Tomorrow I am going shopping with a budget of about $200 for two mics.
I want the mics to serve the purpose of mic'ing a bass drum and the other mic working as an overhead.
I also want to be able to record vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitar, bass and whatever random application that might pop up.
I realize perfectly covering these areas within this price range and with just two mics is impossible but I would like to hear what you guys think would be the best possible combination.

The idea of buy used somehow only just now popped into my head.


Would that be worth it?
Maybe even a third mic option with all the savings..?

You can get some good shit used if you are in the right place at the right time when someone decides to dump it.

Do you have any mics at all right now? Like a SM57 or 58?

I have a 58 at my disposal, but it's not mine.
So a 58 or 57 would be possibly taking up one of my purchase slots.

Anyhow, i would suggest getting one of those MXL twofor deals. Condenser mics work really well for multiple purposes. You will need phantom powered preamps for them though.

You could get a pair of 603s for just over a hundred bucks. Or you could get the 990/991 pair for a little under a hundred. I like the 990, but i would take the 603 over the 991. Or you could get a pair of the V67s for just under a couple hundred. Those are pretty nice mics actually.

At the moment i am borrowing a pair of 990s from tor and they are really solid mics for low budget drums stuff. They also work nicely on acoustic and depending on what you do with them, can be nice on vocals too.

Anyhow, a pair of cheapo condensers and a single dynamic like a SM57/SM58, and you could do an awful lot with decent results.

I am real punk about this stuff though, easy to please. The other recordy types on here will probably have some better suggestions. I have liked all of the MXLs that i have met so far though. Well maybe not Devin's 991, but that shit was busted up pretty good anyhow.

For the SM57/58, definitely see if you can pick one up used. They often get dumped proper cheap. BUT. Read up on how to spot counterfeit ones. They are out there, they are cheap, and they are not too hard to spot.

So, what would I likely use to mic drums were I to have 2 603s and a 57 considering I only have 2 inputs on my Line 6 Toneport?
I plan on upgrading my interface in the future but am willing to make due for awhile.
It'll be good to learn the basics of recording first before immersing myself into temper tantrum inducing shit.

Also, the Line 6 has phantom power.

AH. With only two inputs, i would probably put one 603 on the kick, and one centered overhead, and that would be that.

Or, set them up as an XY stereo pair off to the front side of the kit.

Or, do the simple two mic version of recorderman.

I might even try Glyn Johns (minus the kick) with them, but with just two mics, i think you would get better kick coverage with the recorderman.

With three mic inputs, i would definitely just go Glyn Johns and be done. Use the 603s as the "overheads" and stick the SM57 in the kick. SM57 doesn't make the greatest kick mic ever, but it can work.

Could you explain to me the recorderman and Glyn Johns technique?

Yo. I was going to type some shizz up, but then i just found this video, and it covers most of the bases:



He does XY, Recorderman, and Glyn Johns as well as some other biz.

For more detailed recorderman setup, check this one(what i was actually looking for when i found the one above):

Yargh, this is quite interesting to watch.
Definitely gives me some ideas.

I got two sm57s for 80 bux , for the pair. Be on the look out for good deals like that.

That's a good deal Miek. I got the 990/991 set for ridiculous cheaps. Like 59.99 one of their blowouts. It's out for 79.99 right now
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=273166
Yeah for the money they are very good.

The MXLs are good on the cheap. I like the 67s a fair bit. A Shure SM57 or 58, while not my favorite for... anything, actually, will not do you wrong and it is a sound you should know and learn to use. While it's not my favorite on anything, I wouldn't tell it to fuck off on anything, either.

Yes, that is a great deal. Around Christmas a chinese guy tried to sell me fakes at twice that.



Cam, choose wisely and squease the most you can out of your 200$. Chris' recommendations sound good. A condenser overhead, something for your kick drum and your 58 for the snare should do you well.

I've decided I'm just gonna get the 990/991 deal and use the 990 for the kick and 991 for the overhead.
I'm also gonna order a 58 so I have that as an option whenever.
Mic boom stand too.

With the kick mic and single overhead mic does one have to worry about phase issues at all?

Any time you use more than one mic in more than one location, you have to worry about phase issues. It is pretty easy to take care of with just two mics though. And with one in the kick and one overhead, you won't generally have too many problems. Worst case, depending on where the mics are, sometimes you might have to flip the phase button(in the DAW) on the kick. Usually it won't come up as an issue though with a super simple two mic setup.

I can sell you a 990 (no shockmount though) on the cheap if you want one.

I have a 991 but it is fucked as chris said. I also have a Blue Ball condenser that IIRC chris liked on his kick.

I can sell you those for way cheaper than $200.

That's more or less what I figured.
Alright, cool.
I like the concept of simplicity for the time being.

Dev, get on facebook.
I'm curious about your condensers.


What do you guys think of getting a harmonica mic with a 1/4" just for the fuck of it?
$50..