What is a mic pre amp and Top Condenser mic choice under $300

[robjh22]

MXL V 93 m

I have no idea if this is any good, but musician's friend says the above listed model is a $400 mike and they're closing it out at $99.00. Can a newbie go wrong with this large diaph. condenser? Do you think it'll sound better than my Sure sm 57 and the giveaway mike I got from mus.friend with my Fostex? I am serious, that's all I have right now.

Anybody bought a midprice mike ( I call $400 midprice) and wish they had it to do over again? Why? What mistake was made?

Thanks.

 

[chessrock]

Re: MXL V 93 m

Anybody bought a midprice mike ( I call $400 midprice) and wish they had it to do over again? Why? What mistake was made?

Actually, I've sold mid-level mics before, and wish I could have them back. Got sucked in to all the hype over cheaper condensers and though "Hey, I could sell this puppy and get two or three with the money. Harvey and all the magazine reviews all say they're so good."

Wound up turning around again and selling the cheaper ones and eventually getting an $800 mic, and now I'm much happier. I bought cheap and I bought twice. I'm a living cliche'. It's worth it to me to have a mic that makes a guitar amp sound like . . . a guitar amp, or a snare sound like a snare, etc. etc.

The only cheap mic purchases I've been happy with are small diaphragm condensers. The mc012 and mxl603 are the only exceptions to that "buy cheap" rule. They're sort of like little freaks of nature, those SDC's.

 

[Gidge]

Re: MXL V 93 m

Do you think it'll sound better than my Sure sm 57 and the giveaway mike I got from mus.friend with my Fostex?

It will sound better on quite a few things than your sm57.....on some things the sm57 will be just right for the job.....but for $99 its an excellent mic......

 

[chessparov]

Richie, I tend to believe that a well suited microphone to a singer's
voice, is a higher priority than the pre, once you get to something
on the level of a DMP3, VTB-1, or better.
Millions of records have been sold on the like, and no one returned them
on the basis of which pre was used.
(yes I have some examples-just having some trivia fun with that statement!)

From a more objective judgement of "detail", rather than tone, the
Beyer M88 sounds excellent through the VTB-1.
(haven't tried it through the DMP3)
Suspect that the Sennheiser 441 would do similarly.

Chris

 

[billisa]

Behringer Ultragain 2200/Studio Projecs B1

I have a Fostex VF80 that I love. I'm using a Behringer Ultragain 2200 2-channel with 2 Stdio Projects B1's. I think this setup is great, and for the money is excellent. VERY QUIET and clean.

 

[Monkubus325]

Thanks for all the suggestions and such. I've been using a Shure SM 57 and a 8 channel berringer mixer but I'm not just able to get the fullness of sound on vocals or even acoustic guitar. I really appreciate all the tips that ya'll have listed and I'll keep you posted on what ends up working for me. Thanks again.

 

[OnTheBlackRock]

presonus and oktava

buy a single channel presonus bluetube MicPre for 90.00 and an Oktava MK319 for 100.00 and have another 100.00 to spend on booze and herb. or you can buy a two channel blue tube for 150.00 and an Oktava MK319 and have 50 bucks left over to buy some fifths, and a couple packs of brew.

"drink for the fun, sing for the taste"

 

[chessparov]

Monk, so NOW you tell us you already have a mixer!
(that has phantom power)

Then you could start like how Richie and the others have said,
with a nice sounding condenser microphone(s) in your budget range. I still stand by the parametric EQ suggestion, as the EQ
in a Behringer or Mackie mixer is so limited.

Chris

 

[chessparov]

Just happened to come across the new issue of "Recording" magazine.
Guess what?

There's a very interesting article by Paul Stamler about microphones.
If you get a chance, check out his evaluations of the RE15, M88,
and Sennheiser 441. You'll notice "coincidences" in my
suggestions...
(swear I didn't "cheat" by reading it before now!

Chris

 

[applesmasher]

mics like the SM57 and EV mics mentioned, which are great, cheap, versatile mics, require a very good preamp, something you aren't going to get for $100. A cheap pre will work best with a cheap condenser.

This is always true? So if I get a sm57 whats the cheapest pre amp it will sound good with?

 

[Richard Monroe]

Well, "sounds good" is a relative term, and a matter of opinion.
I think preamps that work really well with cheap dynamics start at about $500- FMR Audio RNP, Grace Design 101, DBX386, etc. If you're going to use an inexpensive preamp (Studio Projects VTB-1, M Audio DMP3, etc.), I think you'll get mostly better sound from cheap condenser mics- Studio Projects B-1, Marshall MXL V67G and 603s, etc. YMMV.-Richie

 

[echomancer]

Re: MXL V 93 m

Anybody bought a midprice mike ( I call $400 midprice) and wish they had it to do over again?

If I had known better, I wouldn't have purchased my Rode NT1 or my AKGC1000s's. Oddly enough, these were all my first condensors, and were purchased together! I wish I would have just bought a much nicer matched stereo pair of SD condensors and then an SP C1 or C3 instead of my NT1.

 

[acorec]

I think the less-experienced ones here should be taking careful notes from Fletcher.

In the $300 and under bracket, strive for functionality. Get stuff that does the job, is reliable, and works. Don't expect anything that will work magic. You might get lucky and find a gem, but keep in mind that there are reasons behind the price differences between a lot of these mics. And the same "you get what you pay for" rules that apply to anything else will usually apply here, too.

Beware of hype and marketing propaganda. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And there are those out there who concern themselves, on a daily basis, with ways to convince you that the magic-bullet exists . . . and that if you buy it your recordings will shine, and it won't cost you much money. The truth of the matter is that the magic bullet does exist; it's called knowlege, and unfortunately you won't find it at Ukalele Center or Sam Ass.

Focus on the fundamentals -- and understand that your room accoustics are going to play a very large role in the quality of your recordings. Undertstand the principles of sound and how it behaves and interacts in your recording and monitoring environment. Be mindful of such issues long-term before you make major purchasing decisions or judgements.

This is what I find odd at this BBS. People get into this "mic frenzy" about some cheap off-shore manufactured mic. Everyone runs to wherever and buys them. Then, over time, they start to regret their decision. Look at FMR RNP. The best thing in the world gotta-have-it worth 5 times the price as good as a $2000 pre etc. Now, the DMP3 is better because you can buy three for the price of the RNP. Why are people fighting over cheaper stuff?
It is funny that newbies are ready to spend $200 on a total piece of crap, but not save up for an RNP which will be around until they turn pro (if they want to). Odd.

 

[Wide Awake]

Now, the DMP3 is better because you can buy three for the price of the RNP. Why are people fighting over cheaper stuff?
It is funny that newbies are ready to spend $200 on a total piece of crap, but not save up for an RNP which will be around until they turn pro (if they want to). Odd.

Have you owned the DMP3 ? I haven't tried one myself, I'm just curious what you thought was bad about it's sound.

 

[tdukex]

This is what I find odd at this BBS. People get into this "mic frenzy" about some cheap off-shore manufactured mic. Everyone runs to wherever and buys them. Then, over time, they start to regret their decision. Look at FMR RNP. The best thing in the world gotta-have-it worth 5 times the price as good as a $2000 pre etc. Now, the DMP3 is better because you can buy three for the price of the RNP. Why are people fighting over cheaper stuff?
It is funny that newbies are ready to spend $200 on a total piece of crap, but not save up for an RNP which will be around until they turn pro (if they want to). Odd.

I also find it odd that some people feel compelled to trash equipment that they have never used. What's in your rack?

This is Home Recording, oh perceptive one. We don't have $5,000 for an Avalon and a couple of Shoeps.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Well, Acorec, I do own an Avalon, and a Joemeek twinQ, and a DBX386, and a DMP3, which is *not* a "total piece of crap". It is not an Avalon, either, but it did cost $119, unlike my AD2022. It is also not at the factory for repairs, either, like my Avalon. I also own a B.L.U.E. Kiwi, and a Studio Projects B-1. People with limited funds are interested in cheap gear that works, and that applies to most of us, including those who *are* able and willing to make the comittment to own some really top flight gear.
I have found this BBS to be a very good source of information on cheap gear that works. I use the DMP3 for a couple of auxiliary channels, and I thank the people who put me on to it. I agree with Chessrock that how you use gear, and the acoustic environment that you use it in are often more important than the gear itself. I also believe that the fact that a piece of gear is cheap, or made in China, doesn't prevent it from being useful.
Some people use cheap gear because it's what they can afford, and some people use it because it works. A good project studio is an unholy combination of some really expensive gear, used in combination with some cheap gear that works, attempting to aquire enough skill to achieve a professional result that deceives good ears. If I owned a D.W. Fearn, a Pendulum, a Great River, a John Hardy, a Manley, and a Neve console, I would probably still find a use for my DMP3. Does it sound "just like an Avalon"?-No. But it is a hell of a lot better *right now* than my Avalon, which is somewhere in California. Thanks to everyone on this board for good suggestions on cheap gear.-Richie

 

[chessparov]

Richie, I A/B'd the VTB-1 against the Avalon 737, on my Beyer
M88TG, and Soundstar MKII (both 200 Ohm).
Though "different" they sounded pretty comparable, close enough
so that an experienced pro would have to judge them.

The VTB-1 performs best with a microphone that has a excellent
clarity at the top frequencies, like these two IMHO.
If someone can't afford the M88TG, the Soundstar MKII runs under
$100 used. That's an excellent vocal chain for around $200 or less for many singers.

Chris

 

[applesmasher]

Well, "sounds good" is a relative term, and a matter of opinion.
I think preamps that work really well with cheap dynamics start at about $500- FMR Audio RNP, Grace Design 101, DBX386, etc. If you're going to use an inexpensive preamp (Studio Projects VTB-1, M Audio DMP3, etc.), I think you'll get mostly better sound from cheap condenser mics- Studio Projects B-1, Marshall MXL V67G and 603s, etc. YMMV.-Richie

But what I meant was is there a price range for preamps where it will start sounding better with a sm57 than with a cheap condenser.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Yes, Applesmasher, and I think that price point is about $1000. If you want an SM57 to sound better than a good cheap condense, you don't need a good preamp, you need a great one. Even into my Avalon, an SM57 doesn't sound better than a good cheap condenser, just different Part of it is ears, though. Frankly, I'm not a huge fan of the SM57. By and large, I prefer AKG dynamics. I think part of it is voice quality. I like AKG dynamics because they like me, just like Chessparov likes his Beyers.-Richie

 

[chessparov]

If I limited to ONLY using a SM57 for vocals, I'd be sure to try out,
and (probably) purchase the Fmr. Audio RNP from www.mercenary.com

Lack of experience Richie, with the AKG dynamics.
Other than a D790 given later as a gift to a friend, when relatively
more ignorant about recording than now.

The nice thing about the SM57 is that if it's a good fit on your voice, you can go into any commercial studio with high end pre's
and cut excellent vocals with one there.

Chris