Beginner mics;

At2020, Aston Origin, rode nt1, sm58

Intermediate mics;

c414, wa87r2

Advanced mics;

U87, c800g

Go to your local music-store and try a few different mics with your voice.

The extremely expensive mics are from a different era .. that's why they're expensive.
Mics are actually relatively low-tech.

Depending on your voice and style, you might even be better off with a cheap, modern mic.

Lewitt, Røde and AudioTechnica usually have good low-price options.

My first was the Røde NT-1A .. I've recorded my acoustic guitar, my normal vocals (la-la-singing voice), my metal-vocals (aka screaming into the mic).

I'm still in the phase, where I'd rather complain about my room being not acoustically treated than about the quality of my microphones *lol*

Man, you need to do a bit more research into this.

Microphone talk can get very deep and involved. Especially when you start to factor in your recording environment and preamps. Nevermind mods, tubes and capsules.

Practical advice would be to make sure you are using XLR and then get what ever mic you can afford with your budget. You will also need a pop filter and stand too.

High end mics are absolutely worth it - if you know what you're doing. But you can get perfectly usable results for much much less.

Lewitt

Checkdm

I don't know about best but I've been using a Blue Yeti into Audacity for a couple of years now and I'm really happy with the results

There is no best microphone. I use an Elgato Wave 3 which is great. To up the quality I use a compressor and a sound gate to cut out background noise and other unwanted noises, while the compressor managers harsh plosives when pronouncing my Ts and Ps. It’s rare to get a microphone that performs exactly how you want with raw input.

Agree. Didn’t really specify how your content is recorded so nobody can really provide a recommendation. If you are doing voice over for content that will record very differently than content where you are speaking from a distance. Need to clarify if people are going to help you with your question.

If I'm sitting at a desk and it's ok for a microphone to be in the shot, then I use an ElectroVoice RE20, or if that's going to look too goofy, a Shure SM58 or Sennheiser E835. These are all dynamic mics, and they do a good job of catching what's mostly being spoken directly into it, so no worries about room or background noise. But, you do have to be pretty on it.

For segments where I don't want a visible microphone, I use an Audio Technica AT-875 directional "shotgun" mic. I have it in a mount, which is clamped just out of frame, maybe about 2-3 feet from my face. It can't handle the range of a dynamic mic, but with compression added, it doesn't sound far-away.

I've used clip-on lapel condensers before, and haven't been thrilled with the audio quality. Maybe it's because I didn't have really good ones, but I just felt like they were a bit too airy compared with a well-placed directional. They just might be the most practical option, however, especially the self-contained ones that you can slip a MicroSD card into.

The "radio-station" looking condenser mics that everyone buys are good for recording instruments and vocals in a sound-treated studio, but they will catch everything else in the room, which is why most podcasters who buy them wind up posting threads asking for soundproofing advice. Room noise is good for adding context to certain types of videos, but most people will want either a dynamic or shotgun mic.

I'm also giving this advice having no idea what your application is, which is the big determining factor, along with cost, and whether or not you want to record into an audio interface or directly with USB (some mics aren't made with USB options)

You need to identify what your video content is. There are many.

My recommendations, if you're outside alone, vlogging etc and want something versatile, a Rhode video mic Pro plus.

If you prefer a lav mic, especially if you have audio from two people, the DJI mic. Optional lav mic being a Shure mvl3. Very good and compatible (many lav live have background interference with the DJI mic so this one doesn't)

If you make bedroom videos, tutorials etc from your room, the blue yeti is always a solid bet. Like lasted for 8 years and it's very affordable.

Hope this helps c:

I recently purchased a rode nt1. It sounds great for vocals, and it also works well if you want to record an acoustic guitar

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Tlm 103!!!!!

Aston origin

I use an sm7b I think that should be in your price range and it sounds excellent on vocals and also on guitar’s

I'd say either add 50 € and get an Aston Spirit, or you could get one of t.bone's condenser mics. t.bone is a company owned by Thomann, and there is some ridioulous value you can get for your hardearned money.

The black Rode NT1 is a completely different beast to the NT1-A and a much, much better microphone. The NT1-A and NT2 aren’t particularly great.

The Aston mics are “flattering” mics but they sound very unlike the source. The NT1 sounds fatter and more natural in the treble.

I have extensively used C414s, Neumann TLM102, 103, and most lower-end Audio-Technica models and it sounds more natural than all of them. However, if you want a bright microphone then it might sound a bit dark for you and in that case I’d suggest the Aston mics instead – Origin for clean-sounding and Spirit for vintage-sounding.

definitely the audio-technica at2020. brilliant value for money and a beautiful sound

Audio Technica 2020/2035 or for plus 50$ Aston Spirit

I love the SEx1

What type of vocals? Could be anything from a podcast to screamo.

What is your budget?

Do you know that you need a condenser mic? There are great dynamic mics for vocals too.

You’ll get much better advice if you answer these questions first.

Not sure if you got one already, but when I started I got a blue “baby bottle” man it was a great mic. It worked really well for so many voices both male and female, and I was able to get extremely high end professional results with that microphone.

Highly suggest if on a budget.

Edit::

I should mention I now use a u67,87 and others. Sometimes I still miss the upfront modern sound of the baby bottle.

Lastly, when I had it it was the first gen model without the extra switches. I’m sure the newer one is just as good but thought I’d be clear.

audio technica at3035

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Is your recording space treated? If not then a condenser can cause some problems. They are very sensitive and will pick up reflections in your space

Rode NT1 - you'll have it until the day you die.

I have an SM57 on guitar and SM58 on vocals. The results are good in my small semi-treated room, as long as my performance is ok!

What's your environment like? If your room is at least somewhat treated, the Lewitt LCT 440 pure is a good one. If your room isn't treated for acoustics, you'll want to go with a dynamic. The sennheiser e835 dynamic always gives me surprisingly good results.

Aston mic is a very affordable nice clear sounding mic. Sm57 if you're looking for a. simple durable and good sounding mic.

Audio-Technica AT4050. Total workhorse. It handles vocals, acoustic guitar, drums overheads — everything. Super clean, built like a tank.

Rode NT1 5th Gen

most of the professionally recorded, modern metal music you've heard has been recorded on an sm7b. it's the high-tier standard for studio recordings and it sounds great in an untreated room (your bedroom). i use it with a scarlett solo and a cloudlifter and i don't think i'll ever need a different microphone. you can have preferences for different mics of course but the sm7b is studio standard for a reason!

I use a Tascam TM-80 mic and it sounds fantastic. Definitely should save up for a SM7B when you can.

Yes I have an interface

dude it is not a conderser mic

I'mma say Rode NT-1.

In my experience, when somebody says it's no good, it's typically coupled with recommendations that start at $2k.

It's pretty great, and crazy affordable for what you get.

At around $300, for vocals and acoustic guitar, I would look into an Aston Origin, maybe. For the stereo amp, your SM57 should be good enough (you could get a Sennheiser e609, but that won't help your vocals or guitar).

C414-BULS is S tier end game mic and it's not crazy money. That with a 73 clone or a 512c will sound pro with literally no work at all. Thing that is nice is that it is a transformer mic and it's been on a ton of records. So people just automatically hear that sonic signature and go "that's what an X sounds like." Where as a lot of mics if they aren't specialized in their use (e.g. an SM57 on a guitar cabinet), they tend to have some sort of sound you need to dial out. A 610 solo would work too if you want to warm it up and make it sound more vintage, but I sort of feel like you should have a 73 or Api mic pre to start and move from there.

Clone mics aren't garbage, but lets be real here... when you hear a real deal C414-BULS in a recording through a good mic pre you are going to breath a sigh of relief. The first recording I ever put through one I was like "fucking finally." Just such an uphill battle to use off the beaten path mics until you're really dialed in. It is nice to start from something so framiliar and then leave room for not being a pro.

I mean unless your aesthetic is post-rock, then literally record with a cambells can with a line pulled taught run into your mic-in line on a powerbook mac running OS9.2.2.

Check out the Audio Technica stuff. Even their budget mics are decent and fairly versatile. If you can afford to get a 4040, do it. If that's out of reach, go for a 2035. Or if money's extra tight, even the AT2020 will do the job.

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I wouldnt really go for either in this day and age.

What are you trying to record?
If its a general vocal mic for a poor space the sE v7 is about the cheapest decent option, and has a very tight pattern for background noise rejection.

What are you recording?

Don’t buy a behringer mic for the love of god. It won’t change what’s being picked up and idk what the sound is but it can’t be good. $25 for garbage is more expensive than $75 for a low end condenser. The 2020 is a fine intro mic.