First Microphone

[Rockman]

I'm looking for a good mulitpurpose mike, not only for me miking my bass (mostly for recording practices), but also other getting a recording of a group setting, and hopefully in the future performances.

[Rockman]

Oh I meant to add, not really looking for something above 200 dollars.

[robgrow]

I've used a lot of different mics and still really like the Shure SM57. It's about as universal as you can get for general recording and sound reinforcement use. Sells for about $100 USD.

[wildhorse]

Originally Posted by robgrow

I've used a lot of different mics and still really like the Shure SM57. It's about as universal as you can get for general recording and sound reinforcement use. Sells for about $100 USD.

+1 Can't go wrong.

[darjama]

The sm57 is a fine mic, but it wouldn't be my first choice on upright or for a room mic of an ensemble. If you can handle something that has phantom power, check out the Audio Technica AT2050, the Sterling ST79, or the CAD M179.

[longfinger]

Originally Posted by Rockman

I'm looking for a good mulitpurpose mike, not only for me miking my bass (mostly for recording practices), but also other getting a recording of a group setting, and hopefully in the future performances.

Are you looking for one mic, or two mics? To record a group, two mics are better than one. What are you plugging these mics into, a mixer, a special computer soundcard, something else? How will you use these recordings? How portable do you want a this setup to be, briefcase size, or pocket size? (portable as in mics, interface and recorder all together)

To record your practices and get recordings of group settings, that you can also easily share with group members, those new little pocket recorders with built in stereo or or even two stereo pairs, are wonders. Many can also work as a soundcard w/ mic when hooked up to a computer. Zoom, Edirol, Roland, Sony and others make them. On the units themselves, they can record uncompressed or as mp3 of selectable quality. Those files can be emailed and shared very easily. Very handy for what you wrote you wanted to do.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by longfinger

To record your practices and get recordings of group settings, that you can also easily share with group members, those new little pocket recorders with built in stereo or or even two stereo pairs, are wonders. Many can also work as a soundcard w/ mic when hooked up to a computer. Zoom, Edirol, Roland, Sony and others make them. On the units themselves, they can record uncompressed or as mp3 of selectable quality. Those files can be emailed and shared very easily. Very handy for what you wrote you wanted to do.

Agreed 100%. The Edirol R-09 is an absolute wonder for what the OP is describing, and the Zoom units aren't far behind, although the preamps aren't quite as nice or as quiet. I'd start with one of these with the understanding that for home recording use, you can always "move up" by buying a couple of nice mics and a low cost preamp to run them through into the line in of one of the small recorders mentioned above.

By way of example, the "Nachbar" recordings on my site were recorded live into an R-09 set on a music stand in front of the band, and the sound is pretty darn good. At home, the "Sparrow" recordings were also made with the R-09, but using two M-Audio "Luna" mics through an inexpensive DMP-3 preamp, then run into the line in. To me, both sound good, but the nicer mics add a professional sounding touch to the end result. In any case, these little units are a great way to get started, and you can always upgrade the front end from there.

[Touch]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

the Zoom units aren't far behind

+1 on the little Zoom recorders.

I was just playing at a festival with some folks backstage (guitars, mandos, fiddles and bass) and someone had one of these little zoom recorders.

I was pleasantly surprised with how good the sound was after playback.