sharpdion23
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Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
I need a condenser mic for my vocals and I was wondering what to buy.
Price range is max at $500
if possible it can be baught at Long&McQuade
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HumbleNoise
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 16:02:09
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I know very little about specific mics but I do know how different they can sound on YOUR voice. I've a Shure Beta 57a (Dynamic), a Studio Projects C-1 condenser, and a really cheap MXL condenser of some kind and they are night and day with everything I record. The dynamic is best for conga and djembe. The MXL is awesome for acoustic guitars and the C-1 is good for certain vocals, depending on whether or not I can sing that day. If I can the Shure can be really good as it's not that sensitive, If I can't the C-1 picks up all the gunge in my voice. I'm not sure how you can demo a mic but getting one that fits your voice is key IM(H)O. Let us know what you discover (before this thread gets moved.  )
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easyjoey
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 16:20:46
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I purchased a Shure KSM44 used for $450.00. New they are around $1000. Anyway, I am quite happy with it. It works well for vox and guitars as well as anything else I put in front of it. Remember, a good mic only gets you half way. You need to pairit with a good preamp.
Joe
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kubalibre
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 17:11:36
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It´s a little more expensive, but you should check out the Neumann M149 - fantastic microphone!
Also, I can recommend the Horch RM3.
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vanceen
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 17:23:59
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The Studio Project C1 is excellent and a good value for the money.
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yorolpal
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 17:40:18
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We've got more mics than Carter's got little liver pills here at both our main studio and my project studio...Hi End to El Cheapo...but one lil ol mic I just about love nearly to death is my (very reasonably priced) Blue Bluebird. It seems to do everything well. YMMV.
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 18:57:35
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IMO, A great preamp and any old mic will sound better than a great mic and a OK preamp.
What do you have for a preamp?
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Middleman
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 20:08:15
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Neumann kubalibre
It´s a little more expensive, but you should check out the Neumann M149 - fantastic microphone!
Also, I can recommend the Horch RM3.
I think you meant the TLM49 at around $1000 used. An M149 will cost you around $3000 but it is definitely a very nice mic.
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bitflipper
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 20:21:33
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In a well-equipped studio, it's common practice to try several microphones before deciding which one best suits the singer. Every vocalist is unique, so it's impossible to predict in advance which mic will work best. There is no guarantee that any specific mic will turn out to be your best choice, even an expensive one.
Therein lies the dilemma for home recordists on a budget. How do you make that decision if you don't have a bunch of mics to experiment with? This is a good argument in favor of networking with other recordists in your area - make friends so you can borrow their stuff!
There are also places where you can rent microphones. I'm sure a city the size of Vancouver has such a service, especially given the size of the film industry there. Start with google. Ask some local pros, as they often rent things too.
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Middleman
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 21:05:02
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Here are some options at max $500 you should consider.
AT4047
Shure SM7B
Shure KSM44 - definitely
TLM 102 or even the TLM 103 used
Rode N2A or NTK
AKG 414B XLS - used can be found
Beyer M88
SM57
SM58
Neumann KMS105 (live mic but it works in the studio)
As pointed out, only your ears can determine which one is best for your voice.
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AT
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 21:50:47
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If you could make it to the store they might let you try out some vocal mics. Or book a pro studio w/ a good mic collection for some time at an off hour. But it all depends upon your voice and your ears. And also what Mike says - sometimes a good preamp makes a lesser mic sound the best and always helps.
To the above listings I'll add the Oktava 319 and ribbon mikes if you are the next bing crosby. The MXL 2003A is supposedly a good vox mic, tho I havent' tried it personally, but it is $250.
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daveny5
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 21:54:21
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Whatever you do, don't get a USB mic. Also, condenser mics require a preamp with phantom power, so factor that into your budget if you don't have that already.
post edited by daveny5 - 2011/01/18 21:55:49
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letsmakeanalbum
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/18 23:45:49
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I made some great recordings with a rode nt1 and with a audio technica at2020.
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/19 04:03:03
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The only half decent mic we've got is an AT4033 which works really well on female vox, acoustic guitar etc - but on my voice, it sounds harsh (my voice is terrible anyway, so don't consider this a failure of the mic)
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/19 08:13:58
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I have a Rode NT-2A. I bought it a few months before I found out about Gauge mics. Gauge mic link I had the opportunity to see and try them in a side by side (A/B) set up against the industry standard mics that were in the $1k price range. I would say they sounded as good or in some cases better than their more expensive rivals. On the website you can do side by side comparisons using the demo clips. Since I'm working on a budget, and don't have a real need for a different mic for every different occasion, I can not buy one just to have it. But, had I known of them before I bought my condenser mic and the quality in these little jewels, I would own a Gauge and not a Rode.
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johnnyV
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Re:Need Opinions on buying a condenser mic for home use
2011/01/19 12:54:48
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+1 to comments from above regarding every singer needs to be matched to a certain mike. If it's just for you personally you should take the time to preview a bunch in a music store. I tried about 12 hi end mikes before ending up with a inexpensive Audio Technica ( model number wore off long ago) I paid $120 for it. I'm the only one who uses it. It works perfectly live and in the studio. It looks like a 58 but has just the right crispness for my voice without lip smacks. In the studio I might go through 10 mikes before I find the one that works for a particular singer. I'll plug in 4 at a time and have them switch around and record so they can listen back. I rarely end up using my 2" diaphram Rhodes as example. It was a waste of money but it looks cool. Sorry I don't know the model numbers of most of my weird mikes but I have these AKG dynamic mikes ( tri power?) that are great for female. For male vocals its usually the SM 57 with a wind sock. I find the 57 is crisper than a 58. Female vocals are fussy but worth the time to experiment with the right mike you get great takes. I think to use a condenser mike you need a very good room, which I don't have.
post edited by johnnyV - 2011/01/19 12:56:52
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