Can Anyone Reccomend A Good Microphone?

Hello all!

I got Adobe Audition for Chrismas (yay!) and I need a microphone to go with it in order to record something (assuming it is music) onto the computer. Does anyone know of a good quality microphone between 100 and 150 dollars?

[EDIT] good quality microphone between 50 and 100$

If you are going to post, please provide some description of your experience with the mic.

Thanks!

Well, good quality microphones are much more expensive, but you can get a fairly decent one for $100. But do you have a good sound card? You'll need one of you want quality audio. And if you're getting one, make sure it has a microphone jack, not all do. Mine is decent, but no microphone jack.

Well, good quality microphones are much more expensive, but you can get a fairly decent one for $100. But do you have a good sound card? You'll need one of you want quality audio. And if you're getting one, make sure it has a microphone jack, not all do. Mine is decent, but no microphone jack.

I have an external soundcard- a Creative Labs SB Live! card. It does have a mic jack, so that helps me greatly. I'll probably have to look at mics myself, but I wanted to see if anyone had something that they werre very fond of, or if someone knew the difference between some of them, like the SM57 (by Shure) over the SM58 (also by Shure), or anything like that.

Thanks!

Alan, for better reference.

This thread has been useless. I ordered a condenser mic- the AT2020, and I'll post when I have used it. It may be another couple days... maybe I'll get this moved to the discussion section so that anyone who is using mics can discuss them... I don't think anyone else has so much as used a mic... :(

You are ridiculous.

Oh please, go on!! :D

Maybe this thread can be intresting afterall!

Thirteen... Let me guess, I am even more ridiculous now.

Thanks... :happytears:

Now, what makes me ridiculous? :glare:

Umm... I already know that I am absolutely nuts when compared to the rest of the world... anything else I need to know?

OK, I give up... I guess I'll find out....

You're driving me nuts!! Just tell me- I won't hate you!! :) ?

Alright, fine... Anyway, know any mics...? :)

What do you want to use the mic for? Instrumental recording or vocal?

If you're going for mainly instrumental, I'd say the Shure Beta 57A. It's solid and great sound quality. I use it in my school studio all the time. Plus its a dynamic microphone, so you don't need Phantom Power or some other external power source :)

What Shure say about it:

"Excellent for acoustic and electric instruments as well as for vocals, the extremely versatile Beta 57A dynamic microphone provides optimal warmth and presence. Typical applications include drums, guitar amplifiers, brass, woodwinds and vocals."

Chaski,

I am hoping to record both vocals and instruments (I've got a song I am writing, and hoped to record it :D ). In another note, I have a naturally well-projected voice, and whenever I use a dynamic mic, I just about overload it, especially when singing. After doing some research, I determined that a condenser mic would best suit instrument, as well as my Bari-tenor voice (highest note- Gish). I thought hard about getting the Shure mic, but I was strong towards the condenser mic, so I went to multiple sites that sold the AT2020, and I found no bad reviews, so I'll see... I can probably send it back if it doesn't work, so we'll see.

Basically, I want somehing that will pick up the sound and record as accurately (as in realisticly) as possible.

Also, I do a lot of speaking onstage, and I never use a mic, and I have still never gotten a complaint from techs that I'm not loud enough, in fact, I can be heard extremely well. That's how loud (or projected, rather) I am.

PS- The quote you gave me doesn't mention anything about Piano, so I would be somewhat annoyed if that was my main choice.

PSS- You have a studio in your school?!?

Hey,

If its strong vocals with powerful projection, then yeah you're probably needing something with a little more power :) The one you've been looking at is quite a good mic

And yes, we do have a studio in my school, we have an amazing music/music tech dept.

Well, I'm expecting to get it tomorrow, so I'll post my exprience with it after playing around with it a bit. :)

condensers can take strong vocals better? this is not at all true, whilst dynamic mic's are most likely to handle more 'abuse' (either handling of sound pressure level). an sm57 is good if you're recording guitars, it's ok for vocals too, it's also great for drum tracking.

there's a different mic for every different situation/instrument/room.

oh and on top of that, i've never heard of a 'cheap & good' condenser mics (that is, if you haven't spend a large amount on a serious pre-amp). maybe because there's no such thing. get a new soundcard while you're at it aswel, this colors the sounds almost as much (if not more) as mics do.

Alright, if your going for vocals then you'll really want a dynamic Microphone, the Shure PG58 and SM58 are perhaps the best values for your money in this area.

As for Condenser mics, the only reason you should use a condenser mic is if you are going to be recording in a controlled studio enviroment.

Reason being is that a dynamic mic is dynamic (:P). If you talk louder into it, the volume level is going to rise, if you talk or sing into it softer, the volume level is going to go down.

Whereas with a condenser mic, (depending on what you're micing with small diaphragm or large diaphragm) You will keep a consistent volume level no matter how much you scream into it. This is better for recording because you want a steady volume with no peaks that will require compression to eliminate.

Now if your looking for vocals I would recommend the Shure SM58, reason being it's responsive range is around 500hz to 20khz, that's the human voice range and then some. It's a good deal and you can usually pick one up for just 100$

For Instruments I would suggest the SM58 by the same company. It's responsive range is from 40hz to 19khz, mainly it's designed for Micing instrument amps and cabs and it can be used for vocals but it won't get the same response as it would if you were micing your guitar amp with it

There is a Beta 58 but I would avoid that for vocals, it's designed to take a huge amount of volume, and the range is about 50hz to20khz. I've heard a few recordings that used it for the main vocal mic, and compared to the SM58, it just lacks the clarity and fat response

Now there are quite a few good manufacturers of these microphones but for the budget minded musician, the best company IMO is Shure. You can easily purchase the workhouse of the industry. I sell these microphones on a daily basis and I've never heard one complaint from anyone about them.

You could stand to check out Audio Technica and Electro Voice, but be prepared to spend more with those companies than you would with Shure

Audix SCX-25

I'd recommend testing the TLM 103 as a standard studio mic.

Or the KMS 105, if a hand-held technique is to be used, as on stage.

For me,the Sennheiser 421 dynamic microphone is hard to beat.It's durable,versatile(5 different pattern settings),and goes well with most quality sound cards{such as M-Audio or Soundblaster),and recording environments.

For me,the Sennheiser 421 dynamic microphone is hard to beat.It's durable,versatile(5 different pattern settings)...

Since the OP is looking in the $50-100 range, a $400 mic is probably not what he's looking for (though they're 'cheap', and fantastic).

Also...if I'm not mistaken, the MD-421 doesn't have switchable patterns, it's a regular cardioid mic. BUT...yes, great mics.

:whistling: ;)

It seems I'm having problems receiving the microphone from the compny I'm buying it from, and anywhere else I look, the AT2020 is too expensive.

I think I will go with the SM57. Now, what I need to know is- What cable will I need to hook the SM57 to the computer? I have seen only a Monster cable, but no good ratings on it. Any ideas?

It seems I'm having problems receiving the microphone from the company I'm buying it from, and anywhere else I look, the AT2020 is too expensive.

I think I will go with the SM57. Now, what I need to know is- What cable will I need to hook the SM57 to the computer? I have seen only a Monster cable, but no good ratings on it. Any ideas?

Also, I don't play guitar, so I'm not worried about recording guitars. ;)

I think I will go with the SM57. Now, what I need to know is- What cable will I need to hook the SM57 to the computer? I have seen only a Monster cable, but no good ratings on it. Any ideas?

Does your computer have a balanced input or output?

What does that mean, like a "mic in" jack? If so, then yes.

short version:

balanced: mic input.

unbalanced: line/instr. input.