Best condenser mic for $200-250?

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NickGee

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I've been looking online & calling around to hopefully find a good mic within my budget to record vocals for music. Right now I'm using a MXL V63M & I really want to upgrade because the quality is not where I would like it to be.


I've kinda narrowed it down to a few mics.. But I'm open for more suggestions:


Shure SM27- I realize this is $300, but if the mic is really worth it then I'm willing to go up to that.


Rode NT1A- I called musicians friend & the person I talked to said this was without a doubt the best mic for my budget & seemed very sure about it. But, I don't want to put out the money because one person recommended it.


MXL 4000- I kinda just looked at this one because it was the cheapest I saw that could be good quality. But I really haven't done any research on it.


CAD M9- I know this is $300 too but if this is better than the Shure, & is really worth the $300, then I'll probably go for it


I'm really not too familiar with all of this & I would reallyyy appreciate any help. Thank you :]
 
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Of the ones you mentioned, the NT1a without a doubt (IMO/E).

That said - IMO/E, if you're looking for a 'keystone' vocal mic and you're not happy with what you're using, I'd not be looking for a condenser... The (Shure) SM7b should be high on your "try me" list.
 
I bought an NT1A 6 months ago.

I won't priase or recommend this mic *just* because I own one, but having recorded half a dozen songs with it, I think it's just fine. From what I understand reading at the forum here, It's a good cheap condenser mic.

Having said that, I also have a borrowed Studio Projects C1 which I've recorded with and for my purposes, I can bearly tell the difference, so I assume (for me) other mics would have done just as well.

Summary. (1) I find the NT1A great for home studio purposes. (2) Like me, don't get hung up about people shouting other mics at you *if* you're not at a level to distinguish the difference.

Happy shopping, happy singing!

FM
 
Thank you both for your replies! But if I shouldn't be looking for a condenser mic then what should I be looking for? I thought a condenser mic was the best kind?
 
Ohh wait I'm sorry. I didn't mean vocals only. I meant recording vocals for music. I just said only vocals because I won't be using it for any instruments.
 
How does the room you're recording in sound?

The condenser choices (so far) are most likely going to pick up background noise.
You may want to consider learning how to do some simple acoustical treatments,
if you want a sensitive condenser.

FWIW my favorite condenser at $250 would be a Studio Projects CS5.
IIRC they're selling them for this much at B&H Photo.

The CS5 has a variety of equalization switches BTW to change its tone.
IMHO it stands up well to the "big guns" like the Neumann U87ai (yes I've tried them before, along with the newer TLM 67).

Haven't tried the new MXL 2003a, but that's been receiving a groundswell of interest
on a couple of BBS's lately. I'd probably still go with the CS5 if my vocal mic choices were limited, as it's so flexible. Am using various dynamic mics (mostly) at home that work well on me. This includes a couple by Electro-Voice that are typically excellent for studio vocals,like the RE15 (out of current production), and the EV 635a (still available new).

Also, what kind of voice do you have? Tenor, baritone, or bass?

Chris
 
chessparov said:
How does the room you're recording in sound?

The condenser choices (so far) are most likely going to pick up background noise.
You may want to consider learning how to do some simple acoustical treatments,
if you want a sensitive condenser.

FWIW my favorite condenser at $250 would be a Studio Projects CS5.
IIRC they're selling them for this much at B&H Photo.

The CS5 has a variety of equalization switches BTW to change its tone.
IMHO it stands up well to the "big guns" like the Neumann U87ai (yes I've tried them before, along with the newer TLM 67).

Haven't tried the new MXL 2003a, but that's been receiving a groundswell of interest
on a couple of BBS's lately. I'd probably still go with the CS5 if my vocal mic choices were limited, as it's so flexible. Am using various dynamic mics (mostly) at home that work well on me. This includes a couple by Electro-Voice that are typically excellent for studio vocals,like the RE15 (out of current production), and the EV 635a (still available new).

Also, what kind of voice do you have? Tenor, baritone, or bass?

Chris
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Well right now I'm just recording out of a closet.. But while I'm waiting to buy this mic(whichever one I choose) I'm also looking to buy the sound proof thing on musiciansfriend for about $60 I think. I don't really wanna look it up. haha


But I don't really know the distinction between voice types.. Haha I'm a 17 year old male.


& Thanks for all your suggestions!
 
NickGee said:
Well right now I'm just recording out of a closet.. But while I'm waiting to buy this mic(whichever one I choose) I'm also looking to buy the sound proof thing on musiciansfriend for about $60 I think. I don't really wanna look it up. haha


But I don't really know the distinction between voice types.. Haha I'm a 17 year old male.


& Thanks for all your suggestions!
Click to expand...

well i thought recording in a closet would be good when i first came here...

then i found it that itd actually the most DUMBEST place to record...made me feel bad but then it was good advice...

DONT EVER RECORD IN A CLOSET.
 
NickGee said:
Ohh wait I'm sorry. I didn't mean vocals only. I meant recording vocals for music. I just said only vocals because I won't be using it for any instruments.
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Still, I'd be looking at a mic with a nice slow moving coil (dynamic) but with a nice, flat response (Shure SM7b, EV RE20, etc.).

The whole "condensers are best" thing is a (relatively new) "marketing ploy" of sorts (well, that's the only thing I can put my finger on to explain it).

Closet = Horrible.

Soundproof = Complete reconstruction.

Acoustic treatment = Trying to make an area acoustically viable without reconstruction. Totally different than (and actually at odds with) soundproofing (which is arresting transmission of sound through a structure).

"Throwing foam all over the walls" does NOT = "Acoustic treatment" (or "soundproofing" - not by any means).
 
Massive Master said:
Still, I'd be looking at a mic with a nice slow moving coil (dynamic) but with a nice, flat response (Shure SM7b, EV RE20, etc.).

The whole "condensers are best" thing is a (relatively new) "marketing ploy" of sorts (well, that's the only thing I can put my finger on to explain it).
Click to expand...

My money would be on the EV RE-20
This microphone with out a doubt out shines all that have been mentioned here.






:cool:
 
Rode NT-1A is a good choice, and I would strongly recommend a good look at Audio-Technica AT4040 as well, which is also $300 with the shock mount.

I would (slightly) disagree with one above statement. The use of acoustic foam panels, and bass traps, along with hard plastic diffusers is not necessarily a complete waste. It can soften the reflections of a room that is already pretty good to begin with. It will not make a bad room sound good, and it does not constitute soundproofing in any way. It's something you use to tweak a room, not redefine one. Foam, judiciously applied, can attenuate high frequency reflections. It doesn't get rid of severe ones, and it does *nothing* to low frequencies.

I also support Shure SM7b, which is close to your price range new, and well within your budget used. It is a dynamic mic which is very versatile, for vocals, and lots of other stuff. Its only real downside, aside from being a big honkin' mic, is that it has very low output, and works better with an interface or preamp that can supply a ton of clean gain, preferably at least 60db. If you are using a cheaper preamp, the condenser may work better for you.-Richie
 
Hmm...

Going to defer the advice to some posts by a world class AE, Bob Ohlsson.

Bob has stated one valid way to go would be to get a Shure SM57, partly because it works so well in "ducking"-lessening poor room tone, and also getting a credible representation of someone's voice. Another of Bob's "desert island" vocal microphones is the EV 635a.

Whether you get a SM7 or SM57 (or SM58), for example, you still usually need to EQ it.
(yes I know the advanced recordists on this thread get quicker results w/SM7/RE20/etc.)

IMHO you'd be better off using the rest of the money to review the quality of your monitor speakers, and headphones. Also a SM57 or SM58 would help anticipate how you'll sound in live venues that commonly use the SM58. This may edge the EV 635a out, or get that one too!

If you want to upgrade your mic pre(s), you might compare the 2 channel M-Audio DMP3 (around $160), and the single channel Studio Projects VTB-1 (around $150).

Both have a lot of "clean gain", although the DMP3 is more neutral than the "darker" toned
VTB-1. Personally prefer the VTB-1, but they're both quite good.
"Clean" meaning not grainy here BTW.

If you get the VTB-1, there would also be the option of getting the Shure SM48 (around $50), as the VTB-1 tends to add a bit of low end response on a vocal.
Been pleasantly surprised at how well the SM48 matchs up to it's better known brother, the SM58. Scored one for $30 at GC over the weekend Labor Day sale.

Chris

P.S. If you get a chance, check out the youtube video by "The Faux Four", where they
perform a side of The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album-the SM58's sound great!
 
chessparov said:
FWIW my favorite condenser at $250 would be a Studio Projects CS5.
IIRC they're selling them for this much at B&H Photo.
The CS5 has a variety of equalization switches BTW to change its tone.
IMHO it stands up well to the "big guns" like the Neumann U87ai (yes I've tried them before, along with the newer TLM 67).
Chris
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I have a studio project cs1 that I like. I would recommend it and it is reasonalby priced. I bought that a while ago, I am sure the CS5 is better.
 
I recon the SM7b is a great mic and very easy to get a good clean
track with. But you will want a pre with a lot of gain. It is about the easiest
mic there is to set up for vocals.

The AT4040 is a pretty clean condensor for vocals a little cheaper $300.
It's good for a lot of stuff.

Another low cost fav of mine is the CAD 177 gives you a lot of the same
stuff AT4040 the AT4040 does but not quite as quiet. I think this use to be found on
sale for around $100.
 
Sorry, meant the cardiod pattern CS1. Easy to get them confused.

Sang through the CS5 (multi-pattern), for a prolonged period, some years ago at the
Anaheim NAAM Show. It was set in the cardiod pattern, meaning as in the CS1.

Chris
 
Thank you for all of your replies! I really appreciate it.. But I'm still a little confused.. :/

I always hear so many different answers.. & since I don't know so much about it myself, I don't really know who to listen to
 
NickGee said:
Thank you for all of your replies! I really appreciate it.. But I'm still a little confused.. :/

I always hear so many different answers.. & since I don't know so much about it myself, I don't really know who to listen to
Click to expand...

Just listen to me and you'll be fine. :laughings:








:cool:
 
NickGee said:
Thank you for all of your replies! I really appreciate it.. But I'm still a little confused.. :/

I always hear so many different answers.. & since I don't know so much about it myself, I don't really know who to listen to
Click to expand...

This is a tough one, Nickgee, because there are many, many options in your price range. This is complicated by several factors-

Mics, especially vocal mics, are like shoes. Some shoes are better than others, some fit, and some don't, whether they are any good or not. And some shoes do some jobs better than others. The best Italian designer shoes in the world suck for ballet. No one can look at you and tell you what shoes will fit you, and no one can listen to an MP3 of your voice, and tell you what mic will make you sound good. Even if they could, when the song, or the key, or the room, or the preamp changes, the answer could be something else. This is further complicated by the fact that 10 different professional engineers have 11 opinions about what sounds good. All any of us can do is recommend mics that work for a lot of people a lot of the time, or at least the ones that work for us. And many people have their own pet mic that gets no respect, maybe because of bad marketing, that they think is underated. Mine is AKG C2000B.

As far as who to listen to, no one can tell you that, either. If you hang around here for a while, you'll learn who *you* think is worth listening to, and you'll gradually sort out the Pros from the Joes.

As far as the majority opinion goes, in the $500 and under vocal mic range, most folks here will wind up recommending dynamics by Shure, Sennheiser, Electrovoice (EV), and Beyerdynamic.
For condensers, most folks here will recommend condensers by Shure, B.L.U.E., Rode, Audio-Technica, AKG, and Marshall Electronics (MXL).

Of course, there will be other opinions as well, and opinions are sharply divided on whether condensers or dynamics are the better choice to start. There is a significant minority group that like the current crop of inexpensive Chinese ribbon mics marketed under such brands as Cascade and Fathead.

My best advice is this- First, never pass up a chance to sing through a mic you've never used. It could be the shoe that fits your foot. Second, if you have to buy a mic without using it first, buy a proven mic that works for a lot of people, made by a respected manufacturer. At least that way, if it doesn't work out for you, you can sell it without taking a huge loss. And- over time, you'll build a mic cabinet that is built with respected studio standards. Also, the mic that doesn't work out for you as a vocal mic will turn out to be good for recording *something* or *somebody*. If it wasn't good for recording something, it wouldn't be a studio standard. Third, when you find a used studio standard for sale cheaper than it usually is, and you're pretty sure it isn't damaged, stolen, or a Chinese counterfeit, buy it, even if you're not sure it's the mic you need right now. Maybe it won't work out for your voice, but it might be perfect for your girlfriend, a saxophone, piano, guitar cab, or whatever. If it's on the equipment lists of a ton of studios, you can be pretty sure it's good for *something*. There's a reason why most studios have a bunch of vocal mics. There aren't just good ones and bad ones- there are ones that are right, and wrong. If you wait around to find out what's the best vocal mic for under $500, you are goung to be very disappointed because- ***THERE IS NO ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION*** And-anybody who says there is one is clueless, or they are trying to sell you a mic. Best of luck.-Richie
 
NickGee said:
Thank you for all of your replies! I really appreciate it.. But I'm still a little confused.. :/

I always hear so many different answers.. & since I don't know so much about it myself, I don't really know who to listen to
Click to expand...

At the end of the day, you have to figure out what works for you man. I've heard some friends using the SM7B and it is high on my to-buy list as I think it would suit my heavier rock tunes a lot better, but I dig how my voice sounds through my AT3035 on the acoustic stuff...it's a touch heavy on the high end but it works for me.
 
The Rode NT-1 is my fave for recording acousitical instrumentation such as guitar, vocals & woodwinds. I find it's clarity and expression capture of high quality. Just my opinion.
 
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