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[Jan Deal]

Currently I'm using a cheap SM58 knock off to record vocals, I was wondering what people would recommend in terms of a proper mic for recording vocals? I assume that a condenser mic is best. Any tips about the best way of recording, apart from using a good mic?

[HairyScaryMark]

It depends on the voice really.

Some voices sound best with a dynamic mic and others with a condensor. It depends.

Also depends on your budget.

The fact you only have a cheap 58 copy suggests to me that it might be worth getting a real SM58 or 57 as I imagine it will be useful to you for situations other than just recording.

I am going to asume you budget to not much greater than the SM58 as you haven't stated it.

For that price you could get something like an AKG C1000, Oktava MK-012 or Studio Projects B1.

[skuzzlebutt]

sm58beta is pretty good, you can pick one up for about a hundred bux...

[Huw]

A question about live microphones - is the Shure SM58 the best option for live performances in that kind of budget or is there better? I would be shouting/'screaming' and stuff, maybe some singing, it would all be pretty loud i guess.

[jalepeano death]

For live shouty vox e.t.c try Audix.
Om7's work really well and so do the cheaper Om2's .
They sound much better than 58's and 57's and have better off axis rejection.
Probably a bit shite for recording though.

[Stripey]

for studio work you can get a rode nt1a with a shockmount for 120 quid, AKG perception 200 is similar but marginally cheaper....

[Jan Deal]

Originally Posted by Stripey

for studio work you can get a rode nt1a with a shockmount for 120 quid, AKG perception 200 is similar but marginally cheaper....

Cheers Stripey, that is the sort of thing I'm looking for. I;m a total novice when it come to this sort of thing/

Vocals are really the only thing that I need a mic for, as everything else I record, I just DI with my POD. That's why I was looking for something vocal specific. And in terms of the type of vocal I'm recording, it will be Marie-Claire, the singer in Panda Eyes 99% of the time.

[HairyScaryMark]

Originally Posted by Huw [Fault&Fracture]

A question about live microphones - is the Shure SM58 the best option for live performances in that kind of budget or is there better? I would be shouting/'screaming' and stuff, maybe some singing, it would all be pretty loud i guess.

I personally much prefer Sennheiser E845 over the Shure SM58. I have never tried a shure beta mic though.

[Stupot]

I rarely pick up anything other than a sontronics orpheus to record vocals. It costs about £250 these days, but sounds like a neumann, has more features than a neumann and works on just about everybody's voice as well as kick drums and guitars. If you run it through a decent tube pre amp, it warms up nicely too.

[Hogisbald]

Was going to mention Neumann but Stupot got there first. The sontronics sounds interesting!