Looking for a high quality microphone for about 100 dollars. - Hardware & Software

Hi. I want to buy a microphone that I can use to record my drum set. All I ask is for the quality to be decent. I was looking at this ([url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836431002&cm_re=microphone-_-36-431-002-_-Product[/url]) but I know facepunch will find better. My budget is up to 160 dollars. I would like to keep it away from 160, and get away with buying that one I posted, but I will pay for quality. Thanks for help.

[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882999130&cm_re=audio_technica_microphone-_-82-999-130-_-Product[/URL] Here's a review, I think its a very nice microphone for the price. [URL="http://youtube.com/watch?v=wx07A2nlvfI"][media]http://youtube.com/watch?v=wx07A2nlvfI[/media][/URL] [editline]09:19AM[/editline] Actually, it's $68.16 on amazon. I suggest you buy it from there. [url]http://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT2020-Address-Cardiod-Condensor/dp/B0006H92QK/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1284297490&sr=1-1[/url]

I'm off my game today disregard this area of my post. [editline]02:08PM[/editline] That review really helped alot man. Thank you. I will put that down to buy when I get my damn car insurance paid off next week.

I think you may struggle to get a high quality recording with a single microphone. Typically recording a drum kit requires mic'ing the bass drum, and having a pair of microphones overhead pick up the rest of the kit. I guess 2 mics could be used in a pinch.

How come? I've recorded with a camera, which has a built in mic, before and the audio came out listenable. So I assume with a better quality microphone it'll come out better. If it's the fact that the bass is low, it gets picked up fine from what my tests have shown. (Using assorted shitty quality mics that I have, and the camera.)

That's just how people record drums to be used in songs. If you just want to record some videos of you drumming or some listenable tracks and don't intend on actually mixing any songs, then one microphone might be fine for you. It's just that you stressed on having good quality, and what I consider good quality requires a slightly more advanced setup.

Oh. Well I'm just looking to record some drum covers.

Is it possible to get an appropriate setup for around $160?

Those cheap shotgun mics on ebay are remarkably good. Get like two or three for $60 and mix away on your box.

[QUOTE=MIPS;24784423]Those cheap shotgun mics on ebay are remarkably good. Get like two or three for $60 and mix away on your box.[/QUOTE] Cheap really isn't something I'm big on.

I've heard good stuff about the Blue mic you posted a link too. However, if you think that you may want to expand your setup later in the future, a better idea would be to get an audio interface and then mics which have an XLR output instead of a USB. It'll be more expensive, but it all depends on whether you want to expand in the future. If not, go with a USB mic, like the Snowball.

Shure SM57 and SM58 are good all rounder mics that you could place on any part of the kit if you are scarce on cash though in a proper studio setup I would use the 57s just on the high hat and snare drum

Although Blue microphones are good... Save up and get an audio interface, 2 Small diaphragm condensers, a bass drum mic and, optionally, a mic for your snare. Although I have recorded tracks with just 2 condenser mics, the sound is not for everyone, sounds.... distant. You WILL grow out of the single mic sound, better going for something modular from the start.

I use a USB version of the AT2020, and I'd say it's more for close up sound recording. Guitar, vocal, etc. For drums I think you should go for the SM58's listed above. I know pleeenty of people who use a set of those for drums and a mixer. I spent a very long time looking at the Blue Snowball, many of the reviews and video explain that it feels rather plasticy. The AT2020 is a magnesium body or something, it feels heavy and like a very high quality product.

[QUOTE=Tezzanator92;24788513]Although Blue microphones are good... Save up and get an audio interface, 2 Small diaphragm condensers, a bass drum mic and, optionally, a mic for your snare. Although I have recorded tracks with just 2 condenser mics, the sound is not for everyone, sounds.... distant. You WILL grow out of the single mic sound, better going for something modular from the start.[/QUOTE] I really can't shell out the cash for stuff like that, or else I would. I really think that a single setup will work. I can always update later, but my current job really limits me.

[QUOTE=gerbile5;24786541]Cheap really isn't something I'm big on.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=gerbile5;24786541]I really can't shell out the cash for stuff like that, or else I would.[/Quote] :/ Also, Just because its "Cheap" doesn't make it any less good.

Hey, some words of advice from a fellow drummer here. One mic wont do the trick, you will have a much better result if you buy a microphone set that's designed for drums or buy several HQ microphone's and place them well. But i don't know how big your setup is.

[QUOTE=shaunyboyy;24787220]Shure SM57 and SM58 are good all rounder mics that you could place on any part of the kit if you are scarce on cash though in a proper studio setup I would use the 57s just on the high hat and snare drum[/QUOTE] This 100% Every band in the world had one of these. They are the [U]most sold mics ever [/U]and have great quality. Every respectable musician should have at least one of them.

You can get mics for about 2 dollars, pal...

[QUOTE=John-Fu;24828400]You can get mics for about 2 dollars, pal...[/QUOTE] Yeah Im sure that will be great for Hi-def studio recording

[QUOTE=thedekoykid;24816707]:/ Also, Just because its "Cheap" doesn't make it any less good.[/QUOTE] I'm saying I can't shell the cash out for the "perfect" setup. What I am willing to pay for I want to not be cheap, not as in cheap price, as in cheap construction and quality.

[QUOTE=John-Fu;24828400]You can get mics for about 2 dollars, pal...[/QUOTE] Have a box for free. Shure sm 58 all the way!

Sm58s are good, but If you are giving a mic to an idiot vocalist likely to do some damage, give them an AKG D5. - Half the price and sound pretty bang on for live vocals. The Audix i5s have a nice character for snare usage. They aren't perfect for everything, sometimes you just need a supercardiod mic, and sometimes you need that extended high end of a condenser mic. Recording a whole drum kit with one or two SM57/58s isn't going to sound the way you want it to, for close micing they are great though. There is no universal mic for everything, though you can't go wrong with an SM57/58 for your first 'workhorse' mic.

Not that I'm doing vocals, but what do you mean [quote]... are giving a mic to an idiot vocalist likely to do some damage...[/quote]

[QUOTE=TheGuru;24779400]That's just how people record drums to be used in songs. If you just want to record some videos of you drumming or some listenable tracks and don't intend on actually mixing any songs, then one microphone might be fine for you. It's just that you stressed on having good quality, and what I consider good quality requires a slightly more advanced setup.[/QUOTE] they record each drum separately so they can mix each drum individually, not about quality at all. you can get the same thing out of one mic or one hundred mics, so long as you're not doing any professional mixing.

The point is that the distance and angle between the mic and the thing you are recording also affects the sound. For example you can have one mic and one guitar amp, and depending on exactly where you put and point the mic you will get different sounding recordings, and some will sound better (higher quality, not necessarily higher fidelity). However even with what you said, some mics are better at recording certain things, which is why you would want a separate mic for the bass drum at least. The overhead mics in stereo is just a typical recording setup that isn't quite as complex or costly as mic'ing every drum separately (and generally people appreciate stereo sound).

I suppose I can always add on later though, correct? As in going from one to record the kit to two or three on different parts of the kit.

Yup, Even if you have a setup capable of recording 20 mics you can always just connect one mic and add as you can afford and as you feel necessary. Whether this applies with USB mics I don#t know, having never owned a USB microphone. I think it's a good learning experience this way anyway, Limitations make you find inventive ways of getting the best sound.

Will the at2020 give me better quality than this: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ut4Y-pvYj4[/media] (in terms of audio of course)