So I don't need a new mic?

[jolt]

First time posting---been lurking & learning.
Seems to me from reading here that for my living room low-end projects (fostex 1/4" 8 track) with enough real life noise intruding and a pretty lively high ceiling space, I'm gonna be better off with the SM 58 for vox than a more sensitive low-cost condenser like everyone is enjoying, like the V67 and all these other newly affordable LD mics. Does that kinda sum it up? I'm so into getting something that looks and sounds cool but I'm trying to be smart. Like what's the point of transparent, breathy highs if I'm also picking up the car starting down the street.
Can someone disagree and help me justify a new purchase or am I pretty much right?

BTW--my compliments on this forum. The ratio of info/attitude is better than many.

 

[Gidge]

depends on the quality you are looking for...are you producing commercail CD's?...serious demos?.....get the v67.....if you just feel like blowing $129, get the v67

just doing hobby recordinging?...use the 58.....

if youre just doing hobby recording but you wanna take the vocals a step up, find some kinda make shift vocal booth (shower,closet,etc) and do it.....

one more question...what preamp are you using with the 58?.....it could be possible to take the money and buy a better preamp....a 58 with a nice preamp (delta dmp3,joe meek mq3) sounds really nice......

 

[Herm]

Get the better mic and work around it. I think you have been mislead on worrying about
picking up outdoor noise. If the gain of the 58 is set high enough and there is other noise
in the room it will pick it up also.
If you have the money for the good mic then go with it, You will be glad you did in the long run.
Make sure you get something with a shock suspension. That will help keep out some of the
low rumble from outside crap. Maybe build some gobos, Portable surrounds with maybe thick carpet or bed foam that you can place around your mic and recording area. It doesnt cost that
much if you get creative with the materials.
And if you do decide to go the inexspensive way get the 57 instead of the 58 its cheaper and more versatile and will probably sound just as good.

 

[jolt]

ok......good thoughts. I didn't tell anybody squat above. Here's what it is----I've got a few 57's, a 58, preamp is onboard an old Tascam M-30 board.
I'm shooting for demo's for small club gigs. I'm recording a duo of big-voiced male singer/acoustic guitar player and pedal steel guitar (me), live recording. Singer thru the 58, lightly compressed. 57 on guitar and on steel amp. Adequate track separation on the two instruments, a bit too much guitar on the vocal track, probably unavoidable unless I convince him to track the vocals on another pass--not really desirable.
With this setup I have pretty succesfully recorded 5 songs. I mixed/mastered thru some light Sonic Maximizing. Results were not half bad! So I'm shooting for results of 'not 1/4 bad' now.
Another route I'm considering is a Behringer Ultradyne. No, it won't turn crap into gold but maybe it will turn mediocre into better than mediocre?
Thanks for the ideas.

 

[trebles]

Jolt i think you have got what you need pretty well worked out sometimes less is more and with the mics you have and equipment you are using you can do wonders all its gonna take now is your ability to look and listen to your enviroment in which you are working talent and ability will take you much further then how many mics you own if your getting results now on what you have dont change anything untill you feel you really need too i myself was given this advice always weigh up a purchase and really think how you will utilise a piece of equipment to its maximum before you go out and buy it thats how your gonna get the best bang for buck out of the gear as well remember the gear is just a tool in the right hands that tool can do miracles spend more time with mic placment and get your set up perfect that way you can eliminate problems and get down to the business of really enjoying your final product

 

[jolt]

Thanks for the thoughts and references, trebles. I appreciate the encouragement. My current thinking is that if I want to, there's no reason to not get a V67 (and a pre since I have no phantom source) but there is no pressing reason to, either. The best bang for the buck ratio would come from better using what I already have.

If I do feel a G A S attack coming on, I'd best get me a shopping list started though......

 

[Track Rat]

Ahhh....
Gear
Aquisition
Syndrome
Sorry son, there's no known cure. You'll be just fine but your relationship and bank account will probably die.....

 

[trebles]

stick that cash away and add to it maybe later on you can look at some other gear maybe a nice multi fx units or a compressor etc something you can really use you seem to have what you need to do the job and old musician told me this well over a decade ago he said if it works wayne leave it alone and use it.

when your mics are clapped out then go get some more one thing though always check your gear before you use it and always care for what you have as we all know none of it is cheap.

Leads also get wrecked easy always wind your leads in neat loops and cable test your stuff on a regular basis no one wants to find their gear is dead at the gig you preperation and care in what you do will take you a long way and hey its free too cheap advice but used it will take you along way.

 

[notCardio]

Just a thought

Jolt,

First of all, let me congratulate you on knowing what you want and having reasonable expectations of what you can acheive with what you have. At least you don't think you should be able to cut a big-time studio quality cd in your bedroom for $300.

You said that, for whatever reason, you didn't want to track the vocals and guitar separately, and that you were already gettting too much guitar bleeding into the vocal track. I don't know what kind of setup you are using to isolate the various sources, but if you don't improve that, going with a large condenser for vocals will just make that problem much worse.

On the other hand, if you could record the acoustic and vocals separately, many here believe that a v67 is excellent as an acoustic guitar mic as well, therefor you could use the same mic for 2 different applications, further enhancing your "bang for the buck".

If improving the sound of the vocals is your primary focus, a good mic to look into would be the Shure sm-7, which is a dynamic mic, not a condenser. Think condenser quality without condenser sensitivity. At $379, however, I sense that this might be out of your current price range. It's certainly out of mine, right now.

Just some things to think about.

Best of luck.

 

[TexRoadkill]

You can get better seperation using a 57 with a pop filter for vocals. Have the singer a few inches away from the mic.

A condensor will sound a lot better on acoustic than a 57 will. You might notice more of a difference there than on vocals.