Budget All Round Mic Reccomendation

[bfsuk]

Hey,
I've just started setting up my own home studio after getting a Tascam 788 for Christmas. I'm only 15 so don't have a lot of experience in recording so I was wondering if anyone would be able to help reccomend a mic to me that would do for all round recording but mainly vocals. I currently own:

A Shure PG58
A Sennheiser E818 Sll
A Realistic Stereo Electret Condenser

I recorded my band last weekend and used the Realistic for drums which worked pretty well. I used the Shure for Guitar, went through my Behringer Bass V-Amp for the bass and used the sennheiser for vocals. I wasn't completely happy with the overall sound though. The bass sounded fine, as it was going staright in through the amp modeller. The vocals were the main problem though, they seemed a lot different on the recording than they sounded in the room and to how they do live. I know they will sound different but I didnt expect them to sound a lot differently through the same mic.

I've done a bit of research and have been looking at 2 condenser mics and was wondering if anyone could either give feedback on these 2 or reccomend another one that would do for my purpose. I will have no more than £100 to spend but am hoping that I could really improve the sound with a condenser.

The 2 I've been looking at are:

Red 5 RV8
Samson CO1

My whole studio set up at the moment isn't that great so if i'd benifit from something other than a new mic please give reccomendations.

Tascam 788
Behringer Bass V-Amp
Shure PG58
Sennheiser E818 Sll
Realistic Stereo Electret Condenser

Thanks in advance for any help, it is really appreciated by a 15 year old who is wanting to make decent sounding recordings but only knows the basics of it all.

James

[bfsuk]

Hey,
I forgot to mention that my band is a punk / rock band recording mostly out own songs. I thought it might help if people knew what type of music I'm recording.

James

[Mark7]

You could also try looking at the Studio Projects B1. Only £64, and most people here seem to think it's okay.

I don't think the Samson mic gets a lot of respect; but The RV8 and B1 are pretty safe bets.

Also in the <=£100 range: the ADK A-51 Std Type V.

So, my list of sub £100 LDCs would be:

Studio Projects B1
Red5 Audio RV8
ADK A-51 Std Type V

[dwillis45]

Check out the Mic FAQ at the top of this forum. It should give you a good summary of useful budget mics. I would start with a couple of SM57's.

(Punk band from Lancashire, huh? Do you guys do a cover of the Fall's "Lucifer Over Lancashire!")

[Mark7]

What's so bloody wonderful about the SM57? The damn things are all mids with hardly any top or bottom worth speaking of.



Whoops, sorry, I forgot. They sound great through £500+ pre-amps

[bfsuk]

Hey,
Thanks for the replies. If i'm getting any of these mic's am i going to have to spend as much again on a decent pre-amp? would the behringer tube pre-amp at £35 work aswell or would i benifit saving up and getting a more expensive pre amp?

James

[Mark7]

I believe the 788, like ALL porta-studios, has preamps built in (if you see XLR jacks and/or switches labelled "mic/line" then it does).

Whether or not it also provides Phantom Power (which you'll need for Condenser mics) I have no idea. But you don't need to get another pre-amp for that. Just buy a Phantom Power Supply.

[bfsuk]

Hey,
Yeah the 788 does have pre-amps but does not supply phantom power. i wasnt sure if you could get phantom power supplys without getting a pre-amp you see.

James

[omtayslick]

Here's one:

http://www.carvin.com/cgi-bin/Isearc...2=PHW22&P1=ACS

[Mark7]

Sure you can. This, for example. It's only about £50 (including VAT and postage) and it gives you TWO channels of PP; whereas the Mic100 only gives you one.

[omtayslick]

James,

oops! Didn't notice that you're in the UK. But Mark's got you covered.

[bfsuk]

Hey,
That looks like a decent one, and won't break the bank. I should be getting a new mic in a week or two - in the mean time I just need to decide on which to get. The studio projects one looks to be a good one - and a couple of reviews of it i've read rate it really good for the money. I may consider that one.

James

[Big Kenny]

YPU'VE GOT TWO HOURS TO GET TO EBAY AND BUY ONE 58 AND TWO 57'S FOR UNDER $150
GO BOY
In HIs Name
BK

[bfsuk]

I would, but I dont really want to buy mic from the USA when i live in the UK. It'd be a bit of a problem if they didnt work or something.

James

[Gidge]

Yamaha MG 10/2 mixer 68 pounds
http://www.proaudiosystems.co.uk/aca...MG_Series.html

4 channels of phantom powered preamps

other options are the Midiman Audio buddy and Art Tube Pre, as my suggestions not only give you phantom power, but step up the pres also from the 788's.....

and i agree with the Studio Projects B1 recommendation........

[bfsuk]

Hey,
Are the Yamaha mixers a lot better than the Behringer ones? I could get a behringer one with mic pre-amps £20 or so cheaper. would i be best doing that or going for a yamaha?
And would I benifit much from a mixer?

James

[Mark7]

Since you already have a mixer built in to the 788 I'd say a second one would be surplus to your needs right now.


But, you know, Yanks and outboard pre-amps... (even if the MG10/2 doesn't exactly fall into that category, the principle's the same)

[CanopuS]

I'd recommend a B1. I got one the other day with a VTB-1, and the difference between that and my previous "newbie" setup is collosal. If you just want a bog standard mic, thats your one.

[crazydoc]

Originally posted by CanopuS
bog standard

Definitions of bog:

* noun: wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation; has poorer drainage than a swamp; soil is unfit for cultivation but can be cut and dried and used for fuel
* verb: get stuck while doing something
Example: "She bogged down many times while she wrote her dissertation"
* verb: cause to slow down or get stuck
Example: "The vote would bog down the house"

Don't see any adjective definition.
Must be some limey slang term, but I'd like to learn how to use it - looks useful.

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by Mark7
What's so bloody wonderful about the SM57? The damn things are all mids with hardly any top or bottom worth speaking of.



Whoops, sorry, I forgot. They sound great through £500+ pre-amps

LOL! I couldn't agree with you more.

[Mark7]

BTW, James.


If you didn't get a manual with your 788 you can download a PDF file (you'll need Adobe Acrobat) from here. Just click the link below the photo

[dwillis45]

Originally posted by Mark7
What's so bloody wonderful about the SM57? The damn things are all mids with hardly any top or bottom worth speaking of.



Whoops, sorry, I forgot. They sound great through £500+ pre-amps

He is using a Realistic on drums and the PG58 on guitar. Why not start some 57's? If they don't work on "punk"vocals he can use one on snare and another on guitar amp. Besides, you can't hold a LD condensor in your hands while you sing or swing it around by a mic chord. And, they can't be spray painted!

[Mark7]

Okay, I'll give them that.



But I still don't think that plastic bit that spins round at the top can possibly be able to take the kind of abuse these mics are reputed to be able to withstand.

[jeffree]

James, I like the attitude of your posts--you sound like a good guy who's done some homework. I've done a lot of homework, too, and even though I have 30 years on you, I picked up a couple of Studio Projects B1 mics and couldn't be happier with the sound. It's the most consistently highly rated mic I've found for
under $100--just clean and clear, without that harshness that I've found in some cheaper mics. If you can get this mic in the UK, then I don't think you can go wrong. You would need phantom power, though, which you'll need one of these days, anyhow.

BTW, I hear the Tascam's a great machine.

Good luck,

J.

[virgoanmethod]

I'm a huge AKG mic fan....

Try the D8000 (d8000s is the same with a switch, i prefer not to use a switch, especially for live as they pop and performers tend to like to play with them). They're the most universal handheld mic I've seen. The sound is pretty transparent, but the little color that there is leans toward the dark side. But this can easily be fixed via EQ if you're looking for something a bit brighter.

The great thing about this mic is that along with having a very good sound, it has a built in pop filter and windscreen right inside the capsule that are removable for cleaning. I love this, because you can have the benefit of pop filtering onstage (bc it's unsightly to have a bigass 6" popfilter live) and windscreens are always nice, I guess....


Its an extremely versatlile mic. They list for 249 US, but you can get a 2pack of them for 50 at musicians friend, or for 30 bucks more you can get both mics, plus 2 stands, 2 clamps, and 2 cables. (The cables are shit but the stands are axman, I don't know how they pulled that off??!!)