Looking to buy a mic

[kwazi]

Hey Everyone,

I'm trying to find a mic to buy for a small studio I'm setting up. I'm not willing to spend more than $99.

I've narrowed it down to these (with a short description):
-M-Audio Sputnik: Allegedly awesome
-AudioTechnica AT2020: Pretty bright
-Samson Q7: Better than the AT2020
-EV Electro-Voice PL24: don't know much about this

I'd like to know people's opinions on these mics and any other options within my spending limit. Thanks!

[dgatwood]

CAD M177. Buy used if you can't scrape together the extra $30 or so to buy a new one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/CAD-M177-Cardioi...3A1%7C294%3A50

Regarding the mics you list:

• I very much doubt that the Samson Q7 is better than an AT2020. I'd almost be willing to place a wager on that. The Samson mics I've encountered have been pretty consistently bad.... The AT2020, by contrast, is a very usable instrument mic. (It is not a vocal mic. Folks often make that mistake and believe it to be a large diaphragm condenser. It is not.)
  
• The M-Audio Sputnik had better be awesome. It's a $700 microphone. If you meant the Nova... eh... not so much, though one review did say it sounds better than their Solaris mic.
  
• I've never used EV mics, so I can't comment on that one.
  

That sums it up for me.

[lank81]

I've got the M179 myself. You can pick it up for 139$ brand new at zenproaudio.com. Its a nice mic, 5 patterns, great on drums. Very neutral and natural sounding. Can't go wrong for the price and versatility.

Lank

[BRX rad]

AT2020 for sure. I have two, use them as drum overheads live and to record drums, guitar, and vocals. Amazing mic for the price.

[Dogbreath]

V67G or the Cad M179. Both run between $100 and $140

Food for thought.

[suprstar]

+1 for the CAD M179. There's also the M177 which is the same mic, but it only has one polarity pattern. The M179 can be cardioid, figure 8, omni directional, etc. The M177 is ONLY cardioid, but that's what you use the most, and you can get em under $100. The M179 will be a little more than your budget.

[santiu]

another +1 for the M179 despite it not being on your original list, and slightly over your budget. I've found mine to be extremely useful and versatile.

Although a couple weeks ago, it spontaneously died on me (output was just distorted garbage). With nothing to lose, I gave the mic a hefty whack with my hand, and presto, mic is back in action . So not sure about the build quality of these things... but when mine is working i love it (use it on everything from drums, to guitar, to vocals)!

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by santiu

another +1 for the M179 despite it not being on your original list, and slightly over your budget. I've found mine to be extremely useful and versatile.

Although a couple weeks ago, it spontaneously died on me (output was just distorted garbage). With nothing to lose, I gave the mic a hefty whack with my hand, and presto, mic is back in action . So not sure about the build quality of these things... but when mine is working i love it (use it on everything from drums, to guitar, to vocals)!

ROTFL. Probably a loose wire somewhere. Or maybe a cold solder joint. Easy five minute fix with a soldering pencil.