Best Acoustic Mic for recording for $100?

Axylrock · #1 02-14-2016, 03:04 PM

Currently shopping for a good acoustic guitar mic for recording around $100. I spent all my money on other things for the recording space so I have $100-$120 left for a mic. If it doubles as a great vocal mic too I'd love to hear about that as well!~

runamuck · #2 02-14-2016, 03:08 PM

You're going to get just about as many opinions are there are people.

clintj · #3 02-14-2016, 03:09 PM

How about an Audio Technica AT2020 or AKG P120? Medium/large diaphragm condenser mics are nice all-around recording tools. You'll need phantom power for either one.

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Rudy4 · #4 02-15-2016, 07:35 AM

If you have everything else to use it with, certainly the AKG P120 would be my choice at $100. Sweetwater gets you an automatic two year warranty.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...1cgBoC6X_w_wcB

If you don't have phantom power or an interface to use it with then I'd go with A Zoom H1 (under $100) or similar stand-alone that would meet your recording needs plus is also useful for other things such as grabbing a tune sample at a jam.

RayCJ · #5 02-15-2016, 08:07 AM

The Audio Technical AT2021 ($79) is a great mic for acoustic and with a foam pop screen, makes a very good vocal mic too.

I have two AT2021's and an AT2020. Pretty darn happy with them. They require very little equalization in the recording software. They are available in a kit or purchased separately.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Audio-Te...ophone-Pack.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Audio-Te...-Microphone.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Audio-Te...-Microphone.gc

Ray

MikeBmusic · #6 02-15-2016, 08:25 AM

Do you have an audio interface with phantom power?

You might want to look around for a used deal.

Axylrock · #7 02-15-2016, 06:58 PM

Yeah I have a Scarlett 2i2 which has phantom power. I'm think maybe AT2020 then. Or learning how to maneuver my sm57 to get the sounds that I want. With my own personal music I always have big open chord tunings and that's where I have a hard time with an sm57 I get way too much of a boomy sound. I'm about half a foot away from the mic and its pointed above the sound hole.

Doug Young · #8 02-15-2016, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axylrock

Yeah I have a Scarlett 2i2 which has phantom power. I'm think maybe AT2020 then. Or learning how to maneuver my sm57 to get the sounds that I want. With my own personal music I always have big open chord tunings and that's where I have a hard time with an sm57 I get way too much of a boomy sound. I'm about half a foot away from the mic and its pointed above the sound hole.

6 inches is probably too close - proximity effect kicks in way before that. You might try other spots, like the body/neck joint, which should be brighter, or move back, say around 10-12 inches, or even more (proximity kicks in around 16 inches usually). Or try raising the mic further above the soundhole. Depending on what you're recording, you might also try stereo with 2 mics, one at the neck/body joint, one on the lower bout, completely avoiding the soundhole. A condenser will likely give you a bit better results, but a 57 should be able to sound good. Maybe post an example of what you're getting, and people may have suggestions.

RayCJ · #9 02-15-2016, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axylrock

Yeah I have a Scarlett 2i2 which has phantom power. I'm think maybe AT2020 then. Or learning how to maneuver my sm57 to get the sounds that I want. With my own personal music I always have big open chord tunings and that's where I have a hard time with an sm57 I get way too much of a boomy sound. I'm about half a foot away from the mic and its pointed above the sound hole.

FWIW: I struggled a little using the 2020 on the guitar. I prefer a stereo effect and use two mics. The 2020 picks up a lot of sound over a wide area, including the back of the mic. The 2021's are a bit more directional. Doug Young suggested pointing at the neck/body junction and another at the lower bout. This is what I do and it sounds darn good. I position 1 mic about 14" in front of the guitar and the other about 12" away and angle and aim them at those two positions. The 2021's pick-up mainly what you point them at but, they have holes in the side for a little sideways pickup. Doing it this way seem give a nice stereo effect and also blend the sound nicely.

Ray

RayCJ · #10 02-15-2016, 09:32 PM

Here's a recording with the new guitar and setup with mics as described earlier... This almost a completely flat EQ recording. Also, I'm using a Scarlet 18i20 with Cubase. I did in-fact overlay a hint of bass guitar to add a little bottom.

https://files.secureserver.net/0shCCjuYPtPrPn

Ray

Doug Young · #11 02-15-2016, 11:16 PM

Nice to hear someone else using AT2020's and what you get from them!

It occurred to me that I can't recall the last time I tried a recording with SM57s, so I just did a real quick and dirty recording with a pair of SM57s and then a pair of AT2020s. For what it's worth:

These are both spaced pairs, around 10-12 inches from the guitar. Pretty close to the same position, but not exact. And 2 different performances. I noodled something on the SM57 track, then tried to remember what I played for the AT2020s, so just sort of close, I hope. Not very scientific, but maybe some idea of what differences you might hear.

You could always get an AT2020 and then combine the SM57 with it for stereo, too.