Best home recording mics for $100-$150

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rustywasp
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57/58

damianhk said:
Are the mics the same except for the windscreen/foam on the 58?
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Yes, the capsules are identical, however the physical construction around the capsule of each mic gives each a different frequency response. Sure's website has the response curve data.
 
The MXL R144 coupled with an MIC2200 that has a 5751 Black Sable tube. Can't be beat for vocals plus both channels on the MIC2200 will work perfectly with the upgraded tube. Yeah this will cost about $250 for it all, but will compete with any high dollar mic/tube preamp setup.
 
Steenamaroo said:
Dynamics are used live a lot because they are forgiving in terms of how close you can get.
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This is absolutely incorrect. Many condensers have extremely high SPL handling abilities and are designed to be positioned quite close to a source. The Shure Beta 98, for instance, is designed to be placed an inch or two from a drum head, or in a trumpet bell.

It's very misleading to speak in generalities about these two microphone design topologies. One could say that, GENERALLY, condensers have a more extended high frequency response than dynamics, but some modern dynamic mics have a high frequency response that approach what has been historically associated with a condenser mic. Some of the Heil mics, for instance, have a high frequency response that approaches a good condenser.

A professional live sound set up typically includes a mix of condensers, dynamics, and even ribbons. Whatever it takes to get the job done best, although you could do a gig with nothing but 57's and people would want to lick your stuff, it sounds so good.

I would recommend a Heil PR 20 UT to the OP. At 101 bucks, it can't be beat for this application.
 
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Try the Samson CO3 studio mic. It's around $100 and rates well above that. (To get a fair comparison against a similar mic, one review had to pull out a Neumann. The Beyer and another in that price range were nowhere close. Good Luck
Rod Norman
Engineer

Rustywasp said:
What I mean by home recording is just recording something for youtube, like let's plays. So there will be no singing or instrument playing, I just want a mic that does fantastic for its price point. No USB.
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radi0j0hn said:
Check pawn shops.
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Personally I've never had any luck in pawn shops. At least the ones around me price their goods for people who don't' know what the prices of items are on sale. I would go with craigslist before I would go with a pawn shop. plenty of people on craigslist hard up for cash.
 
jokerone said:
Personally I've never had any luck in pawn shops. At least the ones around me price their goods for people who don't' know what the prices of items are on sale. I would go with craigslist before I would go with a pawn shop. plenty of people on craigslist hard up for cash.
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Yeah, before the days of internet there were deals to be had at pawn shops. They now find the real selling price for gear and sell at that level. Gone are the days of someone not knowing what something is worth. Then again, knowing that and the fact that they likely paid 10% of what the gear is worth, a good set of boobs or haggling can get you somewhere if you do it right. I have no boobs so I find Craigslist works better. :)
 
I use an SM58 for VO stuff I do in let's play videos. It works fine. I feed it through a zoom r16 in interface mode. Works well. I tried a condenser mic, a studio projects B1, which worked well too, but I just prefer the 58.
 
A cloudlifter works very well with dynamic mic. I have read about how it comes very close to a condenser mic.
 
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