Condencer mic under $600

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lttoler

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I am looking for a second condencer mic to try some different sounds. Right now I have a Rode K2 and it sounds great recording some of my friends, but for me it just isnt sounding that great. I seem to get better recordings using my SM58 for myself. I am looking for something preferably aroun $300 to try. Maybe something by Shure or Audio Technica. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!
 
Well, you could always try the Audio Techinca 4040. Maybe a shure SM7 (even though it's not a condensor), or the shure KSM27 or KSM32. You mess with tube mics much???
 
Everything Sleeper said is a good place to look, if you where willing to go up to $600 you can check out the Blue Baby Bottle.
 
I'm not a pro or anything like that so you can take my opinions with a grain of salt. I had similar problems getting a mic that soudned "ok" on me and not until very recently have I been happy with anything on myself. For me alot of things sounded harsh on me that sounded wonderful on other people. The mics I own at this point that I found helped with that alot are the at4074, the sm7 and my favorite which is above the 600 bucks you mentioned is a mojave ma-200. I think the sm7 is probably a winner at the price you mentioned but thats just my personal opinion, no facts in here at all.

Take care man, good luck on your mic purchase

Gary
 
Not to be a dick, but there are only a handful of mics (I've found) this forum overall recommends. I don't feel like sifting through the results myself, so here ya go!

300 dollar search:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/search.php?searchid=1264872

500 dollar search:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/search.php?searchid=1264857

600 dollar search:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/search.php?searchid=1264859

It looks like there are a few specific threads in the 600 dollar search that might yield the best results. However, if you are looking to spend half that, I wouldn't bother. You might also want to look into swapping the tube if you are using the stock one in the K2. I swapped mine and it sounds fantastic - it might not be a big enough jump though to get you where you like your own voice through it.
 
I would say an AKG c414 off of ebay. There is a new one on there for $569. They are a great versatile mic.
 
You don't say what you don't like about your voice in condensers, but my guess is that they sound a little brittle or hash. If so, you might consider either either an ADK Generis GT-2 (dark), a CAD M9, or a ribbon.
 
One of the ribbons might be a way to go... I'll let ya know how the Cascade sounds when I get it on Tuesday (bought a VIN-JET):

cascasemicrophones.com
 
There are several good sounding mics in this price range but I will caution that they can be very specific in the way they sound on particular voices.

ADK Hamburg or Vienna II. Better than the originals by a bunch.

Shure SM7B. Already mentioned a lot.

Electrovoice RE20. Made for....er...voice.

And finally, a mic that for some reason gets no mention at all for vocals but is one of the best in the world. Granted it is sold as a 'live' mic, just hear one and be educated as to its high-end quality on MOST vocalists. Neumann KM105. Put it on a stand and put up a pop filter....use it for a vocalist who 'likes to get into it'...ignore the shape.. just because its built like an SM58 or a Beta doesnt mean this thing doesnt sound like a $3000 condenser mic.
Who cares whether it lives on a stage or in a studio. It works quite well. Usually you can find one for around the 6 hundred number. Not many used ones ....probably for a good reason.
 
Okay, I prolly should have added this in the first post, but please give me some updated opinions. The main thing with the Rode K2 is that my vocal track sounds too dark and starts to sound harsh when I try to brighten it up. Using the SM58 it sounds much better and clearer, but I would like to find the right condencer to give it a lil more presence...
 
lttoler said:
Okay, I prolly should have added this in the first post, but please give me some updated opinions. The main thing with the Rode K2 is that my vocal track sounds too dark and starts to sound harsh when I try to brighten it up. Using the SM58 it sounds much better and clearer, but I would like to find the right condencer to give it a lil more presence...
Click to expand...

I'm going to stick with my suggestion of ribbon. Unlike condensers, they usually don't have any sharp frequency response peaks. As a result, you can EQ the living crap out of 'em and they won't sound brittle or harsh.

I find that with a little EQ, I can use my ribbons on pretty much anything (except kick drum). With condensers, it either works or it doesn't. If it doesn't and it isn't pretty close, I grab a different mic. Ribbons are just a lot more versatile, IMHO, at least among the condensers in my price range. :D
 
Hey dgatwood - you used your ribbon on acoustic guitar at all? Im rather excited to try the one I bought out on my acoustic, but it hasn't come yet, and I'm getting ancy :D
 
You may want to consider an A/T 4047. Darker than most A/T's. Generally good on male vocals.
 
But wouldn't I need to get away from darker sounding mics? What's some good ribbon mics to check out in this range?
 
cusebassman said:
Not to be a dick, but there are only a handful of mics (I've found) this forum overall recommends.
Click to expand...


And there is a reason for it... those are the can't lose work horses of the world. But why be hung up on getting a condensor specifically? An SM7, RE20, or MD421 might be just the thing for you. I can't say enough good things about my SM7. Few things don't work well on it and sit well in a mix.... sitting well in the mix being the most important job of any mic.
 
At 4060

If you're interested I'm selling an AT 4060 for $600.

Pier
 
bubbagump said:
And there is a reason for it... those are the can't lose work horses of the world.
Click to expand...

Ooh - I didn't mean to imply that this was a bad thing. I just wanted the OP to understand that performing a search would yield a specific subset of microphones - not just a million individual suggestions, which would basically render the search useless :)

Out of all the cheap junk that's available, of course you only wind up with a few excellent pieces that work in many situations. The rest of it is either too application-specific, or just doesn't work very well (either considering the cost or in spite of it :p)

Its difficult at this tage to tell you (the OP), what mic you should try. As you yourself can see, a mic can work wonders for one person, and just not do it for someone else. It just so happens the K2 works well with my voice. Doesn't for you, so you'll need to try something else.

As the last poster said, don't limit yourself to condensers - maybe try and get your hands on an SM7, or a ribbon to test out.
 
purely personal opinion . . . and while my desert island (with some magical power source) island mic might well be AKG C414 (though there are specific U67FET's that might beat out specific C414's) suggestion here is to second

a look at both shure KSM32 and Audio Technica AT4050

I am a big fan of ribbons but generally speaking would not start building the mic cabinet with one

the KSM32 & AT4050 (graphs don't really tell all that much but included two jpegs) are not equivalent in 'sound' but either one is a genuine workhorse mic, each has a robust build, each can be used for almost any application (do not think I've used either inside a kick drum) . . . are not typically mics you'd trade in or pass down to the nephew (while you're still alive) The AT4050 is dual diaphragm multipattern (jpeg is for cardioid)

(for me the C414 is the mic I reach for first with unknown vocalists, it tends to be 'the' mic less then half the time . . . on male vocals probably a little less then that . . . but even on male vocals it will edge out a run of the mill U67 more often then not . . . again this is personal taste and not an absolute recommendation .. . tastes vary, rooms vary, mileage will vary)
 

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