Mic Questions

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electricabanana

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Okay, I am going to buy a mic, but right now i can only really afford one (in addition to the couple pieces of crap i already have), so i dont want to get the wrong one.

I will be using it to record a variety of stuff, mostly acoustic though....guitars, violins, vocals, handdrums and occasionally a drumset maybe. I am thinking about a condenser (i have an offer in for an apex 410, for $100, is this a good deal??)

I am recording through a mixer (to be upgraded) to a delta 44.

Some questions about condenser

1. Is a condenser a good mic for all around use?
2. how hot are they compared to, say, a consumer dynamic mic?
3. how intense of sound does it take to damage them? (i suppose it varies from mic to mic, but for the apex 410 then?) can i do drums (as an overhead) with it?

thanks
-genevieve
 
Hey genevieve,
I just answered your other post! :p
I think the main thing you will find is the amount of extra detail you will hear from the condenser vs your cheap dynamic... the sensitivity will be much higher and (the potentially unfortunate flip side) you will hear much more of what's going on in the room (good and bad). I think for your purposes of recording mostly acoustic/voice you will be far happier with it.
One thing to remember though, with this mic you will need phantom power...
 
Thanks, for your help.

I'm not looking forward to hearing more of my room! but I am moving soon, hopefully to a space where I can set something a little better up!

I have phantom power, so I'm going to get the mic i think, And now on my horizon are a couple more mics that I'd like to add to my collection....I can tell that recording is one of those cases where there is always something more to buy:-)

thanks again!

next step...learn how to make decent patch cords...
 
Yep, welcome to the bottomless pit!
I just answered your other post (again), I think you'll be happy with the Apex for what you need, but it'll definitely be just the first of many mic's you end up with down the road... $$$ :D
 
electricabanana said:
mostly acoustic though....
Click to expand...
i just answered your other post reccommending a shure sm57 BUT now i see that you will mostly be recording acoustic stuff and you would get much better results with a condensor. the apex mentioned above would be good and i have heard and seen the rode nt1a mic used for micing acoustic guitars and a drumset so i believe both would be a safe bet. but PLEASE get a good preamp of a mixer with a good preamp in cause it would be completely pointless spending so much on a fantastic mic to just get the sound ruined by a noisey preamp. Good luck :)
 
Shure 57, I read that ad nauseum & and it's making me nauseous. There are a 1000 mics in the naked city & that's just ONE of them.
GO to a STORE & TRY the MICS out for their INTENDED purpose & then BUY what suits your BUDGET & TASTE.
Cheers
rayC
 
The Shure SM57 is a good instrument mic. Works well for screaming vocalists..

Condensers vary- Pencils are good for drum overheads, acoustic pianos, string instruments (vioin, viola, cello etc) The large diaphragm and ribbom mics are very sensitive- great for trained/experienced vocalists and room ambience.

It's very difficult (IMO) to decide in a music store which mic is best. If there's a Guitar Center near you, their 30 return is great, buy a mic, take it home and try it in YOUR situation

I stay aweay from the "mic packs" these are generally disapointing (want to buy some? cheap!)
 
When I upped from a SM57 to my Oktava 319, i was amazed at how much more clear and full the sounds were. I was also disgusted because it picked up every little flaw in my playing and singing, lol. Condensers are always worth it, but so are 57's. I once dropped a 57 off a 4 story bulding and it worked just fine :cool:
 
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