Cheap recording microphones

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Loaf

108 posts

Master Geek

#268251 8-Mar-2020 12:29

Hi there.

I'm looking at getting a recording microphone for vocals. It doesn't need to be anything super high quality since we're just experimenting for our own interest, but ideally produces audio that can be processed to sound acceptable and not super amateur (supposing we wanted to share something eventually). The vocals will likely be in a higher register but delicate, and the intended for a semi-electronic context with slight reverb, so preferably something with reasonable sensitivity but doesn't need to be the crispest recording ever, if that is possible on a budget.

I've got a USB audio interface which I intend to use (Behringer UMC22) so preferably not a USB mic.

Any thoughts? Not really clued up on this stuff since my foray into audio production has been instrumentals only. Obviously I've done some digging myself but the price point and availability of audio equipment varies greatly in the NZ market so I'm looking for a local opinion.

Not going to list a budget because I'm interested to see what people think is the minimum decent microphone for acceptable vocal recordings for amateurs.

Thanks.

freitasm

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#2434531 8-Mar-2020 14:31

Not being USB limits a lot - the Blue Yeti microphones seem to fit your requirements.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#2434533 8-Mar-2020 14:42

The iphone microphone is ok. . . not sure about other phones.

Budget friendly too, if you already have an iphone.

jarledb

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#2434624 8-Mar-2020 18:29

One of the standard tools of the trade when I worked as a sound engineer was the Shure SM58. Which in my opinion is not that expensive.

I see Soundstore have the Shure SM58 for $215 at the moment.

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Loaf

108 posts

Master Geek

#2434778 9-Mar-2020 01:50

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take a look at them both.

(Phone mic is no good by the way, I buy budget phones because I don't care about them)

rhy7s

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2434810 9-Mar-2020 08:53

We use Sennheiser e845 mics for live female vocals and have had fairly good performance out of them recording as well (especially if recording a live band vs booths) you've got to have fairly good mic technique to get consistency as they don't pick up the room.

nitrotech

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#2434812 9-Mar-2020 08:56

The AT2020 is an excellent mic for the money circa $200 there is a USB version and XLR.

I've had a studio full of Neumann mic's before and while the AT clearly isn't quite up there in my opinion it is amazing value for money.

Vocals are crisp without being sibilant, popping is under control, good pickup without lots of background rumble.

If you're doing live then the SM58 is the goto option as stated above but it's a POS for studio/recording stuff.

TwoSeven

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#2436069 10-Mar-2020 22:27

The original post didn’t say if the mic needed to be hand held or static.

I have a Zoom H1n mounted on a camera tripod (need to get a boom arm).

It has a 180 degree mic and also line in and line out. I have a rhode lavalier mic and headphones attached when not using the main microphone. It also takes an SD card and has a mini USB port.

it is the bottom of the range zoom model, but being I don’t know what half the controls do, it works well for me.

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Loaf

108 posts

Master Geek

#2436957 12-Mar-2020 15:26

Sounds like $200 is about where quality meets budget based on these suggestions.

I'm inclined to agree that the SM58 is probably not right for me. I listened to some audio tests and it has quite a muddy sound. I could see how in a live performance it would help smooth over the vocal but it sounds like it would blunt a delicate vocal.

I had an old Zoom recorder several years back and found it quite good for recording a piano. Not sure what the newer ones are like. From memory the audio was quite crisp but it used to struggle with loudness and popping, although it looks like this newer one does better. Looks cheaper and more versatile than just a mic.

Still considering what to go with.