"Best-Bang-4-The-Buck" microphones...

[ozraves]

I'll expound more on my agreement with Chessrock...

I get to try a lot of mics. Some of my close friends get to try a lot of mics. When we get together it's sort of like hey I tried very expensive mic "X" the other day and the CAD M179, Oktava MK012, Audio Technica AT40XX didn't suck compared to it. I've never heard anyone make the statement that any of these sounded as good as a $2,000 mic (except for the AT4060 which costs around $1,000). Sometimes one of these mics might be in the same ballpark as a more expensive mic but usually not. Still they don't suck.

Most of the cheaper mics suck out of the box. Some sound OK until you A/B them with high end mics and then you hear every sonic shortcoming and realize they really do suck.

When I talk to gear designers I'll also note they some speak approvingly of certain Electro Voice and Shure dynamic mics as well as certain AT mics (usually mics in the 40 series or the ATM25).

 

[Picker]

My two favorites.
SM 57
and my AKG 414 Buls that I got for under $600

Both are very versitile and go on my great buys list.

 

[JazzMasterWil]

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[ljmaxx]

I'll add the ADK Hamburg or Vienna to the best bang for the buck list. You can find them used for around $200 and new for not much more. The Hamburg is an excellent vocal mic IMHO. I have a matched pair and they sound great on acoustic guitar too.

 

[Bassman Brad]

Yes to ADK

I'll add the ADK Hamburg or Vienna to the best bang for the buck list.

I'll second this. In fact, I'd say that just about anything that ADK makes would fit comfortably on the "best bang for the buck" list.

Then of course, there is the AT4050 and the KSM44. I realize that these (very similar sounding) mics are quite a bit more money than the others on this list. But, the way I see it, if you can find a mike for well under a thousand bucks that sounds at least decent on just about anything, can run with the big dogs soundwise, and will find a use on just about EVERY recording that you make, I think that this should qualify for "best bang for the buck."

Brad

 

[Warhead]

Shure SM57 is probably the best bang for the buck piece of recording gear period.

I respectfully disagree. I think 10 years ago or so that was more true, but nowadays it just seems like something more fun to say than anything.

I know...it's never completely terrible and all that...but there is a ton of stuff that will smoke it. The Audix i5 for example is the same price and the low/mids actually sound clear and open unlike the sort of closed / boxy sound the 57 gives on many sources.

The 57 is a survivor and deserves respect for sure though.

War

 

[Richard Monroe]

There are some standards, and a few real personal oddballs.

Standards-Shure SM57,SM7,KSM44 Oktava MC012, AKG D112 and C414 (the 414 has served me well on so many things), Sennheiser MD421.

Personal oddball favorites-

Cheap dynamics- AKG D770, Sennheiser e835/845
cheap condensers- Oktava MK319 and AKG C2000B. The C2000B and the Oktava are most likely to be pulled out when I need one more condenser, the source is unfamiliar to me, and I don't have the time for a mic shootout.

Good for a lot of things- B.L.U.E. Baby Bottle. Rode NTK, AT4040, Studio Projects C-4


Of course there are wicked expensive "bang for buck" winners, too, but I don't think that's really what you are looking for here. I often think the money spent on upper scale mics is well spent, when you can. I consider B.L.U.E. Kiwi, AT4060, Brauner valvet, Soundelux ifet7 and U195, and Lawson L47 MKII to all give a very good return for bucks shelled out, but it is more bucks.-Richie