Recommend a microphone...

[Erty]

Now that I have stopped doing commisioned stuff for work etc, I would need a good microphone for recording character voices for animations.
Could you guy be so kind to recommend me a good microphone around £50-£100£ (more or less)?
Quality and less noise = better ;)

[loansindi]

At 12/7/09 05:05 PM, ertysproductions wrote: Could you guy be so kind to recommend me a good microphone around £50-£100£ (more or less)?

didn't bother to search around a little, did you?

Quality and less noise = better ;)

No fucking way!

this search has a shitload of potential options for you.

[Erty]

Been searching around for a while myself, and getting several potential microphones to get, I just wanted to see if you guys could recommend anything better

[speedmetalmessiah]

Hmm, well it would help to know what kind of setup you have for recording. Are you using some kind of audio interface, or are you just plugging into the mic jack of your soundcard? If you are using an external interface does it have phantom power?

[Erty]

At 12/8/09 03:28 AM, speedmetalmessiah wrote: Hmm, well it would help to know what kind of setup you have for recording. Are you using some kind of audio interface, or are you just plugging into the mic jack of your soundcard? If you are using an external interface does it have phantom power?

Just plugging into the mic jack/USB.
Some more details would be that it needs to be handheld since when I record some voices with the other actors it will be just stupid using a stationary microphone or similar.

[Khuskan]

USB microphones tend to be horribly overpriced for their quality. Look into getting a cheap, small mixer like this Behringer Xenyx and top that off with a SM58. Obviously, shop around for them, and you should be able to get the whole set for around 100 quid - bit more expensive than a USB mic but much better quality.

[Klasmus]

Shure SM mics are very good quality for their price. Around $100 USD. Probably be the same price range for you at most.

[jarrydn]

I personally find dynamic mics to be a lot more useful than condenser mics. Especially if you have a bad room. If I had to have only one mic for the rest of my life, it would probably be the Shure SM57.

[Khuskan]

SM57 is a good mic if you plan on recording acoustic instruments as well as vocals, but a TOP SECRET PROTIP is that an SM58 almost perfectly matches the frequency response of an SM57 if you unscrew the pop guard.

[Erty]

At 12/9/09 10:18 AM, Khuskan wrote: SM57 is a good mic if you plan on recording acoustic instruments as well as vocals, but a TOP SECRET PROTIP is that an SM58 almost perfectly matches the frequency response of an SM57 if you unscrew the pop guard.

Thanks, this makes it a lot easier for me to choose what microphone to buy. :)

Keep your eyes out for some completely random and original flash animation after New Year. :P

[nathanallenpinard]

At 12/8/09 05:46 PM, Khuskan wrote: USB microphones tend to be horribly overpriced for their quality. Look into getting a cheap, small mixer like this Behringer Xenyx and top that off with a SM58. Obviously, shop around for them, and you should be able to get the whole set for around 100 quid - bit more expensive than a USB mic but much better quality.

So your suggesting a mixer with an SM58 instead of say, a USB AT2020 or Rode Podcaster?

[nathanallenpinard]

At 12/9/09 10:18 AM, Khuskan wrote: SM57 is a good mic if you plan on recording acoustic instruments as well as vocals, but a TOP SECRET PROTIP is that an SM58 almost perfectly matches the frequency response of an SM57 if you unscrew the pop guard.

Ok, but an SM58 or other dynamic mic is mainly good for the fact it's bullet proof and withstands VERY high sound pressure. But to suggest it over good condensers...ehhhhh.

If you have a very loud room then yeah condensers can post a problem, but sometimes you want that room sound as it is. However, if you have a lot of unwanted noise (fans, next door neighbors, etc) I guess that would warrant a dynamic mic, or some good noise filtering.

[DJ-Chilvan]

Audio-Technica at2020 USB microphone. It's on sale for $101 and your Euros are a lot stronger than our weak-ass dollar, so you're gettin it for like 70 euros. Just go around and read all the reviews. They're amazing. I bought it and it's on its way so I cant really tell you anything from personal experience. But I know you can't go wrong.

[jarrydn]

At 12/9/09 11:49 AM, nathanallenpinard wrote: If you have a very loud room then yeah condensers can post a problem, but sometimes you want that room sound as it is. However, if you have a lot of unwanted noise (fans, next door neighbors, etc) I guess that would warrant a dynamic mic, or some good noise filtering.

I still believe that an SM57 or 58 would be appropriate for this situation. They sound great (I'm not a U2 fan, but Bono records with a 58), they're tough, they're easy to use, they're an industry standard, they're incredibly versatile, they handle massive SPLs, and they will sound much better in a bad room than a condenser will.

I've pulled amazing drum sounds with just a single SM57. One of the best mics for a guitar cab. Mike Patton has been known to use them for vocals, and hell, it's the mic on the presidential podium!

[Khuskan]

At 12/9/09 12:19 PM, jarrydn wrote: I still believe that an SM57 or 58 would be appropriate for this situation. They sound great (I'm not a U2 fan, but Bono records with a 58), they're tough, they're easy to use, they're an industry standard, they're incredibly versatile, they handle massive SPLs, and they will sound much better in a bad room than a condenser will.

True story. The number of dents you have in your SM58 popguard is directly proportional to the size of your dick.