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best cheap mic?
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:27 pm
by TomG10-7
Hi, ive just started getting into production. I use FL studio 8 and am wondering what is the best cheap mic to get? I would be unwilling to spend more that £50.
Cheers
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:49 pm
by upstateface
well you can start by telling us what you're recording.
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:33 am
by deadly_habit
that and condenser or dynamic or ribbon
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:13 pm
by Ongelegen
under 50 you wont find anything good
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:15 pm
by collige
deadly habit wrote:that and condenser or dynamic or ribbon
So any mic basically
Edit: Oh, I misunderstood what you were saying. As a total noob to recording I doubt he would know the difference.
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:16 pm
by DZA
sm58 is 60
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:21 pm
by safeandsound
Bypassing the "one mic will not do everything perfectly" and responding directly....
add a little more cash and buy an SM57, it will record anything with a 1/2 decent result.
It will not work well with an internal minijack soundcard on a mac or pc it will need a
mic preamp that is not complete cr*p, any basic mic input on a USB/PCI soundcard
would do the job at a basic level. You buy second hand from ebay but do not touch any from
Hong Kong or China (lots of fakes about).
SM57 will excel on snare, toms and male vocals, not so good with any acoustic strung instruments.
You are not going to get a lot of condensor mic for GBP50.00
If you really cannot stretch any further this is the mic...
http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_sc40 ... nmikro.htm
or look for a SAMSON CO1 (hypercardioid)
A condenser should sound decent on most sources but not close mic'd
drums unless it has pads and can take the high SPL's generated by such sources.
At this price point the trade off will be noise, might be slightly hissier than more expensive models
and the top end might not be quite as smooth as better models.
For a condensor you will need a preamp that can supply 48Volts phantom power, check your sound card/preamp can before you buy.
For vocals you will need to add in some cash GBP15.00 or so for a pop shield which is
pretty much essential for both the mics above.
Hope this helps.
cheers
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:21 pm
by deadly_habit
DZA wrote:sm58 is 60
blah
so many better mics at same price point
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:23 pm
by DZA
Liar
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:40 pm
by deadly_habit
DZA wrote:Liar
do some side by side comparisons

Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:41 pm
by Brisance
An Oxymoron?
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:46 pm
by deadly_habit
Brisance wrote:An Oxymoron?
depends on your definition of cheap heh
generally yes though
your gonna spend 100$ minimum
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:16 pm
by my_fickle_eye
red 5 audio dont do a shabby condensor for the price.
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:28 pm
by komanderkin
my behringer xm8500 is simply stunning. and you won't believe it's price when you see it. and you won't believe how many people hate behringer for no reason.
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revi ... M8500/10/1
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:31 pm
by deadly_habit
no for no reason but that is one of their few decent products
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:28 pm
by FSTZ
deadly habit wrote:DZA wrote:sm58 is 60
blah
so many better mics at same price point
Audix om2
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:47 pm
by deadly_habit
FSTZ wrote:deadly habit wrote:DZA wrote:sm58 is 60
blah
so many better mics at same price point
Audix om2
yep and thats just one
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:15 pm
by setspeed
i know loads of people who hate behringer, all for exactly the same reason - they bought some behringer stuff and it fell apart within months. i don't know anyone who hates them for no reason though!

Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:25 pm
by alphacat
Without jumping into the pissing match, I'd like to point out that a good quality mic preamp is also necessary, otherwise it almost doesn't matter how much you spent on it...
Re: best cheap mic?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:34 pm
by FSTZ
haha
what do you mean phantom power??