Should I do this? Vocal mic + amp mic, or use 1 for both?

[SMX_Dizzy]

Well, if my parents buy me the matched pair of MXL 604's for my birthday (that I'll use as drum OH's) then I'll have a little more money to spend on mics. I was thinking about using one mic for vocals and amps, but now I might be able to use one for vocals and one for amps.

So this is kind of a poll/suggestion thread. For vocals, I've read lots and have my eye on a few. For the vocal mic I'd like to spend between $150-$200. The ones I'm looking at right now are the Studio Projects C1, Rode NT1A, Studio Projects B3, and the CAD M179. I've read a lot of good things about the Rode, but I heard (and talked to someone about it) that it picks up a lot of other noise sense it's so quiet. The guy I talked to recommened the C1, which looks pretty good.

For amps though, if I do end up getting a seperate mic, I could probably spend $100-$150. Maybe an MXL 9090, MXL V67g, something else that would be quality but not too expensive. Would an SM57 be a good idea?

So I've got around $350 to spend on a mic for vocals and a mic for amps, what would you choose?

 

[Big Kenny]

57 would be a great idea for a starter, the rest are okay for starters as well. Some people have been raving about some audix gear, maybe they'll pipe in, but, although I rarely use it anymore, the 57 is a nice place to learn from

 

[kojdogg]

i found this thread today:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=193715&highlight=es57
another poster, metalhead28, was nice enough to make some soundclips of his set up using an audix i-5, an sm-57 and a sennheiser e609, which might help you compare (of course it mostly sounds how it sounds because of his setup, room, etc.)
i like my audix i-5 better than the 57's i've owned, but that's highly subjective.
as for vocal mics, i like rodes and have a buddy who is very happy with the nt-1a. it's quiet and will only pick up extra noise if there's noise in your recording environment or recording chain. i have two nt-1000's which i really dig and just sold an ntk (not because i didn't like it but because i got a karma k-58, which kind of made it unnecessary and i was gear lusting after the ua m610 i got). i'd also suggest taking a look at the karma k-55 tube mic, which is apparently still on sale according to their website www.karmamics.com. you hit on a lot of the popular standards for that price range in your op. i think if you search around a little bit, you can find sound clips of all these mics, which can help you compare.
have fun hording gear and happy birthday!

 

[SMX_Dizzy]

Thanks for the info guys, and thanks for the happy birthday kojdogg (even though it isn't for about a month) .

On that thread you posted, I really thought both the i5 and the SM57 sounded really nice, but I thought the i5 sounded cleaner and nicer. Maybe I should look at getting an i5 for amp micing...it's around $80-$90 on eBay, which doesn't seem a bad price.

Hey, I just came up with this idea though: I could buy the i5 when I buy the rest of my mics, and use it on snare and amps. Then, come Xmas time, I can buy an SM57 and compare both of them on snare and amps, and see which works better for which, and return the SM57 and get another i5 if need be.

I don't know, it just seemed like a good idea to me.

 

[SMX_Dizzy]

Also, regarding the Karma K55 tube mic, do you think even though I'm not professional and will just have a decent home studio will be able to try it for 7 days? I think that's a great idea, especially if I like it. It's cheaper than a lot of the other mics I'm looking at ($25 goes a long way when you've got a tight budget ), so I figure it's worth a shot. I mean, I won't get it anytime soon (at which point the sale might be up) but once my room is treated and I move my equipment in, I'll definitely try it. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Adam P]

Not that I've ever used it, but why not consider a Shure SM7 (not sm57) for both duties? I've heard nothing but praise for it, and nothing that leads me to believe that it wouldn't do a very good job on either source.

 

[kojdogg]

Also, regarding the Karma K55 tube mic, do you think even though I'm not professional and will just have a decent home studio will be able to try it for 7 days? I think that's a great idea, especially if I like it. It's cheaper than a lot of the other mics I'm looking at ($25 goes a long way when you've got a tight budget ), so I figure it's worth a shot. I mean, I won't get it anytime soon (at which point the sale might be up) but once my room is treated and I move my equipment in, I'll definitely try it. Thanks for the suggestion.

no problem. you can find some links to soundclips made by other homerec members with the k-55 on this board by searching. the karma certainly won't hold you not being professional against you-- shoot them a call or an email (contact info is on their website).

 

[SRR]

I say a MXL V69ME for $247 from fullcompass (call to get that price).

And then your choice of the e609, I5, or SM57, I am sure fullcompass would give you a cheap price on those three, or haggle at guitar center, I think someone posted they got an I5 for $80 at guitar center.

The SM7 is another good contender, and you can use it on snare, kick, amps, vocals, etc. But for vocals make sure you have some good clean gain, as its a lower output mic.

 

[SMX_Dizzy]

Will fullcompass give me a discount on anything if I call, or just that V69ME? How would I go about asking for a lower price? (at fullcompass.com or GC, I'm really not that great at haggling, my dad is though.)

Also, do you have any samples of your V69ME at all? I noticed you also have two 604's...are you using those for drum OH's or for stereo on guitar? And how do you like the V67G?

 

[SRR]

<----V69 not the best example of it, but its a great mic

Just call fullcompass they will give you the low prices over the phone no special code words needed, ask them what their prices are on the stuff, and bing....just have your parents credit card ready

For Guitar Center find the lowest price you can local or internet, and they will beat or match it. It helps if you have been there before and bought stuff from them, here is what you could do; go in and buy some cables and tell them you might be back for xyz, they probably will try to sell you xyz on the spot, but tell them your price you can pay now never know they may say sure we can do that.

 

[jonnyc]

Will fullcompass give me a discount on anything if I call, or just that V69ME? How would I go about asking for a lower price? (at fullcompass.com or GC, I'm really not that great at haggling, my dad is though.)

Also, do you have any samples of your V69ME at all? I noticed you also have two 604's...are you using those for drum OH's or for stereo on guitar? And how do you like the V67G?

Just tell them you've heard of many people getting lower prices than advertised and you don't want to pay full price. I usually shoot an absurdly low price out there and see what happens. Got GC down to 150 on a Rode Nt1a but you really gotta haggle. I'd say getting 10 bucks off an i5 or sm57 shouldn't be that hard at all. Also look for those es57 or whatever they are on ebay. I think they're 40 bucks a piece and I've heard several reputable people claim they're much better than sm57's. IMO the more mics the merrier.

 

[SRR]

I noticed you also have two 604's...are you using those for drum OH's or for stereo on guitar? And how do you like the V67G?

Hay if I ever get a drummer in here to record I will let you know how the 604's sound on overheads, got them more for acoustic guitar and have only used them once for that while my wife was praticing, she is a new guitar player, so I don't know how they really sound on a full song or anything. Got the V67G free, with a ART PRO VLA compressor a couple of weeks ago, have yet to use the V67G.