What Makes A For A Good Condensor Mic? Options

[bcatcho]

So what makes for a good condensor mic (for vocals)? I'm looking to add more studio quality sounds to my makeshift home studio... (really im recording out of a 11' by 14' bedroom onto an MXL $60 condensor mic).

Does the setting that the mic is in have a greater effect on the sound than the actual mic does?

[bcatcho]

Ok lets start specifying this topic by answering some of your questions.

I want a mic that is vocally suitable for music thats comparable to the style of radio head. I assume when i want a mic i want it to be clean (but i didnt know some mics are made to enhance with character).

My budget is not large at all... sub $250 and the fewer mics i have the better on my budget.

I have used a basic art-preamp and frankly only because i was told to... im still not quite sure what they are good for. My monitors are M-audios and they are decent.

Thanks for the input, ill keep specifiying what i want to know... its just hard when you are a begginer because you really dont even know what you want to know, sometimes...