condenser vs dynamic for beginner

[benh]

I've just bought a dididesign mbox and am in the process of thinking about buying a mic. I'll be initially recording steel string accoustic guitar and vocals (both myself). Working on a budget, I thought one reasonably priced large diaphragm condenser would get me out of trouble as most people seem to use condensers for that kind of thing, but after reading about the two kinds of mics I wonder if a dynamic mic might be a bit more forgiving for someone with no real recording experience and a quiet but not accoustically perfect room. the mbox has Focusrite mic preamps built in.

Any ideas. Thanks.

 

[Kasey]

I'm not real familiar with the Mbox - if it doesnt have phantom power and you dont have an external preamp then a condenser wont even work for you (maybe it does have phantom power, i don't know). If it does have phantom power, then I would go for the condenser even if you dont have much knowledge and your room is less than perfect. it's true that a condenser is going to pick up more sound of the room because its so much more sensitive, but with some work you can get it to sound good, i promise. besides that i would almost never mic an acoustic with a dynamic mic, unless it was aggressive acoustic rock, but even then...

 

[Big Kenny]

mbox has phantom, do a search for condenser and acoustic guitar and you will find:
sp B1
Cad m177 or 179
MXL 67 (or something)
I like the CAD, Dan at sound pure likes the B1 (at this price point, I'm not trying to say it is his favorite mic)
I've heard Warhead (and me) talk about the AT 3035 giving good results
I also REALLY like the Shure SM7 lately, this mic is a dynamic but rox on vox and can give you a clean usable acoustic guitar (if it's a good guitar)
best of luck!

 

[tdukex]

I would go with an LD condenser like one of those mentioned by BK.

 

[Sonic Idiot]

Go condenser. You'll be happy.

I am a big proponent of the B1. For $100, you can't go wrong. It sounds wonderful.

I also like the Oktava MK-319.

I did some spots for a PBS pilot once that I recorded at a friends house while my gear was in moving boxes. He had an M-box and an oktava. His room was very noisy, but it's all I had access to at the time. You can hear the results here:

http://www.dullum.net/pbs.html

The guitar bits and any samples you hear were all done with the Oktava mk-319 into an M-box. (The guitar is washburn parlor from the 1920's--it has a great charm to it.)

 

[lexdrummer]

I like a lot of your work SI. Great effort.

In regards to benh's microphone question, I would like to throw in what I call:

"Hail those cheap Chinease mics!....occassionally."

as example, hear is a link to a track I sketched for grampahs hats. The microphones employed were two old Nady CM88s. A full explanation is on the page. Sometimes it's all about a hunch, with the weirdest of gear selection experimentation. These are $50 Chinese microphones that get the big bashing here for the most part.

http://3box3.com/grampahs_hats_sunshine_lady.htm

Another good resource I found in the dynamic microphone range is the following page:

http://www.fingerpick.com/pickups.htm

In fact, the whole damned page is just great, great, great. If you scroll down the page 2/3 of the way you come to one of the sweetest double use microphone tests I have found on line. There are also good videos here too. It is a good way to do comparisons, and this well done page has made more of an EV lower end believer out of me for the sweetness of acoustic guitar when using a dynamic in studio or on stage.

I hope this helps you hear a little before you spend money benh. I found that no mic is explainable in words. It's always in the ears.

Never discount the lower value microphones out there if your ears are making the purchase.

 

[ozraves]

I've used the Mbox. The Audio-Technica AT4040 is the best mic in its price segment (under $300) for acoustic guitar and voice.

 

[Ding Dong]

Personaly, I LOVE dynamics. A sennheiser MD421 is an AMAZING all purpose mic. I have the AT 4040 as well and they are great , but i just find that dynamics are easier to use, you dont need a pop filter, phantom power etc. A good quality dynamic can be very, very sweet!

 

[benh]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies.
There's been a few recomendations for the b1 condenser, what about the c1?
Also, there's been a few interesting comments about using dynamics with Guitar, what about with vocals? What is it about condensers that makes tyhem so much more popular for recording?

 

[Kasey]

Also, there's been a few interesting comments about using dynamics with Guitar, what about with vocals? What is it about condensers that makes tyhem so much more popular for recording?

using dynamic microphones with vocals is much more common than using them with guitars. Although condensers are still usually a better choice for vocals, many male voices sound better through dynamics, and because they have a high SPL, they are the mics of choice for heavy rock screamers and such.
Condensers are used much more for recording because first of all they have a frequency response that sounds better with most instruments (piano, acoustic guitars, vocals, cymbals, room mics, etc.). Dynamic mics are still common in studios though, most people use them for things such as toms, bass drum, and any kind of amp. Also, condensers are a lot more sensitive than dynamic mics, which, if you have a nice sounding room, is much better for recording.

 

[Big Kenny]

I use a condenser and a dynamic whenever recording amps. The dynamic is placed close to the speaker while the condenser is placed at a distance (usually 3 - 6 feet) , thos seems to create a sense of space and depth.
There are no rules here, just what you do with what you've got. I've used a C1 on vox and acoustic with good results, I think Chris gave you a good idea with 4040. Good mic to work with now and you will always have a use for it

 

[Robert D]

Go condenser. You'll be happy.

I am a big proponent of the B1. For $100, you can't go wrong. It sounds wonderful.

I also like the Oktava MK-319.

I did some spots for a PBS pilot once that I recorded at a friends house while my gear was in moving boxes. He had an M-box and an oktava. His room was very noisy, but it's all I had access to at the time. You can hear the results here:

http://www.dullum.net/pbs.html

The guitar bits and any samples you hear were all done with the Oktava mk-319 into an M-box. (The guitar is washburn parlor from the 1920's--it has a great charm to it.)

Hey Sonic Id, those are very cool clips, especially #1. You know, I forgot how good the 319 sounds on guitar. That mic just continues to amaze me everytime I pull it out. I keep forgetting how good it sounds until I'm not getting the sound I want with it's more pricey mic locker room mates.

-RD

 

[benh]

Thanks, you've all given me some helful info.
My dad has a bit of a PA background and has offered me a couple of dynamic mics, an sm 58 and some akg (not sure what model). I think I might experiment and get a little recording experience with them before investing in a new mic (probanly a LD condenser) once I start to get an idea of what I'm listening to.

Ben

 

[cpc]

im in this exact same situation...im leaning towards buying both a cheap condenser and a nice dynamic. i have a behringer b-1 and a shure sm57/58 lined up. i hope i will be happy with my purchase, it seems like a smart deal to me for only 100 dollars each. that way even if you only find you like one of the mics then its like you spend 200 dollars on a mic you like which isnt bad at all.