Which microphone?

if its vor vocs, go for a simple sm 57

or akg emotion series, affordable and pretty good as an alternative...

i use akg emotion d 880(not sure but the number) and it's allright

i'd go 4 a sennheiser... (not the evolution series, but i forgot the type, have to go and look...)

e914 oh, it is an evolution, but an exeption of the series (i'm very in love with it!)

I use a Shure SM57 (or was it 75) I'm very happy about it. It's not the best thing around, but it's a good alrounder (live and studio) and doesn't even cost 100 euro (had mine 2nd hand, but Keymusic sometimes does special actions where they sell em for about 70euro!!)

Only thing to take in consideration is that it has a rather short "range". I mean it's good for singing, but when you want to record a noise or something, for sample-use, you have to get really close! For home-recordings this is kind of an advantage, cause you wont capt noises in the background that easely!

I use a Samson C01U Studio condenser ... bought In Soundfactory (a music-produce store). Maybe off topic but is this a decent mic ? I only use for vocals .. don't have super good sound but I'm satisfied... Heard thats because there's no Pre-AMP between it...ore something like that.

preamp is the key...

i use a mackie mixer, known for their great mic preamps, and it makes a world of difference....

for recording outdoors, ideally u need a shotgun microphoine, but they are expensive...

Hm... I was looking at the Thomann selection of microphones those around 20-50€ and this one caught my eye:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/beyerdynamic_tg_x58_bundle.htm

with all the necassary material... quite a deal?!

i'm absolutely no expert, but i think you'll have to know whether you want a dynamic mic or a condenser mic, dynamic does not need an outside pre-amp, condenser needs it (phantom power) and they have different qualities/specialities also. I don't know what exactly, you might want to google for the differences... I got a condenser one from thomann for +- 50 euros, behringer C1 or something (B1 maybe) and quite satisfied, although i used it only twice or so... ?( :)

As far as I know condenser are not for live-preformance, so it is more the dynamic ones that fit my needs, if I am not mistaken..

Originally posted by : Distreality

preamp is the key...

i use a mackie mixer, known for their great mic preamps, and it makes a world of difference....

for recording outdoors, ideally u need a shotgun microphoine, but they are expensive...

one of the references in shotguns is the sennheiser mkh416, we use them at school and they really give good professional sound! the difference between condensor and dynamics, is that condensors give better soundquality when miked over a certain range (more then 0.5m or so); they don't loose certain frequencies at some distance, so for noises or instruments it is really advices to go condensor. for voice only you can choose wether u'll use it in studio or in live applications. condensors are a bit too fragile (and expensive) to throw with when playing live ;)

Originally posted by : LaLuceNazione

dynamic does not need an outside pre-amp,

well, not entirely true... plug a mic into a behringer desk, and the same in a mackie desk...

u need a preamp to boost your mic's performance, condenser or dynamic...

a condensor needs phantom power to get to an audible volume, if u give a dynamic mic some phantom power, it'll be killed instantly, but that is not the same as preamping...

anywayz, that's not the discussion .... ;)