OPINIONS: Budget Mics under $500

petreestow · Post by **petreestow** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:40 am

All catagories..which are the best ones out there?

losthighway · Post by **losthighway** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:59 am

OH......

Shure Sm7, ksm 141.

Audio Technica 4033, 4047, 4050

AKG D112, C4000B

Heil PR30, PR40

Sennheiser md421, e604

Cascade Fathead

Shinybox (in various transformers)

Beyer m201

EV RE20

I bet someone on here can double the amount of mics on my list. It's funny cause I own almost all of these. I tend to by under the $500 range.

JWL · Post by **JWL** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:14 am

Take a good, hard look at Oktavamod for both condensers and modded ribbons. Also, Shinybox is good as already mentioned. I think Rode mics are a good value.

Depending on your mic collection, I would probably advise getting several mics that are much cheaper than $500 so you have a variety of sounds to choose from. Once you have all the bases covered (perhaps you already do), then you can get a more expensive mic.

thecheat · Post by **thecheat** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:42 am

Shure KSM32. Can you still get these for under 500 bucks?

Oktava MKL-2500

Heil PR-20 (I'm sure the other ones are good too but this is the only one I have.) Rocks on snare drum baby!

Are we talking new prices? or Used?

Used the Sennheiser 441 is fantastic.

Studio Projects T-3.

Cant think of anymore right now. all my mics are under 500. someday i hope to own a Peluso tho.....soon..

Chris

joninc · Post by **joninc** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:56 am

atm 25 is great - kick/fl tom/bass amps...

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:05 pm

Buy used and get more.

don't forget the Shure SM7!

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 5:07 pm

the beyer m201 is awesome on drums, snare, electric guitar, bongos etc
its hard to find retail though.
Beyer ribbons are real nice too.
I would never knowingly record with an AKG d112 though. Sounds like one of those big red kickballs from grade school. Ping, ping, ping.
the 609 gets good soundson some guitars and drums. Though most folks will say its not as good as a 409 or 509.
The Sennheiser 412 is a great mic.
The best deal out there is the Oktava Mc012 IMHO.
I still am not tired of this mic!

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:49 am

Got $39.95?

MCA SP-1

www.pssl.com

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:50 am

Beyer---any mic they make that fits the pricing M88, TGX50, M380, 201

EV 408/468 635A re/PL20 and I'm told many of the other Pl series

AKG D1000e, D12e

Audio Technice AMT25, ATM23he (kills on snare)

I used to like the Stedman N90, but it's been years...

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:28 am

drumsound wrote:Beyer---any mic they make that fits the pricing M88, TGX50, M380, 201

EV 408/468 635A re/PL20 and I'm told many of the other Pl series

AKG D1000e, D12e

Audio Technice AMT25, ATM23he (kills on snare)

I used to like the Stedman N90, but it's been years...

do they still make the AT HE series? I used to have an AT 63HE that was wicked on snare. I guess I would call it both brassy and woody?
Well I still have it but it resides in my cryogenic chamber with other dead mics. Waiting until medical technology progesses to the point that a cure for 27 drumstick hits is found.

T-rex · Post by **T-rex** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:00 am

After lots of buying trial and error, I've discovered that it's hard to beat the classics, mainly the Shure Sm7 and Senn 421. Both around $350 new or $275 used and both worth their weight in gold on tons of things.

AT 4047 also great and the only "character" mic that I know of to fall in the under $500 category.

Recycled_Brains · Post by **Recycled_Brains** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:12 am

Beyer M160

Used Senn. 441

Shure SM81, KSM 141, SM7, 57

Josephson C42

Shinybox ribbons

RE-20

getreel · Post by **getreel** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:26 am

calaverasgrandes wrote:The Sennheiser 412 is a great mic.

I have one of those. I've only ever tried it on guitar amps. What does it work for you on? How do I use it effectively? I think I picked that up 8 years ago. I have 421s now so it probably gets too little use. Will it match up well with the 421s on drums? I don't see them very much and never could fins much info about them.

darjama · Post by **darjama** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:55 am

senn e906, e602
sure sm7
groove tubes gt44 (or the current equivalent)
audix d4
crown cm700
shinybox 46

I haven't had a lot of LDCs in this price range, but the only ones that I've liked is the gt md1b-fet and the at4033 A used AT4050 or 4047 would easily fall in this range as well.

theshaggyfreak · Post by **theshaggyfreak** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:00 am

Kel Audio at http://www.kelaudio.com makes some great budget mics. I've been using the HM1 since it first came out and it's one of the most useful mics I own.

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OPINIONS: Budget Mics under $500

OPINIONS: Budget Mics under $500

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