Mic suggestions

[f.c.geil]

I really don't understand your rationale. First, have you not noticed the economy-wide inflation over the last 20 or 30 years? Everything costs more now. Second, what do you mean ROI? It's not like they paid a whole bunch of money up front and now it doesn't cost anything to produce microphones. Their costs for labor, materials, and overhead have gone up just like everyone else's.

I suspect he's trying to say that once initial R&D is covered, then the price should go down. Problem with that theory is twofold: first, the price has gone down. When the SM57-8s were introduced, they were $150, and (except for occasional sales) have never been less expensive than they are today, which means that the price has gone down; second, once you adjust for the inflation you mention, the SM57-8s have dropped in price by approximately 80%. Seems to me that Shure has, indeed, done what he's complaining about them not doing.

I don't really care what brand of mics you end up with, but do you want to trust your sound to cheap mics? If price is your only driving factor, then I'd recommend the Invalid Link Removed. Sounds like it will meet your needs.

"The all-purpose Nady StarPower 1 Microphone makes a great stage and recording mic. The StarPower 1 delivers clear, transparent sound across the audio spectrum. The StarPower mic's rugged construction and internal shockmounting yield reliability and low handling noise. The Nady microphone's powerful neodymium element cuts through with minimum distortion, even at high sound pressure-levels. If you're looking for real value in a microphone, the Nady StarPower 1 brings a stage-load of it."

And all that with a list price of $12.99, too!

 

[Munjibunga]

And all that with a list price of $12.99, too!

List is $19.99. MAP is $12.99. You save $7.

 

[f.c.geil]

Oops! I stand corrected.