recording mic

[joel]

Hello All,

I was looking for a descent recording mic between $50-$100. This would be mostly used for gutiar. I am not sure how much condenser mics go for but they are probably out of my range? I have an om-03 and was just looking for a mic to record onto my computer becasue the internal mic is simply terrible. I got audacity free for recording and its not that great but free and easy to use so i wont complain. Any experience is appreciated!

THanks so much

Joel

[expatCanuck]

I've got an Audio Technica AT2020 (condenser - needs phantom power) and a Shure SM-57 (dynamic - no phantom power req'd).
Work fine for the money.

[Gemnoc]

Both SM57 and AT2020 can be found for around $100. AT2020 needs Phantom power, I think you will need a preamp. Not sure if the Shure (sorry for the pun ) can be plugged directly to your PC sound card.

[ronmac]

Joel,

The SM57 is a great first mic to buy. If you do go the condensor route you are going to need a phantom power source. Don't make the mistake of buying one of the USB condensor mics...

Here is an article from Shure on connecting your microphone to a regular computer sound card: http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/us_pro_ea_connectingmics

[Thinman]

I have an AT-2020 and a Behringer mixer for phantom power and it sounds great but is a hassle to set up so I hardly use it.
I'm thinking of getting a Logitech USB Desktop Microphone for 20 bucks. I am really attracted to the simplicity of it, and it gets good reviews.
Anyone tried a USB mic?

[maxferry]

For recording acoustic guitar and vocals I definitely recommend a condenser...a large-diaphragm condenser if possible. There are a lot of decent and affordable ones out there right now, although they may run a bit more than your stated budget. The one I use is from Carvin...came with a power supply, shock mount and flight case for under $200 and has excellent build quality. This one has FET elecronics; you will pay a bit more for tube electronics, but Carvin recently came out with a tube version for about 3 bills. The FET version that I have sounds fantastic on guitar and vocals, and I imagine that the tube version sounds even better.

The Shure SM57 and especially the SM58 are great mics, but I kind of think of them more as live vocal/sound reinforcement mics or for recording loud speaker cabs in the studio. I guess it comes down to the sound you're looking to get...if you want lots of sparkle, broad frequency response and detail, you will need a condenser.

[woody b]

I've got a Samson USB condensor mic.  Here's the first thing I ever recorded with it.
http://h1.ripway.com/woody%20b/music/pickup%20demo/mictest.mp3
I'm not a recording engineer but I can't see why anyone would say "Don't make the mistake of buying one of those USB condensor mics."   Could someone explain what's so bad about the USB mics.   To my ears it's a heckuva lot better than recording with a pickup,  like some people do. 

[ronmac]

I've got a Samson USB condensor mic.  Here's the first thing I ever recorded with it.
http://h1.ripway.com/woody%20b/music/pickup%20demo/mictest.mp3
I'm not a recording engineer but I can't see why anyone would say "Don't make the mistake of buying one of those USB condensor mics."   Could someone explain what's so bad about the USB mics.   To my ears it's a heckuva lot better than recording with a pickup,  like some people do. 

Sorry woodyb, I didn't mean to offend anyone that had a USB microphone, and found the results satisfactory. Your clip sounds fine, but I must say it is the first one I have heard using that particular mic that was acceptable. The units I have been exposed to were down right awful (noisy, hissy, poor dynamic range, no detail, etc.), perhaps it was a bad batch.

[hatofthecat]

I can't see why anyone would say "Don't make the mistake of buying one of those USB condensor mics."

I had one of the Samsom CO1U direct USB connected/powered condenser mics.  Whilst I was initially happy with it I quickly realised it was generating more "white noise" than I could accept    My brother bought the same mic and had same results.

I've now got the regular 48v phantom powered version of the same mic plugged in via an Edirol UA25 and don't have the "white noise" problem with this setup 

Frankly I was pretty disappointed with the outcome of the USB mic    as was so much more convenient otherwise (though whoever wrote the installation routine for the device drivers wants shooting.....crock of sh*t  ).

Pete

[woody b]

The "SoftPre applet" that's available on the Samson web site is JUNK.  The mic works much better without that software.  To uninstall the SoftPre Applet you have to do something extra that's not listed in the uninstall from the site.  I can't remember what but I'll try to find out if someone needs to know.  The mic works MUCH better just using the native drivers in XP.   I got ALOT of white noise with the applet installed.  IF SOMEONE BUYS ONE OF THESE MICS DON'T INSTALL THE APPLET.  I get less noise with my USB mic than I do with my Mackie mixer and Shure SM57 mics.  I use the mixer and mics for live shows it wasn't bought for recording.   My intentions with the USB mic was to record gigs using my laptop sitting on a table.  I prefer stereo recording and you can't do that with the USB mic.  I've heard conflicting reports about using 2 USB mics.   I recently bought a Zoom H4,  and I love it although I haven't used it much.  I still believe the USB mic is the best route for someone who wants to spend less than $100,  but maybe they should just spend more to start with.   These recordings were made years apart,  with different guitars.  The first one was recorded with my mixer,  and 2 SM57's (the vocals are another track using a SM58)  http://h1.ripway.com/woody%20b/music/signature.mp3   This was recorded with my Samson C01U http://h1.ripway.com/woody%20b/music/pickup%20demo/mictest.mp3   And this was recorded with my Zoom H4 http://h1.ripway.com/woody%20b/music/Guitar%20demos/LarriveeD03MT.mp3

[hatofthecat]

To uninstall the SoftPre Applet you have to do something extra that's not listed in the uninstall from the site.

If you can remember what it was woody b I'll pass the info on to my brother as would be very helpful if it gets better results 

The installation notes were not very good and did pretty much insist that you had to use the SoftPre applet under pain of death.... 

My other reason for going no-USB was to use two mics..... but most of the time I only use one mic anyway    as is just for self-tutoring recordings

Pete

[drathbun]

I have an Apex 425 large diaphram condenser mic that was roughly $100. I just picked up a couple of Behringer C2 condensers for $50. They aren't as nice as the Apex but they are great for stereo recording; point one at the 12th fret and one at the bridge.

[kwakatak]

Don't mean to hijack, but I've been thinking the same thing with the added option of recording vocals simultaneously. The Audio Technica AT2020 has come up a couple of times and I was wondering if the AT2020/AT2021 was a good option?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/AudioTechnica-AT2041SP-AT2020-AT2021-Microphone-Pack?sku=270455

[expatCanuck]

kwakatak -
The vocals on my site, with the exception of 'Unconditional' (which went through an SM57/58 for guitar/vocals) was recorded using an AT2020.  No attempt to finesse or tweak the recordings -- just a quick & dirty job to get tunes up for a pending gig.
Good enough for my liking (tho' I'd buy a pop filter before I rerecorded).
- Richard

[hudson]

I have been getting good results with an AKG Perception 200 LDC mic ($160) combined with a Shure SM57.

[expatCanuck]

I was looking for a descent recording mic between $50-$100. This would be mostly used for gutiar.  I got audacity free for recording and its not that great but free and easy to use so i wont complain. Any experience is appreciated!

Having now used my AT2020 and my SM57, I can say that for indoor, studio-type recording, I prefer the AT2020.
A bit more open, airier (if that's a word) sounding.

I've also used the AT2020 gigging, and am increasingly seeing them (or similar condensers) at open mics.  But there's no doubt that it's  more fragile than the SM57.  The SM57 doesn't sound bad (the song Unconditional on my web site), but I think that the 2020 sounds better (the other songs).

All recorded through a MobilePre into Audacity.

- Richard