cheap quality mics

[moose54]

Yes that may be a clash of concepts but hey its worth asking.

I live in australia and thus everything due to our crap dollar is very expensive. I'm also restricted in what i can get hold of. I'm also just strating out in this home recording business.

I'd liek to hear form anyone is a similar situation, restricted in cash, or by items they can find. I want to work with a small budget and as i learn i may buy more. I dont want to get replies form people with fantastic gear telling me how poor quality some of the suggestions may be.

What low priced mics have people bought and been happy with the performance?? one brand i have found here is samson. i read in another post some guy bagging it and i dont want to hear from you again, i want someone who uses their gear who doesn't have the cash for a set up of shure and akg mics.

any help you guys can provide would be awesome

cheers

 

[alfalfa]

You can get a studio projects B1 for $209 at www.musiclab.net.au
Its a bit overpriced compared to us prices but it is still cheap and you can do a search here to see how many people like it (search for b1*).

Rode is good value in oz. They also have a rode nt1-A for $329 and nt-1000 for $479. I didnt like the old nt-1 (compared to a C1) but havent heard the nt1-A. The nt-1000 I heard recently was good.

I would avoid the samson.

 

[Chris Tondreau]

I happen to like the Rode NT1. You might also want to look into Behringer stuff. In both cases, as above, you will find better stuff out there, but you'll pay for it. In the bang-for-the-buck department, they're tough to beat.

Chris

 

[DJL]

Yes that may be a clash of concepts but hey its worth asking.

I live in australia and thus everything due to our crap dollar is very expensive. I'm also restricted in what i can get hold of. I'm also just strating out in this home recording business.

I'd liek to hear form anyone is a similar situation, restricted in cash, or by items they can find. I want to work with a small budget and as i learn i may buy more. I dont want to get replies form people with fantastic gear telling me how poor quality some of the suggestions may be.

What low priced mics have people bought and been happy with the performance?? one brand i have found here is samson. i read in another post some guy bagging it and i dont want to hear from you again, i want someone who uses their gear who doesn't have the cash for a set up of shure and akg mics.

any help you guys can provide would be awesome

cheers

Hi Moose, this thread should get you up-to- date with the good cheap quality mic's in Australia... https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=80146

 

[ausrock]

Hey DJL, that thread almost became a novel ...........but I'd like to think some positives resulted.

Loose Moose..................where in Aust, are you located?

 

[kevellus]

I must say Behringer is shit, there are lots of mics that are descent for a reasonable price, it jsut depends what you want

 

[moose54]

I live in melbourne. I want to be able to record bands but i dont have a big budget. obviously the most mics i will need are for the kit. From reading around and my experience (minimal) the best set up would be two oveerhead condeser's, a snare and kick. Also a snare could be usfull for guitar/bass/vox. maybe i'll be forced to get at least one say Shure SM57 for the snare etc as it will let me do the others.

keeping it to 4 tracks also keeps my snd card and mixer costs down

It seems to me that a lot of what people perceive to be a good mic is dependent on taste. one guy below said he likes "Behringer" gear yet someone else doesn't agree. does it come down a fair bit to personal taste??? or do clearly some mics stand out above others? i guess when you start getting real expensive taste does come into it... a lot like comparing a gibson to a fender... its all taste.

what did you have in mind ausrock?

 

[ausrock]

I was just curious as to where you were.

If you are going to buy condensers, then you are going to need phantom power...........so remember that when you look at mixers.

If you have local PA hire company, you can always hire 57's and stands of them as needed. They may also have o/heads to hire.

I think alfalfa's advice was correct, seeing as you are in Melb., check out Music Lab.........the Studio Project B1 could be a good choice for starters.

 

[billisa]

G'day. Used to live in OZ, loved it.

I live in melbourne. I want to be able to record bands but i dont have a big budget. obviously the most mics i will need are for the kit. From reading around and my experience (minimal) the best set up would be two oveerhead condeser's, a snare and kick. Also a snare could be usfull for guitar/bass/vox. maybe i'll be forced to get at least one say Shure SM57 for the snare etc as it will let me do the others.

keeping it to 4 tracks also keeps my snd card and mixer costs down

It seems to me that a lot of what people perceive to be a good mic is dependent on taste. one guy below said he likes "Behringer" gear yet someone else doesn't agree. does it come down a fair bit to personal taste??? or do clearly some mics stand out above others? i guess when you start getting real expensive taste does come into it... a lot like comparing a gibson to a fender... its all taste.

what did you have in mind ausrock?

I own a pair of Samson C01's which have a fine sound, though they have a higher level of self-noise than others, plus one of 'em just bugged out... I just bought a pair of Studio Projects B1's and from what I hear/read, these are phenomenal, even without the low price. If they cost you $200 in OZ, they will still likely be worth it. As to Behringer, some people just don't like Behringer products, but I have their UltraGain 2200 pre-amp and it's great. I wonder if there are mikes directly imported from China to OZ that might be duplicates of stuff we get here... Also, some people like the MXL 990... The Studio Projects have a VERY low self-noise level and many think they are similar to German mikes costing a bundle. Good luck mate.

 

[wilkee]

I must say Behringer is shit, there are lots of mics that are descent for a reasonable price, it jsut depends what you want

"Oh Well"
This is a very well thought out post . Keep up the good work!

 

[ashulman]

I have a Behringer B-2 and while I wouldn't say its the warmest thing on earth, it doesn't sound bad at all for the price. I am at a loss to explain the hatred of Behringer on this forum. Maybe its just the idea of Behringer and what they stand for. I don't know but it seems out of proportion to issues of quality.

 

[wilkee]

I have a Behringer B-2 and while I wouldn't say its the warmest thing on earth, it doesn't sound bad at all for the price. I am at a loss to explain the hatred of Behringer on this forum. Maybe its just the idea of Behringer and what they stand for. I don't know but it seems out of proportion to issues of quality.

I have two B1's & a B2 and completely agree with you, my earlier post was very much "tongue in cheek" (or sarcastic if you like).

 

[ausrock]

Wilkee,

Thanks for those pics.............much appreciated.

Chris O

 

[DJL]

Hey DJL, that thread almost became a novel ...........but I'd like to think some positives resulted.

I'd like to think so too...

 

[mgraffeo]

A few cheap mic possibilities for a kit:

2 Behringer ECM8000's for overheads
1 Shure SM57 on snare
1 Shure SM57 on kick

or

2 MXL 603S's for overheads
1 Shure SM57 on snare
1 Studio Projects B1 on kick

There's lots of other ways to go, this is just a jumping-off point, but something to think about. If you're really into economy of drum mics, then read this, before you decide you need 4 mics on the drums...

http://www.mercenary.com/3micdrumstuf.html

-mg

 

[alfalfa]

Moose54,

mgraffeo has given you some good advice in the previous post

Behringer ECM8000s cost $85 each in Aust and would be the best value overheads. You could also use them as room mics and for acoustic guitar.

MXL 603s cost a fortune here ruling them out if you are on a tight budget.

The Studio Projects B1 has been recommended a few times and is a versatile mic. And you cant go wrong with an sm57.

With a pair of ECM8000s, SP B1 and sm57 you would have the mics to handle a variety of situations, for not that much cash. The thing you might want later is another LD condensor for vocals to complement the SP B1. Its probably worth saving up for a Rode NT-1A, NT-1000, NTK or SP C1 or MXL V67 V69 etc and trying it out on the vocalists to see which suits them best.

I would probably avoid a Behringer B1, Samson CO1, Smpro MC01 (are they the same mic?) etc mainly on quality control / consistency issues (which I have read can be a major problem with many cheap mics). No need to take a risk when for the same price you can get a SP B1, though if you like their sound then go for it.

Alf

 

[ausrock]

Some warnings and suggestions...........

The Behringer ECM8000's are all that others have said, but two things to be aware of.........they are omni pattern, so will pick up sound from all around the room. This is fine if you are aware of it and can control any unwanted room noise.
Also, they are SMALL diaphram condensers and as such generate more self-noise (hiss) than either medium or large diaphram mics.............some people have reported that some of them are much more hissy than others, so it would pay to either check them out thoroughly in the store by running them through a mixer and turning the gains up fairly high...........try and get two that are very similar, OR make sure the store will let you return goods if they aren't performing correctly once you try them at home.

The MXL603's are a smallish (or maybe medium) diaphram mic. They have a wide cardoid pattern and are great on acoustic guitar and o/heads. They retail for $269 Aust. each, so you would expect to pay around te $210 mark (I think).

The Studio Projects B1 can be used on vocals, acoustics, toms, and if you have a pair, as o/heads.......the price of these was mentioned earleir.

Any of these condenser mics are capable of picking up the sound of a flea scratching it's balls at 10 paces!!!

If you are really on a tight budget, find someone who is stocking the copies of Shure's 57's.............I think that the brand is JTM. Try Melbourne Music or CC's Light and Sound. They would be good enough to get you started until you can afford the real thing. I borrowed the JTM 58 knock-off and it is not much different in sound to any of the 3 58's I have here.

You would be wise to avoid SMPro, Samson, Behringer (maybe) and Mann large diaphragm mics, and there's probably a couple of other brands out there that can be included in that list, as it seems that every man and his dog is trying to make a buck by importing "off the shelf" mics.............there was a guy recently advertising a Mann on Ebay aust., as German made...........

If you ain't sure, then ask here first!!!

 

[moose54]

awesome guys thanks for the tips.. mgraffeo thst exactly the sort of post i was after and thanks for the relevent comments... who are JTM never heard of them??

ECM8000's who has used them?? any comments here??? by the sounds of it they are good value for the price. however if i dont have the most deadest room in the world would i be better staying clear?? would trying to find a cardoid patterend mic be worth my time.... or for the dollars am i realy going to struggle to find somethign thats worth my time??

soem guy in the trading post had a sm57 for $150 which seems liek a decent price... or new in a shop for $180.. which seems pretty good too... is there a differenc between a SM57 and a SM57S?? i was lookign through my local music stores price guide and they had the SM57S retail at around $400. which seemed a bit rich compared to everywhere else i have seen...

the studio projects B1 seems to be a winner amongst all... looks like i can't go wrong there.

cheers. keep the comments comming

 

[Chris Tondreau]

I have a pair of the ECM8000's, which I bought for the purposes of using as drum overheads. Ironically, I haven't had opportunity to record live drums since I got them.

I DID try them on acoustic guitar in a very small spare bedroom studio that mostly sounds like ass. To compensate, I close-miced the guitar with a pair of them. To hear the result (one take, no effects, no EQ except to roll off a bit of the bottom "boominess" of the guitar, just the mics into the mixer, into Cubase, and exported totally raw) you can go to http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/christondreaumusic.htm . It's the first track.

Chris

PS... I could have avoided EQ all-together by putting the mics closer to the treble strings than the bass strings of the guitar, and/or used the low-cut switch on the mixer.

 

[ambi]

chris just out of curiosity, what is your signal path for that recording?

Also where do you buy your gear? Over on the west Coast everything seems to be an arm and a leg. And apparantly it's not like that everywhere. The big stores like tom lee and long and mcquade anyways..