From the worst microphones to the best ones, a comparison of each of the microphones that I own. It's funny, now that I have added the recordings and listened to them all side by side. You can really tell how much each different mic colors the sound. If you get to know your mics this way, you will make a better choice when it comes to pointing the proper mic at the snare drum, kick drum, acoustic guitar, and clean vs. distorted electric guitar amp.
For these recordings, I ran each of the mics, one at a time, through the Art Tube MP preamp, straight into the Line In jack on the back of the PC. The Input and Output levels on the preamp were where I left them last time I recorded vocals. I had to turn the Input level down to almost half of the original level for the Nady CM90. That was a surprise, I didn't know it was such a high output mic. I didn't do any noise reduction, either, so you can hear the difference in the color and level of the background noise for each mic.
The Chad played the snare tracks for me, while eating Frito's, which taste like dog feet smell.
Genius gaming headset - $15 - Frequency Range: ???
Vocal:
Snare:
This only made it into the list because the last few songs I have recorded, I have first put down a practice run using this gaming headset. Obviously, in the samples, you can hear that it wasn't meant for anything other than internet communication, but it comes out sounding OK in a mix.
Nady - Starpower SP-1 - $12 - Frequency Range: 80Hz-12KHz
Vocal:
Snare:
This mic was included in a package that I bought from Musicians Friend, a boom stand, XLR cable, and microphone for $20. I own two of them. Generally, this mic sells for around $14 and is usually part of a buy one get one free sale. It sounds pretty boxy, but I have used it to record drums from time to time, in an oak plank shed with a low, corrugated tin roof. It helps to filter out some high frequencies when recording drums in there.
Realistic - Highball 33-984C - $36 - Frequency Range: 70Hz-13KHz
Vocal:
Snare:
I have no idea how or where I came across this mic. It is really low output. Definitely intended for public address, more than singing or recording. The pricing is approximate, as Radio Shack doesn't offer this model anymore. It is the price of a comparable Radio Shack branded microphone that comes with a stand and XLR cable. The frequency range was pulled from the manual, which is still available on the Radio Shack web site.
AKG - D4400 - $49 - Frequency Range: 80Hz-20KHz
Vocal:
Snare:
I have just purchased two of these mics, hoping to replace the CM90 overheads in my drum recording setup. I purchased them from Musicians Friend for $49 each, Scratch & Dent pricing. I chose them because, for the money, they had the widest frequency range listed. It turns out to be narrower than listed on the site. I have informed them of the error. The site lists 40Hz - 20KHz, which is exceptional, but the package actually reads 80Hz - 20KHz, which is more like the rest of the vocal mics in the range. Wow. It turns out this is the worst sounding mic I own... and I have two of them. Now that I listen to this recording, it just might be perfect for catching cymbals in the overheads in the shed.
Nady - CM90 condensor - $51 - Frequency Range: 40Hz-16KHz
Vocal:
Snare:
I have two of these. They are my dedicated overhead drum mics. They have a very distinct sound. The recordings sound like the mics have a very small diaphragm sitting down in a long metal tube, which they do and they are. The mics have served their purpose well, but they are unfortunately limited to being used in a mix of other mics, because they do color the sound so badly.
EV - Cobalt Co7 - $79 - Frequency Range: 50HZ-18KHz
Vocal:
Snare:
I bought this mic a few years ago, at Mars Music, while living in Indianapolis. It looks good and feels nice, but was not a very good investment. Mars had an area to put on headphones and try out different mics. This was definitely the best sounding in my price range, but found that all of the tracks I recorded with it were pretty muddy.
Shure - Unidyne III 545SD - $99 - Frequency Range: 50Hz-15KHz
Vocal:
Snare:
This is an old mic that, unfortunately, I stole from someone. A nice guy, too. I borrowed it to use one weekend, then years went by and I realized I still had it. I use it every time I record drums.
Oktava - MK319 condensor - $300 - Frequency Range: 20Hz-18KHz
Vocal:
Snare:
This is my baby. I have yet to use a mic I love more. Almost all of my vocal and hand-percussion tracks have been recorded with this in the last seven years. All of the Sour Grapes guitar tracks were recorded with this as well. I got it for a steal on eBay, a music store going out of business. $92 with case.
And for posterity's sake, here is all of the my vocal tracks together.
Vocals:
And here are all of The Chad's snare tracks together...
Snare:
And here is all of the above, 40 tracks, together.
All together:
We are a consecutive couple of fellows.