Microphone suggestions

[spleenharvester]

Hi all, sorry if this is in the wrong section, couldn't see a mic section anywhere!

Basically, revisiting music after some years, I'm looking for a microphone for recording acoustic/vocals. Mostly just for screwing around on covers and stuff but I'd like to get something decent quality.

I have about £80 budget at the moment, and was looking at the Audio-Technica AT2020. My guitar, if it matters, is a Vintage V300 (not great, but will be upgraded in the coming months!)

1) Is £80 a decent budget, and is this a good choice at this budget range?

2) I'm assuming I will need some kind of USB interface to use it on my laptop with? (And are these expensive?)

3) Am I right in thinking I want a condenser mic for this purpose, and buy an SM57 or something similar for stage use?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Microphone suggestions

The AT2020 comes in a regular (about 100 bucks American) and USB version (about 150 bucks) It's not a bad mic but at that price point you're not going to find anything that lights the world on fire. And yes, a condenser will usually give a better result on acoustic guitars and vocals. If you can increase you budget up to around 300 American you'll be stepping up a notch...AT, Rode, Blue all make a decent mic at that price.

Dynamics like the SM57 are often preferred on stage as they are much more rugged. 57's for guitar cabs 58's for vocals. The 58 is much less susceptible to breath plosives due to the mesh ball and foam...but a 57 works fine for vocals too if you just use a 3 buck pop filter.

 

[spleenharvester]

Re: Microphone suggestions

The AT2020 comes in a regular (about 100 bucks American) and USB version (about 150 bucks) It's not a bad mic but at that price point you're not going to find anything that lights the world on fire. And yes, a condenser will usually give a better result on acoustic guitars and vocals. If you can increase you budget up to around 300 American you'll be stepping up a notch...AT, Rode, Blue all make a decent mic at that price.

Dynamics like the SM57 are often preferred on stage as they are much more rugged. 57's for guitar cabs 58's for vocals. The 58 is much less susceptible to breath plosives due to the mesh ball and foam...but a 57 works fine for vocals too if you just use a 3 buck pop filter.

Hmm, part of the problem seems to be that microphone prices are massively inflated here in the UK. The AT2020 USB for example is $150, but £125 over here, so it seems as if I'd need to throw a couple hundred of £ at something really.

I can't help but wonder if it's maybe worth buying a Blue Snowball or something to screw around with until later this year, when I finally start earning, and then splash out a couple hundred on something good - rather than just sticking with something mid-range?

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Microphone suggestions

Imo, ~$300 is the butter zone for budget mics. There are a lot to choose from around that price.

Two of my personal favorites in that range are the Studio Projects C1 and the Blue Bluebird, though both do better on vox (to my ears) than acoustic. But then, for acoustic, I like to use as couple of small diaphragm condensers. Or sometimes ribbons.

 

[spleenharvester]

Re: Microphone suggestions

Imo, ~$300 is the butter zone for budget mics. There are a lot to choose from around that price.

Two of my personal favorites in that range are the Studio Projects C1 and the Blue Bluebird, though both do better on vox (to my ears) than acoustic. But then, for acoustic, I like to use as couple of small diaphragm condensers. Or sometimes ribbons.

The Studio C1 sounds immense! Unfortunately it's the equivalent of $400 over here though (probably cheaper for me to import from the USA than buy here!). I think what I'm going to do now is purchase a Blue Snowball and then later on look at getting a C1 or something else in that budget range.

Cheers

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Microphone suggestions

You definitely need a Shure SM-58 for live vocals, and an SM-57 is a very handy mic to have in your kit. As stated earlier, good for vocals with a pop filter, but also acoustic guitar, electric guitar cabs, mandolin, banjo, horns and drums. Both.

Bill

 

[ginormous]

Re: Microphone suggestions

Just for future reference, questions about mics, PAs, recording equipment and all like that, are best addressed in Tips & Clips.

I'll move the thread there.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Microphone suggestions

IMO, vocals and acoustic guitar make different demands of a microphone. The two sources deserve different microphones.

For a home recordist on a budget, it might be wiser to invest in a good transducer/mic system installation for the acoustic guitar. My preference is for L. R. Baggs products. My Taylor-owning friend is happy with their onboard Expression system. Other makes, models and amplification principles are available.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Microphone suggestions

On a budget, the Shure 48 series are not bad choices if you are not gonna beat them to death

 

[Aceman]

Re: Microphone suggestions

You definitely need a Shure SM-58 for live vocals, and an SM-57 is a very handy mic to have in your kit. As stated earlier, good for vocals with a pop filter, but also acoustic guitar, electric guitar cabs, mandolin, banjo, horns and drums. Both.

Bill

Every guitar player in a band should buy this combo

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Microphone suggestions

Every guitar player in a band should buy this combo

I agree 100%, but will amend it to: everyone recording ANYTHING should buy this combo, or at least 2x SM57s; they are the identical microphone anyway...

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Microphone suggestions

The Shure SM-57 and -58 use identical capsules. The pop shield and its effects are the only difference. With a microphone this simple, placement is an art.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Microphone suggestions

The Samson co3 with switchable polar patterns is a little known budget mic that is a lot better than one would assume.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Microphone suggestions

I went with an AKG perception as a low budget condenser a couple years back.

Instead of spending more on a USB version I would recommend getting some piece of gear with good mic preamps and phantom power built in, with USB. Can be some 19" mic preamp, a cheap Yahama mixer, a Zoom recorder. All kinds of things can do it.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Microphone suggestions

SM57 + Rode M3 + pop filter will cover you more than a battalion of friendly snipers.