Microphone Suggestions
I realize a lot of this can border on the religious and is also subjective to each individual.
Right or wrong a ways back I bought a ADK A-51 and a ADK SC-1. It was a combo deal at the time and not a great deal of money.
Waste of money? Opinions? They are still new in a box, I’ll explain that someday. Admittedly a ill informed impetuous purchase none the less.
What will I need to start looking at? As I have said in the other forum I am a newbie, have a lot to learn, and want to get some decent stuff. No sense in buying cheap garbage. Surfing the web the choices are overwhelming.
So is $500 bills gonna put me in the range of reasonably good mics? Cheaper? or stretch for some thing better?
This is a down the basement home hobby. I am doing a little sound proofing but nothing exotic. I’ll attempt to start with some vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, electric guitar and some bass.
All opinions are appreciated and I do not mean to start a mic tech war
Be gentle… 
Buy one AKG 414 - best mic ever made for all around use In My Opinion. If that’s out of range try it’s little brother the 214. High quality for everything from vocals to guitars.
I have no experience with the ADk’s.
Shure SM57 or Audix i5 dynamic mic ~100 bux
MXL 993 Small Diaphragm condenser (matched pair) ~150 bux
Not used these myself but they have a good rep. I have a pair of AT2021’s I use but they came in a set with the AT2020 LDC. I bought two sets. Nice mics…
Rode NT-1A very good LDC “bang for the buck” mic ~200 bux
That gets you some pretty sweet mics for 450 simoleans. You could spend a LOT more and not notice much difference IMO. Especially if you using the Mackie desk for preamps.
D
PS I’m still convinced the Rode NT-1A is the best bargain out there period in LDC’s…
I have a spare room hobby thing goin’ on so I don’t have a bunch of mics…my best one is an MXL2006 ( $50 ). I love it but there are better. Shure sm57 & sm58 are pretty commonly used.
welcome to the hobby…
cliff
$500 bucks you could get a nice condenser and a couple pencil condensers for a starter.
Rode
AT
MXL
EV
Shure
And BTW, welcome to the madness . . . uh, I mean forum! 
All wrong answers.
First off, the ADK A51 is a fine mic.
That said, what is it your are wanting to record? You will certainly choose a different mic to record a zither and Marshall stack. So generalities are nice, but more information is needed.
As for the basement… sound proofing will not improve your recordings (though neighbor relations may improve). Look into sound treatment assuming the police aren’t on Old Lady Patterson’s speed dial next door.
Quote:
That said, what is it your are wanting to record? You will certainly choose a different mic to record a zither and Marshall stack. So generalities are nice, but more information is needed.
Uhhh...
Quote:
This is a down the basement home hobby. I am doing a little sound proofing but nothing exotic. I'll attempt to start with some vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, electric guitar and some bass.
D
Poo, how did I miss that? I read it like three times? Doh. Got up early to vote. I’ll blame it on that.
I do the same thing dude…
It’s like when one the guys you hung out with everyday for four years in high school comes up to you five years after graduation and… you can’t remember dudes name for love nor money… I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! I have a good excuse though… I didn’t like most of the dudes I went to high school with… made 'em easier to forget I suppose. I’m a bad boy…
D
I’d start with the mics you already have. What do you have as far as a mic preamp/mixer/soundcard setup? That may be where you’ll need to spend your $500.
Quote: (kevinmyers @ Nov. 04 2008, 10:21 PM)
I'd start with the mics you already have. What do you have as far as a mic preamp/mixer/soundcard setup? That may be where you'll need to spend your $500.
Hello Kevin,
I copied this off another post I made in another forum here.
"I purchased N-track 6 and downloaded the latest version. It installed with no problem.
I have a MAudio Delta1010 PCI interface and a set of Maudio BX8A monitors.
Oh! I also picked up a Mackie 1642 VLZ3, but don't know if that was a mistake and maybe didn't really need it with the Delta 1010."
So I can use the mic pre's of the Mackie1642 though I don't know how they compare to other mic pre's. The Delta 1010PCI is my sound card. I also have a really really really old Shure SM57 from around 1973 though I haven't used it in many moons.
I also want to thank all the other folks posting about this and offering their input. I am trying to do a lot of reading and learning before I make any more purchases.
BL
Hi Lou,
The preamps in that Mackie are serviceable but not “extraordinary” IMO. However, I also think you’d have to spend a LOT of money on room treatments and expensive preamps to REALLY hear a marked improvement. IMO… YMMV… etc… somebody pop in and tell me I’m stupid…
D
yer stooput - feel better?
Definitely drag that Shure out of the closet and put it to use. With what you have already collected, I’d suggest putting off any purchases until you can see a specific need for something else. Happy recording!
Quote: (Poppa Willis @ Nov. 04 2008, 9:00 PM)
yer stooput - feel better?
Thanks! What a pal...
Really, those VLZ mic pre's are not bad at all. I did a few live recordings right off the board a couple years ago with the "house" mics and was very, very surprised at how good it turned out.
D
If its only a hobby, 500 bux is a bunch o’money. I know my recordings are not even close to professional, but for hobby stuff, I think they’re ok and I’m aiming at getting better with time. Point being, I’ve probably only invested about 200 tops - not counting guitars, PC, spkrs (the stuff I had around anyway). Seems like with $500 you can do a pretty good “hobby” setup…but, like everyone seems to agree, it depends what you’re shooting for…
all just an opinion…
cliff