getting a vocal mic as a gift.......need help!

[WEBCYAN]

ok, i'm sure you all get this question all the time, but even so, i need help.
i'm currently recording vocals using an sm57 straight into my computer. it's good for what it is, but i'm not crazy about how it sounds. if you click below you can hear some songs i've recorded using that mic for vocals.

http://www.myspace.com/seancannon1983

so....i need an upgrade. i want a fairly professional sounding dedicated vocal mic. something clear and bright, but not so bright it sounds metallic. but also not warbly and muddy. just a great sound. lol

click the link below and listen to the song titled "English Garden." that is the vocal sound i want. the song is by Silverchair. the well balanced presence of the vocals is superb and exactly what i'm after.

http://www.myspace.com/thegeorgecostanzatrio

my budget is around $250....$300 at the very most. and i'm looking to buy online....so if a mic retails for 500 but is $275 online, that's fine...obviously.

any help? i'd greatly appreciate it. this is actually going to be my girlfriend's gift to me this christmas, so i'm looking to settle on something today so we can place the order asap.

thanks for the help!

 

[amarach]

I think instead of a new microphone you should maybe get a pre-amp...
the sm57 will sound a thousand times better than it probably does now...

anyway without a pre-amp/ mixer you won't be able to use a condensor mic unless you have some other method of supplying phantom power...

maybe it's not the answer you're looking for but it is, at least, AN answer.

 

[jdier]

ok, i'm sure you all get this question all the time, but even so, i need help.
i'm currently recording vocals using an sm57 straight into my computer. it's good for what it is, but i'm not crazy about how it sounds. if you click below you can hear some songs i've recorded using that mic for vocals.

http://www.myspace.com/seancannon1983

so....i need an upgrade. i want a fairly professional sounding dedicated vocal mic. something clear and bright, but not so bright it sounds metallic. but also not warbly and muddy. just a great sound. lol

click the link below and listen to the song titled "English Garden." that is the vocal sound i want. the song is by Silverchair. the well balanced presence of the vocals is superb and exactly what i'm after.

http://www.myspace.com/thegeorgecostanzatrio

my budget is around $250....$300 at the very most. and i'm looking to buy online....so if a mic retails for 500 but is $275 online, that's fine...obviously.

any help? i'd greatly appreciate it. this is actually going to be my girlfriend's gift to me this christmas, so i'm looking to settle on something today so we can place the order asap.

thanks for the help!

I do not think that you have enough of a budget to make a huge UPGRADE, however, I think you could find a fine mic that sounds different that what you have. I am a fan of the people and products from Studio Project mics. Check out the C1. it is in your price range. I have the C3 which is very similar and I like how is sounds.

That said, I really like an SM7 for male vocals.

 

[juan162]

When you say you're going straight into your computer, exactly what do you mean? What kind of audio in does your computer have? Are you going in via a standalone preamp or through a small board? Are you using an interface? Depending on your answer, you may want to have you girlfriend buy something other than a mic,

Juan