if you couldn't afford a SM57...

[sathyan]

if you couldn't afford an SM57, what microphone would you buy?

(yes, I realize the quality will be lower)

specifically for recording:
bass cabinet
drums
cymbal
tambourine
shaker
"Stomp"-like percussion


I have two other mics: Nady SP5 and Studio Projects B1. I'm using the B1 for violin, viola, mandolin, dobro, banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals. I'm pleased with the B1 for the vocals and acoustic strings. But its too sensitive for some of the percussion applications (I don't have cymbals yet so don't know if it will work well for that).

thanks
Sathyan
http://inkmusic.org

[kdoggity]

If you can afford those two mics, you can afford a Shure SM57. One can be had, currently, for around $50 on eBay.

[Brahmb]

If you can't afford an SM57? Get out of the recording business and run as fast as you can. As any of us can tell you, this is an addictive hobby. First it'll be this cheap mic, then that cheap mixer. After recording a while you'll read more. You'll maybe even listen to some stuff and say " Why can't I get that sound?". Then you'll go and buy the SM anyway, having wasted the money on the Nady. It's how it happens. Save a dollar a day for two months and buy the SM57. You won't regret it. However, you'll still want more.

[chessrock]

I don't know . . . maybe an SM-48. I think those are basically the same as the 57's and 58's . . . maybe they're B-stock, but I've used 'em for live gigs before and they sounded fine.

[eeldip]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...EBWA%3AIT&rd=1

this is a great mic. currently at $35 or so. should go for under $50.

this is good too...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...EBWA%3AIT&rd=1

[Jotosuds]

dude... radio shack. i kid you not.

i bought the $10 dollar one, and i seriously use it more than the SM58 i have. it has some more treble than the 58.

at this point, you probably couldn't discern a great difference anyways.

SHACK baby!

[Richard Monroe]

Sennheiser e835- I talked Guitar Center out of one for $45 new, and it's a perfectly good mic. AKG D770- good for all the stuff you mentioned. On the other hand, most of these mics can be found used on ebay for $50 or less, including SM57. If you can't afford that, you can't afford a mic.-Richie

[DJL]

Originally posted by sathyan
if you couldn't afford an SM57 <snip> [/url]

If I couldn't afford a used $40 Shure SM57... I would either get a job or kill myself.

[StevenLindsey]

Get one of those cheap Behringer dynamics. I'll bet they're great. Probably sounds just as good as a SM57.

[bfsuk]

How come in the USA you can get one for like $70 or so? when over here in the UK we have 2 pay like £70 ($120)

James

[StevenLindsey]

Originally posted by bfsuk
How come in the USA you can get one for like $70 or so? when over here in the UK we have 2 pay like £70 ($120)

James

Because you're being punished for your role in the revolutionary war. And you aren't through paying yet bud.

[tubedude]

You gotta be kidding. I dont even WANT to own a nasally boxy sounding SM57. If I couldnt afford something better I just wouldnt record.

[noisedude]

Originally posted by bfsuk
How come in the USA you can get one for like $70 or so? when over here in the UK we have 2 pay like £70 ($120)

James

we're too nearby to france and they could end up benefitting from the whole thing. if we get out of the EU and maybe tow our island across the atlantic the yanks will start giving us the privileges our 'alliance' merits.....


SATHYAN - as Richie said. I have quite a few sennheiser dynamics and they're fantastic, i would take them over 57s any day anyway. and in relation to a recent thread on their durability, i watched two of my e845s get trashed on saturday night at a gig and apart from the black paint coming off the grilles on top they show no signs of damage. i'm well over 200 pounds and i can cheerfully stand on them, too.

[mixmkr]

Originally posted by tubedude
You gotta be kidding. I dont even WANT to own a nasally boxy sounding SM57. If I couldnt afford something better I just wouldnt record.

nasally....boxy....?

yeah...get a Sennheiser you weenies!!! Der's a million broken ones for sale on Ebay at any given time!! (<----joke) ha ha!

[mrface2112]

yep, one of the sennheiser e8x5 dynamics for sure. i like em much better than the sm57/8's i have.

and similar to what DJL said, if you can't afford a $40 used sm57, then you probably need to re-evaluate what you're recording and why. few things are as basic as "use a decent mic".

and we especially don't want to hear you posting "why doesn't my recording sound pro?". either!


wade

[Beezoboy]

Top Performing "Cheap" Mics: (off the top of my head)

Sm57
EV 635a
EV Co4
Beyerdynamic M-69
Sennheiser E609 Silver

Beez

[eeldip]

personally, i dont care how cheap your mics are.

i dont think you shouldnt record just because you dont have or dont want to spend a lot of money.

i would assume that you didnt want to spend the $79 + tax or shipping for a new SM57, and yes, for less than that you can get a perfectly good mic.

lots have been named.

dont listen to the people who say you should not record.

[oldboy]

I listened to the recordings on your website, and I hear a lot of distortion from overdriving your mics. It is particularly distorted when your vocals get loud, and when multiple instruments are playing at once. The harmonies on "My Own Space" and the chorus on "Somebody Else" are particularly distorted. It makes me wonder if you are using a preamp at all (i.e. you're overdriving to compensate for lack in amplitude). If you're not BUY ONE NOW. Audiobuddy is cheap and gives 2 channels. I agree with eeldip, don't let a small budget stop you from being creative, but make sure your signal chain is at least adequate.

[eeldip]

yea, wow. ink. some strange music.

kinda reminds me of The Residents or other Ralph records stuff. is that what you are going for?

and yea, distortion seems to be peppered all over your recordings. not that there is anything inherently WRONG with distortion... but if you are trying to avoid it, we can help.

[88fingers]

Originally posted by kdoggity
If you can afford those two mics, you can afford a Shure SM57. One can be had, currently, for around $50 on eBay.

I can never find SM57s on eBay for less than new prices (around 70-80). And I look just about every day. Next time you see one that's about to go for 50, let me know...

[keerus]

Originally posted by 88fingers
I can never find SM57s on eBay for less than new prices (around 70-80). And I look just about every day. Next time you see one that's about to go for 50, let me know...

hmm. interesting. one day i decided to puchase three SM57's, and without any kind of wait or anything, bought three used ones for $50. and if memory serves, it seems like they were plentiful on ebay. maybe not. keep looking; the deals exist.

justin

[leavings]

I bought a Rode NT-1a on ebay a few weeks ago and it came with 3 Superlux ECO-88 mics. I just stashed them in a closet, but it came time to record my amp and I realized my friend still had my shures. I tested them out and they performed beautifully. I think they cost about $10-15 each.

[mrface2112]

i didn't say that you "ought not record", but what i DID say is that "you might want to reevaluate what you're recording and why." some things are just simply *fundamental* to getting a good recording. using a "decent" mic is one of those things. yes, you can sometimes get surprising results with el-cheapo mics, but i would wager that those times are fewer than they are frequent. to paraphrase Fletcher: it's not the gear that makes the recording good.....but good gear certainly makes getting a good recording a LOT easier.

if you want to use a $15 radio shack mic to record, go right ahead. but what i'm saying is don't then complain that it doesn't sound like the latest Matchbox 20 cd or when you're getting crappy results out of it. of course, a shitty engineer can have a box full of U47s and get shitty results from them, too.

used SM57s, Senn e835s, EV635s, etc., are VERY abundant at the $40-50 range. I didn't pay more than $40 for either of my 835s, and under $45 for each of my 3 shure 545s. so yes, they're definitely out there.

ebay is but one of the myriad places to shop. look around at all kinds of used music places. check pawn shops, old studios, your local music venues, old soundmen, estate auctions, etc., etc. above all, be patient. you'll find the deals--as long as your money's not burning a hole in your pocket.


cheers,
wade

edit: PS, check out the caption under the Mic Forum if you need a refresher.....think this was put in for a reason? :
"Which mic should I buy, why can't I buy it at Radio Shack, and which way do I point it?"

[captainkey]

Originally posted by sathyan
if you couldn't afford an SM57, what microphone would you buy?

(yes, I realize the quality will be lower)

I'm confused...isn't it worth it to spend about $30 or so more for something in order to get better quality.....

That being said, I have used the Sennheiser e603 knockoff, that Radio Shack 33-3302 (that some claim is the same exact mic ......)

I paid $15 dollars for it when they cleared them out.....I use it at times in place of a 57 on snare, but the placement has to be exact for it to be at all usable....you have to point it across the drum head, not at it, and pull it back far enough to pick up some of the snare buzz from the bottom head......

despite it all, I would probably never use that mic for any kind of professional recording that I would expect someone to listen to more than twice.....

[tubedude]

Originally posted by captainkey
I'm confused...isn't it worth it to spend about $30 or so more for something in order to get better quality.....

That being said, I have used the Sennheiser e603 knockoff, that Radio Shack 33-3302 (that some claim is the same exact mic ......)

I paid $15 dollars for it when they cleared them out.....I use it at times in place of a 57 on snare, but the placement has to be exact for it to be at all usable....you have to point it across the drum head, not at it, and pull it back far enough to pick up some of the snare buzz from the bottom head......

despite it all, I would probably never use that mic for any kind of professional recording that I would expect someone to listen to more than twice.....

Yeah, that thing sucks. Sounds like it has a piece of cotton in front of the diapragm. I have the real 603's, and they are way better.