Hate to bring up mics again, but...

Posted on

I sleep too much.
Member Since: Jul 08, 2004

I've been debating over microphones for far too long.
I'm broke as hell, being 18 with car payments and college coming up, money is scarce, to say the least. I am looking for something that i can use for vocals and something i can use for acoustics or heavily distorted amps.
Whats more important? Large diaphragms or just condensers?
All i need is something to get started, as my monitors and aardvark have been collecting dust for 3 months cause i cant make up my friggin mind.

please help.

oh yeah.. i only have like 300$ to spend right now so keep em cheap.

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Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Jul 12, 2004 11:46 pm

shure sm57's are dirt cheap, like 90 bucks, and work great for micing guitar cabs, I've also seen em used on vox

Member
Since: Apr 26, 2002


Jul 13, 2004 12:14 am

Loki beat me to it! But yeah... SM57... best mic EVER in my opinion.

Nothing doesnt give me gas
Member
Since: May 25, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 12:14 am

300 bones would get you a pair of akg c 1000 mics from Musicians friend. They are EXCELLENT instrument mics, and I have heard of many saying they are great for vocals, but I havent tried mine for that, as I have a small collection of Lrge Dia. mice.

I sleep too much.
Member
Since: Jul 08, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 12:17 am

Has anyone used the akg c1000s and the sm57s? I think im gonna go with one or the other but dont know which!
If i got a sm57 and a large diaphragm, could i use them both for miking together or would it sound funny? If i can, how would an SM57 and a rode nt-1 or behringer b-1 be?

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 12:17 am

Welcome to HRC 'stoopid . (sorry, had to) lol

I would start with a pair of 50$ dynamic mics, and a 150$ compressor . This will serve your interests better than mics that need a pre-amp w/ phantom power (condensers), and have no compression . Dynamic mics are easier to work with,(not as fragile), and are just fine for starting out . The compressor is crucial, in my oppinion... check the Gear Bag for some recomendations . Y'a might have a little more homework to do, but it shouldn't keep things dusty another 3 months ! Hope this helps . :)

Nothing doesnt give me gas
Member
Since: May 25, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 12:18 am

not to start the 57 bashing again, which really Im not, but if you a/b the 57 against almost any cheap large Diaphragm mics, and the c 1000s for detail, clarity and gain, there is no comparison IMHO.
Ive done it, and its like night and day. The 57 is still a great mic for high spl stuff, live and studio, like snares, horns etc. But is pretty bad for lesser volume sources.

If you have the money, shoot for above the 57 if you can.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 12:30 am

Those c1000's are that nice, eh GW ? Hmmm... have to check those out . How's th DVC, er whatsit thang ?

Bane of All Existence
Member
Since: Mar 27, 2003


Jul 13, 2004 12:34 am

SM57s and AKG C1000S's make up the core of my setup, get both and you can record almost anything with wonderful results. i hear you on the college student with car payments thing. sucks, huh?

Nothing doesnt give me gas
Member
Since: May 25, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 12:38 am

Ill agree with that mink!!1

Huey, I BROUGHT HOME THE WRONG CABLES TO PATCH it INTO MY SOUNDCARD!!! WAAAAHHHHH!!!!!Im looking at it now, its real pretty..... hmff, I guess I'll read the manual. Or not.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jul 13, 2004 12:47 am

Not sure what you are recording on, but I don't use hardware compression. I do it all software baby. Large diaphragm condensors are definitely where it's at. But you can get decent to good results with an SM57 or SM58. I like to mess around with the 58 here and there just for the sake of it.

More important to me than the compressor is the pre-amp. But worry about the mic first.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 01:05 am

GW...
Manual Schmanual, what is a DVC !?!? lol

Sorry 'bout the cables man . I did that last weekend... thought I could use RCA on my s/pdif... NOT . lol

Dual Voice Coil ? lol

Nothing doesnt give me gas
Member
Since: May 25, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 01:16 am

Dual Vocal Combo Its made by Manleylabs.
Its a mic pre limiter eq!!! and it will work, with the right cables!!!!! LOL

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 01:23 am

Coolo, you're soooo right about the pre-amp, being up-front, and thus more important . I forgot that when I had nasty pre's in the mix, the compressor only made them nastier . My perception was that everything got better, at about the same time I started using my compressor correctly... 'about the same time I got a UBerry . MY BAD SS !!! :)

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 01:28 am

Just checked that DVC ... BEEE-AAADDD !

Nothing doesnt give me gas
Member
Since: May 25, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 01:32 am

Its a great unit!! Im so stupid (slightlee), the specs said it has xlr and 1/4 in outs, but I didnt know the 1/4 in outs were unbalanced only and I brought home balanced 1/4 in cables..... duuhhh so, now Im bored, am going to go eat all the pies.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 01:34 am

Good thing y'a looked ! heh heh


Pies ! 8)

Nothing doesnt give me gas
Member
Since: May 25, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 01:45 am

mmmmmmmmm.......pies....mmmmmmm (Homer voice)

Karyn
Member
Since: Jul 10, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 04:56 am

Let a woman help make up your mind. Get a RODE NT1 $200. It's a large Diaphram condensor. I've never heard anything but great things about this mic. And believe me Slightly I talk to a lot of people. Unless your screamin metal or Cindi Lauper you ain't gettin away with a SM57 as a vocal mic.

SM57 uses: miking snare,guitar amps, and throwing at the cat to keep him from scratching up the couch. That mic takes alot of sound pressure to make it sound decent. It isn't for miking acoustic instruments. From my experience Dynamics just don't offer the detail and clarity a condensor does.

The NT1 will serve as an excellent vocal and acoustic mic. It would be suitable for amps as well. The c-1000 is generally not thought of as a vocal mic, though the c-1000 is an excellent mic. If I could only have one I'd take the one with a larger diaphram. Whew
www.karynwhittemore.com




Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 05:59 am

May I just throw into the melting pot the SM58 which is meant for vocals according to Shure.

Not to put to much emphasis on ANY manufacturers claims (as it is usually distorted at best) it is very true in this MIC's case.

The SM57 is billed as the instrument MIC and the SM58 is billed as the vocal mic (allbeit for live performances).

I use the SM58 for all my vocals and get away with it pretty much. There is 2 reasons for this:

1. I was skint and could afford nowt more so it seemed a good solid mic
2. It doubles up as a great live mic (THE most used live mic in existance if you believe the hype you read everywhere).

So, my theory was - since I like to try and sing/play as "live" as possible to capture the energy, I thought I'd get away with it. I also find the bass response very good when youre upclose with the 58...

Ah...now I just wanna belt oot some numbers but the folks aroond me may think I was a bit nutty!

Cheers...

Coco.

Nothing doesnt give me gas
Member
Since: May 25, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 09:31 am

oot?? Go ahead coco, belt away. who cares what they think. tell them to go aboot their buisness!1

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Jul 13, 2004 11:58 am

As for choosing mics go, go to a music store and try em all out and get the one that sounds best in your price range. I'm under the opinion that it's better to have one awesome sounding mic (or as close as you can get) than a ton of mediocre ones

Nothing doesnt give me gas
Member
Since: May 25, 2004


Jul 13, 2004 01:27 pm

With MXL having a large dia. mic at 50 bucks WITH shockmount, that should be the ultimate choice. It may not sound as good as a 200 dollar rode, but I guarantee you it will sound better than a dynamic mic for detail and clarity, easy.

Dub head
Member
Since: May 03, 2004


Jul 14, 2004 02:18 pm

slightlystoopid,

Your user name a reference to the So Cal. reggae/dub/rock/ska band Slightly Stoopid? Just curious.

-Al

I sleep too much.
Member
Since: Jul 08, 2004


Jul 15, 2004 08:59 pm

yes it is

String bender
Member
Since: Unknown


Jul 15, 2004 11:16 pm

I'm going to agree with Recording Chick. I have both a SM57 and a Rode NT1A. The SM57 sounds great on the half stack but I love the NT1A for vocals and acoustic guitars. I'm using the NT1A for some voice over stuff on an indie movie this weekend too. Nice mic for the price.

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004


Jul 16, 2004 08:10 am

Well then I'm going to agree (I think) with with Guitwizz and Recording Chick! I have an SM57, and SM58, and a cheapo MCA $50 condenser mic. For recording vocals and acoustic guitar, the MCA blows away the SM's. I think it's money better spent to make sure you have a good preamp and some outboard compression (admittedly, I have neither!)

Jim

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