If you're just using one mic as an all purpose thing for vocals, electric guitar, drums, er, what would you go for? A condensor? A dynamic? Give up?
Someone tell me the answer, the internet is being rubbish today.
Cheers
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Probably a condensor if you're doing vocals
and drums. Are you recording all things at once?
One at a time mainly
But drums will be recorded 'as one' rather than individually.
There isn't a one-mic answer.
If you get a condensor that will give you the flattest response, i.e. the most realistic.
However, it will also mean it's easier to overload, which is a consideration if you're using it to record an electric guitar from the amp, or if you're a SHOUTER when it comes to vocals.
If you get a condensor remember to get one that lets you put a battery in so that you don't always need phantom power.
The Shure PG-81 is a good quality dirt-cheap (comparatively) one. Though I've never worked out how to open it to put a battery in.
That's what I've looked at (PG 81)
but it seems to be for acoustic stuff mainly. I'm thinking of getting a dynamic mic (so I can stick it up against amps) but I assume hanging one over a drum kit will sound gashwank.
Get a cheapish dynamic mic
like an sm58 copy for miking up guitars?
With that and a condensor you'll be able to cover a much wider range of sounds.
I have multiple:
I have an SM58 for vocals, a PG-51 (? 50-something) for the bass drum and a PG-81 and a Shure 16A (the old pencil mic the PG-81 replaced). I also have a Sennheiser MD421 or something like that but it's old and it's lost it.
You should have a range but the only 'all-round' mic would be a condenser. However, vocals and guitar amps are best handled by something like the SM58. The PG-81 is best for acoustic instruments but it is also a good mic for just recording the room because of that range.
Whereas, if you hang an SM58 over the drums you'll get a boost in the sound in the range where vocals tend to be most strongly and a lack of good quiet/loud dynamic.
We always record the guitars DI in our rehearsals.
Well my friend has an SM58
So I might plump for a PG81 and see how we go.
Thanks Theo and Nick!
Also take a look at
the Behringer XM8500 - basically an SM58 copy. I've used them for backing vox and there really is no difference to our singers SM58 - the Behringer is probably slightly louder and just as solid as the Shure.
And if you try getting a secondhand SM58 watch out for cheap knockoffs - they look and feel identical to the real thing but sound crap. There's a lot of them about.
Yep
I bought a shoddy SM58 from China off ebay, it's rubbish.
Did you try it out, yet?
I've ordered a PG81
it's sitting in the post office! I'm going to collect it on Thursday, so I'll let you know...
Neumann U67
bit pricey though...
All purpose
condensor, AKG 414 cos its got a tottally flat response and all purpose is its goal.
However at 500 it might be too much, if so just step down the AKG scale till you meet ur price but keep it large diaphram.
All purpose dynamic mic, SM7 largely cos you can use it on kick and vocals without pops.
SM57 is good
For doing, Guitar amps, (maybe vocals if you want a lofi edge) and the Snare sound.
I bought a whole set of drum mics recently for £98. Worth doing if you are serious about recording. Plus think how much you save instead of over priced studios and idiot 'producers'. ;)
sm57 is good
on drums, amps.
but with vocals it will depend on the actual voice. if you plan to shout down it over loud distorted guitars etc.. then it would be fine, but if its more singer/songwriter type stuff then it might be better to go for a large diaphram condenser,, AKG do some good 'less expensive' ones you could find fairly cheap on ebay. it would also add a little more colour to a guitar amp being recorded in a bedroom. however would not be so good on the drums...
Sm57/58I
I'm told the only difference between the SM57 and the SM58 is the housing, though I'm too lazy to read up on it to find out if that's true.
If it is, go for the 58 and unscrew the head for instrument recording.
I thought the SM58 was slightly more sensitive?
They're certainly a lot easier to sing into.
I heard they are the same
Too. But i do own both. It got a nice snare sound and on our guitars on our Ep we have in production.
I'm pretty sure that the frequency response is slightly different
You can get some suprising results recording a band using one SM58 hung from the ceiling.
I can't remember where I saw it but there's a site with loads of decent looking SM57 copies for about 30-35 quid.
If this isn't a copyright infringement then I don't know what is
http://www.creativetools.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=543
SM57
for snare, for sure.
if you want a really good entry-level condenser
then you can't go wrong with the RODE NT-1A - widely recognised as the industry standard for affordable mics.
just reread that, i sound like a rep for Rode. i've got one...gets such nice warm tones for vocals and especially acoustic guitar. can pick em up for about £110 from most online stores