I'm looking for two mics (instrument and vox)

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Rambone

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The title says it all. I'm looking for a microphone to mic my half-stack and a microphone for my vocals (I'm a male, BTW). I'm recording a set of demos in my living room. My recording technique of choice is to run the microphones straight into a Zoom h4n. I'd like to keep it the spending range no higher than 200 bucks (total price between the 2 microphones).

I almost settled on getting a SM57 (which I'm fairly comfortable with doing, atm) and a SM58. However, I'm particularly hesitant about the SM58 because I don't think it has enough output to go into my h4n (which has decent on-board preamps but I'm told they're not strong enough to sufficiently boost a low-output mic).

Any suggestions?
 
The SM57 and SM58 are the same thing, just the 58 has that ball-type spit screen on it. Are you trying to record the voice and amp at same time (otherwise why 2 mics?)
 
The Zoom also has (condenser) mics built in, IIRC. And multitracking capabilities. Maybe you just need to figure out how to use what you have.

And, yes, the SM57 and SM58 are the exact same mic. The only difference is the ball windscreen on the SM58.
 
You should also post questions about mics in the microphones section of the forum.
 
Get the cheap set, large and small, of MXL condensers for $100 and the SM-57 for $100. The MXL condenser will sound so much better than a SM-58 for recording vocals.
 
Are you sure? I have no experience with MXL but I've recorded decent sounding scratch tracks with SM58's before. I've read that the MXL's are screechy, and aren't so cardoid so they pick up more environmental noise.
 
I personally believe that a vocal track recorded with a large diaphragm condenser mic will turn out much clearer than the SM-58. The SM-58 is meant for more live applications. Whenever i have recorded vocals with dynamic mics they turn out muddy sounding. I was amazed when i finally bought that set of condensers. I'm not sure about them being screechy. They are not in my experience.

And the set comes with two. I've used the MXLs with an SM-57 on a guitar cab before and got good results.
 
Bassman Brad said:
The Zoom also has (condenser) mics built in, IIRC. And multitracking capabilities. Maybe you just need to figure out how to use what you have.
Click to expand...

I know that. I've been using the H4n for a month and I've pretty much mastered it from the inside out. The onboard mics, while well above average, don't have what I need to mic an amp or record vocals in the fashion that I desire.
 
jdutchak91 said:
I personally believe that a vocal track recorded with a large diaphragm condenser mic will turn out much clearer than the SM-58. The SM-58 is meant for more live applications. Whenever i have recorded vocals with dynamic mics they turn out muddy sounding. I was amazed when i finally bought that set of condensers. I'm not sure about them being screechy. They are not in my experience.

And the set comes with two. I've used the MXLs with an SM-57 on a guitar cab before and got good results.
Click to expand...

Is there a specific set of MXL's to look for?
 
jdutchak91 said:
I personally believe that a vocal track recorded with a large diaphragm condenser mic will turn out much clearer than the SM-58.
Click to expand...

It really depends on the voice. For example, the singer in my band doesn't pronounce his consonants very well, and has a boomy voice, so the recordings he did on his SM58 sounded nowhere near as good as it did using my RODE NT2-a. However, for someone whose overly breathy or has a sibilant voice, an LDC may be way too harsh for, say, a rock mix, so I'd go with the SM57.

A coworker of mine wants to record some death metal tracks at my studio. Since he's doing a lot of screaming, I'm going to put my SM57 on him, because he's not going near my new AT 4047 or even my NT2-a's. And to be fair, it'll probably turn out better too.
 
The SM57 is all around good choice, you can't go wrong there for guitar (elec). I follow the above opinions about a "large" diaphragm condenser for vocals. Even at the low end they are much more crisp and lively than the SM 58. As stated above I think they are the 57 in a ball end wind screen. (don't have 58 at the moment but have taken a few apart in the past, same guts). On a budget, check out the MIC forum for low end mics. Good stuff there. I too have a couple MXL's from the budget mic days. They work. As to your particular preference you may have to try out a few. NB Please read the Harvey Gerst mic primer, it will do you well. Be Well All.
 
Last note, the SM57 will likely not sound great on acoustic guitar. I've used it a few times and not really liked it. For Electric cabs and drums it's outstanding. For acoustic guitar, a SDC will be really nice, but the MXL V67G should do fine too. So if you're wanting the other mic for acoustic guitar, go for an SDC, if it's for electric and drums or even bass, get the SM57.
 
my opinion on the SM57 is that it sounds "okay" on everything, and "decent" on some things. It doesn't really excel anywhere. Granted it is better on guitar cabs and snare drums, but its by no means the best, even in its price range. But even on things like acoustic guitar and vocals, it "works." Its really all about mic placement.

I'm no SM57 lover, my two 57's were mothballed for three years. I just now started putting it back on snare again for the first time since early 2008, since I was getting sick of my Audix i5's tone. But I would prefer a 57 over a cheap LDC personally.
 
MXL v67g for vox and then an sm57. Can't go wrong! Might even have a little bit of cash left over from your budget ;)
 
Get a Sennheiser 421 and use it on both. Then you'll have a great mic and you can build a collection around it.
 
Rambone said:
Is there a specific set of MXL's to look for?
Click to expand...

The MXL 990/MXL 991 set has served me well.

I would say get the most expensive large diaphragm condenser that your budget allows. The MXL V67G is nice too. You really get what you pay for. I have found some great deals for microphones on eBay.
 
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