Cheap Condenser Mics?

Diamond Jim · 12-25-2009, 11:49 PM

I've dubbed 2010 "The Year of the Demo's" so I need to get a recording mic for vocals/acoustic guitar. Problem is the budget for said mic is going to be extremely limited, probably $200 absolute max. Most likely, $100 is more realistic. Any recommendations, anyone? Thanks in advance.

Jim

mijstratguy · 12-26-2009, 02:38 PM

MXL, Marshall, Oktava, Shure PG-81, maybe a used AKG? Lots of good choices out there. I don't particularly care for Nady.

Papa Joe · 12-27-2009, 12:49 AM

My advice would be to call Sweetwater and ask what they can do to help.They always give me very good advice.Those dudes know thier bees wax..Never know,might have someting on sale right now..

Hugh · 01-11-2010, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diamond Jim

I've dubbed 2010 "The Year of the Demo's" so I need to get a recording mic for vocals/acoustic guitar. Problem is the budget for said mic is going to be extremely limited, probably $200 absolute max. Most likely, $100 is more realistic. Any recommendations, anyone? Thanks in advance.

Jim

100 bucks..............
http://www.samsontech.com/PRODUCTS/p...fm?prodID=1810

175 or so.................
http://www.samsontech.com/products/p...fm?prodid=1916

I have both and they do the job.

Kid Klash · 01-11-2010, 02:51 PM

The LDC I'd suggest is the Strudio Projects B1.

Retail prices start at $99, depending on where you buy it.

Do a search and I think you'll find it's a very well received and respected large diaphragm condenser mic. I've got a pair of them in my mic locker myself. They work well for vocals, drum overheads, acoustic guitar, acoustic piano and many other sources. Well made too.

http://www.studioprojects.com/b1.html

moullineaux · 01-11-2010, 07:17 PM

I highly recommend Rode mics. I have not used studio projects, though I have heard good things, my Rodes have never let me down. For a bit more, you get a ton more mic. A good friend and excellent engineer once told me and I quote, " Buy the best mic you can afford and couple it with the best preamp you can afford and you won't be sorry. The rest is learning how to use what you record." This advice has always proven true. I have a Rode NT-1A, NT-2A and a couple NT-5's over the drum kit. The NT-5's are amazing overhead mics. And the NT-1A is incredibly versatile. I have used it on everything from acoustic guitars to room mics for drums. Sorry, you can tell I like Rodes, stopping now.

dugrock · 01-12-2010, 09:59 AM

I've used alot of the big brand name mics as a sound guy for about 30 years both live and recording. I really like and own two of the MXL990 $59.00 most days at Musicians Friend. Awesome sounding mic I've used for artists like Ellis Marsalis, Freddie Cole and others on electric & acoustic guitars, piano, bass, drums, horns . The AKG414 sounds better BUT! $$$$. Short of that this is the Mic you want for that application. Invest in a wind screen/pop filter $20.00. If you can spend $100. go for the MXL990/991 combo which gives you a large diaphram and a small. The 991 (small) is awesome for recording acoustic guitar or to use for drum overheads. I like to combine the two and get a stereo acoustic guitar recording 991 at fret board and 990 at body. Experiment with placement for sweet spots. It's the best money you can spend on condenser mics. IMO

***JUST PLAY***

peskypesky · 01-12-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugrock

I've used alot of the big brand name mics as a sound guy for about 30 years both live and recording. I really like and own two of the MXL990 $59.00 most days at Musicians Friend. Awesome sounding mic I've used for artists like Ellis Marsalis, Freddie Cole and others on electric & acoustic guitars, piano, bass, drums, horns .

thanks for the tip!

always great to get a reco from someone in the know. i may be ordering one of those real soon.

Hugh · 01-13-2010, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugrock

I've used alot of the big brand name mics as a sound guy for about 30 years both live and recording. I really like and own two of the MXL990 $59.00 most days at Musicians Friend. Awesome sounding mic I've used for artists like Ellis Marsalis, Freddie Cole and others on electric & acoustic guitars, piano, bass, drums, horns . The AKG414 sounds better BUT! $$$$. Short of that this is the Mic you want for that application. Invest in a wind screen/pop filter $20.00. If you can spend $100. go for the MXL990/991 combo which gives you a large diaphram and a small. The 991 (small) is awesome for recording acoustic guitar or to use for drum overheads. I like to combine the two and get a stereo acoustic guitar recording 991 at fret board and 990 at body. Experiment with placement for sweet spots. It's the best money you can spend on condenser mics. IMO

***JUST PLAY***

I saw a Bluegrass group use the MXL990 on an outdoor stage in front of about 200 people. Amazing. One mic and guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass, and vocals. Each player would just take a step or two closer to the mic for solos, and then step back. I asked the fiddle player after the set if it was running straight to the board, and he said it had a Behringer Shark (feedback destroyer/pre-amp/phantom power/etc.) between it and the board.

Amazing clarity and sound from 150 bucks worth of gear, plus cables of course.

peskypesky · 01-13-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

he said it had a Behringer Shark (feedback destroyer/pre-amp/phantom power/etc.) between it and the board.

thanks for THAT tip! the Shark looks like a must-have....

YeahDoIt · 01-14-2010, 08:43 AM

I am using a little computer microphone - it's on a little boom stand about 8 inches tall - I believe it's a condenser microphone and for recording I like the sound quality of this microphone a lot. It's just maybe a $ 10 microphone but I like it for recording guitars and vocals. For bass it doesn't pickup the low frequencies well.

dugrock · 01-14-2010, 09:37 AM

I forgot to mention vocals for the MXL990, of course it does a fine job on vocals. The last album I did had two female lead vocalists that had similar voices so we used the MXL990 for one and a RODE NT1 for the other and that combo brought out nuances that gave each their own voice. Like Hugh I've used it for Bluegrass and it performs great. When using live you do have to watch monitor levels.

***JUST PLAY***