Which two mics should I buy?

[Prancing_pony]

Before someone jumps me and tells me to do the search engin thing...I have just spent an 1:30 in doing the search.

I will mainly be recording vocals and acoustic guitar

I was thinking about the MXL 990/993 combo at musicians friends but found through the search than most people do not like then and point in the direction of other MXl's

So I did a search for the MXL V63M, I found a lot of people have them and a few people are trying to sell or trade them...but I found no info on what people thought of them.

I am also looking at maybe the Behringer B-5.

$ range I am looking at around $200.00

Opinions please.

 

[Diffusion]

I have a MXL V63M in almost brand new condition I'll sell you for $65 shipped (including shockmount and mic windscreen). Its a great mic for the price ($100 new), and is pretty versitile. I have had it for a while but only used it a couple of times. I only recorded vocals on it, and its one of those mics where "what goes in comes out". Its nice and clean, however i need a mic that is slightly darker, so im selling it. Let me know if your interested.

you can read customer reviews here:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/product/reviews/base_pid=273158/rpp=10/

 

[homestudioguy]

Cascade microphones?

Check out the M37 and M20
http://www.cascademicrophones.com/
BG/HSG

 

[Paj]

I will mainly be recording vocals and acoustic guitar
. . .
I am also looking at maybe the Behringer B-5.

$ range I am looking at around $200.00

Opinions please.

How about: 1 MXL 603s + 1 MXL V67? That's about $200, new. You can substitute the Guitar Center 990/991 Recording pack for the 603---the 991 is VERY (Very, very, very) close to the 603 in sound and response and you'd have the 990 as an alternate vocal/instrument mic---or as an object to throw at somebody that loudly enters your recording session (yes, I'll say it, the 990 is not one of my favorites). The V67 is that "Snoop-Dog-cockpit" mike; also the one you see hanging in the Ringo Starr interview about home-recording his latest album.

You also might want to try substituting an Octava MK012 for the 603 and an Octava MK319 or SP-B1 for the MXL V67. I have all of these and I like all of them---but I'd say stick with the V67 for vocals and an (SDC) MXL 603 or 991 or Octava MK012 for instrumentation.

I also have a pair of Behri B-5 mics---not as hot or detailed as the other SDCs I mentions but quite usable for acoustic guitar miking---and they do come with an omni capsule, bass-roll-off, and -10dB pad, which increases their capability. The cardioid B-5 wth attenuation actually makes a nice SDC snare drum alternative to the venerable SM57. For your use, I'd stick with an MXL or Octava SDC, which are more forgiving in terms of placement than the B-5.

Good luck,
Paj
8^)

 

[homestudioguy]

Cascade M20

I mention the Cascade M20 due it's $129 price and due to this comment:
"The Cascade M-20 is an amazingly well built and great sounding microphone. It gets used all the time in my studio and makes a great match with the Grace 101." - Eben Grace of Grace Design. The Grace Recording products are regarded very highly in many circles.
http://www.gracedesign.com/
BG

 

[Richard Monroe]

I think Paj's advice is pretty good. I think of small diaphragm mics as something you need a pair of, but they arent usually winners as vocal mics. Of the SD mics mentioned, the Oktava MC012 is the only one I find any good as a vocal mic.(use 2 pop filters) In your range, I like AKG C2000B as an all purpose compromise mic, and Oktava MK319 is a best bang for the buck All Star. Your next purchase after the main vocal mic should be a pair of SD's, say MXL 604's. You can't do it all at once. Actually, for $200 you could do an MXL V67 and an MXL 604, and get the other 604 later.-Richie

 

[sdelsolray]

I mention the Cascade M20 due it's $129 price and due to this comment:
"The Cascade M-20 is an amazingly well built and great sounding microphone. It gets used all the time in my studio and makes a great match with the Grace 101." - Eben Grace of Grace Design. The Grace Recording products are regarded very highly in many circles.
http://www.gracedesign.com/
BG

Cascade mics don't get much mention. I've tried the M20 and their SD mic (can't remember the model #) and have owned the VX20 (got it free when I bought some gear from Bayview Audio). Not bad mics, for the price. But there's probably more to complain about them than praise them.

 

[Prancing_pony]

What about a set of Behringer C-2's and a Behringer B-1 or maybe a AT2020 instead of the B-1?

 

[soundchaser59]

There is another thread where a guy posted 4 mp3 samples of the same vocal line sung through (he claims) 4 different mics, but he didn't tell anybody what the mics were.

That thread proves to me, beyond any shadow of any doubt, why it is useless to ask a forum like this which mic to buy.

I cant even say "Buy the best mic you can afford!" because that statement also reeks heavily of subjective bias. But since no one is paying for this opinion, I'll say it any way....

"Buy the best mic you can afford."

I like to remind myself of all the good mics I would NOT have right now if I had bought the cheap stuff early on. I ate peanutbutter for a month or two or three here and there so that I could pay for the better mics, and now I ahve no regrets at all. That sort of rules out Behringer, Samson, and a couple of other budget brands right off the bat....unless that really is all you can afford.

But when you start talking about mics like Studio Projects and you go up from there, then the subjectivity increases exponentially. Although some mic purists would argue that it is merely a logarithmic inflation......

 

[up-fiddler]

I know that it may start a crapload of debate but to start with a real (no knockoffs please) Shure 57 and 58 is a tried and true classic, yet inexpensive, way to go. A lot of stuff has been recorded through them over the years and when you move into something else they can be used with your powered PA when you play out. That's where I personally would start with only a couple hundred bucks and two mikes, Dave.

 

[soundchaser59]

Yeah, I agree with the SM 57/58, but he wants to record acoustic guitar. FOr $200 you can jump directly to a Studio Projects C1. Where I come from, which aint nowhere really, the SP C1 is the baseline condensor mic for recording. That is the minimum acceptable condensor mic I would buy.

If all you had was a vocal and an electric guitar, then the Sm57/58 would be the most standard place to start. But with an acousitc guitar (one that is not run direct in or amp'd) you really need a condensor mic to capture it.

 

[Prancing_pony]

I am doing the SM 57/58 thing now and wanting/needing to move up a bit. The sound I am getting is not bad but It needs something else and I believe Mic's are the way to go.

I agree with soundchaser59 as to everyone having different ideas as to what is good or not. but I do feel by doing a search and some reading that most people on this board feel the same way about the MXL990/993 package...(They suck) that was where I was headed.

Money is a factor and my hobbie falls low on the food chain in my family budget.

From What I have read I believe I will go with the Behringer C-2 and the B-1. The reason behind the B-1 choice is I like Behringer. My last band was on the road for 4 years with Behringer stuff...and It took a licking and kept on ticking.

To Quote Geddy Lee from Rush
"If you chose not to decide you still have made a choice."

Come on Tax Rebate....

 

[homestudioguy]

Wait!

Do you really need a small condensor at this time?
I agree with the concept of buying the best LDC you can for now.
Save the SDCs for a later purchase.
A good LDC should be able to do both voice and other duties.
My sE SE2200-A LDC sounds great on voice and acoustic guitar.
If I was in your shoes I'd be looking at the sE Electronics M1C all-purpose LDC
for $169.
http://www.provox.hr/audio/proizvod.aspx?IDProizvoda=1833
(I used this overseas photo as most of the US dealers are using an abomination of a photo of this mic)
The M1C is being sold by many folks in the US including WAR who frequents this forum I believe or the gearslutz forum.
BG/HSG

 

[soundchaser59]

I know what you mean when you say "I like such and such gear..." I used to have a great deal of brand loyalty myself........until I got bit in the butt by a broken piece of gear and I got to see the "true colors" of the warranty and repair side of things.

I have learned the hard way that it is much better to have a mix of brands in your studio bag of voodoo, ESPECIALLY when it comes to mics.

That being said, I can tell you for a fact that the SE2200 suggested by homestudioguy will walk, run and stomp all over any Behringer mic. That mic is normally $269 on sale....if you can get one for $169 I promise you will never look at a Behringer mic again. Besides, the mic is one of the top 2 or 3 most important pieces of gear you can have when it comes to capturing a faithful rendition of the sound source. The mic is your very first line front line of fidelity, if you get fidelity from the mic and capture a faithful rendition of the source (voice or acoustic guitar) with a decent mic, then it will just make your other gear look and sound even better. If you use an inferior mic then all the great and most expensive gear that comes in line after the mic cannot put "good" back into the sound.

PLEASE at least give a serious days worth of consideration to that suggestion re: the SE2200 mic. You will never regret it if you do, but you might regret it a lot if you dont.

 

[kid klash]

Well, if you've decided against an SM-57 or 58 and want to get into a LDC, you might want to consider a pair of Studio Projects B1's. They're smooth and unhyped, and lend themselves to recording acoustic instruments, overheads for drums, and lots of other things. PMI Audio, the distributors of Studio Projects products, have some B stock B1's for $70 each, including shipping and full warranty. FWIW.

 

[homestudioguy]

SE2200A is not on sale for $169 new......

That being said, I can tell you for a fact that the SE2200A suggested by homestudioguy will walk, run and stomp all over any Behringer mic. That mic is normally $269 on sale....if you can get one for $169 I promise you will never look at a Behringer mic again.

Thanks soundchaser!
The mic I am talking about at $169 is sE's new M1C entry level LDC.
http://www.provox.hr/audio/proizvod.aspx?IDProizvoda=1833
(I used this overseas photo as most of the US dealers are using an abomination of a photo of this mic)
Supposed to handle high (130) dB sound levels, horns, vocals, micing guitar cabinets, acoustic instruments etc and be more of an all-rounder and within prancin's $200 price range.
If Prancin could go the extra $69 over $200, I'd certainly recommend the SE2200A over anything else out there at $269 and even more (but you know me )
BG/HSG

 

[homestudioguy]

Bad Rep Red Noogie for HomeStudioGuy????

Wow, I received a Red Noogie yesterday for suggesting Cascade Microphones to Prancin Pony.
No Name.
No Reason.
I first posted right after Diffusion tried to sell his MXL V67 to Prancin Pony for $65.
Whatever!?
BG/HSG

 

[kid klash]

Wow, I received a Red Noogie yesterday for suggesting Cascade Microphones to Prancin Pony.
No Name.
No Reason.
I first posted right after Diffusion tried to sell his MXL V67 to Prancin Pony for $65.
Whatever!?
BG/HSG

It seems to be in the air these days...

Sorry to hear you received a negative rep for suggesting a mic brand someone else doesn't like (and probably doesn't own)...

 

[Prancing_pony]

Wow, I received a Red Noogie yesterday for suggesting Cascade Microphones to Prancin Pony.
No Name.
No Reason.
I first posted right after Diffusion tried to sell his MXL V67 to Prancin Pony for $65.
Whatever!?
BG/HSG

Wasn't me...I Appreciate all the advice you guys have given me. What's the deal with the red Chicklet anyway?

I ask the question because I wanted your opinions. It seems that there are lemons everywhere in life and money is to tight for me to make all the mistakes myself .

I use the computer a lot to ask about a microphone, a used car I may be buying, which it the better set of strings...etc. There is a great wealth of knowledge here to be tapped into so why not use it.

I have been a musician and played out for 30 years (I am 44) I have a lot of experience in different things that others don't have. I know sound, and live applications ans such but I don't know anything about the best mic's for recording...so I come to you guys.

Remember "Opinions are like a** holes...everybody has one...and they all stink" but if you ask for their opinion appreciate the advice and do with it what you want.

Thanks for all you help.


CAN"T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG ...

 

[dgatwood]

Before someone jumps me and tells me to do the search engin thing...I have just spent an 1:30 in doing the search.

I will mainly be recording vocals and acoustic guitar

Male vocals, female vocals, or both? What's the character of the voice(s) in question?