JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum a new mic?

is there a descent vocal mic in the 300 dollar range for my studio?I know it won't make me sing any better but i'm tired of what i have now.Thanx!Mike

Michael, I have a couple of this guy's microphones, and they are quite impressive. http://www.oktavamodshop.com/index.php?cPath=2 I'll post a link to some things I've recorded with them later.

Hey again, Michael. I have the "Vintage Voice'd MJE-v250" which is an excellent all-purpose large-diaphragm FET mic, and the "MK-012-01" a small diaphragm mic great on instruments. Mr. Joly modifies existing microphones, you can read what he does on his website.

This song's vocal used the 250 and the guitar was with the 012:

https://soundcloud.com/mike-dunbar/the-giving-song

This song had all the vocals and the upright bass with the 250 and the violin with the 012:

https://soundcloud.com/mike-dunbar/the-heaven-bound-boogie

The 250 cost was $349 when I bought it. He now adds a modified windscreen and the cost is $369. The 012 was $429 and still is.
I do not have any kind of endorsement deal, nor do I work for him. I plan on buying more mics from him. My studio has several mics that cost as much or more but these mics beat them. In my opinion it would be worth spending a few bucks more and getting one.

hey Mike,thanx for the info and those two songs are pretty cool!Yes the mics sound really good too.Well i still have 4 more amps i don't need that are for sale so when a couple more go i just might give this guy a yell.Thanx.Mike

Mike: How do they compare to something like a Beyer M88? A lot of people I have talked to have said that is the "if I only can own one" mic under $1000.

I have often wondered what a better mic does for recording,I use a 40 dollar radio shack mic and a 80 dollar radio shack stereo sound mixer to record my vocals and guitar on..

I'll second that recommendation for anything from Michael Joly. He's pretty brilliant at what he does, and a nice guy too. He can also take any mic you have and make it better. I sent him my Gauge ECM-87, which was already a very nice mic (hey, Mike Caro likes it, so you know it works), and turned it into something much more Neumann-like, which has been perfect for me.

Mic mods don't always have the sexy brand mystique, and resale value takes a hit because of that too...but if you really want excellent sound at a modest price, it's the way to go. Michael Joly is one of the best at doing that.

It does A LOT, Jimmy! I think if you stepped up to a Shure SM-57 or SM-58 (they're about $100 new, and easily found for $50 on craigslist or eBay...and indestructible, so they're worth buying used), you would hear a truly obvious difference. It will sound beefy, crisp and clear all at once, and your old mic will suddenly sound boxy and thin, and from then on you will feel as if you used to be singing into a paper towel tube.

I have used Shure mics allot on stage but they were always other peoples.I guess I would probably notice the difference alot more in recordings,It's hard for me to tell on the stage for all the other stuff going on around me..

For a small diaphragm, its "shure" hard to beat a Shure SM7B. Its like the big bad awesome brother of an SM57. It does require a lot of gain from your pre amp. Despite its fairly "cheap" price, it was/is used on countless records (even Michael Jackson).

-Mike D.

There are a few posts over on the Gearslutz Web Site about Mic's and the Shure SM7B. Some seem to like it and some not so much. One of our regulars, Mike Dunbar said, (I Think!) he has tried many Mics but goes back the the Shure SM58 as what he likes the best. There seems to be a slew of microphones from different manufactures out there. Practically all of them will do the job so you may just want to aquire a few to see which one you like the best.

I've use a Rode NT1A for a couple of years.
Not sure if it's better or worse than what's been mentioned but I like it.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NT1AAnniv
Vic

A condenser mic from Radio Shack I bought a few years back.

I always thought Radio Shack audio gear was oft overlooked.

Anyone on here like them?