What's a good, reasonably priced (< $400) microphone for recording vocals into your laptop? I've recently acquired a Sennheiser 855 which works very well for live performance, but lacks punch and fidelity for recording. I've heard you need a condenser mic for recording?

http://www.proaudioreview.com/par/microphones/

Have Fun!

If you want a great sounding mic at an incredible price....check out the MXL 2001. It's $99 and sounds almost as good as the Neumann that costs 7 times that much!

Other good choices are the AKG 3000, the AT 4033, and the Rode NT1...all under $300.

After you get higher priced than that - it will be hard to justify the price using a laptop system. The better mics ($700+) are more sensitive to breath noises, fan noises, etc. In a modest setting, a 2001 will give you unbelievable results. It's a large diaphragm, side adress mic that sounds wonderful.

Another great utility mic is the AKG 1000s, but that's a small diaphragm, and will not be as "open" as the others. The 1000 is my "Swiss army mic" - it does many things SO well. Guitars especially.

I am very impressed with the Studio Projects C1 @ $199.00. Airy without the harsh brittle high end found on many affordable large-diaphram condensor mics. It is not "natural" but more of an enhancment type mic---one that sounds much better on my vocals than an accurate neutral mic. It adds body without a boomy bassy sound. Highly recomended. It will require phantom power, and you do need a decent mic pre for any mic to sound good.

THERE is the key. Buy what sounds good on YOUR vocals.

BTW - mic pres are certainly not needed if you have a good board. They help, sure...but I get super results with my Mackie 1604VLZpro. Pre amps are mostly for the big boys. Small progect studios can get get great results with proper mic techniqes and placement.

If you have the bread .... get ALL the toys you want, but the proper usage of modest gear can produce fabulous results. It's all in HOW you use it.

Uncle Dave, I agree with everything that you said-----for once!
Your Mackie has good preamps built in, but some sound card inputs and cheap mixers do not. The preamps on my old Tascam made any mic sound dull and lifeless. You can get a good preamp for under $100 with the Audio Buddy by Midiman. The ones in my Soundcraft mixer are all that I need.
And yes, a "character" mic needs to match well with the intended users' voice. My C1 is not a general purpose mic,not at all ideal for recording acoustic instruments. But it gives that "bigger than life" sound that is often heard on records.And that gives THIS feeble singer a big boost of confidence!

My 2 cents....I used a Senn E855 Mic to record most of my Demo Songs on my website.
I am now using with the help of Uncle Dave a great Audio Technica AT4033/SE http://www.crmav.com/recording/62/special_edition_at4033_se_cardioid_capacitor_microphone.shtml for my vocal tracks and it sounds pretty good so far.

Let your Ears be your guide....
and its nice to have an Uncle Dave also...

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www.donnypesce.com

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 08-12-2003).]

Aw, you guyeeezeee.......

Hey,
I use an Oktiva M-319. I had a Neumann, however I got rid of cause the cost difference and didn't hear the sound difference for the money. M-319 is only $99 and is a very nice condenser mic. I used it to make my CD.


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I don't steer the ship, I bail out the water.
DJ
http://www.chipos.com/beachbum/

Donny... I was surprised that you recorded your demos with the Senn 855. I thought you needed a condenser mic for a good recording, but yours certainly sound good.

Bill... I might try out the C1. Anything that could give a "bigger than life" sound for my average voice would be worth checking out.

Thanks to all replies.