Low Cost Vocal Mic for Studio

[bongolation]

Ya know......

And from MY perspective it seems like there is an awful lotta hype surrounding these mics. And ALL OF THE HYPE is coming from guys that just found this place. IF you took the time to read my posts on this maybe you would understand where I'm coming from on this issue. I don't like the idea that the resource I have found to be the best on the net becomes saturated with hype about ANY product.

Yeah, I missed exactly what microphone you're referring to, but the breathless hype about this microphone or that preamp or some other A/D converter gets to me, too. It's all subjective and meaningless, especially coming from people with extremely limited experience in using a broad range of competing products in a competently run studio.

Reasonably experienced people do the same thing, unfortunately, even when they should know better. My take is that a piece of equipment is inherently adequate or it isn't, and beyond that, it's what you do with it. You can get exceptionally good results from so-so equipment if you know what you're doing and have the motivation to work with it and tweak around the shortcomings. Likewise lazy, inexperienced people expect some gee-whiz piece of equipment to do the work for them. It won't.

People read a bunch of silly promotional puffery, buy on the basis of it and forever after try to justify that action (and their genius) to everyone else by claiming what they bought is fantastic stuff.

It took me a couple of months to figure out that 90%+ of the posts about subjective sound quality (as opposed to objective features) in hardware were completely worthless.

Thus, my advice to get good examples of cheaper large-diaphragm condensers with basically adequate sound qualities and bag some software to tweak them with. That should keep someone busy for a while and save a lot of money, which was the priority expressed up front anyway.

Equipment-freakism is a total waste. It will not produce good recordings.

 

[Dot]

For a $199 C1 try Magic Audio in Atlanta, 404-329-9494 or www.magicaudio.com

I've known about homrec for quite some time, I've just never registered. I logged on and posted my review of the C1 because I saw that there were enough references here to my review on other BBS's.

I'm not interested in hyping anything, and there's tons of equipment I don't like. I know a lot of people here and on other boards work hard for the money they have. I just wanted to throw a bone out that the SP mics are great and with that, hopefully turn some other people on to some new products I'm genuinely excited about that don't cost an arm and a leg.

If anyone wants to discuss the C1 w/ a "non-newbie", stop by www.vsplanet.com where I'm well known as one of the more experienced members and have contributed almost 3000 posts. Thanks.

 

[chazba]

Hey Hix

I believe the title of this thread includes the words LOW COST
There are threads for guys to congratulate themselves and each other for how much money they've spent on equipment. This ain't it. I hope your other numerous posts are more relevant than this last one. Mind your own business

 

[chazba]

back to C1

I checked this thread out because a friend just bought one and recommended it highly. He has several mics in his locker and knows how to use them. I wanted to see what others had to say.
I'll audition a C1 when I get the chance. Thanks for the other comments, including the mention of other mic's in this price range...

 

[electricbeats]

swallow your pride

you guys/girls don't really think that attributes like newbie, recording genius ... say anything about the actual sender ?
Known as a 'gearhead' I spend way too much money on equipment and devices that I use to 'help me creating' the sound I do, either live or in studio, I just checked the thread to see if there's something of interest in the 200$ price range.
But all I can read is offence and defence in issues that have nothing to do with the actual topic of the thread.
Well what the ... I'm liksted as a NB too, who cares? I've been long enough in the biz to know what I'm talking about and theres no recording genius who can offend me, because the truth is that I've never had the time to contribute to any of these forums and did not bother either. (why reading crap and childish threads when theres a job I could do for money)
Since I do have a T1 connection with a flatrate I'm getting into the forum stuff...
I'm here to get info that I'm interested in AND to help other people with the things I know, so If there's good mics out there for less than 350$ (my peferred Mics) so feel just free to bring it up...
And if theres just one company who does it, - well then I'll surely check it out BUT I'LL make the decision if the gears worth the price I pay ( including the time to check it out), if not - I'll not buy it - it's that easy, folks

so provide infos, personal opinions, whatever - but don't give me posts like the recent ones...
a few more like that and I'll unsubscribe to that 'kindergarden'...

hope to herare more serious stuff now

 

[Telefunken]

Originaly posted by hixmix
"Fuck "low cost". When a person has talent, cost isn't a factor. If a person has an
ounce of talent, mics will be shoved in their face and no one will give two shits
whether they came from Neumann or Radio Shack."

This statement is absolutly insane. I just judged a song writting contest were there was tons of talent, but some of the more talented people couldnt afford to have there stuff recorded professionaly. The people who were the finalist out of 73 entrys werent the best musisians/singers, but, the sound quality was what helped them be finalist in the song writting contest. I don't care how talented you are, if your not singing it to a hi quality studio mic, you might as well not be singing at all. Our society is so spoiled by hi sound quality product that it is hard to satisfy anyone these days unless it sounds good. It is sad but true.
Just my two cents, take or leave it.

www.mp3.com/Rich_Bischoff

 

[chessparov]

Re: "Ella" comments, "99% comments, etc.

Darkfriend, your question has certainly taken an entertaining path!
Since you received good sugestions on mikes to consider, I'm going to
comment on some of the comments. Ella was a great jazz singer-no
question about it, however, as Telefunken said recording quality is a
factor. Barbara Striesand is so concerned about how she sounds she
not only uses a Neumann U47, she only uses a certain serial numbered
one for her recordings! If it was that easy for the major studios to use
"el cheapo" mikes and get great results they would use more of them
to do major releases for top and up and coming artists.
And if 99% of the present participants left their "day jobs" we could call
this site "homelessrecording.com"! I made a choice 15 years ago not to
complete my training to become an opera singer or session vocalist
(And it was not due to lack of talent or opportunity!) Amazingly enough
I never looked back as I've had a great life and still love making music too.
I bet there are plenty of strong vocalists who read and respond here so
it would be wise not to read too much in the "newbie" designation.


P.S. Dot, I hope you will continue to post here, vsplanet.com is a great site
and I was aware of your many contributrions there.

 

[Ham On Rye]

sillyness, go a/b some 200 dollar and below mic's, make a decision, buy it. take it back when you dont like it... for my money, the marshal v67, at 3035 are the two to look at right now. the audio technica 3035 felt a bit more flat.. the 67 a bit more warm. a lot goes into deciding a mic.. what kind of voice do you have? boomy? then go with the 3035.. thin then the 67.. im sure there are equals i havent heard.. but ive heard these..

 

[darrin_h2000]

Dudes, be cool and dont let some small comment ruin your day, Its not worth it.

I for one would love an audition of the mic before I buy It because of the fact that even if It sounds like a neumann u87(that would be worth my 230.00) It may not suit my voice like It will yours. I think all mikes should be auditioned before buying. Not because Alan Hyatt says thier good (Of course he says its great, HE OWNS THE COMPANY).

Dont buy the mic because everyone is hyping it up, buy it because you think Its the shit. and you have heard them all.

Now thats sound advise

 

[Wide Awake]

Who would have guessed that this thread would attract so many whiners.

I'm a newbie but I'm really not, you're just gear snobs, you're a troll, I'm gonna leave if you all don't play nice, wha, wha, wha.

Take some advice from a "recording expert". Grow a pair and stop getting so bent out of shape when people make comments that clash with your own. You will enjoy this site more and the threads won't get side-tracked with trivial bickering.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I agree with Wide Awake....

What The FUCK is the big issue about???????????

You go to your local store, you pick a mic in your price range, take it home, try it out... if you like it, there's your mic, if not - return it and try another... keep doing this until you find the mic that works for ya.....

Jeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuuuuuusssssss!!

You waste more fuckin' time bullshitting about it than actually recording!!!!!!!!!!!! You could have auditioned a couple a dozen mics since this thread started.......

End of rant...

Bruce

 

[Telefunken]

Dot

I am also a member of www.vsplanet.com and post over there on a regular basis. I totally value Dots opinion, he seems to have a lot of recording knowlegde and he is always willing to reply to a post even when it is a newbie and he probably has better things to do. He is a very helpful person. But Dot I have never heard any of the music you have recorded. If you can post some stuff I would really love to hear it, as I am sure others would as well.

www.mp3.com/Rich_Bischoff

 

[chessparov]

Wide Awake, none of the responses posted on this thread really can be considered
"whining". Actually, from the hundreds of posts I've read here prior to doing any posting
they seemed pretty typical. Overall this site has had a lot of great advice from members
like yourself. You probably know that current contributors like Harvey Gerst, Alan Hyatt,
and Stephen Paul have almost stopped posting here due to less than positive reception
they initially received and that it would be a great loss if members like that left.
By the way, I would hesitate on a $99 condenser too, due the probable lack of quality control.

Back to the topic... Darkfriend, if there's a Mars Music, Guitar Center, or local store where
you are allowed to record yourself using different condenser mikes-that can be a big help
in deciding which one to choose which is best for you.

 

[chessparov]

Hi Bruce! Thanks for adding your sense of humour, I cracked up reading
your last post.

 

[electricbeats]

he, he,

so I'll give you an expert advice too:

Don't feed you family for 2 weeks, stop smoking, work harder and you will be able to buy a mic for around 350$ - you will find the ones you (and everybody) should go for :

Multi purpose condenser mic, able to handle sound sorces up to ca 140db, almost linear frequency response, range from around 7 Hz to 30k,omnis or cardioids

in the web store of
www.earthwks.com

even if you cant try them out in the net you will find a list of dealers

so get it a reference, buy old sansui mics on the fleemarket for 10 bucks for other purpose

your family will forgive you at least, and you have a mic that you enjoy on your way from being newbie to becoming a recording expert



this was the word of the day

rev. KG

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Hi Bruce! Thanks for adding your sense of humour, I cracked up reading
your last post.

Well -- I WAS trying to be funny, but also half-serious.... part of learning about recording is getting out there and DOING IT....

Experiment, try new gear, don't like it? Sell it or take it back... if you spend more time talking about gear than actually using it for recording, well that seems a bit silly to me!

Cheers dudes....



Bruce

 

[Hard2Hear]

whoa, there are a lot of new guys over hee.

c7, maybe they are little chinese guys who make those mics.

ha ha ha

H2H

 

[Queue]

Do I even need a condenser?

Ok fellas,
-This newbie is trying to grow ears- , and it seems things are on topic now (mostly), sorry about the rant earlier, but there was about 4 posts in a row there that were completely useless..., and that is painful @56k. I'm much more tolerant of OT stuff when it comes flying down the T1 here at the day job.

After reading today's posts, plus a few over in the $500 version of this thread, I'm leaning toward keeping my $200, and sticking with my good ol' SM57. Mebbe I'll use some of that money for a pop filter.

Is a condenser mic a nuisance, and a waste of time and $ in a one room (loft) recording environment where the PC hums away, and I do not have a vocal booth (or anything close)?

Queue

- oh, btw, I continue to record.... post.... record..... post... record... (delete crap) record some more...
- and there's no dealers carrying the C1 within a few hours of me, so I cannot A/B them...
-lastly (for now) thanks Dot for the tip on magic audio, if I cannot resist, I'll hook up with them.

 

[chessparov]

Queue, a nice condenser can be had for $200 or less and it would
be a good complement to your SM57. The SM57 is great for rock
and blues vocals. You may still want a condenser for greater vocal
detail. Presently I'm using an audio-technica at 3527 (omni) to
avoid extraneous noise. My only complaint is that it has a presence peak at approximately 8khz which makes it prone to
sibilance, so I have to cut it 2-3 db using my Joe Meek V3Q pre-amp. Shure's flagship stage mike, the Shure Beta 87 is on the way to me from ebay, and if anyone's interested I'll let you know
how it sounds. I paid approximately $200 for a new one including shipping. Like the SM57 it's nice to have the flexiblity to use these mikes live.

 

[electricbeats]

do you need a condenser ?

since condenser mic capsules have quicker transiens and a wider frequencyy range they are more universal than a dynamic ones. They pick up more harmonics over the entire frequency range and give a more precise 'image' pf the source.
Almost every dynamic mic has its own character, just think of an SM 58 . Today it's the most popular vocal mic due to the fact that almost every voice sounds more or less good thru it. Together with the rugged hardware design it can be found on almost every stage in the world. On the other side if you compare the recording of a few different voices with 58 and with a condenser mic you will hear that on the tracks recorded with the condenser the individual vocals sound more different whereas with the 58 the difference is less. This shows you how much 'characteristic' the 58 'adds' ( also by NOT picking up certain things) to the sound source.

So the choice becomes more a matter of individual taste with a dynamic mic.

For general purpose recording (low level sources, acoustic instruments as well as whispered vocals, Drums with short attack times etc) I'd suggest a condenser mic.