I just buy the shoes.

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ste20man

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Hi all.

I recently bought my first mic, the SM57 and was really really pleased with the results I got on clean and distorted guitar from it. I knew I wanted it straight away and bought it instantly(I do that with shoes lol).

When I tried it on vocals though I didn't get such good results.

I'm completely new to recording and think that I want to invest in a condenser mic for singing + also double miking my guitar amp when I record that. Singing is most important though as the SM57 does a great job on the guitar.

To me there seems to be a lot more competition in condensers so I'm asking for help in understanding here.

I've got about £200 max to get a condenser and am wondering if you guys can name a standard condenser in that range that most people would say -

'There's your go-to mic' for those 2 applications, voice and guitar recording.

If you guys could give me your top 3 I'd be really grateful, cheers, Ste.
 
Sm57 sounded absolutely horrible on my voice. Not much detail, and an enormous mid-eq boost right in the worst place possible. I've read that the older ones are much better. I'd be interested to try out a vintage 57 from the 70s.
Get an mxlv67 or an mxl2003a.
 
Don't worry an SM57 is an essential mic for any musician and studio. Finding the right vocal mic can be such a challenge so much depends on your voice, style of music, budget, technique, signal chain and more so there can never be just one universal choice. A good large diaphragm condenser mic is a good place to start. If you need a mic for studio and stage consider one of the handheld condenser mics. I have recorded several dozen vocalists and every one needed a different mic and set up, but then I have a budget mic locker if i had a Neumann.....
 
I can't fault the SM57 at all. It captured such a perfect sound of both my clean and distorted guitar that I don't think I'll need any other mic for that purpose. I was 100% happy, excellent mic. I'm running through a Focusrite Saffire 6 into FL Studio and when I get a condenser its for small indoor studio purposes only.

There was a time about 6 months ago when I bought my KRK Rokit5 monitors that I thought to myself,

'That is going to be the last thing you'll need to buy'.

6 months later, I think I've realized that there is no 'top ceiling' lol.

If I can get a mic that fits my vocal needs(Dave Grohl like) and have it be able to double mike up my guitar amp(with the SM57) and also capture acoustic guitar, there really is nothing more I could buy - except - for trading up what I already have. :-) This is my final list of condensers, at least for now.

These are: Rode NT1-A AT3035 Studio Projects C1 AKG C2000B CAD m179 ADK Vienna 8

I'll be glad when I finally get it. It's probably the most difficult purchase I've ever done. Onwards and sideways. :-)
 
Research is your friend when making purchases as is buying form a place that allows exchanges (within reason). The CAD looks interesting to me. Be sure to invest in a good quality cable and even a nice mic pre.
 
The CAD did stick out to me too bassbrad.

I'm thinking now that I might spend up to £300 on a condenser. I know you should really buy the best equipment that you can and this really is all I can afford at the moment as I do need a condenser asap.

I don't know where this puts me, at least another day of reading reviews no doubt lol.

I wish I could speak to the condenser gods and ask which condenser at £300 would be considered the equivalent "standard" that the SM57 is to condensers but I don't think that is a possibility. Back to SOS to read some more reviews. :-)
 
I think no matter what mic you get there's always that "what if I had bought that other one?" syndrome. Try and listen to as many home recorded tunes here and see if you can find one that sounds like you and sounds like you want it to. Then ask the singer what he used. Read reviews (as you said) and see which one sounds like the best bang for your buck. I bought my RODE NTK based on reviews and my Sputnik based on the advice of my mastering engineer :D The Sputnik is still new so I can't tell you how wll it mixes yet but it is a little brighter (but not sibilant). The RODE still has a beefy midrange sound that I really like...
 
Since you're expressing your budget in pounds, I'll assume you're in the UK.

My present "go to" LDC is the SE2200A and the UK distributors offer a 7 day trial service on their mics so you could have a go and see what you think. Details of the seven day trial HERE.
 
I have come across a mic that is ex-display and has a 4 year warranty. It's the AT4040. They are selling for $527 and I can pick this one up for $410. From the reviews I have read, all seem to be singing its praises from forums to sound on sound.

I know that you should buy the best that you can afford and this is right on the top of my budget, but I think it's got value. I'm willing to go up to $400 now. If I'm gonna buy a mic that lasts and will be with me forever I can go the extra mile. Time to look around a bit more. :-)
 
You need to go to a retailer with a sound booth and try a few mics with "Your Voice"

If possible, try and record each one, since hearing a recording played back to you can reveal things you don't hear live.

I have an AT2035 and most folks (including myself) love it. Id say the the young female singer in our band has a much better voice than I have - but her tone is awful on the same mike. Give her a bog standard SM58 and she sounds great!

The SM57 will give you a lot of versitility in the studio - so you really need to concentrate on buying the right model for your vocals - and it may well turn out not be the most expensive buy on offer. If you don't feel a 100% with your vocals, the lack of confidence can be the beginning of a slippery slope for a live performers - so getting the right mic is not to be taken lightly.
 
The NT1000, and like Bobbsy said, the SE2200A. Great, decent priced mics that sell well too.
 
It's not a condensor, by my go to mic for a screamer (Dave Grohl type) would be an SM7
 
Managed to get to my local music store and try some mics out. Finally settled on the AT4040SM. Am really looking forward to getting my first song down so I can finally get to mixing!!!! Exiting times and thanks to everyone who has helped me out on this. Cheers, Ste. :-)
 
I believe for any good dynamic to sound great on vocals it requires a great preamp.
 
I know what you mean IK.

Or I should say that I know what you mean better now than I did some months back. When I was looking at an interface I had a limited range as to what I could spend. I ended up choosing the focusrite saffire 6 over the m-audio and others because most reviews and people said that they had better preamps. It's done an amazing job of getting my guitars in, along with my SM57. I just hope it holds enough to get a great vocal through. If not I'll have to trade up at some point in the near future.
 
You won't have to trade up, you could just add an external pre for vocals. Something like the Black Lion Audio Autuer, or a P- Solo.
 
Didn't know it could be done like that. I would like to have about £20,000 to spend on tech. But I'm getting by :-)

The AT4040 was so much better for my voice than the SM57. Have to record my brother for a work thing so am looking forward to seeing how it works on his vocal. Might be very similar to mine but still looking forward to it. I want to thank you's for all your help, much appreciated.
 
Yup you can add in preamps, compressors and EQ's! The SM57 will soud better on vocals with a better preamp but the AT4040 is another great mic too so your good to go! :D
 
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