Low cost mic for vocals and acoustic guitar

[doc7string]

I am looking for a good fairly low cost mic that would be very good for vocals and acoustic guitar tracks. I would love to spend $99 on an SM58, but am hoping to get something better. The mic would only be used for the previously mentioned application. I am using a MOTU 828 mkII (not a particularly high end pre) directly into my MAC with DP 6.
Not sure if that will alter your decisions, but just in case.

Thanks

[SixStringGeek]

I can't recommend anything specific but this article might help you out:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/microphones_f ... studio.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and this one Mics under $100.

There's a lot of good articles on that site, actually.

[doc7string]

Thanks. Great info

[BradLyons]

What micpre are you using? What microphones do you currently own?

[NazRat]

You can pick up an Audio Technica AT3035 for ~$140 at several places, but Full Compass throws in a set of headphones for the same price. I believe AT is closing them out and this is a good value, though a little over your price point. Check the reviews over at Harmony Central.

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/356340.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the mic on acoustic guitar, but can't say that I've tried it on vocals. I'm not sure how the SM58 would play out on acoustic, but I love it for vocals. I've always used a condenser on acoustics.

[martian]

take a look at red audio - I have a condenser mic by them pretty usable!

[doc7string]

I am plugging into my 828mkII only (sorry if it seemed I was stating differently above). I know I need a good pre, but that will have to come later. One of my local music stores has the AKG C1000S on blow out for $69.00. Should I buy it? by the way, the only mics I currently own are a shure sm 57 (I am a guitarist), and an AKG that I rented so long for band practice many years ago that they gave it to me (not sure of the model).

[Phil O]

If you were to ask me what mic NOT to buy, it would be the C1000s, but maybe that's just my taste. (Sounds like cheap plastic to me.)

Consider giving Brad a call and talk to him by phone. He's my contact at Sweetwater and he's steered me in the right direction on several occasions. I needed a couple of cheap mics for a gig and I got a Audix i5 and a Senheiser e609 from him:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/i5/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/E609Silver/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Both performed admirably for their cost - $100/$110.

For a condenser, take a look at the AT2020:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT2020/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But seriously, give Brad a call. He may have some ideas that the rest of us haven't thought of. He's selling this stuff every day.

Phil

[newrigel]

I don't know what kind of voice you have Doc but Oktavamod has some excellent modifications you can have done on cheap chinese tube mics and the results are nothing short of astonishing!
$180 for the brand new mic and have MJ do his magic for another $449 and you'll have a vocal mic that would be VERY hard to beat for $629! They have compared them in listening test against Neumann U89 and M49 that cost approximately 6 times as much and met or beat them out. Nice, fat and warm without the harsh top like most chinese tube mics exhibit. If you get a mic you might as well get something your going to use and keep. I love mine and my new vox tracks have improved 1000%!!! Plus, they're great for other things as well.
I'm not a salesman... I use them and for voice, they smoke everything I've used for the price.
Sure there are more expensive boutiques but I don't like the color in the mids they hype.
This mod is voiced very nicely... plus, you can have them voiced to your tastes.

[uhdinator]

check out AKG perception 120 or 220, the 220 comes with shock mount.
they are a flat response basic condenser mic that would be better than an SM58 or most other dynamic mics in that price point.

[mhschmieder]

Audio-Technica mics are a great buy -- especially when they phase one model out in favour of a slightly revised newer model, as is happening across their line at this very moment.

Front End Audio and Zen Pro Audio (formed by a former Front End Audio employee), both in South Carolina, have excellent write-ups on their sites for many mic models, with lots of helpful hints and suggestions for best application. Their prices are generally hard to beat also, but they don't carry everything as they prefer to focus on mics they have direct experience with. I began shopping with them after noticing how much more useful I found their posts on GS than the average posting.

Of course, on this forum we have Brad of Sweetwater offering lots of helpful real-world advice, and Sweetwater probably carries the largest range of mic pre-amps of just about anybody, so you may find helpful advice there for best combinations of pre-amps with mics.

I would have some specific recommendations for you regarding "keeper" mics for guitar and vocals, if your budget was closer to $200. But due to Audio-Technica's tendency to steeply discount models that are "on the way out", even at your $100 limit, there might be a couple in their line-up that fit the bill.

An example of an affordable budget mic that might be a good match for your voice and guitar, would be a condenser mic from CAD. Like Audio-Technica, their mic quality belies the cheap price. I'm just not sure off-hand if you can find one for under $100 -- there's a popular one that's often sold in sets of two or three, that averages to around $100 per mic, but it sounds like you have a Total Budget limit.

Be aware that not all equipment delivers phantom power, and not all condenser mics (all of which require phantom power) have a battery option. Thus, you may not have an option of considering condenser mics, if your current equipment does not support phantom power (usually rated at 48V, but rarely is more than 9-12V actually needed).

Generally, condenser mics deliver more detail, but there are some very good dynamic mics that approach the detail of a condenser mic. Some of them are even in the budget category!