Poll: Versatile large condenser, <$100.

[lysis]

no shure mics?

i'm just confused as to why i see no shure mics in that list. i would say somebody starting out would almost always want to buy a 57 or 58 . . .

just my thoughts anyway.

 

[scrubs]

i'm just confused as to why i see no shure mics in that list. i would say somebody starting out would almost always want to buy a 57 or 58 . . .

just my thoughts anyway.

neither of those are condenser mics, which is the question posed in the poll. that being said, the sm57 is a solid first mic.

 

[SnakeDog5050]

Hey guys, I'm not going to vote yet, you don't have my $20 radio shack mic on there But actually I was looking to buy a new mic in the next few days and was primarily looking at the Shure SM57 and Studio Projects B1. The mic will be used for just acoustic guitar & vocals. Any comments on which one (or another) would work best for those purposes? Thanks

EDIT: Disregard the question above, I pretty much decided on the B1. For anyone doing a similar comparison here's interesting article http://studioforums.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/694106689/m/6431051621/r/7841051621

 

[jeffree]

Snake, nice to see your question answered so clearly, isn't it? Good link.

J.

 

[NegadivOne]

Ive been really impressed with studioprojects so I voted for the SP B1. I dont have personal experience with it, but I do have a SP B3 and I really love it. Very clear sound and excellent on vocals.

 

[studiomaster]

SP B1 for sure...

 

[JoeyPazera]

would any of yall sugest the B1 for drums?

 

[Enchilada]

Voted SP B1, I actually have the SP B3 but they aren't greatly different.

 

[Tomayo1]

I use an MXL V67G for vocals and resonator guitar. I love it for my voice and it's great for big ballsey Paris Texas style slide, but I'm not sure I would call it versatile
I read somewhere (maybe here) that if it suits what you're doing it sounds like a $5000 mic and if it doesn't it sounds like muddy crap. I certainly wouldn't use it for everything.

 

[fova]

Yes:
Oktava MK319 (thick body of sound, less heights)
MXL V67G (coloring a lot but it is nice)

No:
Behringer B1 (harshing heights)
M-Audio Nova (strange sounding)
Studio Projects B1 (thin sound, more suitable for instruments)
Rode NT1 (thin sound)

Do not know:
AT2020 (but AT4040 is a great mike)
GXL2200
GXL2400
MXL770
MXL990
MXL2006
TSM MT87S

If you have any possibility to buy a mike from China, I recommend this one:

http://www.music-store.cz/photo_inzeraty/1O.jpg

It is HAT800 sold for USD240 (producer is Alctron ??? - not sure now). Awesome sounding mike that will IMO win over all above mentioned ones. It looks like copy of Blue Baby Bottle or CAD Trion 8000 or Peluso VTB. My friend has a one and a couple for me is on the way from China.

Just my opinion, I do not want to start flame ;-)

 

[89gtsleeper]

In reality, go with the MXL. Right now guitar center sells a 990 condenser, a 991 condenser, and an m-audio 2 channel pre for 100 bucks. Great bang for the buck. and somebody shopping for condensors in this price range may come out way ahead with these.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/MAudio-MXL-990991-Recording-Mic-Duo-and-MAudio-Audio-Buddy-Package?full_sku=703626

 

[Freudian Slip]

We'll I can't tell you what to get. Most people here have not used all of these mic's either. I've heard the B1 and I can believe it would be one of the top choices. I can say this. The mxl 990 sucks in my opinion and I would stay awau from it. I've had two and sold them both. I'd lean tward the at2020 or the B1 strickly bases on the reputation of the company for being able to make consistant, good mic's at a cheap price. I do not own either of them though. The closest I come is a at3035 and I like it very well for the price.



F.S.

 

[dgatwood]

I voted AT2020. Be aware, though, that it is NOT a large diaphragm condenser. It's on the large side of small, so I like to call it a medium diaphragm, but it doesn't qualify as large.

It's a nice mic as sub-$100 mics go---not a lot of coloration, pretty flat response, not harsh, not sibilant, not overly bright, not dark, not dull, just accurate. I picked it because it's the only mic in that list that I think you'll always be able to find a good use for even after you move up to a better mic for things where LDCs are commonly used like vocals.

I keep finding myself reaching for the 2020 when miking cello, for example. It also worked reasonably well as the cardioid in a mid-side arrangement with a SP B3 the one time that I tried it.