Back in the day when I was doing a little recording the rule of thumb was that the worst condenser mic (within reason) was better than the best dynamic mic. Now I’m shoppping for mics and am utterly bewildered by what’s available. There’s some really good-looking stuff around, and that’s my problem. I’ve used some good looking gear before that made my vocals come out sounding like somebody was strangling a set of bagpipes in the tub.
I’m also seeing such a wide range of prices in each manufacturer’s line that I’m deducing that some of it to be utter junk.
Can somebody or anybody or everybody help me get a clue?
I have a deep and extensive knowledge of mics you shouldn’t buy unless you want expensive paper weights. That help?
The deal is, the Chinese started making crappy large diaphram condensors not quite 10 years ago, and things just haven’t been the same since.
How much do you want to spend?
Hey Tom, the man’s got GAS. A Røde NTK unless he wants to use it for distorted guitars 
I think I’d like to start for less than $250 is that’s possible. I know that down at the lower end of the price range I’m likely to get unacceptable results if I’m not careful. I’m thinking about one of these: http://www.carvin.com/product…CID=MIC - I own one of their guitars and it’s great.
RODE NTK looks great, and I have a friend who swears by them. But they are currently beyond the budget.
Rode NT1A then. I like mine.
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Back in the day when I was doing a little recording the rule of thumb was that the worst condenser mic (within reason) was better than the best dynamic mic.
Really?
I wish someone would have told me that rule of thumb 40 years ago, then I wouldn’t have wasted so much of my working life.
(Gizmo @ Jun. 04 2007,19:58)
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Back in the day when I was doing a little recording the rule of thumb was that the worst condenser mic (within reason) was better than the best dynamic mic.
Really?
I wish someone would have told me that rule of thumb 40 years ago, then I wouldn't have wasted so much of my working life.
I'm not listening.
I’m not sure where you got that “rule of thumb”, but it doesn’t hold water as far as I’m concerned. It all depends on the application. You can have the “good, bad and ugly” of any kind of mic. An SM57 will beat a pencil condenser mic hands down on a tom or bass guitar amp. A Marshall MXL large condenser mic at a podium in a church will drive you nuts controlling feedback (been there, done that, got the teeshirt). I am slowly (as much as my GAS is allowed by my wife) building up an arsenal of various kinds of mics, condenser and dynamic, each with it’s own characteristics.
One great dynamic for not much money: Audix OM-5. I like it much better than an sm 57.
How about a used sennheiser md 421, or an SM7? Great on all sorts of things, including electric guitars and vox.
I got my ntk used for 350, BTW, and that’s not too far off 250, and to me it’s worth it.
Mic hunt? Tell me there isn’t a joke in there.
That said, good work horse mics I have used:
Shure SM7
Shure SM57
Sennheiser MD421
Audio Technica AT4050 (GREAT mic)
AKG C414
Shure SM81
Audix i5
Audix OM5 (More of a stage mic, but has its use in recording at times)
Thank you bubbagump, I thought I was the only one with a dirty mind. 
And I know you don’t like SM58s, but as Mac says, if you can’t make a good recording with a bag of SM57s and SM58s, you can’t make a good recording.
(Bubbagump @ Jun. 06 2007,03:35)
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Mic hunt? Tell me there isn't a joke in there.
Yup! In my formative years we always tried to get the Barmaid to announce " Has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"
Of course it always seemed funny if you were suitably inebriated
I just got a Shure M57. Seems to perform nicely. Until now I had been recording with a Shure PG58 which is more of a stage mic but worked well for me.
For vocals a good condensor mic is the ticket. I have used the Rode’ NT1a and it worked great for the project with a chic singer.
I have heard good things about Studio Project C1 from a keyboard player/studio musician in Nashville. I don’t know if he used it for vocals but he called it his work horse.
Both fit into your budget.
http://www.sweetwater.com/c105–Condenser_Microphones
(Bruffie @ Jun. 06 2007,04:59)
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(Bubbagump @ Jun. 06 2007,03:35)
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Mic hunt? Tell me there isn't a joke in there.
Yup! In my formative years we always tried to get the Barmaid to announce " Has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"
Of course it always seemed funny if you were suitably inebriated
*snip*Guilty as charged. Actually I didn't realize it until I'd already posted, and I started thinking "I hope these folks don't happen to read the thread title out loud to their wives."
Search for Mike Hunt and you’ll find a rather interesting and odd Seattle personality that has been putting hard core porno shows on the public access channel for years (yes XXX hard core porn that anyone flipping channels can see). I think they finally got him off…the air.
(Gizmo @ Jun. 05 2007,19:55)
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And I know you don't like SM58s, but as Mac says, if you can't make a good recording with a bag of SM57s and SM58s, you can't make a good recording.
Yeah, but he used to say the same thing about a compuyter stick mic, and while it's true, in a way, it is also not the best way to look at it, IMHO - I mean, one can make good music with a crappy guitar, but it is so much easier with a good guitar. Mics are instruments too!
(ellarrwhofan @ Jun. 06 2007,09:47)
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(Bruffie @ Jun. 06 2007,04:59)
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(Bubbagump @ Jun. 06 2007,03:35)
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Mic hunt? Tell me there isn’t a joke in there.
Yup! In my formative years we always tried to get the Barmaid to announce " Has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"
Of course it always seemed funny if you were suitably inebriated
snip
Guilty as charged. Actually I didn’t realize it until I’d already posted, and I started thinking “I hope these folks don’t happen to read the thread title out loud to their wives.”
And Mike’s friend Hugh Janus
(XonXoff @ Jun. 06 2007,16:14)
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(ellarrwhofan @ Jun. 06 2007,09:47)
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(Bruffie @ Jun. 06 2007,04:59)
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(Bubbagump @ Jun. 06 2007,03:35)
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Mic hunt? Tell me there isn't a joke in there.
Yup! In my formative years we always tried to get the Barmaid to announce " Has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"
Of course it always seemed funny if you were suitably inebriated
*snip*Guilty as charged. Actually I didn't realize it until I'd already posted, and I started thinking "I hope these folks don't happen to read the thread title out loud to their wives."
And Mike's friend Hugh Janus
And Hugh's girlfriend Amanda Huggenkiz...
(ellarrwhofan @ Jun. 06 2007,15:25)
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(XonXoff @ Jun. 06 2007,16:14)
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(ellarrwhofan @ Jun. 06 2007,09:47)
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(Bruffie @ Jun. 06 2007,04:59)
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(Bubbagump @ Jun. 06 2007,03:35)
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Mic hunt? Tell me there isn't a joke in there.
Yup! In my formative years we always tried to get the Barmaid to announce " Has anyone seen Mike Hunt?"
Of course it always seemed funny if you were suitably inebriated
*snip*Guilty as charged. Actually I didn't realize it until I'd already posted, and I started thinking "I hope these folks don't happen to read the thread title out loud to their wives."
And Mike's friend Hugh Janus
And Hugh's girlfriend Amanda Huggenkiz...
Don't get me started.....
what about Amanda's cousin:
Chris Peacock.
And his wife: Drew Peacock