I need a mic for vocals!

What about a used Sure Sm58? They've been industry standards for years now.

 

Sure SM58

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Shure-SM58-Microphone?sku=270101


ahhhhhhhh ya beat me by a minute...but I got a link.

 

save a little cash and get a sure beta 87...definitely worth the money...

 

What's the difference between a Shure 57 and a Shure 58?

 

The 57 is an instrument mic , which has a small square diaphram cover, not good for vocals close to your mouth.Internals are identical.
The 58 has a round cover and is designed for vocal use, but no you cant turn a 57 into a 58 by changing the cover.
Both are dynamic (they dont need phantom power)

 

SM57 Great all round mic. If you plan to record instruments too, I would get this one.Works great on vocals.

Sm58 tailored more for vocals, less proximity effect I think. the SM57 has always been a go to mic for just about anything.

Beat me to it.

 

SHURE SM58 if you have a normal voice. SHURE SM57 if your voice is either really loud or really trebly.

 

...or a windscreen on your '58. I have a tinny voice, unless EQ'd, or sing into my covered '58.

Shure also makes a budget version of the 58 (or at least they used to) called the BG 3.0. It's a 58 clone with a mute switch, and cost me about $50 new a decade ago.

 

another one here for the SM58. Rock solid, sounds good, and not too expensive.

 

Sennheiser 835

 

The SM58 is a great vocal mic, in your price range. I use a Beta 87A live and in the studio. You can find them for around $150.00 used, sometimes.

 

For a first mic, get the SM58. For home recording, you can use it on anything with at least o.k. results, it's almost indestructible, and you'll ALWAYS find something to use it on even if, later on, you go to a different vocal mic.

This also applies to the SM57, except it's possible, if someone's careless, to knock the top off the 57. It has a slightly flatter frequency response so, as someone said, if your voice is a bit peaky, it may be a better choice but there's honestly not much in it. Any differences are easily compensated for with mild eq'ing.

 

You didn't mention what you record through.
I agree the SM58 is a good choice, but it's quite dull and muddy compared to condenser mics. (like all dynamic mics).
( Can be fixed with EQ: less low more high.. )

So if you can power a condenser mic then i would go for one.
But for a condenser you need 48V Phantom Power.

The SM58 is good if you record two things at the same time, cos it doesn't pick up much else than what's really near it. Condensers do this.

Good cheap condensers:
Studio Projects, AKG, AudioTechnica. Some people like the Rode NT1 too. I wouldn't get a Behringer..

 

Again, a 57 or a 58 is a great standard staple mic.

Our singer LOVES to sing with an Audio Technica AT-2020 condenser. We've been using it to record vocals for a couple years now and he really sounds good with it. It does need phantom, but can be had for under 100 bucks.