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What do you reccomend for a mic?


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For radio, under $500 I recommend: SHURE SM7B or the Electrovoice RE20

 

Both are dynamic mics. I currently use a AKG Perception 120 for my radio show and it seems to work great, and its a condenser.

 

 

-JB

Jon Bova

 

"Successful people have libraries. The rest have big screen TVs. - Jim Rohn"

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I use the Behringer B1 condenser mic along with a dbx 286 mic processor and get excellent results. The mic is about $100 and the processor $150. I also have a Shure SM7 that I bought for $20 from a station I used to work for. It was missing the foam windscreen and they thought because it looked bad it didn't work well. It had been stuck away on a shelf in the bomb shelter for a few years when I found it LOL!
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Blazin,

Selecting a microphone is like selecting shoes....a brand I find comfy might make you break an ankle.

 

Consider these variable before selecting:

 

Is there a lot of noise in the background where this mic will be used?

How is the room tone and is the space acousticly treated?

Will this mic need to cover a range of differnt users or just yourself?

What is your budget?

 

Here are the well documented Coutant links for the best in broadcast dynamic mics:

The Electro Voice RE20, The Shure SM7B and the Sennheiser 421 as well as one of our own pages covering the newer Heil PR40

 

If you examine these two threads, you will see more info on these current 'top four' mics for use in broadcast:

http://forums.broadcastingworld.net/showthread.php?t=7668

 

http://forums.broadcastingworld.net/showthread.php?t=7500

 

Let me know if this was of any help.

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Thanks for all of your reccomendations! I have heard good thinks about Behringer. My budget is pretty big right now, just got a job raise, in this recession!! (I am a Graphic Designer and we haven't had too much business loss) so I will definately put your reccomendations into consideration.
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  • 3 weeks later...
Shure SM7b is more industry standard these days.

This would explain posts by audio engineers I've recently read that include such phrases as "Will trade two EV RE20's for an SM7B" which caught my interest, since the Shure costs less than a single RE20.

 

Ultimately, this sentiment only served to further boost confidence in my mic of choice.

I'm not saying to anyone that they should avoid the RE20, it is among the best in its class.

Just bear in mind that you'll usually find them being resold more frequently than the SM7B, which indicates that there must be a pretty good reason folks are hanging on to their Shures (and when they do sell, the resale value is quite good).

My recording guru summed it up for me by simply stating thet "The SM7 series can do everything the RE20 can, but the RE20 can't do everything the SM7's can."

Still, if you can get a good deal on either, TAKE IT!

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  • 2 weeks later...
Ok, all these mics sound a bit pricey... What about for the average dj ? I've been running out to good old Best buy and getting my mics. Both stand alone and headset and I've had issues with both. I'm not sure if it was the mic, SAM...(it not being configured right or something) because some of the mics would sound great BUT there would be some mystery background noise OR the sound just wasn't high enough even when I'd hit the mic boost. I'd be willing to fork out somewhere's around $100 dollars if I knew it would be worth it and it was a good quality mic for the price. Any suggestions? Also where can I go to get a mic aside of your local Best Buy type store...
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Phantom power is a 48v power supply for most condensor mics. The Behringer B1 is a good budget mic, I have one. But it certainly does need phantom power.

 

Now, there are two ways of getting phatom power.

1. An independant phantom power supply unit

2. Any mixer with pahntom on board

 

A good budget mixer with phantom on board would be the Behringer Xenyx 1202. or if you want actual faders for channel control, the 1204.

 

I also have an old behringer 1604a which has phantom power and 4x stereo inputs for CD players etc. You should pick one of those up for around $60 used.

 

If you are hoping to use a B1 without phantom power, don't. It simply will not work.

 

By the way, no special cables required. The phantom power is sent down the same XLR lead for the mic.

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What about for the average dj ?

The mics we previously mentioned set the average in broadcast, they are industry standards.

 

But in general, out in the world, most folks speak into a handheld mic.

The all-purpose mics that are most commonly used nearly everywhere include the Shure SM57 and SM58.

They are dynamic cardioid mics that require no phantom power. The SM58 is your standard vocal microphone and the SM57 for both vocal and instrument. Both are available for ~$100+/- new, used or on sale.

 

Headsets might be fine for a phone conversation, but probably not the level of fidelity for broadcast.

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I totally agree with carl on that.

 

One good solution for both worlds is the AKG C10000s. It is a reasonable mic that works on phatom, BUT it also can be self powered with a built in 9v battery (which lasts years). The sound quality is very respectable and it is a good mic for mounting or hand held.

 

I also have one of these as well as the aforementioned SM57 and SM58, both of which I agree are good mics for DJ'ing.

 

If you are using for general disco DJ'ing you should really consider wireless mics. this is standard for giving out a mic for speeches etc. BUT above all make sure the user is wel away from your speakers!

 

For Radio DJ'ing and broadcasting, I would go for the shure SM7b. I only recently acquired one but wouldn't change it for anything at all.

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Wow, all this AKG1000s and sm57... and mixers etc.... lol really makes me feel new to all this lol I guess I been "skimming" the tip of the ice burg not really paying too much attention to the rest of it under or above me. I was just telling my fiance these guys are going to make me end up with a full fledged studio (which I really don't mind) If I can convince her that the price tag is worth it lol

 

As I said before, man I have my work cut out for me lol But I will check out some of those mics and mixers that have Phantom on board.

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I was just telling my fiance these guys are going to make me end up with a full fledged studio (which I really don't mind) If I can convince her that the price tag is worth it lol

TwiZtah (and any others just starting up).

I use the Shure SM7B and AKG C3000B, but if you don't want to rush into that financial territory, I may have a solution for you.

 

I don't know who holds the purse strings in your household, but here is my recommendation for the minimalist studio mic setup at a bargain:

http://www.shure.com/stellent/groups/public/@gms_gmi_web/documents/web_resource/site_image_sm58_x2u_l.jpg

This is the Shure SM58 + X2u USB digital recording bundle. This way you get a world class dynamic vocal mic that you can use both live and in studio along with an XLR to USB interface with a preamp, headphone capability, monitor mixing, peak indicator and USB supplied phantom power (should you ever need it). With one of these, most any mic can become a USB mic.

Your desktop will have less clutter, and you can go mobile with it for remote recording.

Seperately they cost more, but as a "bundle" they are sold at $199.

Look up other options in the thread I posted on XLR to USB adapters for even more affordable options.

 

-Carl (the guy who never shuts up about microphones) Welden.

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