skylightron
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What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
I'm shopping for an affordable Condenser mic to use on vocals. What are your recommendations? Are there also any dynamic mics that are as good as a condenser for tracking purposes?
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Guitarhacker
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/17 19:38:13
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http://www.gauge-usa.com/ really nice for the price. I found out about these after I bought a Rode..... no complaints with the Rode. I had the opportunity to compare them at a songwriters convention side by side with mikes costing 5 to 10 times as much..... they held their own quite well. Listen to the clips on the site .
post edited by Guitarhacker - 2011/12/17 19:42:17
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gibsongs
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/17 19:48:41
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Hi, I just picked up a couple of AKG Perception 170 Condenser Microphones from MF. It was a pretty good deal for $83 each. I also have the Perception 420 (large diaphragm) and is on special at MF for $209. If you want to go a bit higher, you might look at the Blue Bluebird on special for around $260 from Sweetwater - a really nice mic. gs
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Beagle
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/17 21:53:13
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check my website. I have mic recommendations there.
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NW Smith
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/18 10:32:58
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For about 30 dollars more, you can get an Apex 460 tube condenser. I really like mine and the mic gets good write ups on the web.
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/20 10:38:27
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For the price, these little babies have got some fantastic reviews
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Lanceindastudio
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/20 13:35:21
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+1 Lance
Guitarhacker
http://www.gauge-usa.com/
really nice for the price.
I found out about these after I bought a Rode..... no complaints with the Rode.
I had the opportunity to compare them at a songwriters convention side by side with mikes costing 5 to 10 times as much..... they held their own quite well. Listen to the clips on the site .
Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS Motherboard i7 3770k CPU 32 gigs RAM Presonus AudioBox iTwo Windows 10 64 bit, SONAR PLATINUM 64 bit Lots of plugins and softsynths and one shot samples, loops Gauge ECM-87, MCA SP-1, Alesis AM51 Presonus Eureka Mackie HR824's and matching subwoofer
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tfbattag
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/25 14:50:49
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One good deal when yo can find them is an Austrian AKG C-3000B Mark I. They're black with a green stripe. I've had great success using them on female vocals and on overheads. They have a 10 dB pad, bass roll-off and are switchable from cardioid to hyper-cardiod. I snatch them up when I see them used, as they're solid and good sounding work-horses for the money. Here's what they look like: 
post edited by tfbattag - 2011/12/25 14:53:58
Thomas Battaglia :wq! ----------------------------------------------------------- Intel DP35DP, Q6600, 6GB RAM, Win7Pro x64; RME HDSPe RayDAT; RME ADI8-DS x2, RME ADI-2.
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zungle
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/27 23:12:38
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I found out about these after I bought a Rode..... no complaints with the Rode. guitarhacker, I was wondering which "Rode" you own and which "Gauge" And how do they compare? Thanks
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ChuckC
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/28 00:15:56
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Have this shure mic and have for a while... Has worked well for me for both male and female vocal (everything I ave released so far has this mic on the vocal - check out my links) http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PG27/ On some pretty good reviews for a good cheap mic (some of which on here) I got this mic for christmas. I've laid a few tracks with it since and it sounds damn near the same as the shure for even less money (If I spliced takes with each mics together no one would say "wow what changed there?"). And for on $50 bucks this mic (pardon the expression) is like a sore pecker.... Ya can't beat it! http://www.pssl.com/MXL-SP1-Condenser-Studio-Microphone-With-Clip Hope that helps!
ADK Built DAW, W7, Sonar Platinum, Studio One Pro,Yamaha HS8's & HS8S Presonus Studio/Live 24.4.2, A few decent mic pre's, lots of mics, 57's,58 betas, Sm7b, LD Condensors, Small condensors, Senn 421's, DI's, Sans Amp, A few guitar amps etc. Guitars : Gib. LP, Epi. Lp, Dillion Tele, Ibanez beater, Ibanez Ergodyne 4 String bass, Mapex Mars series 6 pc. studio kit, cymbals and other sh*t. http://www.everythingiam.net/ http://www.stormroomstudios.com Some of my productions: http://soundcloud.com/stormroomstudios
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IK Obi
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/28 17:19:15
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I love my MCA SP-1. I want to buy another pair for modding! :D TLDR: A+++++ WOULD BUY AGAIN.
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congalocke
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/28 20:42:38
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Here is one that I have 2 of (you can match two of em' according to color code) and really like. It is very versatile and has received good reviews. They run around $160.00 each but for quality and options they are nice. H http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/b3.html
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chuckebaby
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/28 20:52:26
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I believe you can get a rode nt 1000 for under 200.best vocal mic ive ever owned,but i got mine long ago,it was 300 used,back when they had their canisters imported,when the company just started
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Beagle
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/29 08:55:24
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IK Obi
I love my MCA SP-1. I want to buy another pair for modding! :D TLDR: A+++++ WOULD BUY AGAIN.
ChuckC
Have this shure mic and have for a while... Has worked well for me for both male and female vocal (everything I ave released so far has this mic on the vocal - check out my links)
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PG27/
On some pretty good reviews for a good cheap mic (some of which on here) I got this mic for christmas. I've laid a few tracks with it since and it sounds damn near the same as the shure for even less money (If I spliced takes with each mics together no one would say "wow what changed there?"). And for on $50 bucks this mic (pardon the expression) is like a sore pecker.... Ya can't beat it!
http://www.pssl.com/MXL-SP1-Condenser-Studio-Microphone-With-Clip
Hope that helps!
I own one. it never comes out of the drawer. I used it to test it on vocals and acoustic guitar. I have other mics better than it and I don't own many mics. it's just not my cuppa.
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IK Obi
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/29 12:45:53
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Sounds great on back up vocals, guitars, horns and sound okay on everything else. Plus factor in how moddable they are and they are a clear winner for $50! I bought mine for 80 for the pair. You can even mod them to sound like u-47 or a C-12.
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ChuckC
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/29 21:55:53
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Where would I find information on such mods Obi?
ADK Built DAW, W7, Sonar Platinum, Studio One Pro,Yamaha HS8's & HS8S Presonus Studio/Live 24.4.2, A few decent mic pre's, lots of mics, 57's,58 betas, Sm7b, LD Condensors, Small condensors, Senn 421's, DI's, Sans Amp, A few guitar amps etc. Guitars : Gib. LP, Epi. Lp, Dillion Tele, Ibanez beater, Ibanez Ergodyne 4 String bass, Mapex Mars series 6 pc. studio kit, cymbals and other sh*t. http://www.everythingiam.net/ http://www.stormroomstudios.com Some of my productions: http://soundcloud.com/stormroomstudios
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Lanceindastudio
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/29 22:19:08
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The SP-1 is a great sounding mic and for the price, it is nuts- I had a Rode NTK and I like the MCA SP-1 better- I have a Guage 87 mic that is my go to mic now, but I really do like the SP-1 as well- So weird how these cheap mics sound so good- A Lot of cheap mics sound bad/ ice pic in your ear sound to them- If you listen to my music, the first 3 songs on my list here were done with the Gauge: http://www.listendeep.net/profile/LanceJones Lance
Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS Motherboard i7 3770k CPU 32 gigs RAM Presonus AudioBox iTwo Windows 10 64 bit, SONAR PLATINUM 64 bit Lots of plugins and softsynths and one shot samples, loops Gauge ECM-87, MCA SP-1, Alesis AM51 Presonus Eureka Mackie HR824's and matching subwoofer
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Beagle
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/29 23:00:19
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it's funny but the SP-1 actually has a small diameter capsule in a large diaphram condensor frame/case.
it's the exact same capsule as the MXL-991 (and the 990!)
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NW Smith
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/30 09:25:33
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My SP-1 sat in a drawer for a while - but recently, I took it out and started messing around with it. I think it's an excellent mic - especially considering the price.
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IK Obi
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/30 15:04:17
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@ChuckC Jim Williams on Gearslutz talks about it alot. Here is a thread where we discuss it and where to buy capsules. Definitely planning on doing this after the holiday hustle I've been dealing with. Once I have some free time I'm ordering another pair (As I do love how they sound as is) to mod. http://www.gearslutz.com/...day-mxl-603s-50-a.html
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Gaffpro
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/30 15:27:26
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I have the Gauge 47 tube mike and for the $ it's great....the Gauge 87 sounds a little too sibilant to me.....if I only had a few hundred dollars to spend on a mike, I would actually go with a Shure SM7b dynamic.
The problem with cheap Chinese condensers is how they sit in a mix (and try doing bgv stacks on one, you'll see what I mean)
I've never heard the SP1 but I have several Marshall mikes (the V67G is one I like)
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congalocke
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Re:What are some good Condenser mics $200 or less?
2011/12/30 18:56:20
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@Gaffpro, Yeah...I've heard sooo many good things about the Shure SM7b...On my shortlist for sure.
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