Topic: Cheap Microphone advice

I'm looking to get a cheap ass microphone over the next couple of weeks. My budget is around 50$. My expectations are low, as long as it beats the webcam mic on my laptop. Ideally I would be using it on vocals but also for vocoder All advice is welcome.

So far I am wondering whether I should go for an SM48 (the 58's little brother) for around 50 bucks or whether a combo of bottom of the barrel condenser mic + a bottom of the barrel dynamic mic would do the trick. I know Shure has a reputation for durability but since it is for home use that is less of an issue. I guess what I am saying is: would an SM48 beat a 50$ condenser mic for straight up vocals.

Thx

Some of the cheapo condensers I looked at:
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Studio- … amp;sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-gxl2200-Large … =de_a_smtd

http://www.amazon.com/Eagletone-Cardioi … mp;sr=8-12

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Dual-Di … mp;sr=8-11

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

it depends on how you use it. i have a cheap large diaphragm mic that i use for things like cosmic overdrive, and it sounds fine for me. however those things are sensitive, both to volume differences and abuse, so if you want a good throw-around mic, get something like an sm58.

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

ok thx rude. I think I'll get something Speculator's music shop big_smile

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

so I got an SM48 in the end ...


N00b question: I need to turn the gain almost all the way up on my soundcard to get a decent level. Is this normal? or is it the cable I am using (it appears to a 20 ft Hi-Z cable and I see that on the mic itself it says Dynamic Lo-Z)?

5 (edited by no-fi 2009-11-07 01:57:15)

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

soundcard inputs are meant to be line level - the mic runs at mic level, which is a lot lower. thats why you need lots of gain in your soundcard.

you could also get a mic preamp, which will probably do the job better, but will be more $.

6 (edited by Marco Tulio Thrash 2009-11-07 06:33:54)

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

thx no-fi ... makes sense now (funny coz there is a mic / instrument switch for 1/4" input on the soundcard), I'll look into a mic preamp maybe

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

Well then the soundcard probably has a mic preamp already, in some soundcards you have these combo connectors, you can plug a mic or line signal, have you tried flicking the switch?-)

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

yeah that switch is already flipped (soundcard is a Novation Nio) ... I read somewhere that the signal from the SM48 needs an extra pre amp because it is not strong enough for soundcard preamps.

In any case I recorded some voice from my radio show and got a moderate signal that sounded good (but with the gain turned all the way up).

A temporary solution I am thinking about is using the microkorg mic input and audio thru function too boost the signal a little.

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

Or just plug the microkorg mic into the soundcard?

Home is where your hardware is!!!
ErrorAudio SoundCloud

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

Hey Erroraudio, what i'm going to do is plug in the SM48 into the microkorg and boost a little there (it has an 1/4" audio in with a gain knob) and then send that to the soundcard.

11 (edited by Marco Tulio Thrash 2009-11-08 14:18:20)

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

I just recorded vocals with it. I'm fairly pleased with the results: http://marcotuliothrash.bandcamp.com/

edit corrected url

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

Sounds great Marco! would like to hear more..

13 (edited by Marco Tulio Thrash 2009-11-08 14:31:50)

Re: Cheap Microphone advice

Thanks cloud 9, more should be coming but I will post in Track Dump next time

How do you guys record vocals? any procedures you follow?

Since I record and mix "in the box" (Rude 66 is gonna have my head) I rendered the backing track into wav and then started a new project then recorded vocals straight into a new channel (in one take) with nothing (plugins or otherwise) affecting the inputting sound (The Novation Nio has a standalone DirectFX thingie that can affect the sound before it enters the DAW).

Then I added the effects (a vocal doubler for the refrain, compressor and reverb), finally I softened any plosives that stuck out with a volume automation.