Best Condenser Microphone for Under $150

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guitarplayr82

guitarplayr82

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I know there is already a thread on mics under $100, but I am looking for a new condenser microphone and am willing to spend up to $150 on it, possibly $200 if it is really worth it. It would be used mainly for deep male rock vocals (no screaming) and I am just wondering what will give me the best quality for the best price.

Thanks!
 
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My favy cheap LDC capsule lives on in the $150 AT2035, although I'd be tempted to seek out a used AT3035 because I am a cheap, cheap man. Or on the dynamic side, I'd try to score a used Beyer M69. You have to be patient for that one though . . .
 
guitarplayr82 said:
I know there is already a thread on mics under $100, but I am looking for a new condenser microphone and am willing to spend up to $150 on it, possibly $200 if it is really worth it. It would be used mainly for deep male rock vocals (no screaming) and I am just wondering what will give me the best quality for the best price.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Did you read the "new king of the low end LDC"?
They talk about the MXL 2003a. IDK haven't heard how one captures sound yet.







:cool:
 
Thanks for the suggestions! One more question: I know Rode Mics is having a special where if you buy one of their listed microphones you get a $1 reflection filter. Since I am in the market for a reflection filter as well, I was wondering if it would be smart to get a NT1000 and the $1 filter. It might save me a lot of money in the future and I'd get a great mic out of it. Thoughts?
 
The Shure SM58 (or SM57) with the upgraded TAB Funkenwerk transformer over at
www.mercenary.com would be a strong temptation for me, or else a Beyer Soundstar M400.

Have the Beyer, and I trust Fletcher's evaluation of the transformer modification on both the Shure's.

IF you can find a "Made in USA" SM58 (or 57), or a 545 series, they can be excellent too
on the cheap. By the time they moved manufacturing off to Mexico the original dies were worn out, and the new ones generally are of lesser fidelity (just ask Jim Williams).
Some rock singers with a deep voice, like Jim Morrison or Eric Burdon, sound(ed) terrific on these microphones.

Did sell a particularly good "Mexican" SM57 to one of the members here a few a years ago.
But that one was cherry picked (had a friend who worked at Guitar Center then).

Don't laugh but on some deep male voice (like mine), with a heavy midrange, the SM48 can sound really good. Unfortunately-myself included-there's a human tendency to judge via abstraction vs. "If it sounds good, it is good" (Joe Meek). Anyway the absence of an impedance matching transformer in the SM48 makes the midrange thinner/cleaner than a
SM58. Tough for me to accept on a mic bought for $30 new!

If your room isn't properly treated acoustically, as you may know, a dynamic mic may be wiser.

Chris
 
guitarplayr82 said:
Thanks for the suggestions! One more question: I know Rode Mics is having a special where if you buy one of their listed microphones you get a $1 reflection filter. Since I am in the market for a reflection filter as well, I was wondering if it would be smart to get a NT1000 and the $1 filter. It might save me a lot of money in the future and I'd get a great mic out of it. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Then why not get the NT1a and have it dropped shipped to your favorite modder and take your turn at having a boutique microphone!







:cool:
 
chessparov said:
The Shure SM58 (or SM57) with the upgraded TAB Funkenwerk transformer over at
www.mercenary.com would be a strong temptation for me, or else a Beyer Soundstar M400.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, but I already have a few dynamic mics, including an SM57 and an Audio Technica mic extrememly close to the SM58. I've been using them for a while and I think I'm ready to upgrade since I'm going to be tracking an E.P. soon.
 
moresound said:
Then why not get the NT1a and have it dropped shipped to your favorite modder and take your turn at having a boutique microphone!
Click to expand...

Sounds great, but the only reason I'd spend the extra money on a Rode mic is if it qualified for the $1 reflection filter - the NT1a doesn't. So what do you think about the NT1000? Is it a good mic for low male rock vocals?
 
About a year ago, was at a dinner party where someone there was an experienced pro AE. He works at Capitol, and had the opportunity to record Paul Rodgers' (Free/Bad Company)vocals.

Anyway...

Although Rodgers usually uses a SM57, in the studio, they shot it out vs. Capitol's U47, U67, etc.

Guess which one won the shootout-yeah the 57 again.
Lennon was another singer where the 57 compared to uber $$ condensers BTW.

What kind of pre(s) are you using? A VLZ Mackie or Behringer tends to make
the SM57 sound harsh. Even if you get a condenser, for live stuff an upgrade
there would make a tangible difference.

Chris
 
chessparov said:
About a year ago, was at a dinner party where someone there was an experienced pro AE. He works at Capitol, and had the opportunity to record Paul Rodgers' (Free/Bad Company)vocals.

Anyway...

Although Rodgers usually uses a SM57, in the studio, they shot it out vs. Capitol's U47, U67, etc.

Guess which one won the shootout-yeah the 57 again.
Lennon was another singer where the 57 compared to uber $$ condensers BTW.

What kind of pre(s) are you using? A VLZ Mackie or Behringer tends to make
the SM57 sound harsh. Even if you get a condenser, for live stuff an upgrade
there would make a tangible difference.

Chris
Click to expand...

Oh, okay. I didn't know the 57 was such a widely used studio vocal mic. Thanks for telling me, very interesting!
 
Alright, so here's one more question. What condenser mic would be good for low male vocals AND guitar amps?
 
...we have a shootout in the works that should be posted sometime next week (still waiting for some of the mics to arrive)...current contenders are:

MXL V67G Stock
MXL V67G Modded
MXL 2003A Stock
MXL 2001 Modded
Oktava MK 319 Stock
Rode NT2 Stock
Avantone CK7 Stock (cardioid same as CK6)
Karma Prophecy Stock

...most fall close to your price range (plus or minus) with the exception of the V67G Modded version and Avantone CK7 (but the cardioid only CK6 is in your price range)...
 
kidvybes said:
...we have a shootout in the works that should be posted sometime next week (still waiting for some of the mics to arrive)...current contenders are:

MXL V67G Stock
MXL V67G Modded
MXL 2003A Stock
MXL 2001 Modded
Oktava MK 319 Stock
Rode NT2 Stock
Avantone CK7 Stock (cardioid same as CK6)
Karma Prophecy Stock

...most fall close to your price range (plus or minus) with the exception of the V67G Modded version and Avantone CK7 (but the cardioid only CK6 is in your price range)...
Click to expand...

Oh, awesome. Do you think I could private message you at the end of next week and ask you about some of the results?
 
guitarplayr82 said:
Oh, awesome. Do you think I could private message you at the end of next week and ask you about some of the results?
Click to expand...

...we will provide a public link to the wav sound files for everyone to sample...no worries...
 
kidvybes, are any dynamics allowed to join the party?

IIRC you also have a Beyer Soundstar M400 series.

We both already know it's a killer vocal mic, and it's also reputed to be excellent on guitar
amps. IMHO it'll make a more than respectable showing.

Chris
 
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