Have the soundcard, need a mic

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andibleed

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Mic for Vox/Acoustic Guitar - Help! (I have a Firebox)

Hey everyone,

I just bought my Presonus Firebox, and Im excited to get recording. I want to make an informed choice with microphones, so Im asking the experts! :)

Okay, I record acoustic guitar a vocals. The vocals tend to get quite loud, and there are screams. I'm a guy, but I dont have a very deep voice. Its normal, and I can get kind of high when I sing. Not so high you'd think it was a girl, though.

I want a single mic to record the guitar and the voice. I also do podcasting, so it should be sufficient for spoken word (but thats not too important at all). For my podcast right now Im using a Samson CO1U USB mic. Its pretty good, but I dont know much better.

My budget is under 300 USD. Thanks!
 
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Hi,

For around your budget, you can try the Behringer B-2-PRO . Some may shun Behringer products because they cost less that other popular brands. However, my recording team and I have used numerous behringer products in studio applications, and they have gotten the job done. Here's a recent recording of a song entitled "How You Like It", recorded and mixed by A.J. Lawson for an artist named Nuttie who just finished touring in Rosarito Beach, Mexico with groups like the Ying Yang Twins and T.I. All the vocals were recorded on a Behringer B-2 PRO, that only cost around $150. You can find this mic on sale for about that price.

Hope this helps,

Jake
Homerecorder
 
I've used that Beri during a comparison test at a local shop and I hated it. I'm sure you've had good results jake but I found it to be noisy and tinny...didn't like it at all.

As for mic recommendations, we seriously get this question every other day andibleed...did you even try searching?

Here's what I suggest...go do some research for yourself. If you want 1 mic, then go look up at sweetwater or musicians friend or Music 123 all the mics that cost around 300 bucks, take a look at their descriptions, search for what people say about them here, and then come back and say:

I've gotten a Firebox, and now I'm looking at ___ mic, ____ mic, and ____ mic. I have this kind of voice____ and I want to record this kind of music ____ using this kind of instrument _____ (you fill in the blanks). What do you think? What could I get used that would be better and the same price? Tell me about your experiences with these mics? Does anyone have some soundclips I could listen to?

That approach will get you miles of leeway here because it proves that a) you can do your own research, b) you're not a friggen idiot, c) you're not just being lazy and want the answers given to you, and d) you're willing to be humble and ask specific questions to people who you recognize know more than you. - by the way, I don't think you're an idiot, I'm sure you do research, you're probably no lazier than I, and everyone's capable of being humble...

Just some positive words to vent frustration! Have a good day,

Jacob

P.s..could someone make this a sticky, I wish I had a dollar for everytime I or someone has to say something like this...Them's the bumps on the road though!
 
jkokura said:
I've used that Beri during a comparison test at a local shop and I hated it. I'm sure you've had good results jake but I found it to be noisy and tinny...didn't like it at all.

As for mic recommendations, we seriously get this question every other day andibleed...did you even try searching?

Here's what I suggest...go do some research for yourself. If you want 1 mic, then go look up at sweetwater or musicians friend or Music 123 all the mics that cost around 300 bucks, take a look at their descriptions, search for what people say about them here, and then come back and say:

I've gotten a Firebox, and now I'm looking at ___ mic, ____ mic, and ____ mic. I have this kind of voice____ and I want to record this kind of music ____ using this kind of instrument _____ (you fill in the blanks). What do you think? What could I get used that would be better and the same price? Tell me about your experiences with these mics? Does anyone have some soundclips I could listen to?

That approach will get you miles of leeway here because it proves that a) you can do your own research, b) you're not a friggen idiot, c) you're not just being lazy and want the answers given to you, and d) you're willing to be humble and ask specific questions to people who you recognize know more than you. - by the way, I don't think you're an idiot, I'm sure you do research, you're probably no lazier than I, and everyone's capable of being humble...

Just some positive words to vent frustration! Have a good day,

Jacob

P.s..could someone make this a sticky, I wish I had a dollar for everytime I or someone has to say something like this...Them's the bumps on the road though!
Click to expand...


great advice. listen to this guy. i don't understand why people can't do this in the first place.....!!!!
 
Okay, I read up and I found that Studio Projects were well accepted.

Now my question is B1 or C1. Right now, vocals are more important, but guitar should come out sounding good. For guitar, would it be better to get different kinds of mics, or two of one of the SP's? Thanks.

As I said, my voice can get a little high for a guy, but not so much youd think it was a girl. I also do some screaming, but not that much. Maybe two or three times in a 3 minute song.
 
This brings up an interesting question. With a budget of $300, why not go for a Shure KSM, a RODE NT1000, or an AKG C3000? I've never used Studio Projects mics, but I've also never seen them in any studios I've been in or read about. Those three names have been in lots of studios and are within your budget. Just something else to think about.

Rory
 
Hmm, well if I can get the quality that people are raving about from SP, I dont think Id need to pay extra for something I may not notice. I guess my price range now, knowing the quality I can get, would be like 200 USD. Im also in Canada, so things are more expensive.
 
Another good option would be a mic from Audio Technica. Look into the 4033, 4040 and 3035. All available at your price point.
 
jkokura said:
I've used that Beri during a comparison test at a local shop and I hated it. I'm sure you've had good results jake but I found it to be noisy and tinny...didn't like it at all.

As for mic recommendations, we seriously get this question every other day andibleed...did you even try searching?

Here's what I suggest...go do some research for yourself. If you want 1 mic, then go look up at sweetwater or musicians friend or Music 123 all the mics that cost around 300 bucks, take a look at their descriptions, search for what people say about them here, and then come back and say:

I've gotten a Firebox, and now I'm looking at ___ mic, ____ mic, and ____ mic. I have this kind of voice____ and I want to record this kind of music ____ using this kind of instrument _____ (you fill in the blanks). What do you think? What could I get used that would be better and the same price? Tell me about your experiences with these mics? Does anyone have some soundclips I could listen to?

That approach will get you miles of leeway here because it proves that a) you can do your own research, b) you're not a friggen idiot, c) you're not just being lazy and want the answers given to you, and d) you're willing to be humble and ask specific questions to people who you recognize know more than you. - by the way, I don't think you're an idiot, I'm sure you do research, you're probably no lazier than I, and everyone's capable of being humble...

Just some positive words to vent frustration! Have a good day,

Jacob

P.s..could someone make this a sticky, I wish I had a dollar for everytime I or someone has to say something like this...Them's the bumps on the road though!
Click to expand...

This would be good advice if doing the research were that easy. Its not like looking up information on cancer in your local library. There's a milion different boards and websites with such fragmented threads about microphones so its tough to look through them all. Not to mention that most of the articles you read are about a mic in general or in a specific situation. Not everyone who asks the question has the same situation.

I agree everyone could take 10 minutes to search the forums for some keyword. I also agree you could take 10 seconds to pound out "studio projects, or Shure KSM" in a thread you were already reading.
 
andibleed said:
Well Studio Projects seems good.

What would be better for acoustic guitar and vocals? B1 or C1?
Click to expand...

I've owned a C1 and I've used B1's...

The C1 was good on vocals, and sucked on guitar. At the same price level I would get either an AT 4040 (used 200) or a CAD M179 (used 150) instead (I sold my C1 and got the M179...and I like my AT 4040 waaaay more)

The B1 was good on Acoustic. I liked it alot for instrument use, but I didn't 'feel' it on my vocals. It's just not right for it I don't think....Once again I would try the M179 or the AT 4040 here, but truth be told I like to do my acoustic recording with SDCs... I use a pair of Oktava MK012's, and I have used MXL 603's and JM27's for acoustic. The reason a pair get used is because it 'can' give you a stereo image of the guitar, and the reason SDC's get used is...well...I'm not sure of the reason! I just like the sound (more often than not) better using SDC's instead of LDC's...Anyway, the Oktava's are smokin, and the 603's/JM27's were ok.

My vote is that you pick up an M179/AT4040, and then later on grab a pair of SDC's.

Jacob

Ps...I'm in Canada too, and if you do it right, it can be alright for pricing.
 
The AT4040 seems really good. Is there something thats a little less expensive? Or would this be a good starter choice for acoustic guitar and vocals?
 
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