Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 20 to 29 of 29

Thread: What is a god afordable mic that can do it all.

  1. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Weird, New Jersey
    Posts
    1,642
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default What is a god afordable mic that can do it all.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ch0jin View Post
    Check out the Shure Beta 57a too. Costs slightly more than the 57, but seems to be a bit better at being an "all-rounder" I just got one 2nd hand for $70
    2nd this. I bought these a few years ago. The Beta 57a is a fantastic mic.
    Soundcloud - Lights on Project

    -Pete

  2. #21
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    MSP
    Posts
    3,913
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by oldguy View Post
    According to over 100 customer reviews on Amazon, you get a pretty decent mic.
    You know, I find that a lot of online reviews are for-the-money reviews, which makes them somewhat less than useful. I mean, you can clearly see how much something costs, right? So it seems like having an absolute scale would be a little more practical. Then again, I realize we all have the limitation of being human and wanting to love the thing we just blew some cash on, so it's probably not going to change. But I never miss an opportunity to whine about something!

    First world problems!
    Quote Originally Posted by Spudman
    Does anyone read the original post?
    Guitars: Gibson LP Studio, MIA Fender Precision, Carvin C350
    Amps: Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + Avatar B212 / Genzler 12-3, Acoustic B20
    Pedals: Pod HD500X, Diamond Compressor, Tech 21 VT Bass, Sonic Research Turbo Tuner

  3. #22
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Maryland, USA
    Posts
    23
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by oldguy View Post
    According to over 100 customer reviews on Amazon, you get a pretty decent mic.
    Not only do you think you'll get a good mic for 29 bucks, but you actually trust the reviews at Amazon?

    Now i've seen everything. LOL

  4. #23
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Monmouth, OR
    Posts
    2,039
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ToddK View Post
    29 dollars for a mic? Wow, why don't you just use a dixie cup with a string attached to it.
    What do you think you'll get for 29 bucks?
    Not everything should be judged by it's pricetag.
    -Sean
    Guitars: Lots.
    Amphs: More than last year.
    Pedals: Many, although I go straight from guitar to amp more often lately.

  5. #24
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    98
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    11

    Default What is a god afordable mic that can do it all.

    Quote Originally Posted by ToddK View Post
    29 dollars for a mic? Wow, why don't you just use a dixie cup with a string attached to it.
    What do you think you'll get for 29 bucks?
    A $29 price tag may not be indicative of GLS quality, but it may provide insight into Shure's profit margins.

    If Apple can manufacture an iPhone for well under $100, what makes you think a world-class mic can't be produced for $10 a pop?
    Nothing is anything until it is written. After that, it's everything.

  6. #25
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    MSP
    Posts
    3,913
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by davewrites View Post
    A $29 price tag may not be indicative of GLS quality, but it may provide insight into Shure's profit margins.

    If Apple can manufacture an iPhone for well under $100, what makes you think a world-class mic can't be produced for $10 a pop?
    Fair point. I don't have any interest in defending a Shure SM57, but conceptually don't you think that the average price tag for a SM57-type mic would be a good indicator of profit margins? For instance, if there were tons of viable options out there for $30 and then the 57 was $100, that would seem to be a profit-margin thing. However, if most microphones in that range ran about $100, it would seem likely that GLS is either getting labor on the cheap, is compromising a bit more on the parts, or is smarter than everybody else. Otherwise, it's price fixing/cartel/collusion, which is generally frowned upon/illegal.

    This comes off as me bashing the GLS mic, which I am not trying to do. But with it being the internet, I fully expect people to try to misinterpret my comments. Oh, internet...
    Quote Originally Posted by Spudman
    Does anyone read the original post?
    Guitars: Gibson LP Studio, MIA Fender Precision, Carvin C350
    Amps: Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + Avatar B212 / Genzler 12-3, Acoustic B20
    Pedals: Pod HD500X, Diamond Compressor, Tech 21 VT Bass, Sonic Research Turbo Tuner

  7. #26
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    1,063
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ToddK View Post
    Not only do you think you'll get a good mic for 29 bucks, but you actually trust the reviews at Amazon?

    Now i've seen everything. LOL
    Ignorance is bliss.

    I run sound in a bar in Chicago. Sunday past. I had 5 bands. One was a 12 pc including a 4 pc horn section, 2 percussionists plus drummer, bassist 3 amped electrics. I had 5 vocal mics and mic'd 2 of the guitar cabs.

    While this band is an extreme, I do everything from violists to stand up to singer/songwriters to bands, several times a week. (I've got two bands tonight)

    I use SM-86's SM-58's SM-57's GLS ES-58's. the latter is in fact a Shure SM-58 clone. When purchased from http://www.speakerrepair.com/ they come in at $28.33 ea.

    For 3 years now they function in every way shape and form exactly as the SM-58's.

    I purchased them because a sound engineer friend, who pays his (considerable) mortgage running a studio, mixing master tapes for Widespread Panic and running sounds at festivals and venues, directed me to them when I said "Dude, I need mic's and I'm broke". He said they functioned fantastically and if they "walk away" or fail, you're out $29.

    You're newer here ToddK, but others here know enough of me to know I'm a dude, with no product to promote or axe to grind. So consider this a review you can trust. Or not.
    "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - Eliot

    Guilars: '02 Heritage H-535 ASB; '04 Larrivée LV-03 w/Fishman Blend; '95 Washburn/Bourgeios D-55SW Cherokee
    Amphs: Boogie DC-2; DVM/BYOC Tweed Champlifier; Marshall AS50D
    Currently on Board: Ditto Looper; Boss TU-2; EB VP Jr; crybaby; DVM Spring Fever; DVM Mini Klone, Brena Effects Cali-Tremor tremolo; Strymon El Capistan

  8. #27
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Weird, New Jersey
    Posts
    1,642
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default What is a god afordable mic that can do it all.

    I bought a Marshall condenser mic for dirt cheap online a few years ago. I had low expectations but took it to the studio to record and had a shit eating grin a mile wide when my tracks sounded as good or perhaps better than the tracks with a several hundred dollar Sennheiser condenser. I wouldn't necessarily knock something because it's cheaper.
    Soundcloud - Lights on Project

    -Pete

  9. #28
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    98
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    11

    Default What is a god afordable mic that can do it all.

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric View Post

    This comes off as me bashing the GLS mic, which I am not trying to do. But with it being the internet, I fully expect people to try to misinterpret my comments. Oh, internet...
    To be clear, my post was "inspired" by ToddK's trolling rhetoric. Sorry if it felt like I took a couple of swings in your direction.
    Nothing is anything until it is written. After that, it's everything.

  10. #29
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    3,424
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    23

    Default

    I don't doubt that sometimes you can find killer stuff at really cheap prices as well. But rarely. A 57/58 is a simple mic; I don't think it's impossible to make and sell a mic with just as good properties for sub $30 too, using China labor or cheaper etc. Maybe the only real difference if any could only appear 20 years down the line or something, a leaky cap or rusting frame or whatever.

    It's more about security, knowing what you're getting exactly, AND also knowing the thing will retain its value even 10-20 years from now. A well kept 58 could be 20+ years old and not appear any different from a brand new one, and still fetch the same price.

    So, when you get a good hint and such, why not...could be just as good. But it's always guesswork.

    It's much the same with cars; get a car from VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda, it's all the same, same parts, a bit different design, a bit different target groups. Prices can vary wildly even, especially used.

    Is a $100.000 Mercedes any better a car in any real terms than a $40.000 VW? I seriously doubt it. Maybe the merc is a bit more polished but they use the same Bosch electric parts and whatnot; and the merc likely has more parts that could break. But when you sell them off, there will be the same difference in price still...an old merc can be pretty pricey still while you can't give away same age VW's.

    So, it could surely be that a cheapo mic could perform just as well as a more expensive one.

    However, I have owned a lot of such mics touted as great for price, and indeed many were. We sold a huge bunch of one 57 copy in particular. But for whatever reasons, in the 20 years passed, I only still have some Shures and AKG's...slowly got rid of the cheaper copies for whatever reason. Maybe some appeared to be prone to catching the 'pop' from vocals. Some maybe were suddenly prone to handling noise. Some just plain started to sound bad to me in comparison with something else. Some were very directional. On some a switch broke or the screen flew off when it dropped.

    But I still have the 57's and 58's I bought in the 80's and they always do the job, never any issues. It doesn't necessarily mean they sound any better than a $30 mic but they've stood the test of time and I know how they sound and how to position them, and there's never any trouble. Holders fit, they take abuse, they work.

    So I guess the bottom line is...hell yeah, I'll buy a cheap mic that does the job well any time to save a buck in a pinch. But, when I get a change to upgrade later..it's always been worth it in the long run.
    Dee

    "When life's a biatch, be a horny dog"

    Amps: Marshall JVM 410H w/ Plexi Cap mod, Choke Mod & Negative Feedback Removal mod, 4x12", Behringer GMX110, Amplitube 3/StealthPedal

    Half a dozen custom built/bastardized guitars all with EMG's, mostly 85's, Ibanez Artwood acoustic & Yamaha SGR bass, Epiphone Prophecy SG, Vox Wah, Pitchblack tuner plus assorted pedals, rack gear etc. for home studio use.

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •