Basic setup mics for $1,000 total?

[Mongoo]

Right now I am borrowing an SM57 and a AT3505.

My budget has had to drop unfortunetly so I will put in $1000 in mics for my home studio and add on as much as I can in the comeing months.

The end goad of this starter kit would be something that I can record vocals, (electric & Accustic) guitar, drums, & bass.

Here is what I was thinking as a starter kit ($1,000)

1 (SM57 or E609 or Audix $100 mic)
2 Matched condensors (Rode NT5, MXL 603, Oktava ?, $300-$500)
1 (bass drum mic) (AkG D112 $200 or Senheisser MD-421 $330)


I think I could record drums with this to begin with. Anyone know who the MD-421 can handle bass drum? I have my eye on the AT dual element mic right now and would rather not buy the D112 if the MD421 will work for now. I can just move the Senheisser to the toms when I get enough money for dual element.

Thanks.

 

[Gidge]

1 pair of Marshall MXL603's or Oktava MC012's - $200

1 Shure SM57 - $80

1 Audix D6 - $160

1 Marshall MXLv69 - $300

1 pair Oktava 319's - $140

1 CountrymanDI or SansAmp Bass Driver - $150 (for bass instead of mic'ing it)

 

[Richard Monroe]

Well, here's my version-
2 Sennheiser e835-$100 on ebay
1 AT Pro25 $60
2 Studio Projects C-4's $320
1 AKG C2000B $180
1 Shure SM7B $350

Nothing you can't record with that, including your drum kit.-Richie

 

[tdukex]

My list:

1 SM57 ($80)
Pair C4 ($320)
AT4040 ($250)
1 RE20 ($400)

$50 over your budget, but very versatile.

 

[chessrock]

Here is what I was thinking as a starter kit ($1,000)

1 (SM57 or E609 or Audix $100 mic)
2 Matched condensors (Rode NT5, MXL 603, Oktava ?, $300-$500)
1 (bass drum mic) (AkG D112 $200 or Senheisser MD-421 $330)

Sounds like a good list to me. You'll do fine with that.

Only thing I might consider is an ATM25 in place of the D-112. Save yourself a little money there and put it towards a decent LDC.

 

[noisedude]

That's clever ... managed not to answer his questions!! Which would you have as your snare or first set of condensers in that range? I'd be interested to know, especially as I think you have both the 603s and 012s.

 

[scrubs]

sm 57 ($80) or e835 ($100)
2x603s ($200)
RE20 ($400), or KSM 44 ($700), or SP T3 ($500) + D112 ($200)

The RE-20 could double for kick and vocals. A nice multi-pattern condenser is nice as well.

 

[chessrock]

That's clever ... managed not to answer his questions!! Which would you have as your snare or first set of condensers in that range? I'd be interested to know, especially as I think you have both the 603s and 012s.

What was his question, anyway? I read the post a couple times and couldn't exactly find one, other than wondering out loud if he could use the 421 on kick drum. Sure, knock yourself out. People do it all the time. Bascially, all the mics he listed look fine. Nothing wrong with any of 'em. Search function still works, and differences between the 603's and mk012's are pretty well-documented if he needs more info there. I don't think he needs yet another guy to throw another "list" at him. Looks like he's got enough of those already.

"Here's my list .." "No, my list is better ..."

Kinda' silly. Do any of us get a prize if we compile the best list?

 

[noisedude]

I would expect nothing less. It is my intention over the coming months to answer less and question more as I sit at the feet of experts like you ... unless you get mardy about something, in which case I'm flaming you down!!

Like your mojopie blog, btw.

 

[chessrock]

Yea, thanks ... but my name isn't Mardy.

 

[noisedude]

Baboom! I hope you got a good sizzle to the drum roll that followed that joke.

 

[Warhead]

Yea, thanks ... but my name isn't Mardy.

You have been mardyrd. 13 virgins await you in heaven for your best mic list.

War

 

[Warhead]

Right now I am borrowing an SM57 and a AT3505.

My budget has had to drop unfortunetly so I will put in $1000 in mics for my home studio and add on as much as I can in the comeing months.

The end goad of this starter kit would be something that I can record vocals, (electric & Accustic) guitar, drums, & bass.

Here is what I was thinking as a starter kit ($1,000)

1 (SM57 or E609 or Audix $100 mic)
2 Matched condensors (Rode NT5, MXL 603, Oktava ?, $300-$500)
1 (bass drum mic) (AkG D112 $200 or Senheisser MD-421 $330)


I think I could record drums with this to begin with. Anyone know who the MD-421 can handle bass drum? I have my eye on the AT dual element mic right now and would rather not buy the D112 if the MD421 will work for now. I can just move the Senheisser to the toms when I get enough money for dual element.

Thanks.

Get the 421 for kick, it is unlikely you will be disappointed with it on kick, guitar cabs, some vocals etc.

So does your $1000 budget include you being able to further borrow the two mics?

War

 

[DJL]

Right now I am borrowing an SM57 and a AT3505.

My budget has had to drop unfortunetly so I will put in $1000 in mics for my home studio and add on as much as I can in the comeing months.

The end goad of this starter kit would be something that I can record vocals, (electric & Accustic) guitar, drums, & bass.

Here is what I was thinking as a starter kit ($1,000)

1 (SM57 or E609 or Audix $100 mic)
2 Matched condensors (Rode NT5, MXL 603, Oktava ?, $300-$500)
1 (bass drum mic) (AkG D112 $200 or Senheisser MD-421 $330)


I think I could record drums with this to begin with. Anyone know who the MD-421 can handle bass drum? I have my eye on the AT dual element mic right now and would rather not buy the D112 if the MD421 will work for now. I can just move the Senheisser to the toms when I get enough money for dual element.

Thanks.

First, most of the above replies are good IMO. However, there is an old saying "buy cheap, buy twice" that I had to learn the hard way. With that said, here's what I'd do. I'd buy a matched pair of Josephson C42MP's, a Sennheiser MD421 and a Beyer M201. If you shop smart (used), it shouldn't be very much over $1000. And all these mics are keepers, and should last you a lifetime... and you can record anything and everything with them. Tried and tured quality name brand mikes rule. You can always pickup a few of the cheap budget mics posted above later... but this way you'll have some good mics to compair them with. Anyway... that's my opinion... good luck. Don

 

[riantide]

Maybe a dumb question, but what preamp/s are you currently using? That's something that's definitely worth dropping some money into, as a good preamp will compliment a decent mic very well, whereas a decent mic without a good pre will always sound decent. I mean, you could probably get away with (2) mc012's and (2) 57's and get cool drum tones if they were running through righteous pre's. Who knows.

 

[ozraves]

I suggest starting a mic collection by getting:

1. A versatile large condenser such as the AT4040;
2. A pair of instrument condensers such as the GT33 or MK012;
3. A mic for low frequency sources (kick, bass cabs) such as the ATM25.

Here's a blog entry on my theory and some other people's theories on putting together a mic cabinet: http://mojopie.ipbhost.com/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=1&cmd=showentry&eid=5