I Don't know about that. I upgraded in my backyard studio from an SM57 dynamic to an AT4040 which at the time cost $1300.
It truly is an incredible mic, but whereas before I got very little reflective room sound and lots of off axis rejection, suddenly I could pretty much hear the sparrows farting in the neighbor's yard.
Recording is a game were you're gonna wanna try a lot of things, and if you're good at it your process and gear will be constantly changing over the years. There is no single best mic.
I'd recommend you get them both and try them out. You don't have to buy the 3 of them right now, just be mindful that you will always be changing mics and trying new ones out, so you might end up getting multiple mics in your whole career.
My advise is to start with a 57, then get a nice low cost condenser like the AT4040 (not the AT2040, because in my opinion both the 2020 and 2040 sound pretty bad) and then go off from there.
It all depends on which $100 mic you are comparing to which $500 mic. Personally, I like the at4040 very much. That said, I use mine for recording instruments. I prefer the sound of the at4033 for vocals. It just gives them something a little extra.
Ill cast my vote for 2 mics in the Audio Technica line. The AT4040 for recording instruments. I love this mic because it hears like I do. When the guitar amp I'm recording sounds good, when I put an AT4040 in front of it, I get what I heard in the room. For vocals, I prefer the AT 4033. It does something in the mids that just makes the vocals jump from the speakers. I love both those mics
That said, the standard mic for rap is the Sony C800. It's bloody crazy expensive with its cooler and all. Warm Audio makes a version of that mic that is much mire reasonably priced that I suspect you would like a great deal.
Having said that, these are all mic pipe dreams. The absolute best thing you can do is to beg barrow or rent any mic you are thinking of before you buy it. Working with the mic will tell you what you need to know and eliminate the guess work.
Aiku
