not sure if this is the right place for this discussion, not a pedal, not an amp question so.

What are your recommendations for a microphone for some home recording of my lovely voice? I want to lay down some vocals into garage band, Don't want to spend a fortune now just for my own amusement and or horror.

Mike

A Shure SM58 works for everything.

To go straight to computer? Nothing very good out there, better off with a nice large diaphragm condenser into a little preamp into your computer. CAD makes some nice entry level mics and some folks like MXL(not me). I have a small studio and a bunch of mics. Audio Technicas are also very nice for a starter. A used Rane ms1b would do a fine job as a preamp.

If it is a poor acoustic environment then dynamics like the SM57/58 are the way to go. Not a ton of reach and don't tend to hear the room as much. Don't require phantom power either.

A Shure SM58 works for everything.

If it is a poor acoustic environment then dynamics like the SM57/58 are the way to go. Not a ton of reach and don't tend to hear the room as much. Don't require phantom power either.

+1, these are the workhorse of the industry for good reason!

FWIW, I like the sound of my voice slightly better through a '57 (which is odd considering the '57 is an instrument mic & the '58 is a vocal mic technically), but I guess that comes down to the individual's voice & ears.

I have a couple of both in my toolbag.

The Shure PG48's work well if you don't want to spend out on the SM58.

Personally I use PG48's in our practice studio and Live use SM58's and find they are both brilliant.

+1, these are the workhorse of the industry for good reason!

FWIW, I like the sound of my voice slightly better through a '57 (which is odd considering the '57 is an instrument mic & the '58 is a vocal mic technically), but I guess that comes down to the individual's voice & ears.


Yes, for live the 58 is hard to beat on vox but for recording the 57 will usually be less sterile and works on drums, cabs, ect. Dynamic mics can take a fair amount of gain though so they really respond well to quality preamps.

I use the Shure sm58 beta, and it's wonderful, wouldn't use any other. It's the only mic I actually bother to take to gigs

+1 on the Shure SM58 Beta! Excellent vocal reproduction. Also, an SM57 Beta is available too, and is equally awesome.

I use Sontronics microphones. I have the STC-2 and the STC 6.

Both superb microphones. Great for mixing amps, recording acoustically, or voice

Great stuff

Mr Marlin