Which do you recommend?

Dan Bell · Jul 28, 2006

well... im looking for a condenser microphone.

which make/brand of mic do you think would be the best to get? and which mic is the best in that brand?

im looking for studio quality sound, and i rap/sing if that helps guide your answer.

also im looking for any price upto around 200 GBP... (british pounds).

mixsit · Jul 28, 2006

The search function is your friend.
'Best cheap mic' 'Best any mic actually...
There's a ton of them at those prices, all (or most) usable and worthy, some even exactly perfect.
Read some. Then try some.

.. im looking for studio quality sound

Just to add, this is as much a factor of opperator care and studio invironment as mic by the way.
Wayne

TheBigGiantHead · Jul 28, 2006

Dan Bell said:
well... im looking for a condenser microphone.

which make/brand of mic do you think would be the best to get? and which mic is the best in that brand?

im looking for studio quality sound, and i rap/sing if that helps guide your answer.

also im looking for any price upto around 200 GBP... (british pounds).

You're not looking for studio-quality sound. You're looking for a Walmart mic that looks cool, so your ghetto ass can 'represent'...yo.

BigRay · Jul 28, 2006

you need to do some reading.

www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com is a good place to start. there IS NO BEST :mad:

leddy · Jul 28, 2006

BigRay said:
there IS NO BEST

Sure there is. Whatever mic I might be trying to sell at the point someone asks will be the best.

Dot · Jul 28, 2006

Ah, come on, guys. Throw the man a bone. : )

In that price range I'd recommend:

ADK Hamburg or Vienna - I think, straight-up, these two mics offer the most mic in their price range.
http://www.studioreviews.com/vienna-hamburg.htm
Audio-Technica AT4040 - excellent all-around studio workhorse mic. Can be a bit lackluster on vox if you're looking for a "sexy" sound.
MXL V69ME - cool tube mic if you're wanting a vintage sort of sound.
http://www.studioreviews.com/v69me.htm

My 2¢.

ozraves · Jul 28, 2006

Dot said:
Ah, come on, guys. Throw the man a bone. : )

In that price range I'd recommend:

ADK Hamburg or Vienna - I think, straight-up, these two mics offer the most mic in their price range.
http://www.studioreviews.com/vienna-hamburg.htm
Audio-Technica AT4040 - excellent all-around studio workhorse mic. Can be a bit lackluster on vox if you're looking for a "sexy" sound.
MXL V69ME - cool tube mic if you're wanting a vintage sort of sound.
http://www.studioreviews.com/v69me.htm

My 2¢.

I'd second the advice, especially the AT4040.

I sort of think workhorse trumps sexy for a first mic but it all depends on what you like.

Dot · Jul 28, 2006

ozraves said:
I'd second the advice, especially the AT4040.

I sort of think workhorse trumps sexy for a first mic but it all depends on what you like.

I'd agree with Oz on the 4040 if someone's looking for a mic in the studio where they'll be tracking a lot of different kinds of instruments - especially amps, acoustic instruments, drum OH's. But since Dan Bell's looking mainly for a vocal mic for hip-hop, I think the ADK's are going to give more people what they'd expect in a nice - dare I say "sexy" : ) vocal sound.

And the ADK Hamburg and Vienna are no slouches in the workhorse department. Here's a clip using only a Hamburg.

The cool thing about the 4040 is that is has that neutral Austrian AKG thing goin' on, and the ADK's have more of that German Neumann sheen and color. So the 4040 is a very complementary mic to the ADK's. Having a Hamburg and a 4040 will give you the best of both worlds in that price range. And an economical way towards getting something similar to the classic complementary pair of studio mics: the AKG 414 and Neumann U87. And while the sexy U87 gets used on lots of applications, one of its strongest uses is on vocals. The unsexy 414 can work great on some vocals, but they're mostly used as instrument mics.

More on the background of sexy and unsexy mics at http://www.studioreviews.com/classicmics.htm

Neito · Jul 29, 2006

I would say check Musician's Friend, eBay, and Craigslist in your area and see what mics are available. Basically, look for any brand you recognize that people say good things about in here, or that they talk about. Be wary of anything that looks too cheap, though; it's somewhat true that you get what you pay for. Studio Projects, MXL, and Audio-Technica would be some things to look for on those sites. Good luck.

Dan Bell · Jul 29, 2006

TheBigGiantHead said:
You're not looking for studio-quality sound. You're looking for a Walmart mic that looks cool, so your ghetto ass can 'represent'...yo.

What the fuck. First of all... I'm from the UK... We dont have Walmarts... Second of all... Who said im ghetto, or want to be ghetto? OH... thats right... Its because i rap... You're one of those stereotypical guys yeah? I see now... So because a guy said he raps and is into hip hop music, people automatically assume he's like every other guy that wants to pursue a career in hip hop music... He's from the ghetto... He wants to be from the ghetto... He acts ghetto... He's down with the gangsters... man, Grow up.

When i came to people asking for help, i didn't ask for pricks to come and reply and critisize me... at the moment i have a SE Electronics 2200A Microphone, i've had it for awhile... and its an OK mic, but im looking for a new one... So i wanted to hear your opinions on which brand of Microphone is most suitable... Most recommendable... Most likely not to let me down... I know theres alot of brands that are suitable for what i'm looking for... THATS THE WHOLE POINT OF ME MAKING THIS THREAD.

Thanks to the people that did try to help me out, apprieciated. Now i'm going to take my "ghetto ass" and "represent my hood yo..."

bigwillz24 · Jul 29, 2006

Dot said:
And the ADK Hamburg and Vienna are no slouches in the workhorse department. Here's a clip using only a Hamburg.

Sounded great but what was the rest of the signal chain?

Daniel Reichman · Jul 29, 2006

Dan Bell said:
I know theres alot of brands that are suitable for what i'm looking for...

If you know already, go buy one of them. There is no best.

The reason why you are getting trashed by asking this question is because if you'd used the search function you'd realize this question gets asked just about every week.

Dan Bell · Jul 29, 2006

When i saw i know theres alot of brands... that doesn't mean i know them, i just know theres ALOT of different brands out there which would be suitable, but i don't know the names of them.

and before i even posted the thread, of course i knew this question would have been asked 10000000 times. But i'd rather get a direct answer, at the question IVE made, whether its the exact same question.

if this happens alot, why don't you make sticky thread named "we recommend these type of microphones..." and then list a few names? Bah.

mshilarious · Jul 29, 2006

Dan Bell said:
if this happens alot, why don't you make sticky thread named "we recommend these type of microphones..." and then list a few names? Bah.

Because we can't. There is almost no moderation on these boards, and I don't think a sticky has been created in the last year or two.

Thus, we have to self-moderate, which we do by getting annoyed

mixsit · Jul 30, 2006

Dan Bell said:
.. and i rap/sing if that helps guide your answer.

And that this is the other part of the equation; If it's for your voice there will a few that will do a slightly better job than others. But you or anyone else won't know which untill you hear it -and in a mix. Even auditioning a bunch of them solo is still at best a guess.

So your best bet is to check out a few, get your feet wet, get something that sounds nice, and after a while your ear will change. Then you can dial it in closer, and even build on with some tone options.

chessrock · Jul 30, 2006

Dot said:
The cool thing about the 4040 is that is has that neutral Austrian AKG thing goin' on ...

You know, it's funny you should mention that, Dot.

Because the first thing I think of when I hear something cut with a 4040 ... is a parliamentarian, democratic republic, much like the fine country of Austria.

But for the longest time, I just couldn't put my finger on the exact origins of that sound. Until now. It is most definitely and without question an "Austrian-sounding" mic. You are indeed a genius.

.

Daniel Reichman · Jul 30, 2006

Dan Bell said:
if this happens alot, why don't you make sticky thread named "we recommend these type of microphones..." and then list a few names? Bah.

Out of interest, did you read the FAQ? One of the sections lists recommended microphones in several difference price ranges.

Oh, hang on, here's why you didn't feel you needed to read the FAQ:

Loser dipshit Dan Bell said:
and before i even posted the thread, of course i knew this question would have been asked 10000000 times. But i'd rather get a direct answer, at the question IVE made, whether its the exact same question.

Good luck mate.

Dot said:
The cool thing about the 4040 is that is has that neutral Austrian AKG thing goin' on ...

The Austrians weren't very neutral in the 1930's-40's.

Which do you recommend?

Dan Bell

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mixsit

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TheBigGiantHead

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BigRay

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leddy

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Dot

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ozraves

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Dot

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Neito

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Dan Bell

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bigwillz24

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Daniel Reichman

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Dan Bell

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mshilarious

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mixsit

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chessrock

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Daniel Reichman

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