Best Mic under $150

[EdJames]

My advice would be to pay the fractional amount extra and get the AT4040, that really is a great mic. Of those listed though I'd go for the 2020.

 

[dkelley]

My advice would be to pay the fractional amount extra and get the AT4040, that really is a great mic. Of those listed though I'd go for the 2020.

fractional? the 4040 is three times the price of the 2020 at zZounds.com

And the 2020 sounds quite similar (in frequency response characteristics) to a 4050, but with small diaphram effects (faster, less warm, better for acoustic guitar (barely)) rather than large diaphram effects (slower transients, warmer, better for voices (barely)). that's how I hear them anyway when I use them, we're all different though. I don't use 4040s often enough to comment.

 

[The Axis]

Everytime I see the "cheap mic" questions, I jump in and put in a plug for the Electrovoice CO4. They are only about $50, and they sound just amazingly clear and accurate. Don't believe me...test one yourself. This is just a bug in your ear !

 

[kurtteej]

Personally, I think the best vocal mic under $150 (for studio work anyway) is an ADK mic. It's the GC-1 condenser mic. I do my radio show with them, fantastic for such an inexpensive thing. You can pick one up on ebay for under $60 or $70.

 

[PhilGood]

Best vocal mic under $150..........
This could help cut down questions of wich mic to get.

If there were an answer...

 

[thajeremy]

another idea....I didnt completely read every post...but I recently purchased 2 used Oktava MK319's from 2 different people here on the board...I gave $50 shipped for one and $65 plus shipping (I think) for the other one....Why dont you consider doing something like that and then save the rest of your budget until you have a total of $250 for the Michael Joly's PE mod....its well worth every penny....I've already had one of mine modded...and the other will be done before the years end....

 

[Ironklad Audio]

57/58, simply because there's no other mic for less than $100 that you'll literally see in EVERY studio in the world(and for a fucking reason)

 

[T.O.I.Y.Z.]

Samson CL-7

I got a Samson CL-7 and I like that mic......

 

[PhilGood]

After almost a year...the Behringer B1 is in the lead.


I had no idea so many people have no idea what a good mic is supposed to sound like.

 

[BudgetMC]

None of the mics I would pick are even in the Poll!

SM57: I prefer it to a '58 for studio vocals (well, live too, for that matter).

MXL V67g: Heck of a mic for the price, and available for <$100 on ebay any day of the week.

The CAD GXL 3000 can often be had for around $100. With switchable polar patterns, it's a lot of mic for the money, though it is a bit shiney on the high end.

And, if you keep an eye out, the MXL 960 can often be had on sale via Musician's Friend for just under $150. Now THAT'S a killer mic for the budget.

 

[warble2]

What the hey, I'll chime in again...

Still using my CAD M177's and loving them.

Just put my 58's into backup duty and purchased three new Sennheiser e835's. IMO, these things rock over the 58's. I've been using them live and the clarity stands out. Did a scratch vocal in the studio as well with a e835, and found it up to the task. I'm about the replace my 57's as well with Audix i5's. Shure has been good to me, but just being the "standard" doesn't mean squat to me anymore. My ears are loving what they're hearing, and so are the sounds guys.

 

[warlock110]

I agree, the senn dynamic microphones are a tad more open than the shure SM57/58.

I have a very very boring voice that's mid heavy, the mid bump on the SM58 did not work out too well for me, but if you have a different voice type that's higher/cleaner (female voices), I think it'll work better.

I really like my CAD M177 too, I think it make a decent mic for loud sources.

At this bracket I probably like my AT 3035 better than the ones listed. It's got a little more open sound at the high end than the CAD M177.

Maybe jump up to 200 and grab some kind of mic like the AT 4040 or the 4033

 

[lo beam]

AT2020 for sure.

But you can't compare an SM58 in the same list.

 

[tojo]

I like the at2020 too. I use it on a lot of things.

 

[wbcsound]

I must admit I haven't tried a mojority of the mics you've listed and I doubt anyone else has (perhaps a professional reviewer) as there's not really a compelling reason to buy so many affordable mics. Different mics do different things well. If you're really interested in reviews regarding all those different mics, you're going to need to do some reasearch in back issues of recording magazines.

The most versitile mic you can get in my opinion is an SM57/SM58 or a clone such as the ES57/ES58. They offer decent off axis rejection, sound good on a variety of sources including voice, and are extremely durable. I love the AT2020 as well but it's not quite as versitile and you'll definately have to have some kind of acoustic treatment to get any use out of it. Just picked up an APEX 210 and my initial impressions are good, but again not nearly as versitile.

Good Luck.

 

[kidvybes]

...Snoop says:

 

[ghetto3jon]

it's not the most versatile microphone, but if you're talking sub-$150 mics, you can't ignore the Cascade FatHead. the box it comes in looks like it's worth $150.

 

[dgatwood]

The most versitile mic you can get in my opinion is an SM57/SM58 or a clone such as the ES57/ES58. They offer decent off axis rejection, sound good on a variety of sources including voice, and are extremely durable. I love the AT2020 as well but it's not quite as versitile and you'll definately have to have some kind of acoustic treatment to get any use out of it. Just picked up an APEX 210 and my initial impressions are good, but again not nearly as versitile.

Moving coil dynamics do tend to be more tolerant of bad room acoustics. In a good room, though, the 57/58 strike me as a jack of all trades, master of none. It is usually passable in a pinch, but rarely (if ever) ideal---one of those mics you pull out if nothing else works.... I wouldn't consider tracking an entire recording with one---generally too tubby. The AT2020, you might be able to get away with as the sole mic. The Apex 210 with a transformer mod... you could definitely get away with using as your only mic (except perhaps on kick drum... ).

I might consider tracking a fair amount with something like a Shure 565, though. A lot like an SM58, but a more open, less tubby sound, IMHO.

 

[wbcsound]

Moving coil dynamics do tend to be more tolerant of bad room acoustics. In a good room, though, the 57/58 strike me as a jack of all trades, master of none. It is usually passable in a pinch, but rarely (if ever) ideal---one of those mics you pull out if nothing else works.... I wouldn't consider tracking an entire recording with one---generally too tubby. The AT2020, you might be able to get away with as the sole mic. The Apex 210 with a transformer mod... you could definitely get away with using as your only mic (except perhaps on kick drum... ).

I might consider tracking a fair amount with something like a Shure 565, though. A lot like an SM58, but a more open, less tubby sound, IMHO.

Wow! See taste is completely subjective as tubby isn't a word I would use to describe the SM57/58 at all. I feel the response is fairly even with a slight bump in the mids (perhaps low mids) with a roll off of the highs. I've used my SM57 on a ton of different things including acoustic guitar with decent results. I'm not a professional engineer and my project studio is fairly modest. That being said, I have a variety of clips using the SM57 and AT2020 on my website at the following link: http://www.frugalguitarist.com/Clips.aspx, however it's all to demo guitar gear, no vocals.

I know there are a bunch of mics which will outperform the SM57/58 with regards to flatter response, better high end reproduction, or better low end reproduction but for the money (especially starting off) I think they are a very safe option. The ES57/58 clones even more affordable choice with a very similiar sound at 1/3 the price.

My problem with posts like this are relatively inexperienced individuals worrying about their decision far more than they need too. I began learning about recording using a Fostex 4-track cassette deck which came with a free no name brand mic. When I got my 57, I swear I heard angels singing the first time I used it!

A first mic is no different than a first anything, there is a chance they will outgrow it at some point. In my opinion, a decent dynamic mic by any manufacturer (cheaper the better) is the best choice for a first and/or budget mic for vocals which will continue to serve as a general utility mic as they grow. Hence my recommendation for the SM57/58 or a clone.

 

[jasonbmerrill]

57 for a vocal mic under 150 bucks?

gimme a break

behringer or studio projects

(preferrably SP)