Studio Projects or Shure?

[scottfisher]

Okay, I may sound very n00bish, and that I am. But I have a pretty big question. I have already bought a M-Audio Mobile Pre USB with Phantom power.

I'm wondering what mic I should buy. After researching, I have come to conclusion that I want a Shure SM57 or Studio Projects B1 Condenser.

I've heard condensers pick up alot of sound, and since Im in the basement close to a furnace, Im afarid I might get too many sounds that I dont want, making the mic useless for me.

I have a failrly small room, with no soundproofing.

Please help!

[deepwater]

I'll be alone on this, but an Audix OM5 or OM7 are awesome mics and a great compromise between condenser and dynamic.

[distortedrumble]

get both? both are multi functional and as for the b1 yeah they pick up alot but you need to also realize that you can turn it down and sing a bit louder and thus taking the focus away from background noise. in a small area, even the sm57 is going to pick up sound from other things. what about your computer? its going to pick up sound from that. just try to lessen the soundbleeding with pads or sticking the mic in the corner or even using http://www.kmart.com/catalog/product...al&Ntt=divider as a blocker

[paddyponchero]

Originally Posted by scottfisher

Okay, I may sound very n00bish, and that I am. But I have a pretty big question. I have already bought a M-Audio Mobile Pre USB with Phantom power.

I'm wondering what mic I should buy. After researching, I have come to conclusion that I want a Shure SM57 or Studio Projects B1 Condenser.

I've heard condensers pick up alot of sound, and since Im in the basement close to a furnace, Im afarid I might get too many sounds that I dont want, making the mic useless for me.

I have a failrly small room, with no soundproofing.

Please help!

Sounds like a dynamic is the thing for you, the sm57 is a great utility mic what are you hoping to record with it? The sm57 can work for vocals but you will probably want another mic an EV RE-11, RE-15, RE-16 could be got relatively cheaply on ebay and get recommended a bit around here.

The B1 has a very wide pattern which makes it easy to place but it does pick up a lot of background stuff. I find that in less than ideal conditions a dynamic is usually a better option.

Th only disadvantage of dynamics is they generally require more gain, m-audio are pretty good though so I assume the mobile pre has reasonably clean available gain.

[tallman]

I agree with Paddy. The 57 is not neccesarily a better mic, but it's probably better for your situation. I live by a noisy road, and my computer makes a bit too much sound. I get reasonable results using a 58.

[deepwater]

I told that I'd be the only one to recommend an Audix Om5 or Om7

[paddyponchero]

Originally Posted by deepwater

I told that I'd be the only one to recommend an Audix Om5 or Om7

I've neer seen or heard one on these shores so can't comment.

[fova]

For my mini studio I have chosen 1 piece of SM58 and one piece of SP B1 because I wanted to have one dynamic mike and one condenser. I record mostly vocals but sometimes also acoustic guitar, etc. If the question is which of them to choose I would buy SM58/57 since it is IMHO all rounder suitable for all kinds of sound. Later I would spare some money for a condenser. B1 is pretty neutral (it can be used for both instruments and vocals) or you can take SP C1 that is more suitable for vocals but it is more coloring the final sound.

[Kevin Deschwazi]

You might get really lucky and find that your voice suits a dynamic mic better anyway (that's if you are recording vocals).

I've got a few of the cheaper LDC's but I still prefer an SM58 on my voice.

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by scottfisher

I've heard condensers pick up alot of sound, and since Im in the basement close to a furnace, Im afarid I might get too many sounds that I dont want, making the mic useless for me.

Strictly speaking this isn't true. Presuming that your background noise is louder than the mic's self-noise, your signal to noise ratio is the same regardless of whatever mic you use.

However, because of the higher sensitivity of a condenser mic, people tend to use them further away from the source, either because that's the sound they want, or simply because the higher sensitivity allows them to. That lowers the signal to noise ratio, but only because the signal strength at the capsule drops relative to the noise.

Condensers often have a wider frequency response that contributes to the effect, but that's minor compared with the simple phenomenon of close vs. distant miking.

[robgb]

I'd personally go with the condenser, but that's me. You might consider building a vocal booth in a corner of your room -- a few 2 x 4s, some drywall, insulation and absorption foam and the deed is done.

Then you can isolate yourself from the computer etc. sounds. You could even put a monitor and keyboard/mouse in the booth for convenience.

I personally think it's worth the trouble for that condenser sound.

[chessparov]

A good way to go is to get both, and record with them at the same time
IMHO. You can "eat" the SM57 to add fullness, then use the B1 for high end detail. Just leave enough space between them to avoid "phasing".

Chris

[DJL]

Originally Posted by scottfisher

Okay, I may sound very n00bish, and that I am. But I have a pretty big question. I have already bought a M-Audio Mobile Pre USB with Phantom power.

I'm wondering what mic I should buy. After researching, I have come to conclusion that I want a Shure SM57 or Studio Projects B1 Condenser.

I've heard condensers pick up alot of sound, and since Im in the basement close to a furnace, Im afarid I might get too many sounds that I dont want, making the mic useless for me.

I have a failrly small room, with no soundproofing.

Please help!

In your case, I'd start with the Shure SM57... and personally, I prefer the Marshall MXL V67G over the SP B1.

[scottfisher]

Would the SM 57 or SM 58 be better? Im recording mostly vocals, but the occasional acoustic guitar.

Should I get the SM 57 and 58? Or is there a cheaper alternative. Mics at the store I'm purchasing from are pretty darn expensive. No other store I can find, and dont want to Ebay.

[Aceboympk]

I recommend to you what I did and that was to order two mics.

Return the one that doesn't work the best for you. If they work the same, keep the one that sounds the best. If they sound the same and work the same, the keep the cheaper one. If they cost the same, work the same, sound the same, then keep one and send the other back.

There's no way you'll get an opinion on this forum that is overwhelmingly in favor of one mic over another. If so, be afraid.

I researched mics for over 2 months on this and another forum. I drew the conclusion the best strategy was to order 2 mics and send one back. So, I ordered two KSM mics. A KSM44 and a KSM27. If I can determine the $400 difference is worth keeping the 44 I will, otherwise its going back.

Make sure you work with an on-line retailer who has a good return policy. Maybe a bit more expensive, but its worth keeping them in business. Otherwise, you'll go nuts trying to find out which is the best solution on forums like these.

Regards,
Mark

[paddyponchero]

Maybe you can just time your recording for when the furnace is off

Chessrock has a good idea, record with both and either mix them or ditch one.

A small room isn't necesarily a bad thing, my dads study is actually great because none of the walls are parallel and all his books do a great job of dampening reflections, it sounds a lot nicer than my friends foam palace with sounds vaccuous.

Oh and I agree with DJL I prefer the V67 on vocals

[omtayslick]

If this review is accurate, you may be best off with a dynamic.

http://www.mojopie.com/mobilepre.html

That said, if you can try a Sennheiser 835.

[paddyponchero]

Originally Posted by omtayslick

If this review is accurate, you may be best off with a dynamic.

http://www.mojopie.com/mobilepre.html

That said, if you can try a Sennheiser 835.

Well I have found those reviews to be good,

"It takes a good condenser mic and makes it sound like it's in a frying pan"

Thats pretty damning

[scottfisher]

I can still take the Mobile Pre back, so is there a better thing to use for sound into my computer? Maybe a soundcard, then a mixer? I have no clue.

Thanks for all the help!

[Supercreep]

Hi Scott, welcome aboard.

A lot depends on the source you are recording. My tentative advice is to get the B1 and another as soon as you can afford it. You won't regret having a pair of cheap LDCs for stereo recording. Basically, starting an amateur mic collection with a 57 or a B1 is a good idea - you can't go too wrong with either choice.

[fova]

Originally Posted by scottfisher

Would the SM 57 or SM 58 be better? Im recording mostly vocals, but the occasional acoustic guitar.

Should I get the SM 57 and 58? Or is there a cheaper alternative. Mics at the store I'm purchasing from are pretty darn expensive. No other store I can find, and dont want to Ebay.

SM57 and 58 are almost identical. 57 is designed for recording of instruments, 58 for vocals. 58 is more resistant to "p", "b", etc. speech sounds.

Other dynamic mikes that are similar to SM57/58 are Shure Beta 58 that has a brighter sound, Beyerdynamic M69 and M400, Sennheiser MD431 and E825, Audio Technica AT ATM27HE and AT ATM41HE, Electrovoice N/D367, Audix OM5, T.Bone MB85 (Made by Thomann in Germany, maybe there are some Shure components inside), Shure PG58 (cheaper than SM57/58 but with worse sound) and Behringer XM8500 (I do not know how it is with their quality and sound).

Instead of new SM57/58 you can also buy an used one. Especially their predecessor Shure 545, 546 or 548 could be a great choice if you are not afraid of a very old mikes. Most of the people who has both new 57/58 and these old ones say that old ones are better. I bought already several used dynamic mikes and all of them work correctly up to now. In my city there is a special shop with an used equipment where I can try it before buying.

[alanhyatt]

Scott,

It is always different stokes for different folks. I guess if you asked what is better to drink, Pepsi or Coke, you will get a bunch of different answers that will not include Pepsi or Coke....

The simple fact is either mic will work well for you, provided you learn how to use them. Both mics are pretty forgiving with placement, and the LD mic, that being the B1 will pick up more of the ambient noise because that is what any LD(large diaphragm) mic will do. The Shure has a smaller diaphragm and is a very good mic, but it will sound very different than an LD mic will.

In the end, it is your ears, so you should decide. Fortunately, they both are about the same money so tax your credit card for a couple of weeks, get both and return one of them if your dealer will allow that. Even if you have to buy from two separate dealers to get it done. Then you can decide for yourself, rather then others deciding for you.... It is your ears!!!

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by alanhyatt

Scott,

It is always different stokes for different folks. I guess if you asked what is better to drink, Pepsi or Coke, you will get a bunch of different answers that will not include Pepsi or Coke....

C'mon. It's Coke.

[alanhyatt]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

C'mon. It's Coke.

DR. Pepper!!!!

[DJL]

I deteled/edited this because I hate the PMI Audio Group using hr.com forums for marketing and don't want anything to do with it.