I'd say just grab a Shure SM-58 for ~$100. Great build quality, reliability, and an industry standard. Not a mind-blowing studio microphone, but I can't think of anything off the top of my head that would be appreciably better in the $100-200 range.
Are you trying to use this for live, studio, or both?
I have an SM-58, and used it all throughout my vocal classes at Berklee. The SM-58 is specially tuned for vocals, the SM-57 would be a better all-purpose mic, if you would like to use it for other sounds as well. However if you're really just looking to do vocals then the SM-58 is great for the price.
fil latorre beat me to it. SM-57s and SM-58s are great for live use and acceptable for studio use, but only so far as they get what's being picked up into the computer. they don't have any special characteristics and are pretty flat sounding (in the bad way, not the same context as one might say a speaker is "flat"). personally I think the best mic for the money is what fil mentioned, the Rode NT1A. sounds like a $500 mic at less than half the price. Mics are one of those things that are worth spending the money on. It's incredibly crisp, bright and also pretty boomy as far as picking up all the frequencies of the voice, including the undertones (something that an SM58 would have a hard time picking up).
One thing pop music has going for it, is incredibly well-recorded vocals. Pop vocals always sound so good because they are using $2-10k microphones, and will spend an entire day in the studio doing mic test w/ the vocalist to get just the right one to match both the voice and the tone needed for the song. If you want to get a sound that's anything close to that quality, you need something more than an SM58. NT1A is where it's at.
thanks guys! looks like i'm gonna get that Rode soon. i need a strictly studio mic. not ever gonna do live vocals... and only one more live set after my trip... so that one looks ideal.
Alland Byallo
Nightlight Music | [KONTROL] | Forward SF
I'd say just grab a Shure SM-58 for ~$100. Great build quality, reliability, and an industry standard. Not a mind-blowing studio microphone, but I can't think of anything off the top of my head that would be appreciably better in the $100-200 range.
Are you trying to use this for live, studio, or both?
http://www.house-heads.com
i'd get a SM-57 over the 8 for studio... but then...
I enjoy this one... its a decent condensor, not sure though i've never used any other... be sure to get the shockmount and a stand.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MSEV57M
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http://kirkwoodwest.com
I have an SM-58, and used it all throughout my vocal classes at Berklee. The SM-58 is specially tuned for vocals, the SM-57 would be a better all-purpose mic, if you would like to use it for other sounds as well. However if you're really just looking to do vocals then the SM-58 is great for the price.
www.monocle-music.com
www.myspace.com/monoclemusik
thanks yallz
Alland Byallo
Nightlight Music | [KONTROL] | Forward SF
if it's for live any of these recommendations are good.
if it's for studio, look into condenser mics. sound quality is MUCH better. this one is phenomenal for the price ($230):
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NT1A/
and for studio and something that could work live - also a condenser - i have one of these and love it ($200):
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M3Rode/
Fil Latorre / Stap[e
www.staplemusic.net
www.fillatorre.com (coming soon)
www.myspace.com/staplemusic
www.myspace.com/fillatorre
fil latorre beat me to it. SM-57s and SM-58s are great for live use and acceptable for studio use, but only so far as they get what's being picked up into the computer. they don't have any special characteristics and are pretty flat sounding (in the bad way, not the same context as one might say a speaker is "flat"). personally I think the best mic for the money is what fil mentioned, the Rode NT1A. sounds like a $500 mic at less than half the price. Mics are one of those things that are worth spending the money on. It's incredibly crisp, bright and also pretty boomy as far as picking up all the frequencies of the voice, including the undertones (something that an SM58 would have a hard time picking up).
One thing pop music has going for it, is incredibly well-recorded vocals. Pop vocals always sound so good because they are using $2-10k microphones, and will spend an entire day in the studio doing mic test w/ the vocalist to get just the right one to match both the voice and the tone needed for the song. If you want to get a sound that's anything close to that quality, you need something more than an SM58. NT1A is where it's at.
http://www.monocle-music.com/
http://www.myspace.com/monoclemusik
http://www.myspace.com/coupler300
thanks guys! looks like i'm gonna get that Rode soon. i need a strictly studio mic. not ever gonna do live vocals... and only one more live set after my trip... so that one looks ideal.
Alland Byallo
Nightlight Music | [KONTROL] | Forward SF