Rock Mic

[applesmasher]

Hay im new at the recording stuff and have been posting to get advice on a barebones (cheap) home system to record vocals. I needed the ability to also remove vocals from background tracks, so after getting advice I am tentatively setteld on the Behringer Modulizer Pro which has effects and can remove vocals. Now to throw all this together and make some sound, I need to figure out what other parts I need, and Im kno this at least includes a good mic. Im gonna be doing mostly rock vocals and some rap. People say I have a voice like the Weezer singer, and Billie Joe from Greenday if that helps. So if you could supply me with your opinions of what type of mic ill need and what ill need to use it it would be greatly appreciated. I could probally spend around $100 for a good mic. Thanks for your time.

 

[wilkee]

Jeez Mate a proper answer to this one would require more work than the latest Harry Potter book.

Mic first:- If you do not intend to make audiophile quality recordings (and who does nowadays) then pretty much any self respecting Mic will do, most pepes on this forum are happy with the Shure SM58.

To record you are going to have to make a big decision, do you go the PC route or buy a dedicated recorder?

I would suggest that the PC route would be the best way to begin with as nowadays inexpensive multitrack/FX programs i.e. Ntrack allow users to record and produce very good results.

As a guide I would.

1) Start reading about Computer Audio Workstations ( DAW's )

2) If you feel this is the way to go invest in a suitable computor/soundcard package.

3) Get a small inexpensive Mixer with phantom power etc.

4) Spend many hours just playing with your new Toys.

5) Enjoy your new hobby.

 

[applesmasher]

Thanks mate. Yah i had pretty much settled on going the computer/soundcard route to begin. Thinking about getting the cool edit adobe? but probably the least expensive program out there(wahtever it is) would suite my simple needs. Basically I right now am trying to just find the type of mic greenday/dead kennedys etc would use cause this is the vocal sound I produce. Ill lookup the Shure SM58, this is around $100 I assume? Maybe I can go over $100 or maybe even under it just depends I guess on how much a difference there really is between the price ranges? Thanks Cheers.

 

[applesmasher]

Ive looked around the forums and it seems most people prefer condeser mics if givien the chance. Waht about the shure beta 87? Or are these types alot more expensive?

 

[jdier]

many mics will suit your purposes. If I could go back to my first mic purchases I would have approached it differently than I did.

I tried to get a whole bunch of mics so a bought a lot of cheap stuff which now sits in a box in my closet.

What I wished I did was bought mics that I could grow with. Classic mics that you may want over time may include:

sm57
sm58
sm7
senn 421
senn 441
AT 4033

The list goes on. But given your budget I think bothe the Shure sm57 and 58 could fit in your budget (57 $79 new, 58 $100 used.)

ten years from now these mics will be worth about what you paid for them and if you have added a bunch of other mics and might be using a AT4033, or a Nuemann for vocals, you will be able to use the 57/58 for other purposes.

I would also mention this. Traditionally the 58 is a more likely choice for live vocals while the 57 is a more likely choice for studio or live guitar or snare.

These are some broad generalizations and I have miss a bunch of great mics in my list, but I just wanted to give you some ideas.

If you just want the best vocal mic that you can afford today I would seriously look at the Studio Projects line. They are too new to know if they will hold their re-sale value, but they are really without peer when it comes to bang for the buck.

I have two B1's ($79) and one C3 ($295)

They also offer a B3 which might be your perfect target given your budget. If you can hold out and save some dough you might want to consider the C1.

Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[applesmasher]

wow that helps alot. thanks! Everybody does seem to say the sm58. But i guess this isnt a condenser? I will be doing basically studio recording, notsomuch live. I dont even kno waht the diff between condenser and reg. is but i will def look at the studio projects line you mentioned. Anybody else have comments? Is a B1 better than a sm57 for in home recording? And the sm57 is better for home use than a sm58?

 

[DJL]

Is a B1 better than a sm57 for in home recording?

No, there just different.... but the Shure SM57 is a top name brand mic and very well known and the Studio Projects B1 isn't.

 

[Fab4ever]

Jdier,

So you have lots of mics and stuff sitting in a box? Anything in particular you'd like to get rid of?

Always looking for a bargain, bottom-feeder that I am....

Fab

 

[applesmasher]

Okay so lets say i get the sm57, and i have that behringer modulizer pro thing, what else will i need to record onto my computer. Do i need something extra like a preamp to plug the mic into?

 

[applesmasher]

Ive decided im getting the sm57. If you think this is a good idea just dont say anything.

 

[jdier]

Jdier,

So you have lots of mics and stuff sitting in a box? Anything in particular you'd like to get rid of?

Always looking for a bargain, bottom-feeder that I am....

Fab

Fab,

Yeah, I do. about 6-7. They are largely Radio Shack, cheapy shures, and audio technicas.

I do not really want to lose them because I will pull them out when I play live.

None of these would offer you anything better than you could buy on the cheap used off ebay or from the back of music123 or Musician's friend.

Good luck..

Jim

 

[DJL]

applesmasher, your subject title is "Rock mic"... when I read that, the first thing I thought of was a crystal mic... lol. But, after reading your post I see you mean something else. So I just want to telll you that there really is no such type of mic..... for example, a Shure SM57 mic could be used for any style of music rather that being metal, rock, folk, rap, jazz, or whatever. Also, in the studio when we want to remove backup vocals in a mix..... we just don't bring up the faders for those tracks and hit the mute buttons instead.

 

[cominginsecond]

Ive decided im getting the sm57. If you think this is a good idea just dont say anything.

I don't think this is a good idea. The B1 is versatile enough to use on almost anything (amps, acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals), but the 57 is mostly great on amps and close micing drums. Unless you're recording punk rock, I'd choose the B1 over the 57 any day.

 

[DJL]

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Originally posted by applesmasher
Ive decided im getting the sm57. If you think this is a good idea just dont say anything.
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I don't think this is a good idea. The B1 is versatile enough to use on almost anything (amps, acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals), but the 57 is mostly great on amps and close micing drums. Unless you're recording punk rock, I'd choose the B1 over the 57 any day.

Again, at the risk of being yelled at by everyone here. That is not ture... the Shure SM57 can be used on vocals..... plus amps, drums, and etc..... and you don't have to baby the SM57 like you do the B1, and the SM57 doesn't need phantom power like with the B1. I'm not picking on the B1, but IMO the Shure SM57 is a very good choice for someone just starting out.

 

[cominginsecond]

Again, at the risk of being yelled at by everyone here. That is not ture... the Shure SM57 can be used on vocals.....

Sure it can be, but that's not the sound 95% of people are after.

you don't have to baby the SM57 like you do the B1,

What do you mean "baby?" Do you mean not dropping it? Why should you choose to go with an SM57 over a B1 just because you can't throw the B1 against a wall?

and the SM57 doesn't need phantom power like with the B1.

Again this doesn't seem like a good reason to go with the 57 instead of the B1. Phantom power's in almost everything these days. You can get an Audio Buddy for next to nothing. The 57 is great where it's great: on a snare or amp. It's good for a few other sources, but I feel, unless you're going for a low-fi sound, the B1 beats it hands down on almost all other sources: vocal, percussion, acoustic guitar, accordian, you name it.

 

[DJL]

cominginsecond, the Shure SM57 has been used on more records for vocals than the SP B1... you don't have to put the 57 in a plastic ziplock bag when your not using it like the B1..... you can use the 57 on stage with less feedback than the B1.... you can blow air into a 57 without hurting it like the B1..... you can drop the 57, and hammer in nails with the 57..... you can use the 57 on everything you could use the B1 on and then some..... you can get a used mint 57 for $50 or less...... man, the list goes on and on. Anyway, you said "you don't think it's a good idea" and IMO the Shure is a top name brand and it's a great choice for someone just starting out.

 

[cominginsecond]

Ever try micing an acoustic with a 57? Tamborine? Overheads? It sounds like crap on those sources.

The B1 does all of those things well, and for the same price as the 57. Sure, you can't use it on stage, but that's not what the original poster was asking for.

You aren't going to hurt a B1 by blowing air into it, and you don't have to keep it in a plastic bag, in most parts of the country. Even if he did have to keep it in a plastic bag, who cares? It's the sound that matters, not the extra 10 seconds you have to spend putting a mic in a plastic bag.

 

[Mark7]

cominginsecond, the Shure SM57 has been used on more records for vocals than the SP B1...

Let's see.

The SM57 has been in production since 196? and the B1 since a year or so ago.


Yep, that sure has me convinced

 

[cominginsecond]

Just to clarify, I don't think it's a good idea to have a 57 as your only mic. If you already have a decent condensor, and maybe a decent stereo pair of SDCs, the 57 is the next mic to get. It's great on amps, snare, and gritty vocals.

 

[DJL]

Yeah, I have and it works.... try using the B1 in a dust storm or drop it in the sand on the beach when doing a live recording, or going from one location to another with a different climate...... man, I'm telling you the list goes on and on. The B1 will NEVER replace the SM57.The Shure SM57 is a good choice for someone just starting out and if you don't think so...... then that's just your opinion and not mine.

Now, let me make one thing clear...... I think the B1 is an ok budget mic..... but to say that the Shure SM57 is not a good mic for someone just starting out is just NOT TRUE.