Microphone Help Needed

**Christ The Redeemer** · 21st April '10, 11:54 PM

I Need A Decent Fairly Priced Condenser Microphone.
Could Someone Point Me In The Right Direction As I Don't Know A Great Deal About Them

**316** · 22nd April '10, 12:08 AM

http://www.grimeforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=39

**Shalz08** · 22nd April '10, 12:21 AM

rode nt1a

**Christ The Redeemer** · 22nd April '10, 12:26 AM

my bad maybe a mod could move my thread?
*hint hint*

repped that mic is serious

**Retrofreak** · 22nd April '10, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by Mickey Bricks

my bad maybe a mod could move my thread?
*hint hint*

repped that mic is serious

Whats your budget?

**Isaac** · 22nd April '10, 06:26 AM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-C451B-ST...1917410&sr=8-1

^ good for all sorts of things, including vocals. I have recorded many vocals, drums and bongos with these, and they sound very crisp, and crystal clear.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rode-Ntk-Car...1917478&sr=1-1

^ this is an okay mic, not as good as the C451Bs in my opinion, it doesn't sound as nice. It produces a warmer sound with more mid-range than the C451Bs.

**Retrofreak** · 22nd April '10, 07:04 AM

Top 3 under £500 in order:

1. SE Z5600a II http://www.dv247.com/microphones/se-...rophone--37009
2. Rode K2 http://www.dv247.com/microphones/rod...rophone--19164
3. Shure SM7b http://www.dv247.com/microphones/shu...rophone--28981

I'd advise investing in a good 'Mic channel/channel strip' over the mic as you'll have more control over the sound.

**Christ The Redeemer** · 22nd April '10, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Retrofreak

Top 3 under £500 in order:

1. SE Z5600a II http://www.dv247.com/microphones/se-...rophone--37009
2. Rode K2 http://www.dv247.com/microphones/rod...rophone--19164
3. Shure SM7b http://www.dv247.com/microphones/shu...rophone--28981

I'd advise investing in a good 'Mic channel/channel strip' over the mic as you'll have more control over the sound.

Yeah i got around 500 thanks for that i have looked at them but im not too sure about all the details.
is there any kind of book or web page i could maybe get a better understanding of all the technical stuff?

**Retrofreak** · 22nd April '10, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Mickey Bricks

Yeah i got around 500 thanks for that i have looked at them but im not too sure about all the details.
is there any kind of book or web page i could maybe get a better understanding of all the technical stuff?

Not really, Mics are subjective and sound different from person to person.

Whats on paper, doesn't always translate in real world usage.

The best way is to try different Mics out with various Pre's when you can.

I've gone through a slew of mics from £100 to 5K and the three i've picked stand up with Mics that cost 2K upwards imho.

As I've said before the "Mic Pre/Channel Strip" is more important.

**Billionaire Playboy** · 25th April '10, 05:41 AM

Retro I'm looking to do more vocal stuff.
Going to be getting vocalists into my studio on the regular.

Was looking for a condensor mic, but a friend suggested looking at a dynamic mic and running this through a separate condensor unit prior to recording.

Advantages of this being, having the wider frequency range that a dynamic mic would provide and having more manipulation over the condensing, rather than the one fits all method of a condensing mic.

Thoughts?

**Retrofreak** · 25th April '10, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by FourSite

Retro I'm looking to do more vocal stuff.
Going to be getting vocalists into my studio on the regular.

Was looking for a condensor mic, but a friend suggested looking at a dynamic mic and running this through a separate condensor unit prior to recording.

Advantages of this being, having the wider frequency range that a dynamic mic would provide and having more manipulation over the condensing, rather than the one fits all method of a condensing mic.

Thoughts?

1. Whats your budget for a mic?.
2. What soundcard you running?.
3. What software you using?.
4. What type of vocals do you which to record?.

**Billionaire Playboy** · 25th April '10, 03:14 PM

Budget isn't an issue, control is the most important thing for me.

I use a mixture of pro tools and logic depending on if its live recording or post processing, sometimes FL studio too. i'm most competent with pro tools, just trying to get into logic

Had a mid range audio card, looking to change that now? any suggestions?

Its mostly for house music, so soulful female vocalist.
I might also try my hand at rap production so might record rappers too.

**Retrofreak** · 25th April '10, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by FourSite

Budget isn't an issue, control is the most important thing for me.

I use a mixture of pro tools and logic depending on if its live recording or post processing, sometimes FL studio too. i'm most competent with pro tools, just trying to get into logic

Had a mid range audio card, looking to change that now? any suggestions?

Its mostly for house music, so soulful female vocalist.
I might also try my hand at rap production so might record rappers too.

Ok,

What Soundcard have you been running and whats the most you'll spend on a new one?

Mic wise i'd stick with a condenser and budget for a nice mic channel.

Depending on budget I'd recommend:

Mic Channels:

Focusrite Green Voicebox
Joemeeq 3Q
RNC Pre amp

Vintech X73i
Avalon VT 737sp
Amek CIB
Focusrite Producer Pack

Microphones:

SE Gemini II
SE Z5600a II
Rode K2
Shure SM7B
Neumann U87

Soundcards:

1. RME Fireface 800 or 400
2. Apogee Ensemble (Logic only)
3. M-Audio 2626 (for running everything inc Pro Tools)
4. Motu...