Budget microphone suggestions? (Budget figures inside!)

[druid]

Hi KVR Audio collective,

Here is yet another microphone suggestion please thread. I have never purchased a mic before, but I do know some basics about them. I have read some information from links placed in a couple of other threads here, that detail types of mics (dynamic, condenser). What I'd really like to know is what mic you would personally recommend for the price range and type.

$0-250 (USD) or $0-300 (AUD). Somewhere around those figures.

It is intended for vocals, and maybe if I really need to some random sound of environment or whatever else.. The focus is vocals. From whispering to yelling (I want the option even if I don't use it).

Not only would I appreciate feedback on which mic to get, but also whether you'd opt for a condenser or dynamic. I don't perform live, however I will be taking it with me to Japan where I will be studying for a year. So it needs to survive some packing and transport in a plane (though I guess I could put it in a pack and take it onboard with me .. long as it's not a terrorist device ) and lugging out to remote locations. I don't plan to drop it or throw it around, or anything like that, though. Just how fragile are condensers, really?

Preferably, if you can, could you recommend both a dynamic and condenser mic within that price range? I have no issues with paying a lot less if the mic is good! The interface I'm using is a Tascam US-144. It has phantom power but I could not tell you how useful it is or not. I admit I'm leaning towards dynamic, but I just want good quality for my money, really.

And naturally I am aware it all depends on taste on which mic sounds best, but I'm happy to take suggestions. I will still be trying some out in a shop, but suggestions will help narrow the choice down for me!

So can anyone help me? Your input would be very much appreciated!

[morelia]

Based on limited experience, I have to say my Shure SM57. I use it for guitars and even though I have a much better (Rode NTK) vocal mic I sometimes use the SM57 for that too. I've had it for about 10 years and it is in tip top condition as far as I can tell. It did about a year of gigging but I'm very careful. Small and easy to carry as well.

[vins]

rode nt1000! definitely one of the best microphones for the budget. you simply can't go wrong with that one.

[Shy]

Beyerdynamic M 201 is a great dynamic mic that I recently got based on recommendations in a thread I made. It's sensitive and can capture very quiet as well as very loud sounds very well, and it's good for vocals as well as many instruments because it has quite a flat frequency response. (thread here). It's also built to endure tough conditions, though it doesn't come with a hard case.

[living sounds]

Get a used Shure SM7 (dynamic mic) or a modded Oktava from www.oktavamodshop.com
It may cost a little more, but you'll get a fine sounding mic, one that will still get used in a few years.

An SM57 sounds far too colored and restrained in the high end, it's a stage mic. Rode has the typical China sound, too much high end, weak mids, sibilance, I'd stay away from that.

Of course, you'll want a decent preamp sooner or later, too.

[rockstar_not]

KEL HM-1 Inexpensive condenser without the chinese hyped upper end sound.

edit: forgot to put the website in:

http://www.kelaudio.com/hm1.html

-Scott

[Rangtangtang]

Right he's an Australian too. Did you know that the Alan's music website has gone down hill lately. The original site was realy handy and they had a very good selection. Since Alan's have taken it over there is a lot less to choose from, its too glossy and its harder to browse through too...yuck Ebay is the only place now, except for locally which is only one store.

[druid]

Thanks for your suggestions so far people. I should've also pointed out I do intend using it both inside and outside, though quite possibly more often outside (in remote locations so I don't need to hire a studio to record, hahaha, but we'll see - I definitely won't be able to record in the dormitory in Japan ).

Yeah, I sort of stopped going to Alans Music. I use MusicLab often now, but I'm in Brisbane, not Tasmania.

[edit]

By "often" I mean it's my first port of call, and I haven't used Alans since. Actually, I don't buy that much music stuff.

[druid]

Anyone else have any suggestions?

[frequency_algorithm]

se electronics or CAD audio M series with switchable patterns. Also there is a company called pacific audio which sells Good large diaphragm condenser mics which are compatible with the old Neuman tubes. Shure SM57 or 58 are good choices, but very limited in sonic character but very good for rock vocals, snare drums, and guitar amps. Ian MacKaye of Fugazi likes to use and SM58 live in the studio with the monitors on full blast.

[trickykid]

typical China sound, too much high end, weak mids, sibilance, I'd stay away from that.

That's from the inside of your head! Gong gong gong!

My PC makes that Chinese sound too. Gong gong gong. Made in china shite!

[living sounds]

In the case of microphones the chinese ones are mostly copys of circuit and capsule designs from other sources. It's not self developed, there is almost no R&D involved etc. I have yet to hear a chinese made cheap microphone line that consistently sounds as fine as a Gefell, Neumann, Brauner,...

Better shop in eastern Europe for microphones, Oktava is great for the price and Violet Design delivers high end for rather little money.

Pacific Pro Audio is nothing but the standart chinese mic, either Feilo, 797 Audio or Alctron made. You might be lucky and get a rather good sounding one, but it's a gamble.

[frequency_algorithm]

yes but you can take the tube out of the pacifc pro audio mic and put a better tube in it. For 350 dollar budget do you really think he can afford a gefell or neumann? The closest you can get is a switchable neumann tube with a cheap body. Some rode mics also can be modded with Neumann tubes.

[living sounds]

No, but you can get a Violet Design Black Knight for 325€. That mic has a fine sounding capsule, by far the most important part of any microphone. Even the cheap unmodded Oktavas have better sounding capsules than the china mics. No matter what tubes you put in or caps you switch or how much you mod the circuit, it won't sound good with the chinese capsule. Except you're very lucky and get one of the rare good sounding examples, as variation is rather high...

Here in Germany you could aquire a used (GDR) Gefell for that money, but since he's in Australia that is not really an option.

[Chuck E. Jesus]

never used it, but there is a good review in Tape Op about the MCA SP1 condenser:
www.mcamics.com and it retails for US$70! it's a chinese knock off, and you can get themcustomized for $125 thru www.audioupgrades.com