recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone!

general questions, comments and ideas about recording, audio, music, etc.
benton netty
studio intern
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:59 pm

recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone!

Post by benton netty » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:12 pm

i need something to use to plug into my computer's sound card to record simple song demos with. it's got to be a nice, loud kind of mic where i can just set it on the desk, hit "record," and it will pick me up clearly from 1-2 feet away.

i essentially want to use my computer as a cheap cassette recorder ;)

i found one at radio shack for $39.99, but i thought i might be able to find a cheaper one. i'd like to get a new one, too, not used.

thanks!

Mzkguy
alignin' 24-trk
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2003 11:40 am
Location: Boston
Contact:

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by Mzkguy » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:24 pm

I'd recomend the MXL 603's. They're cardioid condencer mics but they're cheap and they sound great.
Mzkguy

dwelle
buyin' a studio
Posts: 943
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 7:16 am
Location: atownsouthoffresno
Contact:

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by dwelle » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:27 pm

ev 635a. you cannot go wrong with one of these...

cgarges
zen recordist
Posts: 10890
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2003 1:26 am
Location: Charlotte, NC
Contact:

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by cgarges » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:47 pm

dwelle wrote:ev 635a. you cannot go wrong with one of these...
Ditto! Dynamic, doesn't require external power, and you could probably use it as a hammer without destroying it. I bought mine for $10 on ebay. It's all beat-up and ugly, but it sounds great. You can usually find them for $50 or less.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

AGCurry
steve albini likes it
Posts: 300
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 12:05 pm
Location: Kansas City area
Contact:

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by AGCurry » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:52 pm

Another vote for the 635. It's professional quality for small $ used.

User avatar
Scodiddly
genitals didn't survive the freeze
Posts: 3957
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2003 6:38 am
Location: Mundelein, IL, USA
Contact:

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by Scodiddly » Mon Dec 13, 2004 10:23 pm

None of those will plug directly into a consumer sound card, though. :(

rdc
studio intern
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:52 am

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by rdc » Mon Dec 13, 2004 10:55 pm

If I remember correctaly consumer mic inputs provide like 3V or something in order to power cheap electret mics. Now I haven't used one, but the TapeOp omni is well spoken for and seems like a good option. It uses an electret capsule, use your 3V instead of the battery the instructions say to use and your golden.

User avatar
jtienhaara
steve albini likes it
Posts: 328
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:39 am
Location: Halifax, Canada

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by jtienhaara » Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:26 am

Omnidirectional PZM mics can often be found for security, conferences, etc, and they have line-level outs.

mr scratchy esq
alignin' 24-trk
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat May 24, 2003 8:58 am
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Contact:

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by mr scratchy esq » Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:56 am

EV 635a. It's cheap and no matter what other mics you acquire down the road you'll want to hang on to it.

nestle
re-cappin' neve
Posts: 713
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 12:11 pm
Location: around somewhere

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by nestle » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:17 am

I've got to take another look at this mic, I've got a 635a and use it once in a while for banjo or lofi acoustic, what does everybody else use it for??-
BTW, the Behringer B5 is a great deal. I used it last night in omni for a acoustic and it sounded great + 2 caps. 59 bucks, can't go wrong

User avatar
marqueemoon
carpal tunnel
Posts: 1593
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:56 pm
Location: Seattle, WA
Contact:

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by marqueemoon » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:48 am

Yep. The 635a rules. I bought mine used from ubertar and it works great. These mics are built like tanks. I would not hesitate to buy one used as long as it's in one piece it will probably work.

The Behringer ECM 8000 is pretty cool for cheap too, but ya need phantom power.
I the prostitute, shall not hide...
But I was very much bothered with my work!

bigtoe
deaf.
Posts: 1776
Joined: Tue May 13, 2003 5:13 am

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by bigtoe » Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:24 am

"I've got to take another look at this mic, I've got a 635a and use it once in a while for banjo or lofi acoustic, what does everybody else use it for??"

guitar amps w/ a lot of muck you don't need (not a lot of low end to this mic...plus the omni pattern/ lack of proximity...)

vocals...(though i find I need a de-esser most of the time)

room mics in conjuction with a close mic...(too thin alone)

acoustic guitar mic...(not low fi...but something that both sits in and pokes out of a denser mix...

Mike

User avatar
marqueemoon
carpal tunnel
Posts: 1593
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:56 pm
Location: Seattle, WA
Contact:

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by marqueemoon » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:08 am

bigtoe wrote:"I've got to take another look at this mic, I've got a 635a and use it once in a while for banjo or lofi acoustic, what does everybody else use it for??"

guitar amps w/ a lot of muck you don't need (not a lot of low end to this mic...plus the omni pattern/ lack of proximity...)

vocals...(though i find I need a de-esser most of the time)

room mics in conjuction with a close mic...(too thin alone)

acoustic guitar mic...(not low fi...but something that both sits in and pokes out of a denser mix...

Mike
Yep. It can be a cool drum overhead mic, or a top snare or side mic too (as long as the drummer can really attack the snare consistently).
I the prostitute, shall not hide...
But I was very much bothered with my work!

twitchmonitor
re-cappin' neve
Posts: 659
Joined: Thu May 15, 2003 7:00 pm

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by twitchmonitor » Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:15 pm

mr scratchy esq wrote:EV 635a. It's cheap and no matter what other mics you acquire down the road you'll want to hang on to it.
Yep, one more vote for the the little mic that could.

rich
alignin' 24-trk
Posts: 73
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 11:36 am

Re: recommend to me a good, cheap omnidirectional microphone

Post by rich » Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:22 pm

ive got a peavey pvr 1 which works allright as a room, overhead, or sometimes cabinet mic. i think theyre dirt cheap.

Locked

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests