Hi guys newbie alert again lol

Looking for a mic for recording my vocals ands pistol guitar only the home studio I'm building isn't great but I'm going to build a homemade sound booth in the corner  would u suggest a condenser mic or a dynamic? Been to a shop and they suggested a se electronics x1 condenser but I've also been looking at the shure sm57/58 what would you suggest for under £150 thanks

i'd save up some more, and start with a Shure SM7



i use a Shure KSM44, and love it.
works for damn near everything.

SM 58 is an indestructible mike for live stage work, end of story. 
I've never used one on a recording. 
SM 57 I use a lot , Mostly on drums and instruments, defiantly always on miking a guitar amp. I use them for vocals too with a wind sock that fits.  But that's live stage work. 
I have better mikes for recording vocals but if I only was told I could have one mike, that would be it. The Beta series are even better, a little crispier. 
So I would recommend a SM 57 or Beta 57 as you can use it for everything. 

It will be only acoustic guitar and vocals do you think the sm57 would be the best for only these they suggest a condenser mic in the shops but I'm not sure everyone I know says get a 57 but they only record instruments will it be ok for vocals? Thanks for the help

a 57 is a fine mic, but not the best for capturing acoustic guitar.

i own 3 57's, one dates back to 1982, and is still working fine after 4 years of fulltime roadwork, it is a workhorse, and will serve well.

but it is not the best choice.


it is a dynamic mic, and you keep mentioning wanting a condensor.

this all boils down to two things:

1. how serious are you about recording?

2. how much can you afford for a 'decent' mic?

I have a Shure SM58, and I bought a condenser mic (48V phantom power needed) but payed 3-4 times as much, but it is worth it, along with a reflection filter because where I record, it is like well no room at all. The gain is good with the condenser mic but I also run a TC Helicon now before going to the input of the audio/interface. A cheap condenser will not sound that bad but all mics may need EQ on them before getting (or after recording) the mixdown you may want the sound on. A Shure SM58 is fine for live playing, but not really that good anymore, just cheap and a cheap condenser will probably sound better on the recording. Best thing to do is go to the market place, plug in the mic and see how it sounds. There are cheap condenser mics and some do not sound bad at all. Look around again just to get an idea on the Internet, but I bought mine (although I usually buy at Sweetwater) at GC, where they also have some cheap condenser. You should try some out, because that is the only way to tell. Mine Sennheiser is good enough but not all that expensive either. http://www.sweetwater.com...io/studio-microphones/ Sorry again using Firefox browser and paragraphs do not work with this forum. Everywhere else on forums it works fine. I stay away from ribbon mics, and some dynamic mics work fine better than perhaps a Shure also. Only reason I give a link to Sweetwater, is because a person can look around there and see reviews and what other people think of what they bought, but then there is probably the hype, because of what they bought and all of that also.

Self noise is a little high with this one (20dB): http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT2020

I have to sing close to the condenser because of noise in the room (well a little noise) but the TC Helicon has a noise gate in it, and vocals do not take that much dynamics unless you yell into the mic. The condenser sounds the same whether you are close to it, or 8-9" back or whatever. A pop filter may be needed because of P's and B's and stuff like that while singing from your voice. A Shure SM58 does not even come close to the condenser as far as I am concerned. Bassy up close and far away the response changes. No comparison to me, the condensers will always win, although sibilance may play into it also. Do not sing direct into it, sing pointed a little away from it, if needed. Shock mount may cost more also, but in the home, no shock is usually fine, but I bought one anway, and that was 100 more. Sits in the box.

I like the AKG D5 dynamic mic (We have three of them). It's flatter in the midrange than the Shures while extending both lower and higher. The Shures can sound shouty and annoying on some voices (though the SM7 has a switch to remedy the shoutiness).

Sorry, spelled wrong: Reflexion filter: http://www.sweetwater.com...php?s=reflexion+filter