Shure SM57. It's a classic, and you could use one as a hammer if you decide you don't like the sound. Their built pretty well. MXL makes some decent large diaphragm condensers for around $100 as well. I tested one up against one of my more expensive Rode mics, and it held up pretty well. Just keep in mind that you'll need phantom power for condenser mics, and if you don't already have something that supplies phantom power that will be an extra expense. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| otherwise_eclectic216 |
| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:38 pm |
|
|
|
|
i'm kind of looking for the same thing, but I bought 2 MXL microphones for 100 bucks, and they turned out to be complete shit.
The one microphone was extra sensitive, to the point where I would blow on it, and it would not work for about a day.
THe other one broken somehow after about a month of having it, and now, when i plug it in, it sounds like there are 50 mph winds hitting it.
So now I use a cheap 20 dollar dynamic mic that works as good as the other mics, and it doesn't break on me.
I suggest getting a shure. I've heard that they do NOT break easily, and they have decent sound quality.
and..... DONT GET AN MXL MICROPHONE. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Alex |
| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:06 pm |
|
|
|
Location: Madison, WI
|
Blowing on any condenser is really bad. You're pushing air at a membrane that's mere microns thick. A $3000 U87 will break if you blow on it too hard. They don't take a beating like a dynamic mic, but it works on a completely different electrical principle and gives you a completely different sound.
I'm a recording major at a media arts college and a lot of my acquaintances there have had pretty good luck with the MXL mics. They're not top of the line by any means, but you get your money's worth. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Paperhouse |
| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:32 am |
|
|
|
|
| would something like this plus a minidisc player be okay for getting recordings that are at least fairly listenable? i don't mind a bit of noise over my recordings, but my computer microphone's complete inability to pick up acoustic guitar playing (my current technique is blu-tacking a contact mic designed for tuning to the bridge, doing a line out from an amp and turning the volume up to ELEVEN so as to make it audible. all the big recording studios use it) has left me despairingly resigned to having to up my recording budget from £0. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Alex |
| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:38 am |
|
|
|
Location: Madison, WI
|
Well, if you consider Campfire Songs listenable (which I do), then that will be more than sufficient for recording. You'll probably pick up some background noises, but they can add a little charm to a recording. You could even make a cleaner recording than Campfire Songs if you wanted to by recording each instrument/vocal to a separate track. There's a lot of bleed on Campfire Songs (which can be good or bad, depending on what vibe you're going for) since it's just three of those mics picking up three acoustic guitars and vocals at the same time from a distance and summed to a single stereo signal.
You don't necessarily need the minidisc recorder, unless you plan on doing field recording. It might be easier just to go from that mic into whatever sound card you have and record into a multitrack program (either a free one or one acquired through questionable means). Most sound cards have an 1/8" stereo jack so you could plug that mic right in. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| otherwise_eclectic216 |
| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:14 pm |
|
|
|
|
thanks alex,
I think I just didn't know what to expect from a condenser mic. I don't think I took proper care of them. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Alex |
| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:50 pm |
|
|
|
Location: Madison, WI
|
I didn't really know what to expect at first either. I messed up my Rode NT-1 in a similar way, and it costs about as much as four of those MXL's. It sounded super sweet on pretty much anything, so I used it on everything. Now sometimes I'll be singing with a pair of headphones on and suddenly it sounds like the ocean is roaring in. I'm not too happy about it.
There's probably a way to fix such a problem, but I haven't really done much research on it. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Paperhouse |
| Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:38 pm |
|
|
|
|
miiiighty bump. so i got a sony ecm-ms907, but it is apparently not quite designed for my minidisc or soundcard and their shitty preamps. so i need a mixer or something, yes? with it being a stereo amp i was looking at something like http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31137&doy=29m10&C=SEO&U=strat15 that, but it seems to have left and right inputs. or does it? would plugging a single-socket stereo mic into that (or, INDEED, a mono mixer) strip it of one channel, leaving me with retardosound? since i need a socket adapter anyway, is there any kind that'll split the stereo 3.5mm into two 1/4"s, left and right? while i'd rather not have to settle for mono when i have a stereo mic, i'm really looking for a fairly cheap (<£35, probably) way out, so i wouldn't rule it out completely. so, um, that's a nice jumbled mess, i apologise, for i am stupid. so what do i do?
edit: my in-depth research has shown me that i could use a combination of socket adapters to turn my stereo 3.5mm to a mono 1/4"...but that's still not the ideal. but huzzah, i have an option. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| berggle_twerp |
| Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:08 pm |
|
|
|
|
heyhey anyone who's interested in getting a into some basic recording should really check out this new thing that just came out. ZOOM H4
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1901&brandID=4
or anybody into fieldrecording will be interested too probably. my friend got one and i just ordered one myself. it'sathe most versatile little recorder i've ever seen, and cheaper than all the other competition. it has a pretty good built in stereo mic, plus i'm pretty sure it;s the only field recorder this small that has xlr inputs so you can plug 2 of any kind of microphones into it, and it's also a four track, so you could take a stereo track of a song your working on and overdub onto it in the woods or wherever. plus it's a usb audio interface and comes with a basic version of Cubase. so it's a really inxexxpensive way to get almost every basic thing you need to start recording. pretty insanely convenient.
mmkay, hope this doesn't sound like an advertisement. . . buhfffph. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| aliaspail |
| Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:04 pm |
|
|
|
Location: New York, NY
|
if you dnn't want to spend over a $100 bucks, you're not really gonna get very far, except a used shure 58, but i always kinda rely on shure as a great live performance mic, not a recording mic. many people use them for recording too, but also because they use it with a hot pre amp or mixer or compressor.
for all my recordings of all instruments and everything, i've been using an octava condensor mic. to me it's the best deal for good sound under the $500 break. it goes for 300 with all the heads and 173 with just cardial:
http://www.oktava.com/inc/sdetail/475
http://www.oktava.com/inc/sdetail/474
i have the MK012 Small Diaphragm Multi-Capsule Condenser, i've been using it for almost 4 years. i have no complaints at all, i love it. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
All times are GMT
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
