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Microphone
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phutekk
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
66
Posted : Jul 19, 2004 10:41
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Aye peeps!
I was thinking of buying a microphone but i really don't know anything about mics..
So i'd like to have some suggestions about what mic would be nice and suitable for me...
what mics do you guys have?
I don't need or have afford to a superb-high_quality-500euro-microphone but i can pay about 100e..
I'd like to record vocals and my own samples.. like speech samples and other kind of samples.. maybe like flushing a toilet and so on 
i have a mixer with what i can record directly to computer at home and i also have a minidisc so i can record sounds elsewhere.
i know that there are different types of mics but i don't really know what is good and for me...
i guess the mic should have a XLR-plug..
shure... akg... behringer... but like i said.. i don't have much money to spend on a mic.
some info...
Cardioid
A microphone polar (pickup) pattern. Characterized by strong sensitivity to audio from the front of the mic, good sensitivity on the sides (at 90 degrees, 6 dB less than the front), and good rejection of sound from the rear, the Cardioid pattern can almost be visualized as a "heart-shaped" pattern (hence its name). The ability to reject sound from the rear makes Cardioid patterns very useful in multi-miking situations, and where it is not desirable to capture a large amount of room ambience. Popular in both studio and live use (where rear rejection cuts down on feedback and ambient noise), Cardioid mics are used for a very high percentage of microphone applications.
Keep in mind that like all non-omnidirectional mics, Cardioid mics will exhibit pronounced proximity effect.
Supercardioid
A polar pattern name used to describe the pickup pattern of some microphones. The Supercardioid pattern is very similar to, and often confused with, the Hypercardioid pattern. The Supercardioid pattern is slightly less directional than the Hypercardioid pattern, but the rear lobe of sensitivity is also much smaller in the Supercardioid.
Hypercardioid
A polar pattern name typically used to describe microphone pick up characteristics. Hypercardioid patterns are similar to Cardioid and Supercardioid patterns in that the primary sensitivity is in the front of the microphone. They differ, however, in that the point of least sensitivity is at the 150 - 160 and 200 - 210 degree positions (as opposed to directly behind the microphone in a Cardioid pattern). Hypercardioid microphones are thus considered even more directional than Cardioid and Supercardioid microphones. Hypercardioid microphones are frequently used in situations where maximum isolation is desired between sound sources.
Omnidirectional
Literally, from all directions. In audio, microphones are said to be omnidirectional if they can detect sound equally from all directions. An Omnidirectional microphone will not exhibit a pronounced proximity effect.
Figure 8
A microphone polar pattern in which the mic is (nearly) equally sensitive to sounds picked up from front and back, but not sensitive to sounds on the sides. This produces a pattern that looks like a figure 8 on paper, where the microphone is at the point of crossover on the 8. The pattern is also known as bi-directional.
there... some info about cardiods and microphone dynamics...
but yeah.. please help me out
cheersbom <3
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saxopholus
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
79
Posted : Jul 19, 2004 20:28
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don't worry about all those mic-ing patterns too much, they will make a difference, but more importantly there are dynamic, condenser, ribbon and valve mics (probably other types too?). At that price u are looking at a dynamic like the Shure SM57/58, or similar models, or one of the cheaper priced condenser mics by Samson, Audio Technica or maybe SE Electronics. SE have had very good reviews and I am considering getting one to try as in the UK, at least, u can have a 7-day trial. Most condensers will need phantom power so make sure u have this from your mixer or soundcard before u get one. |
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Pavel
Troll
Started Topics :
313
Posts :
8649
Posted : Jul 19, 2004 20:39
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Just go for good ol' SM57/58.
Easy, versatile, cheap, classic.
Good luck.
 Everyone in the world is doing something without me |
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D,Rosengren
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
53
Posted : Jul 19, 2004 22:47
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Hello phutekk! Checkout adk condenser mics. They are cheap...
The polarpatterns dont have much meaning if you are going to record in mono (cardiod will do fine) If you are intersted in steromicing the patterns will have bigger meaning.. Sm57/58 are more common on live gigs because they dont "break" easy. I whould for shure go for a cheap condenser before a dynamic..
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PRAECOX
Bigwigs
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
346
Posted : Jul 21, 2004 13:47
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if u got 100E buy MXL 990!!!
it's amazing mic - silent & clear.
i use that one and i'm happy.
chck the pro audio reviews arond the net:)
"Soft as possible" - Morton Feldman
http://jurekprzezdziecki.net/ |
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C3PO
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
29
Posts :
510
Posted : Jul 21, 2004 23:10
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Trip-
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
101
Posts :
3239
Posted : Jul 22, 2004 12:29
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Studio Project C3 microphone. great condenser for relatively low price.
Crackling universes dive into their own neverending crackle...
AgalactiA |
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PsYmAnTiCs=]
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
88
Posted : Jul 22, 2004 13:14
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If you can afford it, go for a Neumann U87, they are the finest mic's in the world (kinda expensive, but if you use mic's a lot, buy this one and never worry about getting a good vocal sound ever again!)
The best budget mic's are Shure. The SM58 is a great live mic for vocals and can be used for anything from guitar amps to drum kits. The newer BETA range of shure mic's are also excellent (BETA 58). Shure mics are dynamic cardiods, the Neumann U87 condenser is switchable between cardiod and figure of 8, it also requires a 48v phantom power supply.
Another good budget mic would be the Electrovoice RE20, which is a dynamic mic that is favoured by rap artists such as eminem and is used all over the US in radio stations. The one we had in the studio was named "The Donkey's Knob", as it looks like a, erm, well you know!
As a final tip, any mic with NO XLR connection is going to sound very crap, the noise sheilding of the XLR helps you get the best sound from the mic, 1/4" jacks can't shield noise as good.
Hope this helps dude |
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kukan-dub-lagan/ItaiTaiko
kukan-dub-lagan/ItaiTaiko
Started Topics :
144
Posts :
1728
Posted : Jul 22, 2004 13:54
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sm58-57 of shure
and you have also cheeper al,ost the same design of protech 58
Check out my music page - free music , new style and more :) |
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ZilDoggo
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
663
Posted : Jul 22, 2004 14:30
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i cant belive noone talked about pre-amps.,
at least half of the sound of a mic is produced by the mic-amp!!., (well, maybe not 50%, but definitely at least 25%)
it may sound stupid and repetitive, but you should check different mics on the pre-amp you want to use., (like the one on your mixing desk).,
because the 'sound' of a mic is actually the sound of the interaction of air(distance, angle), mic and pre-amp., any change to these parametres will give you a different kind of sound.,
to make things even worse, some combinations of mic and amp sound sweeet.,, but some combos are just bad .. so it's a learning process.,
so go to the shop, borrow 2 or three and see how they work together with your pre-amp,.
greets.,
aka., |
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ZilDoggo
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
663
Posted : Jul 22, 2004 22:46
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ooh, and c3po is propably very right.,
condenser mics are very sensitive.,
if you record in an untreated room you will have a lot of reflections that f*&k up the signal., not a good idea.,
greets., |
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phutekk
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
66
Posted : Dec 9, 2004 21:51
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hey again!
thanks alot for your advices, infos - everything.
NOW, this subject/question about microphones is actual for real!
because I'm intending to buy a microphone very soon - as soon as i've made my choice and researched a little - but you need to help me with that!
yes, there are already a bunch of suggestions, but I want to be sure, hehe...
so i'll ask again.
like I've said, Im mostly interested to record sounds at home.
flushing toilets, porching coca-cola to a glass, knocking wood sticks against eachothers... what ever... you name it...
but anyway something recorded close to the recordable target.
and yeah, speeches and maybe something outside. but! close to the recordable target, like i said;)
so!
mono mic? stereo mic?
I believe the choice will at least be an cardoioid and an dynamic mic - afterall condenser mics requires an acoustly threated room, right? which I don't have. and if i want to record outside, condensers aren't very suitable for that(?)
don't say too much about about recording outside, that is not so important
but recording outside... i guess it would be good to have an mic-amp for outside recordings...
it would be cool if the mic would be ok sensitive...
and pretty cheap... 100-150e :S
I do have an mixer with phantom power...
so... ? anything you wanna say? add? suggest? ask?
please, help me with my problem and research  hehe...
thanks!
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Alex Roudos
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
411
Posted : Dec 9, 2004 22:38
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For your budget i'd also suggest the shure SM58. And always a mono mic. I use it without any mic-pre(not right of course) and the results are pretty good. In fact i've recorded a lot of vocals with it, in my room which is not acoustically treated at all but quiet from outside noises, and one of the tracks i recorded is going to be released. Of course a lot of editing is needed to the recorded vocals when using low budget mics in order to get the best sounding result possible. But again this is another area of expertise which is mostly important when using not quality mics. |
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martyn
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
389
Posted : Dec 11, 2004 12:59
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