Best Condenser Mic $250 Budget

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LENO82

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Ok I am wondering which microphone would you guys recommend for recording vocals in my price range? I have only $250 I can spend on a mic and I dont want a usb condenser...
 
I think the Rode NT1A is a good choice in this price range.
 
Plenty of good choices in that price range. I would caution that the Røde mics tend to be rather bright. They suit some voices, but can sound bad on others. The right mic depends greatly on the voice.

Before giving advice, we really need to know what your voice (or the voice of the person you are recording) sounds like.

1. Male or female?
2. High voice or low voice?
3. Overall tone? For example, thin sounding, dark sounding, smoky sounding, bright, dull....

After you answer those three questions, we can give much better advice.
 
Rode NT1-a for sure... this mic has had great reviews for its price range... i just bought one and have had great results...
 
Depends on what you like and what you might be able to find used.

I'd say a modded Oktava MK-319, without hesitation, would be my personal favorite and could be around that price or just slightly higher.

I also happen to like the MXL M3, which is $249.
 
If you could do that at this price point...and you had to have a condenser...I think Blue has an offering for arround that price...Im not sure how good it sounds...It might be crap...but Blue is usually top notch.
 
well the mic is for myself and I would say I'm somewhere on the lower side of the mid range. and more of a dark sound.
 
Id stick with a dynamic in that price range...you can get an SM7 which was used by artists like...Led Zeppelin...Bad Company...Bob Seger...Micheal Jackson...etc...or a bottom of the barrel condencer...which only gets used in hobby studios...and Id challenge you to go ahead and look in a pawn shop where those 200 dollar LDCs usually can be had for arround S$80.

Used condencers like a C414 can be had if you look hard enough.
 
Well, my tastes are quite different from everyone else, so grain of salt here..... but.....


I think the AT mics are more honest and natural sounding than the Rodes. Rodes (the ones I've tried) always seem like they have too much presence boost or something, too bright some how..... but Rode is better than any Chinese built mic, by far, if it gives you the sound you need.
 
blech......
you asked for advice ,,,,, follow it
AT is good
414 is good
Rode a little bright but good
Samson....blech
 
Here's a list of mics that may be good for you, depending:

CAD M9---quite dark, warm tube mic. Great for tenors, probably good on thin-sounding sorpanos.

CAD M179---fairly neutral mic. Great for neural male vocals, most female vocals. Good all-around vocal mic. If you don't know which mic to pick, pick this one.

CAD M177---similar to the M179, but single pattern. If you're only using this for vocals, this will save a few bucks over the M179. If you want a more general-purpose mic, go with the M179.

Røde NT-1A---very bright mic. Good for dark male vocalists (baritones or basses). Probably good for dark-sounding altos. Probably a very bad choice for most tenors or sopranos.

AT 4000 series---these each have their own character, too. I thin the 4040 is a little brighter than the 4050, which is a lot brighter than the 4060. I haven't used any of these mics. My gut says that the 4050 is probably a better all-around choice, but the 4040 is closer to your price range and would be a close second. You might be able to get an AT4040 used within your price range. My gut says you probably don't want a 4033. The 4060 is way out of your price range, so it probably isn't worth mentioning at all. :)

AT 3000 series---the AT3035 gets panned quite a bit when it comes to vocal use. I'd probably avoid it unless you're doing mostly instrument miking.

AT 2000 series---you definitely don't want them. They'd be good for instruments, though.

I have no opinion on the C-414, but that's somewhere around four times your price range. I don't know why that mic was even mentioned.... Getting one of those used for under $250 would be bordering on a miracle.

Pick the one that most suits your voice.
 
AT 4040 Has done me justice !

I'm going to get myself a RODE NT1A later on just for kicks.
 
dgatwood said:
I have no opinion on the C-414, but that's somewhere around four times your price range. I don't know why that mic was even mentioned.... Getting one of those used for under $250 would be bordering on a miracle.
Click to expand...


Because miracle DO happen! :D (read other forums, this particular miracle HAS already happened!) Depending on which model you get, they may only be 2 times the price range.
 
There are a bunch of mics that come to my mind in that pricerange that haven't been mentioned:

AKG C2000B
AKG Perception 220 and Perception 400
MXL V67i
Oktava MK319
Shure KSM27

The C2000B and MK319 are among my favorites-Richie
 
Richard Monroe said:
There are a bunch of mics that come to my mind in that pricerange that haven't been mentioned:

AKG C2000B
AKG Perception 220 and Perception 400
MXL V67i
Oktava MK319
Shure KSM27

The C2000B and MK319 are among my favorites-Richie
Click to expand...

I have a 319 Id sell you cheap :)
 
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