SM57 is an absolute excelent choice. The second mic I would add is large diaghram condensor. In the budget range you could look at an AT3035, a Rode NT1a, a Studio Projects B1 or C1 or perhaps a Shure KSM27. Of that group I would go with the AT3035 or if the budget could stretch another hundred the KSM27.

Alternatively, that same $200 could get you a pair of HM-1's. I have a pair and I find them to be pretty versatile. Not great on everything but good on many things. Probably not as good on voice as the LD condensors above but certainly quite decent. What you get in the trade off is a lot more flexibility on recording a drum kit or other instruments that might benefit from stereo micing.

i second that..
i really like the rode stuff..

me, too

a sm57 is a must in my opinion and a large diaphragm from rodes, a la NT1a is a good start... i also like AKGs and audio technica they have good mics in the affordable range...

try to specify what are you going to record mostly for the beginning... vocs, guitar, drums or all of it???

Ah, and here is a nice little start point / introduction to understand the basic principels and the different types / use of mics...

there used to be a M-Audio_Microphone_Guide.pdf at http://www.midiman.com, now M-Audio, i tried to locate it for you, but no success... but i don't have the time to search intense, just give it a go, google is your friend!, and if you are not successfull, just e-mail me at catrax@gmail.com and i can send the PDF to you, i have it and it's very usefull to get an basic idea of what's going on with mics....

a.

thanks for the replies guys. I DID find the microphone guide (im at school) and I will get that downloaded on my PC at home.

Basically, my idea is to start recording some of the local bands here. I have lots of friends in many, many, different bands. I've recorded my bands old demo using a simple computer microphone and a soundcard in my living room... and people thought it sounded decent haha.

So my idea is to record everything...guitar, bass, drums, vox... Just a way to contribute to the music scene here and get paid, and not only that, some experience.

The style of music is mainly hardcore and posthardcore... So its alot of heavy stuff but clean melodic stuff too. So I'm looking for mics that can give me that range of sound. I don't want to spend a bunch though....

I am looking at the Firebox package deal found on musiciansfriend.com. It comes with a Marshall MXL990.

If the budget is r-e-a-l-l-y tight, the Audio Technica 29HE is similar to the SM57, a more modern design, quite rugged and nice sounding, useable for about anything(Like the 57) and about 10 bucks less each... I think the HE29 comes with a foam filter? If not, blow the extra 3 bucks for one for each mic, when needed...

Once you've got about 6 SM57 types then 6 SM58's for band vocal recording, THEN think about a condenser - and spend the combined total of what you've spent on the others for your first "good" mic - that should be about right...

TG

I'll check those out. But 6?

I was thinking about 2 dynamics and 1 good condenser. I'm just doing your basic home recording, I dont have THAT much money.

For a few dollars more than a 57, get 2 or 3 AT 2020 condensers. They have a very flat frequency response, handle high SPL's well and will have many more uses than a 57. Search on ebay, there's a store there that sells them for $82/each.

I was looking at the AT2020s. I heard they are good budget mics. I still want to get one, or possibly two SM57s, and then maybe 2 condensers like the AT2020s.