what would all of you recomend as a $1000.00 beginers mic closet? there was an article in Recording a few years ago with that general idea. i think (can't find that issue now) the writer recomended a beyerdynamic m88 and a pair of octavia mc 012s. with the flood of low cost microphones in the last few years i'm wondering what might be appropriate now.
i think 1 grand can get you heaps of very decent low cost mics. I'd suggest looking at maybe 2 sm57's (or an sm58) and a SPb1 firstly.
You simply cannot go wrong with a Beyer M88 to start.A couple of nice small diaphram condensers and a very select group of 'others' would give enough colors to record lots of stuff.I would buy an SP B3 before the B1 simply because it has different patterns which as you progress will help in many many ways.An ADK A51 model V is a very nice LD condenser it has a nice dark flavor to it and a sweet top end and sells for less than $200 new.A used Model III is even cheaper. You will need a preamp too, but I assume you know this and we're only dealing with the mic locker budget.
2 Marshall MXL603's 1 Marshall MXLv67G 1 Marshall MXL2003 3 Shure SM57's 1 AT ATMPRO25 1 Marshall MXLv77
thanks for your thoughts. Steve@speed river studios... i found a few avlex avs 80s on ebay, but can't find any information on the avlex web site. do they still make this model? for now i'm useing the preamps on a motu 828 and an old fostex 450 mixer. the 828 isn't bad, kind of boring (the preamps, i'm very happy with it otherwise). the 450 is noisy and a bit .... two dimensional, but i still love the EQ and can't bring myself to part with it. i've heard from people who love the marshall mics, and just as many who hate them. is this just personal preference or is there some sort of inconsistancy/ quality control problem?
What are you going to be recording? Also, how many people will you be recording at once? Finally, how good or bad do your rooms sound, and do you have the space in any of the rooms or the chance to improve the sound or to move people around to find the good sound areas that might be hiding in otherwise bad sounding rooms? All of these will impact what kind of mics you'd want for your budget. As it is you should have a strong perference for mics that will serve multiple tasks, and that will not be left behind down the road.
i record mostly brit pop / shoegazer stuff. we also have a Belle and Sebastion type side project. by late fall i will be moving into a newly remodled garge studio. its a bit small (20' x 20'), but should be well treated. we tend to track drums and bass( DI) together, then overdub guitars, vocals, keys etc. i don't think that method will change in the new studio. i have a few dynamic mics (sm57, ev n/ds and audio technica at4+) and a pair of radioshack PZMs. there is a store near by that rents out some better mics at resonable prices, but i want my own.
Here's my $1000 mic closet: Neumann U-89 $500 2 Crown CM700s @ $200/per 1 Shure SM57 - $100 Yeah, the Neumann price was a steal, friend about to get evicted. The Crowns were a mega bargain. With my Demeter HM-1 preamp ($250 - another steal) I am sitting pretty.
This is a tough one, because you either need a bunch of cheap mics, or a few that have to do everything. Look for good used mics. I guess i'd do something like this: kick- AT Pro 25, Sennheiser E602, or Audix D6. Main vocals- MXL V67G- lot's of bang for the buck. small diaphragm pair- agree with Gidge- MXL 603's are cheap and functional. Better dynamic- Beyer M88, Sennheiser MD421. Either of these are workhorses that work on some vocals as well. utility dynamics- SM57 is standard, I'm also a fan of AKG D770. Guitar Center is doing these as a 3-pack, and can be talked down to $120 for all three. Get at least 2 of this type of mic. good for percussion, horns, cabs, sax, some vocals or even harmonica. Condenser workhorses- these are usually medium size ar large diaphragms with small housings. Good as overheads, or instruments, or some vocals, or even as a room mic, they fill in where you just need one more mic, or the one you have up is wrong. I like Studio Projects B-1, AKG C2000B, and Audiotechnica 4033. My list: 2 SM57 ($160) 1 Sennheiser E602 $200 1 Sennheiser MD 421 ($200 used) 1 Marshall MXL V67G ($80-100) 2 Marshall MXL 603's (matched pair) $180 1 AKG C2000B ($150) or 2 Studio Projects B-1 (160). Personally, I'd rather have the one AKG with bass rolloff and a 10dB pad. Good luck.
