Name 3 core mics

[vvv]

Inspired by here:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=90716&sid=a3ddc971 ... dbc7a9e8a8

I wanted to address what 3 mic's to reco for a guy with notta lotta dosh and a need to record, say, a home demo.

Me: a decent medium or LDC (ex., AT4040, ADK-1), a bog-standard dynamic (ex., Beta58, RE10, EVn/d), a well-functioning ribbon (even a inexpensive MXL) or a (<US$500 used) tube mic

Yooze:

[digitaldrummer]

dynamic: SM57, Beyerdynamic M201, or Audix i5, or heck there are a lot of options here (I'll default to the 57 just for Tony)

ribbon: MXL, Cascade, Monoprice, Golden Age, Nady... - anything $100 or less will work fine if the ribbon is not damaged or sagging too badly

Condenser: agree the LDC AT4xxx's are nice. Mojave MA-201 is a great mic, some of the Warm Audio mics, and I'll keep recommending the Weird Audio Little Red Monster (tube LDC) because it's great on vocal, acoustic guitars, and more. there are a ton of good quality mics. I think the Slate Audio ML-2 is a great SDC ($149), even if you don't use the modeling plugin (but the plugin has its merits). An AKG 214, 314, or 414 are excellent choices too.

and if you can buy used, you will usually save a ton (if you are careful)

[kslight]

Classically “it depends” on the music and how low low budget really is, but I’d say for a contemporary setup a standard bass instrument dynamic (like beta 52, re20, etc), standard general instrument dynamic (57, i5, etc) and the best ldc they can afford (I’m not sure what the bang for buck model people would normally use today is). I probably wouldn’t recommend a ribbon or tube mic in the budget category, but that’s my personal tastes coming through. And if you buy a quality used mic you will probably never lose money selling it or decide it isn’t good enough.

[losthighway]

I already put in my $0.02 in the other thread but I realized I only talked about large diaphragm dynamics. Partly this is because they are good for everything and I don't love a sm57 on vocals. Part of it is it almost seems like a Shure is just around, like someone just left it in the practice space.

But I still favor an m201 over a 57/58 quite a bit even if it's the 4th mic I'd buy, not in the first three.

[Jitters]

I have a Warm 47jr, a fairly recent purchase that is light years ahead of my previous ldc options. My m160 ribbon was a solid purchase of course. Who doesn’t love those? For dynamics, I love my m88, although a m201 might make for a better all rounder. I don’t know, I don’t have one. Still, I would keep my Telefunken m80 in the mix, because while I don’t love it on everything, when it works, it really works.

[A.David.MacKinnon]

I feel like I could get by with two mics for most applications. I love ribbons and use them all the time but I could cover all bases and be happy if I didn't have one.
For me a good dynamic and a multi-patern LDC will do just about all the jobs. If I had to be specific I'd say an RE20 and a 414 but that's really because they're my go to basics. Any EV RE series is a good choice but the RE20 is still in production and super dependable. I also like the sm7s and m88 but the flatness of the RE20 makes it way more useful for me. Same goes for the 414. Neither mic are sexy. They're both pretty plain and honest. If you can't do the job with those two the issue won't be the mic.

[MoreSpaceEcho]

Shure SM7, Beyer M160, AT4050

[The Scum]

Considering things more by category, than by specific models:

1: If you sing, find a mic that sounds good on your voice, and learn to work it. If you sing, but always dislike how your voice is coming across, that's a miserable situation to be in.

1B: if you don't sing, find a mic that's flattering to whatever your primary source is.

2. A figure-8. Learn to use the nulls to maximum advantage. They work like magic to reduce unwanted bleed.

3. An SM57. Love it or hate it, get to know how to use it. You will encounter them in the world, might as well be prepared.

[trodden]

Shure SM7, Beyer M160, AT4050

This is the way.

Also, there's this.
SM7, Oktava MK-012 (X2)

[vernier]

I like some dynamics that are old but half of my recordings is a few SM57 to cassette tape.

[drumsound]

M88, sE X1R, 4050

[winky dinglehoffer]

Here's a slightly different approach: what would you grab on a really tight budget that would cover a lot of ground? So for about $150 (all currently available used online), I'd go with ADK A51 or A51S, EV N/D257, and a Behringer ECM8000. Decent performers, really fricking cheap. I'm sure there are other worthy low-budget contenders, but those are 3 I have experience with and that I can find for sale at this moment.

If I were going to break the budget on one mic, it'd be the RE20. It's a mic that can cover a lot of different ground, and I personally prefer it over the SM7.

[digitaldrummer]

surprised nobody mentioned the MXL 2001 and 603... those were all over the place at one point in time. but many newer MXLs can do the job (inexpensively) too.

[darjama]

I've had good luck with the nady rsm-5 for an afforable ribbon.
The nice worker bee is an amazing buy right now for $70 at sweetwater
I like the sennheiser e906 a lot, though it might be pricey for starting out. I see behringer does a knock-off, but I don't have experience with it. I like the blue e100i, and that can be had for $50 at pssl.com


but ... If he's recording drums, perhaps consider getting 3 LDCs for a for a glyn johns setup.

[standup]

I remember thinking about this years ago. I figured I could record anything with: EV PL20, Oktava 012 (pair, so cheating) and what was my best LDC at the time, a Soundelux u195.

I still have everything but the soundelux, so this year my “do anything” LDC would be Gefell UM70.