Vocals Mic Recommendations

I'm looking for a decent vocals microphone in the price range of $200. I'll most likely be getting a pop filter along with it so any recommendations for that would be helpful as well. This is purely for recording within Sonar. Nothing live at all.

Thanks!

I did not buy a AKG but a Sennheiser Condenser which cost enough for me. Could not edit first post.

Personaly I find you may need a different mike for each different singer. If it's only going to be you, then you will want to audition the mikes until your happy. Example, I cannot sing though a SM 58. , it sounds terrible. But there are other mikes I sound fine through. In the studio I use this $150 Audio technica dynamic  mike. The number wore off 15 years ago I beleieve there was a 10 on it. Any how find a store that will set you up with a good set of headphones and a bunch of mikes.

 Some say one is good for instruments while the next person says it's completely suited to vocals only. 

 
 
KSM42  $799
There are whole books written on microphones. They do design each with a certain purpose in mind. Classic is the SM58 is a vocal mike and the SM57 a instrument mike. Put a wind sock on a SM57 and there you go, a vocal mike, Put a 58 on a sax and it will work just fine can you hear any difference? probably not , o well you get the picture. If this mike is to be your only mike that is used for both female and male voices it will be harder to find the perfect mike that works perfectly for all. I wouldn't ask us anyways, I would ask the guy in guitar center... . ;> I don;t own this but got to use one at a live concert bluegrass band shared just this one mike it was stellar..I know it's out of budget but this is what I have set my sights on..
 
 
 http://www.shure.com/amer...enser-vocal-microphone
 
 

I would buy this one too, just for the looks and the wooden box
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Bluebird/
 
$299 not bad for a hand built mike.
 

 

As a general all round mic that will work on most sources, and at a reasonable price, you won't get much better value for money than the Audio-Technica AT-4033

Check out the Apex 460 tube condenser. It's multi-pattern, gets a lot of good write ups on the web, and it's in your price range. I have one and love it.

http://www.gauge-usa.com/

good mics and very affordable condensors. 


 the Shure SM-58 is always a reliable vocal mic as well and can be bought for around $100

http://web.me.com/finalmix/Gauge_Microphones/Compare_ECM87.html

Problem with the C1 is that the high end is harsh.......my advice for $200 is to find a used SM7 dynamic (you can get one new for approx. $300)......that mike will work on anybody and takes eq well.....a Gauge 47 tube condenser is a good mike for the $

I have a Beta 58 that I sometimes use, depending on the singer.  Seems to work better than my condenser mics in certain situations.

Last night I did a recording session with a female vocalist. I used my SM-58 and my Rode NT-2A to track 5 takes of a new lead vocal.  

We started tracking with the Rode NT-2A .....recording 3 tracks

Then, for grins, I decided to record 2 more tracks using the 35 year old SM-58 I had laying around.

I used a pop filter on all the takes. 

There is a definite difference, as I would have expected between these two mics. The Rode was louder, and had a more present, intimate sound quality as well as better (cleaner)  lows and sparkling highs.  I was recording with the gain set about 5 or 6 on the input to the interface channel. 

The 58 needed the gain cranked a bit to get a robust wave in the track. Somewhere around 7 or 8,  I would guess.  The wave was nice and robust as well. Proximity played a much larger role in the sound of the 58. After a few takes, we recorded 2 tracks with her singing right up on the pop filter and the mic sans windscreen about 1" behind the pop filter.  A few takes without the pop filter showed we needed the filter. At first, she pulled back 6" to 12" to belt out the chorus on the 58 like she did on the Rode, but loss of the proximity effect killed the quality of the track on the chorus. We retracked it  with her "eating the mike" the entire take. Much better. Surprisingly, it did not overload the 58 doing that as I feared it might. She was strong and loud on the chorus. 

The highs  were rolled of a bit just from the natural sound of the mic. Nothing unpleasant, but a noticeable difference in tone and overall sound quality was evident between the 2 mics. 

I actually did a trial playback with the 58 vox on lead with 2 of the Rode vox tracks panned opposite and way down, and it sounded pretty good. 

Plans are to correct vocals and see what is what in those tracks today or tomorrow as I head toward the final mix. 

You gotta remember, the 58 and it's companion the 57 are the industry standard work horse on stage for just about everything up there.  It's not a bad mic and if it's the only one you have, you can't go wrong using it. Yeah, a nice condenser is better, and if you have one, use it. In a pinch, the 58 rocks. 

Using a cardiod pattern on a condenser makes it about the same as a dynamic mic like a (yes for 40 years it's been a workhorse on the stage) SM 58 or SM 57, when the choice of mics to use was seemingly much less than the pletora of mics nowadays. Sides and Rear up to 18dB less.

Lance,

Thank you for posting the link. My favorite would be the TLM-103, but the ECM87 sounds really good. I am surprised!
I recently got myself a Sennheiser MK 4, and I love it.

Wilko