Mics on a budget

[blue_thunder]

I'm about to purchase gear for my first project studio and would like a little bit of advise about what mics I should buy. I'm going to be recording onto 2" analog tape via a Studer A80 24 track. I'm planning on getting something along the lines of a Mackie 24-8 for mixing, but I don't plan on recording through it, just playback. I plan on running my mics through outboard preamps and then direct to the recorder. I'm not sure which preamps I'm going to buy yet, as I've heard it's best to match them to the mics they'll be used with. At the moment, I'm at the point where I need to decide which mics to buy. After buying the recorder and mixer, I don't have alot of money left for a bunch of fancy mics, so I need to find some good sounding mics that are reasonably priced. Are the lower end Audio Technica mics any good for vocals and guitars? How about Sennheiser or MXL? What about those PG mics by Shure? They sell a whole set of PG drum mics for around $200, but I don't know if they're worth a damn. To me, the drum sound is crucial, so I was thinking I might be better off getting a Beta 98 for the bass, some SM57s for the snare/toms, and maybe some Audio Technica condensers for overhead. I plan on purchasing some nicer mics in the future, but until I can afford some Neumanns I need some decent low priced mics to get me started. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help.

[Grumblefoot]

The beta 52 is great on kick and 57's can get the job done on most everything else. Some LDC's for overheads and cabinet micing would be good. You might want to save a bit for a nice vocal mic.

[CrankyRayHanky]

2" Studer=sweet; congradulations!
Don't look at those Shure pg...a few bucks more and you can grab some 57s if you're looking to just get by for now; they'll always find a use in any studio

Rather than spend hundreds on lower end AT stuff, I'd say go grab some of those $35 MCAs until you can get $ for higher quality. I like the 4047 alot, the 4033 is ok, but lower than that isn't going to satisfy you.

Consider a used Oktava 219 or 319(verify that it's Russian) and then down the road you can have Joly mod it out for pro performance-- see oktavamod.com That's a much better plan than spilling a few hundred on a pair of at2020s

An interesting option may be the blumelin stereo Fatheads for use on drums, guitar, and many other applications. Stereo fatheads, sm57, and a decent kick mic will give you a solid sound without breaking the bank. Again, room for growth as fatheads can be upgraded as well.

I have an Avantone cv28 that is so awesome, I could endorse their drum mic package with confidence- and the price is right

That Studer is going to want some serious mics, so it is nerve wrecking buying low/midlevel gear only to be anxious at replacing it in 6 months. Hope I gave you some useful ideas.

Good Luck!

[warhead]

On the cheap, the Equation Audio drum mics will deliver decent stuff.

My drum setup 90% of the time is:

Kick: E/V ND868
Snare: Audix i5 / SM57 (or sE Electronics as a single mic)
Toms: CAD M179
Hi Hat: AT3031
Overheads: ATM450
Room: AEA R84 / Avenson STO-2

The best you could do in the middle in my experience would be:

Kick: Audix i5
Snare: Audix i5
Toms: CAD TSM411
Hi Hat: Joemeek JM27
Overhead: ADK SC-2
Room: a single inexpensive omni from Behringer would do it

For guitars the Audix i5 again excels in that low price range, I'd pick it over an SM57 most times.

War

[BudgetMC]

For vocals and acoustic instruments, the MXL 960 is a total steal when on sale... which it is right now for $149.99. Swap out the stock tube for something better, and it really really shines. I've been blown away by how good mine sounds.
Buy MXL 960 Tube Condenser Microphone online at Musician's Friend

[rackdude]

Get a cad m179, a pair of naiant's for overheads, a sm57, and a d112 and you got enough for a full studio somewhat cheap. Good all-around vocals, good drumset, good guitar mics, good bass. What more do you need? Add a nady ribbon for $70 and you even got another mic for guitar and vocals for variety and to have as a room mic.

[tINY]

If you have a good room, you can often get great drums on 4 mics (2 OH, Kick, snare). The ATM450s are nice here because they pick up the toms nicely. They're a good price too. Since you only have 24 tracks, you may not want to use them all up on drums....


For snare and guitar amps, I like the Heil PR-30 a lot. It can work on some vocals too.

Those CAD M179 are a great, versitile mic for around $200 - make sure to get shockmounts for the pair you should have. These have worked for me on bass cabinets, vocals, High-hats, Cajon, choirs, and floor toms.

Make sure you budget some money for room treatment unless you already have a great room to record in.



-tINY