Recording mic help($100 - $400) range

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prtcool

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Hi,

I am an amateur singer songwriter. I am planning to buy microphone for developing a small recording setup at my home for personal recording sessions and demos. I will be needing a microphone, mainly for recording vocals(male and occasionally female) and also for backing acoustic guitar. I will also like to occasionally record percussion instruments like tabla if that versatility could be possible. So I am looking for a vocal oriented mic with versatile capabilities. My budget is not more than around $350 and preferably in the $100 to $300 range. I had recorded my demos earlier and had found condenser mics to have added an exceptionally good quality to my voice, so I would prefer a condenser mic, though knowing the cheaper price and great performance of a dynamic mic like Shure SM58(also SM57), I will also like to know more about that.

The interface is also an issue for me. I am confused whether I should be buying USB mics(I liked Shure PG27 and PG42 in specs and reviews though don't know which one will be better fitted for me) or buy a standard xlr mic with a preamp. The first option sounds cheaper, but the second option sounds more sensible as I think I will have to buy a preamp anyway. I have read great reviews of Rode NT1A and am also liking Shure SM27. I will also like to know about Shure X2U(XLR to USB converter) and good preamps in the market.

Please help me with your good advice on mics and their interfaces.

Thanks! :)
Prateek
 
The MXL V67G is a widely liked condenser for both vocals and guitar, for less than $100. You can use the rest of your budget towards mixer/preamp/interface equipment. Search around and you will find plenty of other viable options.

I recommend against a USB mic. Doing so will severely limit you in the future.
 
Thanks for your reply. Ya, I just went through its reviews which are very positive and it comes really cheap! Definitely I'll explore more about it. I'll also like to know how important is the quality of pre amps in a recording setup and which one will be the best preamps in the market?
 
IK Obi said:
Definitely stay away from USB Mics.
Click to expand...

I don't understand that at all. Did you write it to make yourself feel good, or did you actually get all of those adaptors and USB mics on a bench and test them? Because I really fail to understand why you think an AT2020 into an MXL MicMate will be higher sound quality than AT's own AT2020USB. I'll give you a hint: it has something to do with the lack of need for a DC-DC converter to generate +48V phantom in an all-in-one electret USB microphone, or maybe just AT's generally superior engineering.

I could go on about implementation of various USB CODECs and whether proper power supply design has been implemented and its ramifications of noise performance in the resulting circuit, but never mind, just keep handing out half-baked advice that costs people money when all they wanted was a simple USB solution.

USB mics--limited? Sure. So are iPads . . . the day will come when people mostly record using USB mics and iPads of the future, and they will make better recordings than you will, because they will be recording in good halls rather than too-small residential spaces, and they won't need to haul around a rack of crap to do it.

The only real problem with most USB mics is no provision for stereo recording (when the CODECs are actually stereo), but that's true of all of the USB adaptors too.
 
Thanks! some questions!

Thanks a lot! I am getting great wealth of perspectives here! :)

As I can understand both USB and XLS mics have their pros and cons. I had bought a relatively cheap XLR mic before but because of lack of good converter it couldn't be of much utility for my computer based recording. So USBs are very convenient and the possible future of recording songs with usb mics and ipads is really cool!. But on the negative side, USB mics will limit my flexibility to use them at other places, say in a possible collective band gigs where most of the inputs will be XLRs. So I was wondering about buying an XLR mic and couple it with a decent USB converter(something like a Shure X2S). That way I could have got the best of both. While it will come handy for my frequent recordings, and also provide flexibility. I also went through the sub $100 mics discussion. The help at this site is awesome! :) And given the considerations, I was having a these confusions:
  1. To buy an established mic like RODE NT1- that is in $100-$200 range(Please suggest more good mics in its competition)
  2. To buy two sub $100 mics, a mic like MTX V67G(Please suggest other good mics in competition) along with the versatile SM57.
  3. Please suggest me some good interfaces, converters... for connecting XLR mics to computer.
  4. How is a reputed company like Shure with its relatively expensive USB mics like PG42USB. I have heard it is very hassle free with nice sound. It does look convenient as PC vocal recording is currently my primary objective but I would not like my mic to have limited connectivity with PC alone!

Thanks! :)
 
mshilarious said:
I don't understand that at all. Did you write it to make yourself feel good, or did you actually get all of those adaptors and USB mics on a bench and test them? Because I really fail to understand why you think an AT2020 into an MXL MicMate will be higher sound quality than AT's own AT2020USB. I'll give you a hint: it has something to do with the lack of need for a DC-DC converter to generate +48V phantom in an all-in-one electret USB microphone, or maybe just AT's generally superior engineering.

I could go on about implementation of various USB CODECs and whether proper power supply design has been implemented and its ramifications of noise performance in the resulting circuit, but never mind, just keep handing out half-baked advice that costs people money when all they wanted was a simple USB solution.

USB mics--limited? Sure. So are iPads . . . the day will come when people mostly record using USB mics and iPads of the future, and they will make better recordings than you will, because they will be recording in good halls rather than too-small residential spaces, and they won't need to haul around a rack of crap to do it.

The only real problem with most USB mics is no provision for stereo recording (when the CODECs are actually stereo), but that's true of all of the USB adaptors too.
Click to expand...

I stand by what I wrote. I still do not recommend USB mics for studio recordings at all. For podcasting and a few other situations GREAT. But when someone is a musician and starting a small home studio I recommend going the way of separate mic and interfaces so that they can grow and continue to use the pieces they started out with. As for USB mics with iPads that is great and your right recording on the iPad and iOS format is the future but as of right now there aren't many USB mics that can be used with iPads which is why we released the iRig Mic as well as other apps and accessories.
 
prtcool said:
Thanks a lot! I am getting great wealth of perspectives here! :)

As I can understand both USB and XLS mics have their pros and cons. I had bought a relatively cheap XLR mic before but because of lack of good converter it couldn't be of much utility for my computer based recording. So USBs are very convenient and the possible future of recording songs with usb mics and ipads is really cool!. But on the negative side, USB mics will limit my flexibility to use them at other places, say in a possible collective band gigs where most of the inputs will be XLRs. So I was wondering about buying an XLR mic and couple it with a decent USB converter(something like a Shure X2S). That way I could have got the best of both. While it will come handy for my frequent recordings, and also provide flexibility. I also went through the sub $100 mics discussion. The help at this site is awesome! :) And given the considerations, I was having a these confusions:
  1. To buy an established mic like RODE NT1- that is in $100-$200 range(Please suggest more good mics in its competition)
  2. To buy two sub $100 mics, a mic like MTX V67G(Please suggest other good mics in competition) along with the versatile SM57.
  3. Please suggest me some good interfaces, converters... for connecting XLR mics to computer.
  4. How is a reputed company like Shure with its relatively expensive USB mics like PG42USB. I have heard it is very hassle free with nice sound. It does look convenient as PC vocal recording is currently my primary objective but I would not like my mic to have limited connectivity with PC alone!

Thanks! :)
Click to expand...

Really, you'll just have to make a decision and go with it. Each option has pros and cons, just like everything in life. As soon as you start using equipment, you'll quickly discover it's shortcomings. I'd recommend just getting one mic to start with and learn it's uses really well. Then you'll have a better idea of what you want out of your next mic. An SM58/57 alone will get you pretty far.
Getting a standard XLR mic with a USB converter would be a decent place to start, and you'll be able to keep you feet in both doors, so to speak.
As for competitors to the V67G, lots of folks around here like the AKG Perception line of mics, also the Studio Projects mics. You could look at the Audio Technica mics, as well, like the AT2020 (AT2035 is pretty much the same mic with a pad and a rolloff switch, AT2010 reportedly has the same capsule but in a handheld form factor). You also mentioned the PG27 and PG42, lots of folks don't like Shure's PG line. I think they are just dandy if you're starting out, but you'll definitely notice a difference next to the equivalent in the SM or KSM lines.
I have no experience with any of the above mentioned mics except for the V67G, so I can't speak to whether they'll suit you or not. I can say that I own a V67G and I like it more each time I use it.
 
firstly, imho I would choose almost any other affordable XLR large diaphram condensor over the NT1. for vocal the NT1(a) has something I dislike in the midrange area. It's a subtle thign though and does work on some vocalists. It's just that there are other similar mics from other companies that don't have that issue, so why take a chance...

at3035, cad m177 or m179, mxl 2003(a), so many similar sounding neutral-ish mics that will sound terrific for what you're doing while not limiting you to a particular tone that you may decide you dislike.

but USB sounds like a good idea to me - saves on the interface cost. and now I'm out of my league as I don't know the usb models too well.

and it doesn't have to be a condensor mic. condensors pick up more room sound - do you really want that? most rooms don't sound very good without expensive and extensive room treatment. and other noises (fans, computer) get picked up easily. but you can get by with pillows, blankets etc all around you if yuo want to use a condensor mic. lots of great dynamics out there. heil pr-30 might be affordable.
 
dkelley said:
firstly, imho I would choose almost any other affordable XLR large diaphram condensor over the NT1. for vocal the NT1(a) has something I dislike in the midrange area. It's a subtle thign though and does work on some vocalists. It's just that there are other similar mics from other companies that don't have that issue, so why take a chance...

at3035, cad m177 or m179, mxl 2003(a), so many similar sounding neutral-ish mics that will sound terrific for what you're doing while not limiting you to a particular tone that you may decide you dislike.

but USB sounds like a good idea to me - saves on the interface cost. and now I'm out of my league as I don't know the usb models too well.

and it doesn't have to be a condensor mic. condensors pick up more room sound - do you really want that? most rooms don't sound very good without expensive and extensive room treatment. and other noises (fans, computer) get picked up easily. but you can get by with pillows, blankets etc all around you if yuo want to use a condensor mic. lots of great dynamics out there. heil pr-30 might be affordable.
Click to expand...

Those are all solid choices but I'm unsure about the Heil PR30 and gain from a usb to xlr converter. A interface would be a better option though.
 
IK Obi said:
A interface would be a better option though.
Click to expand...

Definitely go with a condenser and an interface. You can get a decent setup for under or at 400. And if you ever plan on putting some keys on your song, you cant exactly mic it unless its a yamaha psr :-)

Bottom line is YOU NEED THOSE LINE IN'S!!!!
 
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