Hi all
 
I'm looking to get a new decent (and fairly) budget large diaphragm condenser microphone and was wondering what others out there used?
 
The 3 I have my eye on are:
 
Rode NT1a
 
Audio Technica AT2020
 
M Audio Nova
 
Any thoughts, reviews, new suggestions etc you can share?
 
I've set myself a budget of £100 (which is about 165$ to my American friends).
 
ps - Looking at the XLR connection (not USB) versions...

The Rode is easily the best of those three. Buy from somebody local if you can, so you can return it if it doesn't suit your needs. The NT1-A is a bright mike. In my experience it suits baritone male singers very well, but some high tenors, hard-rock singers and female vocalists, not as much.
 
Make sure an LDC is really what you want. Depending on your voice and musical style a moving-coil dynamic might actually work better for you. But if you also want to use it for acoustic guitars, brass instruments or drums, then an LDC is a good all-around choice.

like Bit said - LDC might, or might not be your friend.
 
Of the three you mention, the Rode is probably the most popular, but I think the A-T can give it a run for it's money. I was sadly disappointed with the M-Audio.
 
You might want to consider saving for a bit longer, I find that I use my Shure KSM-32 (around $500) almost as often as my TLM-193 (around $1500). Two very different sounds, to be certain, and two more price points too<G>! While I probably would not save till I could afford the TLM-193, I do find the KSM-32 to be a really versatile, and forgiving microphone.
 
Just keep in mind that as neutral as the Shure and Neumann microphones are, and they are very close to neutral, they still impart their personalities, largely because of the mass of the larger diaphragm. Neither the Rode nor the A-T are neutral, but that may be just the ticket for you? I'd call the Rode a bit forward, and the A-T a bit flattering, but these words are pretty useless till you get your hands on the microphones.

Cheers for the advice guys.
 
I'm new to all this home recording lark and this will be a starter mic for me and will be used to record my vocals over acoustic  guitar tracks for an album I'm putting together.  My voice is pretty mid range like most so won't be going for really high or low notes.  I have recorded using other people mics before and found that the LDC seems to suit my voice the best (well i like the sound of it the best anyway :) !)
 
I've read good reviews of the rode and the AT as a good beginners mic, and the price range is well within my budget to get started pretty soon.

i have and use a SHURE KSM44
 
 
i really really like it.
 

As others have said, Shure has a good line of low cost mics, AT, Rode.  At that price you can find a used Oktava 319/219, which are very good LDC (I use one).  As others have said, too, it is best if you can test choices on your voice, even to get an idea of how the family sounds.
 
@

in that price range, i would look for a good used ADK Hamburg or Vienna.
 
i have the hamburg, and use it quite a lot.
 

I don't know but I am using a Sennheiser mic - large diaphram condenser.
Being able to equalize might make a difference also if you can.
 

http://gefell-m7.com/index.php/products.html
 
This one, but you may have to save a while.
 
@

Cheers for your recommendations fellas.
 
Although I'd like to throw another spanner in the works...
 
Does anyone have any knowledge of:  MXL 990?  sE microphones or AKG3000?