Microphones
The mantra that we’ve been repeating over and over on our tutorials is true: the better the source, the better the recording. But it’s an unfortunate fact that without a good microphone to translate that good sound to the recording, even the best sounding source will come through poorly. Fortunately, in recent years the price of microphones that will do the job well has dropped significantly.
One thing to remember is that not every microphone can do everything, and what your ears love, another pair of ears might hate. What makes you happy, and what meets your needs (and budget), is most important.
In this guide, updated for 2009, you’ll learn about five great microphones that ring in at under $200 each, but pack a punch worth much more. With these selections, you can’t go wrong; they can record just about anything you throw at them, and the right combination of value for your dollar and performance makes these choices good for every audio engineer, professional or amateur.
The Shure Beta 52A is one of my favorite microphones. At $189, it packs a great low-end punch and Shure’s legendary build quality.
The Specs…
The Shure Beta 52A is a dynamic microphone with exceptional low-frequency characteristics; this makes it the perfect kick drum microphone. Paired with a Shure Beta 91, you’ll get a phenomenal kick drum sound. However, you can find many uses for this in the studio that make it worth the money; bass cabinets, Leslie cabinets, and floor toms come to mind. The ability to withstand very high sound pressure levels (a rated tolerance of close to 175db) and a wide frequency response (20hz to 10kHz with a bump in the high-mids and lows) make this an exceptional value. Plus, nearly every rock club in the world has one of these mics that has been beaten up severely over the years and still works just fine, so it’ll definitely take the abuse of your home studio. Retail is right around $189.
Corporate History
Oktava emerged in the mid-1990’s as a relatively unknown manufacturer of microphones; however, this Russian manufacturer has been in the business of producing quality microphones, headphones, hearing aids, and components for the radio industry since the 1930s.
The Specs
The Oktava MC012 is a fantastic, small-diaphragm condenser microphone that can be used for many purposes; it shines on acoustic instruments, as a drum overhead, and even for concert taping. The microphones retail from official outlets anywhere between $100-$150, but can sometimes be found for sale in pairs for as little as $100 for both! $300 is more common, more for factory matched. Multi-capsule versions are available for a little more; the standard version comes with only a cardioid capsule and an input pad (to help the mic work better in high SPL environments).
Quality Control Issues
Be forewarned, part of this microphone’s tremendous value is its reputation for quality control issues. Some microphones may not sonically match others, so when buying a matched pair for critical stereo recording you might want to spend the extra money for a factory-matched pair.
Couterfeit Oktavas
Recently, a large number of counterfeit microphones from China surfaced at a major music retailer. These are easily spotted, as the genuine mics contain a serial number on the bottom.
A Studio Staple Revisited
The Rode NT1 is a staple of studios everywhere. With its warm, up-front characteristics, it quickly became one of the best values in recording microphones. The NT1-A ($199, including shock mount) is a redesign of the classic NT1 with even lower self-noise than the original, making it one of the quietest microphones on the market today.
Using the NT1-A Low self-noise makes the NT1-A perfect for recording acoustic instruments and vocals. Low self-noise means that you don’t hear any extra static or hum from the microphone itself. In fact, the NT1-A is the preferred acoustic guitar microphone in many studios for this very reason. With a frequency response of 20hz to 20khz, high SPL capacity of 137db, and a price of $199, it’s hard to go wrong with this mic. When recording vocals, this microphone shines. Its up-front and warm sound is a classic for a reason, and one listen will show you why.
The I5, Jack Of All Trades
If you’ve got right around $100 to purchase one mic for your studio, the Audix I5 should be it. A perfect mic for drums, guitar amps, horns, and most anything else, the Audix I5 ($99) can do it all.
Durability and Reliability
The I5 is made of bulletproof metal casing, perfect for use on drums where you’ll most likely watch your mics get hit by sticks. With a frequency response from 50hz to 16khz, you’ll find this mic has no problems handing even the most sensitive of subjects. A great, durable mic!
These microphones are cheap – $179 for the pair – but you’d be surprised at how good they sound.
These mics are a little on the bright-sounding side, but don’t let that fool you; these are powerful mics for the home recordist looking for a stereo pair of microphones to use for drum overheads or on acoustic guitar. You might find yourself rolling off the highs a little bit, but you’ll like the overall sound, and for $179 it’s hard to go wrong. If you can afford it, definitely step up to the Oktava MC012s I mentioned in this article; but if you’re on a really tight budget, these work great.
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