Reasonable Mic Selection, Choosing a mic priced to match your gear Options

[Hugo Cole]

I've been looking at the mic postings and I've seen some names bandied about - Behringer B1, Studio Project B1 and C1, Rode NT-1, and of course Shure SM57 and 58 (which I understand aren't condenser mics, but I'm including them anyway), among others. I also realize that many believe that one mic shouldn't be used for everything. That having been said, I am looking for a mic that does everything, particularly (from quietest to loudest) acoustic guitar, vocals and horns. I will be using an imac g5 with a presonus firebox.

My question is, with my setup, is it worth it to purchase something like a rode given the quality of the preamp, or should I just stick with something cheaper, such as the studio project or even the behringer? I have seen it proposed to get a really good mic and then upgrade the rest of the gear later, and my funds aren't THAT limited. Any advice? Or any other product recommendations?

Thanks

[makaala]

The one microphone I'd take to an island on a budget would have to be the SM 57 or... SM 58. I am producing a live recording of a country rock band and am amazed at the ability to contour the SM 58's response with channel eq. Though, I have a few plosives's (p's popping) I've been able to deal with them in post. in general the lead singer has good microphone technique.
I've heard of 57's being used on snare's, guitar amps, vocals etc. They are under $100 too. 57's are more directional with the 58 having a proximity bass boost. Just bought one for live work. I record with an AT 4033, have a Behringer B5, which I find too noisy, Ohm K II binaural earbuds.. great for camcorder recordings and location stuff.
Condensers are more sensitive than dynamics and have a more airy quality to them. Good luck. That's my two cents.
Mak

[keefer.k]

When buying microphones, consider that your audio can never be better than the mic it comes in through. The useful lifetime of microphone is decades at minimum, in a recording studio, and "a pretty long time" on stage.

Because of this long life and being the limiting factor for acoustic audio capture, I will go out on a limb and say that spending a months pay on a microphone will begin to get you a model that you will want to keep for the rest of your life. If you do decide to sell a high-quality model in 5 years, you will get somewhere between 50-200% of your money back, depending on condition (and the deal you made to get it). A 5 year old computer is worth how much? A 5 year old car is worth what?

There's nothing "wrong" with an SM57/58, but it's at the bottom of the acceptable-quality range, not the top (and a good value, imho). The next step up is a good textbook on microphones, like one by John Eargle.

Summary: spend as much on microphone as on your pre-amp/mixer or recorder. Don't let the microphone be something of an afterthough in the budget.

Cheers.

Karl Keefer
Portland Oregon

PS: I have had a few of my microphones since I was 12 years old (25 years!). The little old AKG's and Shure SM-61 still work fine.