Microphone Help
 

Hey folks.....Have a TASCAM DP008 Pocket Studio and want to start recording. Nothing fancy...just me singing with my acoustic guitar. Is there a general purpose mic that anyone can recommend (under 100 bucks) that will suffice?

Shure SM58.

Shure SM58

Shure SM-57. An external net/mess pop filter or slip on foam tip can duplicate with the SM-58's ball is trying to do, and the lack of the ball may give the SM-57 just a bit more brightness when used as is.

It's the indispensable mic. There's nothing you can't mic with it and get acceptable results,* and there are things that experienced folks who have extensive mic cabinets containing expensive vintage mics will choose to use a SM-57 for over a field of other options.

Also approximately as durable as Keith Richards.


*well, maybe not field recording underwater, though I haven't tried it for that.

Another vote for the SM-57. Really good and will last a lifetime without being babied. It is a studio mainstay.

Your Tascam has phantom power built in, so don't limit yourself with a SM-57 or SM-58 dynamic mic. They are both excellent, but you'll be far better served if recording acoustic guitar to use a small diaphragm condenser.

The AKG P-170 is a very good SDC and can double for a vocal mic if you use a pop filter, and that's not strictly needed if you sing off-axis a bit.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...ser-microphone

Thanks for all the replies and information....so I went looking at used mic and found a Fosmon Condenser mic for 10 bucks. Had not been used so I though what the heck, I got to lose. I read the review and sounds like it is a good gateway mic as I still need to learn how to use the TASCAM 008EX as well. Should get me going anyway. Now to figure out how to use the TASCAM!! :rolleyes:

I agree in general, but disagree at that price point. And I tend to look long-term -- in five years, which of those two would I still have and use?

The condenser will be louder, though.

this is exactly how I feel, buying for the short term never works out for me. I hate selling stuff to buy the next better piece of gear. I would rather have a mic I can always use and a SM58 I can always use.