what is a good starter condenser mic?

[zlittell]

Alright I have no budget, and when I say none I mean I am going to have like $50-60 to spend (being in college with no job is no help to my studio equipment needs). I am looking for a good mic for gutturals and low vocals. I have been watching studio sessions of various bands on youtube and continuously notice the use of condensers. I already have a few good dynamics so I am covered there for now.

Am I correct in my wanting of a condenser? Even if you could just let me know the features I should be looking for (what the optimal frequency response graph should look like, large diaphragm or small, etc) it would be a great help.

Although I may get flamed for posting a whitechapel video, this is the vocal style I will be recording.


Thank you,
Zack

 

[guitarguru777]

No such thing as a good condenser for $50 or $60. Honestly my fave mics for Gutteral Vox are

SM7B
SM57
SM58

 

[Sinister Mephisto]

Yep. SM7b for sure! That's even what he's using in the video. But for the amount of money you're willing to spend I would also recommend a 57 or 58.

 

[xmortumx]

well in ur budget i dont think you can find an SM7b for 60$.... So hmmm save up for one... or my suggestion audio technica at3035. Look for one on ebay they go cheap.

 

[Clockwork]

I think the MXL990 is like the only condensor in that price range. It's the first one I ever got back in the day when I was a jobless college kid. You should save up for one of the previous recommended mics. Buying something your going to upgrade or replace later is just like shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[zlittell]

alright well it looks like i can afford the sm57 and sm58. what are the differences? which would you guys recommend for these vocals? i noticed the sm58 has a slightly higher response at the lower frequencies. so does that mean I want to go with that one?

edit after further reading it actually seems like i should just pick up the sm57

 

[Clockwork]

I prefer the SM58 on vocals, I save my SM57s for miking cabinets. I know some people swear by the SM57 for screams though. Overall I feel like the SM57 is more versatile in a studio environment, but if you are just looking for a mic to be used only on vocals I would go SM58. But thats just my two cents.

 

[JeffTD]

With your budget just get an SM57 and be done with it. It'll be killer on guitars, snares, sometimes toms, sometimes bass cabs, growled vocals, etc.

The 58 is also cool but I prefer the 57 on everything but vocals, and even then it's not that munch different than the 58.

 

[zlittell]

i think ill just pick up a 58 since i already have other mics that sound good on my cab... plus ive been doing a lot with impulses and am even considering sending DIs to get reworked.

thank you guys for all the help

 

[Scottxx]

Good condenser mic... AKG 420. Awsome mic.

 

[BLUElightCory]

Another vote for a 57 or 58. Don't waste your money on a cheap condenser.

 

[zlittell]

alright sounds good... now i just gotta get rid of this kick drum mic so i can buy one haha. i buy a kick drum mic then move into fun projects that do no live shows and programmed drums

hopefully the shure will be an upgrade for vocals. these are the mics I have now
http://www.pcrush.com/product/Microphones/531944/Bogen-HDU250-Professional-Stage-Microphone

 

[Wisheraser]

People seem to be totally loosing their shit lately for the MXL 2003a. Look it up.

 

[Audiosprite]

a 58 is harder to deepthroat than a 57, if that helps

 

[koalamo]

I just got the at 2035 and I like it alot. 150. Double your budget but it can pretty much do anything. I think its a remake of the 3035.

 

[visceral]

I gotta say, after the sm57, one of the favorite mics I own that was under $100'is the studio projects B1 LDC. Its killer for the price!

 

[Terminus]

audio technica at3035. Look for one on ebay they go cheap.

+1 will do the job. Got mine new for $140 which I honestly think was slightly too much, surely under a hundy used on ebay.

 

[P-E]

I gotta say, after the sm57, one of the favorite mics I own that was under $100'is the studio projects B1 LDC. Its killer for the price!

I have a pair of those and they are great for acoustic guitars and clean singing.

They are also awful for screams, which is one of the main reasons I got a SM57 in the first place.

 

[sk8a123]

mxl 990 with a good pre?

 

[dale_a_smith]

Another vote for AT 3035. That was the first mic i bought, and i still use it today. For the money its pretty good, but a 57 will maybe serve you better in the longrun.