Best mics for under $200/

  • Thread starter Thread starter Feanor IV
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Feanor IV

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Simple as that! :-) Which mics (under $200, roughly) would you recommend? Looking forward to those answers!! :-)
 
At that price, the Shure SM57 is a given....... also depends on what you're going to be using it for.....

$200 is generally chump change as far as mics go....... the worthwhile stuff generally isn't cheap, and for the stuff that is, there's usually a reason.
 
Yeah, I see. I just can't spend more at the moment. So, any thoughts on Shure Beta 58a (about $150) or AKG c900 (about $100)?
 
SP C1
Audio Technica 3035
Senn 421
pair Oktava mc012 (Marshall 603's)
 
The Studio Projects B1 mic keeps getting mentioned in discussions like this. I think it's around $80-$90. It all depends what you're mic'ing, of course.
 
What are your intended applications?

Do you have a mic pre or mixer yet and does it have phantom power?

Chris
 
sometimes you can find a used at 4033 on ebay for $199.
 
jfrog said:
The Studio Projects B1 mic keeps getting mentioned in discussions like this. I think it's around $80-$90. It all depends what you're mic'ing, of course.
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That was my first LDC, sounded great through the Pre's on my old Allen & Heath Saber 24/16/2. Totaly cam to life through my new M Audio TAMPA pre. got a few songs up where I recorded both acoustic guitar and vocals with the SP B1 through the TAMPA at nowhereradio.com/lemontree the songs are PENNY and STAR respectively.

Hope this serves as some sort of guide.

side note... if you're still in here bruce, wouldn't mind a comment from the master

Alec
 
A used Electrovoice dynamic . . . something along the lines of an RE-15 / 16 or an EV-666. Beyer M-201 is another good one. The audio Technica ATM-25's are among the best kick drum mics I've ever used, and also sound good in front of a cab.

Oktava MC-012's are really nice instrument mics. And the CAD M-179 is a very good, versatile multi-pattern condenser for instruments, vocals, etc.
 
Check out the CAD Global Audio GXL2400, too. About $80.
 
I'll use them mostly for vocals and then some acoustic guitar stuff. not interested in micing amps really....... Ah, btw, I'm buying mBox, which has phantom power & I've read that it's got very good mic preamps for the price..... :)
 
LemonTree said:
That was my first LDC, sounded great through the Pre's on my old Allen & Heath Saber 24/16/2. Totaly cam to life through my new M Audio TAMPA pre. got a few songs up where I recorded both acoustic guitar and vocals with the SP B1 through the TAMPA at nowhereradio.com/lemontree the songs are PENNY and STAR respectively.


Alec
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a picture's worth a thousand words...I listened to your songs & the vocals & ac. guitar sound great (through my computer speakers, anyway. At least they're harman/kardon speakers)

Good songs, too. BTW, do you use any compression on your guitar to bring out the fingerpicking, or is that just how it sounds? Are your guitar parts recorded with 1 or more mics?
 
Best mic under $200, what source did you have in mind?

In my studio, I reach for the following (under $200):
SM-57 very useful, I throw it on cabs and snare, real mid-range heavy.
Senn e609Silver, I consider this one a gem. Cabs, bright vox.
Senn e604, like a clearer/hi-fi SM-57. Tom mic, guitar, snare.
 
Always a bit amusing to see a pro AE like Nathan as a "junior member".

Anyway...

Nathan (and anyone else), does the Sennheiser e604 work well on acoustic?

Not sure when someone says "guitar"-they might mean electric.

Chris
 
chessparov said:
Always a bit amusing to see a pro AE like Nathan as a "junior member".

Anyway...

Nathan (and anyone else), does the Sennheiser e604 work well on acoustic?

Not sure when someone says "guitar"-they might mean electric.
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Chris-

Imagine a 'better' sounding 57...more clear in the mids and top. Primarily I think of it for electric guitar and drums. It's okay on acoustic, but I'd rather have a condenser any day of the week, although you never know it could give the track a unique sound.
 
I gotta second the CAD M179 Chess mentioned. I used two today over drums for a jazz session and the detail etc. is incredible.

Of course, the guy was a great player.

$200 is a bit low to be expecting the world out of a mic. There are some good ones though.

War
 
dynamic:
sm-57
ev 635a
beyer m201
sennheiser e609
sennheiser e604
atm25

Large condensor:
at3035
CAD m179
studio projects b1
studio projects c1
mxl v67g
oktava mc319

small condensor:
oktava mc012
mxl 609

I probably missed one or two, but that's a pretty comprehensive list of what decent mics you can buy new for under $200.
 
It's not that simple.

Best mics for under $200 for what? There's lots of applications. And there are some mics that are better for certain applications than others.
 
Blue Bear Sound said:
At that price, the Shure SM57 is a given....... also depends on what you're going to be using it for.....

$200 is generally chump change as far as mics go....... the worthwhile stuff generally isn't cheap, and for the stuff that is, there's usually a reason.
Click to expand...
I agree............. :) and because you can sometimes get a good used MD421 for around $200... I recommend checking it out too.
 
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