what do you do if you have a radio shack mic?

[imotic]

OK, I know, I shouldn't have bought the damn thing. I've been cursing my decision since before I walked in to the store and put my money down on the table. But I was broke, and I needed something fast that wasn't too expensive. So I bought one for approx. $35-40.

Any ideas for how to get the most out of it? ;o) or is there anything that I should be explicity compensating for, or keeping in mind?

Thanks, all...

Liam Morley

 

[Aren]

Hmmmm... It really depends on a lot of things. Radio Shack used to carry one or two models that were actually made by Shure, and they're actually pretty good. Their current stuff is pretty awfull. If it's at least one of their Low-Z models (XLR output), it might actually be useable for recording guitar amps, spoken word and other stuff. Just try it out and see what kind of results are ou getting.
I heared that some harmonica players swear by RS's 15$ Hi-Z dynamics. They hook them up to a guitar amp, and supposedly it gives the harp a nice crunchy sound.
Experiment is the keyword with cheap gear. You might still be surprised!

Oren

 

[eternalmuzik]

well to get the best out of it:


1. Go find it and pick it up

2. Slowllyyyyy walk to the trashcan

3. Drop it in,..

4. then go to Musiciansfriend.com and buy a Sm57 or Sm58!!

j/p


Just find the good levels on whutever your running it through,...and record until you like how it sounds,.....and oh yea make sure the room is very quiet,...with NO room noise


--peace

-J

 

[hokypokynose]

Why don't you see if Radio Shack will take it back?

 

[Brian Grey]

Follow this link http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...4018441262/search/g=home/detail/base_id/35414

For about twice as what you paid you can get a Shure Sm57. It's a microphone that has been used for YEARS. It is the ol' standy microphone. You can watch any performance, old or new, on TV, and I can almost bet the lead singer is using an SM57.

What to do with the mic you have right now? If they won't take it back... it might make a good hammer... or better yet, it might be fun to use a hammer on it.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Use it to throw at the drummer when you want to get their attention as they flail away at cymbal crashes and tom rolls 'n shit in between songs....



Bruce

 

[fishkiller]

Radio shack does still sell a pretty good PZM mic. Shure does still make their high end ($65) mic. The PZM you can get for about $35-$40+. It does a decent job on a kick drum and is a good room mic for small rooms. But get a Sm57 you can't go wrong. good luck.

 

[darrin_h2000]

That Boundry mic is shit compared to the real Pzm mic they sold 10 years back. Take it back before you 60 days are up.

 

[Mark H.]

Liam, you should experiment with what you bought, as there's always a chance to learn. What do you like about it? What do you not? Can you make it work well for some application you're interested in? If not, then I agree with all the others who suggest returning it if possible. If you can't return it and you can't find a use for it, then you might want to try selling it on eBay.

Radio Shack *used* to offer a good PZM mic, as mentioned, licensed from Crown (only Crown offers PZM mics; the PZM technology is trademarked and patented by them). Darrin is correct about the current "boundary mic" offered by Radio Shack -- I own one, and it is harsh-sounding and generally awful, even as a conference table mic. I keep it only as a spare to lend.

Mark H.

 

[Axis]

go sell it to some desprate garage band.

 

[BigPapaFly]

I know a producer in L.A. who has a couple gold records hanging on his wall, he used to love RadioShack when he was broke and one of those gold records (I can't tell you who) was recorded in 93' with one of those flat radio shack mics with the little foam square on top....FOR VOCALS!...He was an innovator of different production techniques, though...so I would experiment. If you try to use that cheap mic in a tradional way, you probably won't be satisfied.

 

[trew]

Yup, that crappy mic is capable of adding textures and tones that any amount of eq'ing won't get.

Key word: "adding"