if you couldn't afford a SM57...

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sathyan

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if you couldn't afford an SM57, what microphone would you buy?

(yes, I realize the quality will be lower)

specifically for recording:
bass cabinet
drums
cymbal
tambourine
shaker
"Stomp"-like percussion


I have two other mics: Nady SP5 and Studio Projects B1. I'm using the B1 for violin, viola, mandolin, dobro, banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals. I'm pleased with the B1 for the vocals and acoustic strings. But its too sensitive for some of the percussion applications (I don't have cymbals yet so don't know if it will work well for that).

thanks
Sathyan
http://inkmusic.org
 
If you can afford those two mics, you can afford a Shure SM57. One can be had, currently, for around $50 on eBay.
 
Trick Question?

If you can't afford an SM57? Get out of the recording business and run as fast as you can. As any of us can tell you, this is an addictive hobby. First it'll be this cheap mic, then that cheap mixer. After recording a while you'll read more. You'll maybe even listen to some stuff and say " Why can't I get that sound?". Then you'll go and buy the SM anyway, having wasted the money on the Nady. It's how it happens. Save a dollar a day for two months and buy the SM57. You won't regret it. However, you'll still want more.;)
 
I don't know . . . maybe an SM-48. I think those are basically the same as the 57's and 58's . . . maybe they're B-stock, but I've used 'em for live gigs before and they sounded fine.
 
dude... radio shack. i kid you not.

i bought the $10 dollar one, and i seriously use it more than the SM58 i have. it has some more treble than the 58.

at this point, you probably couldn't discern a great difference anyways.

SHACK baby! :D
 
Sennheiser e835- I talked Guitar Center out of one for $45 new, and it's a perfectly good mic. AKG D770- good for all the stuff you mentioned. On the other hand, most of these mics can be found used on ebay for $50 or less, including SM57. If you can't afford that, you can't afford a mic.-Richie
 
sathyan said:
if you couldn't afford an SM57 <snip> [/url]
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If I couldn't afford a used $40 Shure SM57... I would either get a job or kill myself.
 
Get one of those cheap Behringer dynamics. I'll bet they're great. Probably sounds just as good as a SM57.
 
How come in the USA you can get one for like $70 or so? when over here in the UK we have 2 pay like £70 ($120)

James
 
bfsuk said:
How come in the USA you can get one for like $70 or so? when over here in the UK we have 2 pay like £70 ($120)

James
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Because you're being punished for your role in the revolutionary war. And you aren't through paying yet bud.
 
You gotta be kidding. I dont even WANT to own a nasally boxy sounding SM57. If I couldnt afford something better I just wouldnt record.
 
bfsuk said:
How come in the USA you can get one for like $70 or so? when over here in the UK we have 2 pay like £70 ($120)

James
Click to expand...

we're too nearby to france and they could end up benefitting from the whole thing. if we get out of the EU and maybe tow our island across the atlantic the yanks will start giving us the privileges our 'alliance' merits.....


SATHYAN - as Richie said. I have quite a few sennheiser dynamics and they're fantastic, i would take them over 57s any day anyway. and in relation to a recent thread on their durability, i watched two of my e845s get trashed on saturday night at a gig and apart from the black paint coming off the grilles on top they show no signs of damage. i'm well over 200 pounds and i can cheerfully stand on them, too.
 
tubedude said:
You gotta be kidding. I dont even WANT to own a nasally boxy sounding SM57. If I couldnt afford something better I just wouldnt record.
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:eek: :eek:

nasally....boxy....?

yeah...get a Sennheiser you weenies!!! Der's a million broken ones for sale on Ebay at any given time!! (<----joke) ha ha!;)
 
yep, one of the sennheiser e8x5 dynamics for sure. i like em much better than the sm57/8's i have.

and similar to what DJL said, if you can't afford a $40 used sm57, then you probably need to re-evaluate what you're recording and why. few things are as basic as "use a decent mic".

and we especially don't want to hear you posting "why doesn't my recording sound pro?". either! :D :p


wade
 
personally, i dont care how cheap your mics are.

i dont think you shouldnt record just because you dont have or dont want to spend a lot of money.

i would assume that you didnt want to spend the $79 + tax or shipping for a new SM57, and yes, for less than that you can get a perfectly good mic.

lots have been named.

dont listen to the people who say you should not record.
 
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I listened to the recordings on your website, and I hear a lot of distortion from overdriving your mics. It is particularly distorted when your vocals get loud, and when multiple instruments are playing at once. The harmonies on "My Own Space" and the chorus on "Somebody Else" are particularly distorted. It makes me wonder if you are using a preamp at all (i.e. you're overdriving to compensate for lack in amplitude). If you're not BUY ONE NOW. Audiobuddy is cheap and gives 2 channels. I agree with eeldip, don't let a small budget stop you from being creative, but make sure your signal chain is at least adequate.
 
yea, wow. ink. some strange music.

kinda reminds me of The Residents or other Ralph records stuff. is that what you are going for?

and yea, distortion seems to be peppered all over your recordings. not that there is anything inherently WRONG with distortion... but if you are trying to avoid it, we can help.
 
kdoggity said:
If you can afford those two mics, you can afford a Shure SM57. One can be had, currently, for around $50 on eBay.
Click to expand...

I can never find SM57s on eBay for less than new prices (around 70-80). And I look just about every day. Next time you see one that's about to go for 50, let me know...
 
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