Recommend a Cheap Dynamic Mic that Sounds Decent, please

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invisiblemute

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Hi, I'm relatively new to home reccing especially with microphones (mostly synthesized electronic music in the past). But I do consider myself a pretty careful listener after numerous hours tweaking and noodling over patches.

I was recently devirginized in the LD condenser area with the wonderful help of you all. I picked up a Marshall V93 (aka 2003) and V67 both or which I am happy about. Quick mic review for those newer to this than me. I plan to use the V93 as an instrument mic or for voices that are dark or mellow. It has a fairly even sound with a good crisp high. The V67 doesn't seem quite as versatile but I like the way it sounds on vocals a lot. Pushes the vocals right up front and does a good job of making me forget that I'm recording everything digitally. Simply put I'll bust out the V93 when I'm thinking scientists in white lab coats in a sanitized environment and the V67 when I imagine hardwood floors and plush red curtains.

But I think I would like to get a dynamic for rough, high-powered handling to compliment those condensers. I've been to many live shows a great majority using Shure SM58s which I've never liked the sound of (could also be due to poor mic technique). So my question is what do you guys suggest as a better option for this price range?

I've scoured the boards and I already know how wonderful the Sennheiser 421, 441 and Shure SM7 are but those are well over $200. The reason I never liked the SM58 is I think it makes anyone who sings through it sound nasal and muffled. Granted most people don't know not to wrap their lips around the poor thing. Maybe it sounds way better in front of a blasting guitar amp, one of the applications I would need this dynamic for. I don't plan to do much micing of drum sets but definitely hand drums of all sorts. Would the SM57 be better? The Beta versions? I'm also looking at the Sennheiser E845, E855 as well as the Audix OM series which seem classed along side the Beta 57 and 58. And I can't find the Beyer M88 any place I usually shop at.

Thanks in advance.
i'm'
 
Since you said "rough high-powered handling", that would incline
me towards a Shure SM57. It's clearer sounding than a SM58,
even when you put Shure's foam pop screen on it.

The Beta 57a is good for cutting through a dense mix, however,
I personally prefer the less bright SM57 for vocals.

If it's in the budget, and the vocalist will be reasonable with it,
the Beyer M88TG (Tour Group edition), can sound terrific on many voices. I think www.fullcompass.com still sells them new for around $300. I lucked out on e-bay and scored one for $150 in excellent cosmetic/perfect working condition-just love it!

Chris
 
i second the sm57. it's the best all around dynamic mic you can get for the price.
 
you CAN'T go wrong buying an SM57. Almost every session I've ever been in has used one for guitar amps, and as a top snare mic. This is not because it's cheap, but because it sounds amazing. Many engineers get asked the desert island mic question (what would be the ONE mic you would take...) and many of them answer an SM57.
 
Hmm.. thanks so far guys. But especially to the guys who are recommending the SM57, how many of you have more than a passing experience with any of the other alternate mics in this class? I understand using the mics recommended by those you respect (I've bought blindly based on comments here and elsewhere on the Web and from interviews in TapeOp (highly recommended!)) but I also imagine that these guys aren't as up on trying the newest flavors of budget mics to replace their bread and butter SM57 which they've learned to shape in their own special way.

I will probably end up getting a SM57 down the line. I'm older and a little more mature so I don't always need to do things just to be different BUT if I can achieve the same quality of effect and for about the same money then I would prefer to do it the way less people do. Make sense?

Chess, to clarify, when I say "rough, high-powered handling" I don't so much mean, "So tough my friends can use it as a hammer," but that I am going to do things like put it in front of really loud cabinets and in hand drums. And though it should be ok to do that with my LDs I just know it's safer to do that with a dynamic. I baby my mics even though they're all cheap Chinese rips. They're the best I have and I don't believe in busting up equipment just because you have the money to burn. Maybe I will just have to get one of these mics and test drive it myself and post a review.
 
The SM57 is one of those rare products that isn't recommended because of excess hype, it's just the real thing and has been used extensively for decades. Every single studio in the world has several SM57's, and they've probably been used in some capacity on almost every record you've ever heard! :)

There are better dynamic mics, but at this price range, you should really put the SM57 at the top of your list...although it doesn't work well for things like kick drums unless you're after a clicky tone.

On the other hand, I've used my V67 in a kick drum and the mic took it fine.

Slackmaster 2000
 
In the under $100 price range, some other "usual suspects"
include;

1) Electro-Voice EV 635a omni dynamic
2) Electro-Voice EV RE16 (RE15 is same mike without foam pop
screen)

If you don't need a handheld for live performance, I've got two
Peavey PVM 520i large diaphram microphones, and plan to sell
one of them. Excellent vocal and instrumental microphone.
Send me a "PM" (private message), if interested, for more details.

Other microphones I've used on vocalists that run under $100;
(besides SM57 and above)

1) Sennheiser e835
2) Electro-Voice Cobalt C09
3) AKG D790

Chris
 
yes the '57 is a great mic. I use it quite frequently, but mr. and mrs. holly and harry home-recording there is a big but to this sirs and mams: you need a bitchin' preamp with the '57. '57 + mr. mackie + distorted guitar="crispy shit". (that is the official brand-name brought to you courtesty of 57/mackie) '57 through a universal audio pre on distored guitar amp=dude, like that fuckin' rocks my nubs.
 
Hi sweetnubs,
In my own experience, it took the right SM-57 to get the RIGHT rockin' tone I wanted (an older US made mic prolly from late 60s that was completely wiped out and was coated with twenty plus years of duct tape & no windcreen either). The right mic pre is a good suggestion here! Mackie boards? Not to be found in my meager "studio" anytime soon... I swear by this ancient 57 now because it really rocks (mic preamp or not). I had a pair of the Mexican made 57s but they sucked compared to this magical US made SM57 I recently scored off a pro audio friend who hadn't used these old ones in 20 years time. Even the foam piece under the windscreen was basically turned to dust!
 
I've had good luck pairing an SM57 or a budget Shure Access-1 with a decent preamp - in my case, a DMP3. The preamp can make a big difference if you're using a live sound board.
 
Yo invis! Let me be the odd man out here and recommend some AKG dynamics. Yeah, I've used SM58, which invariably sounds like shit on my voice, and I have a couple of SM57's which I use mostly as reference mics, because any engineer worth shit will know what one sounds like, but I simply don't use them for recording. For wicked cheap dynamics that sound good on a variety of applications, I use AKG D690, D770, and D880. The first 2 are SM57 equivalents used for backing vocals, voiceovers, cabs and snare. The 880 is intended as a main stage vocal mic. 690's and 770's can be found on ebay for $50-$60 new, and 880's are more like $80. If you don't like the sound of Shure dynamics, which I don't, excepting SM7, the AKG's will give you more pronounced proximity effect, more bass, and less midrange boost, being generally darker than the Shure equivalents. I think the D690/D770 is one of the greatest dynamic bargains around. The 2 mics use the same capsule, but different transformers.
Note this- most of the people who will tell you the SM57/SM58 is the only cheap dynamic to own, have never heard or used the D690/D770. If you want to hear that sound, listen to Pearl Jam, who recorded most of a couple albums using the D690.-Richie
 
invisiblemute, if you already know you like the Sennheiser MD421 keep an eye on ebay...... I got a mint Sennheiser MD421 on ebay not too long ago for about $140... and you can get used Shure SM57's for about $50.
 
One more plug for the SM57...if this is your first dynamic microphone, then get the 57. It will at least be a reference by which to judge all the others you'll pick up over the years. If there was one purchase that I wouldn't worry about, it would be an SM57...new for around $70, you can't go wrong.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Id pick up a used SM57 (~$50) then go about saving for a SM7 or MD421.......you'll always find a use for a SM57 in any studio......


btw, I wanted to let you know how impressed I was at the response you recieved at that other BBS (cough,cough) with this question.....;)
 
Richard, thanks for the odd-man-out advice :) Couldn't find info on the 690 even on the AKG site. Discontinued? BTW, 880s are going for $99 for two at 8thstreet if you need more.

DJL, I've never actually used or _heard_ the MD421 live. I just get the feeling they are good based on the overwhelmingly glowing reviews they get here. I'll probably get one of these as well as the 57 since they seem so standard.

Gidge, hehe... not so loud. This place is touchy. A guy can get his ass kicked for saying the wrong thing. I'm just a newbie who defers to pretty much everyone regarding homereccing so I just want the most input from the most number of voices as I can get so as to decide for myself. I'm sorry to see _anyone_ leave this board and especially serious veterans like*cough* Alan and Harvey (Is it ok to utter those names or has this place become some Harry-Potter-don't-say-Valdemort kind of place?). Not sure why people got so upset about Alan. He's very upfront about what he represents and as a newbie I remember him disclosing that info from the start. Just keep that in mind when reading him. He's been incredibly helpful on general studio education completely unrelated to SP sales.

Sorry for the editorializing. Just trying to keep the peace.
i'm'
 
Invisible, pretty soon I was planning to put one of my SM57's
(mint, complete w/box, manual, & clip), up for sale.
Send me a PM if interested.

A facet of dynamic microphones like the SM57, which I learned recently,
is how well they respond to EQ.
With a decent parametric EQ, you'd be surprised at how good of a sound
can be gotten with one. This is a big factor as to why they're so popular
with top level engineers. Another is how well they can sit in a mix.

Chris

P.S. BTW, for any microphone, good placement is an even bigger factor
than EQ.
 
the 57 has a manual? what does it say? plug in mic, point mic, use mic.

anyway, even though there are dynamic mics for about the same price as a 57 that sound "better" in that they are more accurate, have wider response, etc... the 57 is still the best first mic, because it has a very familiar sound to it, and it is a "standard". it is totally worth getting to know the special characteristics of the 57 as a point of comparison at the very least.

also, it tends to make your recording sound more familiar, which is good when you start out. even when it is not the "best" sounding mic- a 57 on guitar or snare, sounds like a 57 on guitar or snare.

you have heard that sound a million times on records that you really like. owning a 57 gives you the ability to reference the sonic characteristics of a gigantic body of great records.
 
Excellent points (including the "manual" :)).
Should have mentioned I have the SM57 pouch included too.

Chris
 
FYI I ended up buying the other old as hell (slightly brighter) SM-57 from the same friend for $40 & also picked up a brand new Sennheiser MD421 in-the-box for $200. Not a bad day, eh?:cool:
 
Yo invis! If you're interested in a D690, just spook around on ebay for a while, they come up fairly frequently for cheap, often brand new in the box.-Richie
 
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