Vocal Microphone for $200 or less?

[Old Crab]

If you had to choose one and only one microphone for recording vocals and it had to be 200 dollars or less (not sure what that would be in other currencies) then what would it be?

I'm sure that most professionally recorded albums made today are using much more expensive vocal mics, so then I would ask if I would be throwing money away by spending 200 dollars or less on a microphone only to find that I really need a more expensive mic to record an album for popular consumption?

I've heard that many hit songs were recorded using a Sure SM58 back in the day, but I'm sure that such a microphone would sound out of place by today's standards…am I wrong?

If $200 is not enough for a good mic, then what is the entry level price point for a microphone that you would use to produce a CD for popular consumption?

I currently only have a Sure SM57 which doesn't sound that great for vocals IMO.

Thanks for your thoughts.
OC

[C00kie]

I currently only have a Sure SM57 which doesn't sound that great for vocals IMO.

Oh rats, that was the one I wanted to suggest...

If you want to go a step up, it's going to be a big membrane condensor mic. Does your mixer / soundcard / preamp have 48V phantom power? Cause you'll need it with that kind of mic.

I think $200 (second-hand maybe?) will get you something (relatively) nice. You'll find great recommendations on older simular threads:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=188134
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=187627
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=187010

[joshhunsaker]

pick up a used rode k1000 at a consignment shop.