Best studio mics you've found about $200 or less new?

[mixyguy2]

I know this is more of a software forum, but for those recording, esp hobbyists who don't have to cater to other musicians or spend large amounts of money, what less expensive mics have you tried in this range and why did/didn't you like them? Again talking about recording, not live performances.

Edit: IMO "studio mics" excludes USB mics

[Tiles]

Microphones is a tough chapter. What fits to one does not necessarily fit to another. And you have to consider quite a few things like the price range, the singer voice, if you want to record instruments too, the recording situation. Even the music style plays a role. And you have to decide if you want and need a dynamic mic or a condenser mic for your home recording. The first are more robust and are also used at stage, the latter are generally more sensitive, and tends to record everything. Not only the brilliance of your voice, but mouth noises, the frigerator sound, the birds in front of your house ...

Condensers are more brilliant for technical reasons, no question, and so they are in general the better choice for studio recording. But there are exceptions to the rule. The Shure SM7B, which was used for the Thriller album from Michael Jackson, is a dynamic mic. And then there are your personal needs. As a rule of thumb, the worse the recording situation the more you want a dynamic mic. And before you make a choice, definitely try the mic if you have a chance to. There is no best, just a best fitting. The mic has to fit to your voice and the room. And so any recommendations here might not fit your personal needs.

I use currently a SE Electronics V7 MK here, which i bought for 120 euro. It is relative cheap for its quality, and it is a dynamic one. Before i used a cheap condenser for years, a Rode NT1A. Which made me trouble here and there with my bad recording situation. And I can confirm the famous hissing sound of it.

A Shure SM 57 or 58 were both too dull for my voice. The SE Electronics V7 fits to me. It is a bit picky how you position yourself to the mic, like all dynamic ones. The condenser mic was a bit more forgiving here. But you get used to. And it is a bit prone to pop sounds. The integrated pop filter is a joke. I have now a pop shield and an extra pop protection over the microphone head too. And now it fits.

Oh and you might want a Fethead for it, a preamplifier. Which is another 70 bucks. Else it is too quiet at your audio interface, which then results in too much noise at recording. A problem that quite a few dynamic mics have. So before you buy a dynamic mic, first check how loud it is at your interface, and if it comes with a preamplifier. The newer Shure SM7b has one.

Besides that i am happy enough with the V7 MK. Especially when i compare it with the price of other classic studio solutions like the Shure SM7b for example. It fits my needs and my voice. And it fits the 200 bucks price range. At least in euro

Kind regards
Tiles

[FranklyFlawless]

I know this is more of a software forum, but for those recording, esp hobbyists who don't have to cater to other musicians or spend large amounts of money, what less expensive mics have you tried in this range and why did/didn't you like them?

The very first "studio" microphone I purchased about 6-7 years ago was the Blue Yeti. It was cost-efficient and does not require a separate audio interface. Back then, I hardly had any understanding of bit-depth, sample rate, pre-amplifier gain, polar patterns, frequency charts, etc.

[stoopicus]

I just use a Shure SM58. That said I am a terrible vocalist.

[thecontrolcentre]

I use a RODE NT-1 for recording vocals and acoustic instruments ... very happy with the results.
https://www.professionalvideostore.com/ ... currency=2

[edit] the price has risen since I posted the link ...

[kvotchin]

sE Electronics X1-S, AT 2035 or AKG P120. And I’d throw in an SM57, pretty much always.

[Starship Krupa]

I recently picked up a Blue Baby Bottle, $168 at Amazon (limited time offer, they say). This had been a dream mic of mine for about 20 years. I was not disappointed. One thing I like about it is that it seems more resistant to plosives than my other condenser mics.

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Creator ... B01N7TTXZ5

[flugel45]

I use a RODE NT-1 for recording vocals and acoustic instruments ... very happy with the results.
https://www.professionalvideostore.com/ ... currency=2

[edit] the price has risen since I posted the link ...

Will second this. The RODE NT1 is a solid mic,great value, well-made, and perhaps most importantly, has a fairly flat frequency response unlike most "budget" condensers with the typical 8-12k bump that gives them the brightness they're known for.

For clarification, I'm recommending only the NT1 models that came AFTER the NT1a (not the earliest incarnation) -- and excluding the newest "Signature" version, which is something else entirely.

[stoopicus]

One nice aspect of dynamic mics like the SM58 that can be an advantage over more sensitive condenser mics like the NT-1 is that the NT-1 will be much more sensitive to noise from outside its cardiod than the Shure will be. This is often cited as a drawback of the Shure but it can actually be a strong advantage if you have, say, a bad sounding room or external noise (like I do). We don't all have nice soundproofed audio spaces to record in.

Additionally, a condenser mic like the NT-1, with its wider dynamic range, may require more vocal processing later due to picking up a lot more sibilance and so on. Though this is also variable based on who you're recording.

[Uncle E]

Universal Audio SD-3 Modeling Microphone

[mixyguy2]

I use a RODE NT-1 for recording vocals and acoustic instruments ... very happy with the results.
https://www.professionalvideostore.com/ ... currency=2

[edit] the price has risen since I posted the link ...

Yes it's jumped WAY up, probably out of my consideration, given what I can get for comparable money.

[mixyguy2]

sE Electronics X1-S, AT 2035 or AKG P120. And I’d throw in an SM57, pretty much always.

Never used any of these, but it seems to me they often don't get their due as they aren't flashy/trendy mics. I know folks who are big fans of the 2035 for ex. as a good workhorse mic.

[mixyguy2]

I just use a Shure SM58. That said I am a terrible vocalist.

lol

tbh I am not a fan of the mic for studio vocals (excellent live mic though). It's too boxy. If we're talking dynamics, I'd opt for something like a Senn 835.

[Uncle E]

If we’re including used mics, UA SD-1 instead of SD-3. SD-1 is the one that emulates the SM7, RE-20, and 77-DX.

[mixyguy2]

If we’re including used mics

We aren't. Ref the thread title.