Electro-Voice - Co9

Edit: Sorry for the long post, I kind of brain dumped a bit and went off tangent - sort of. Simple answer? If possible, record in your closet. It’s full of clothes, has more isolation from the outside world, and should be a better recording environment. People often underestimate how much this can quiet a space. We had a concrete room under the stage at a theatre that was the only place available to do some recordings we needed for ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and it reverted like a gymnasium. It was a nightmare. I told them to roll in racks of costumes - which we put on all the walls, and then we recorded and the space was quite dead and we got the recordings we needed (it’s for the radio segment that ‘plays’ on the radio during the show). As for microphones, there are ways to get better isolation. You can try using a microphone with better off-axis rejection. This has to do with the pickup pattern of the microphone. But if the microphone ‘hears’ it, then it will be recorded. There are of course tricks to increase the signal to noise ratio by playing with gain structure, but you may want to look at other microphone options like hypercardiod or supercardiod pickup patterns coupled with a microphone isolation shield to assist with 180* pickup rejection. These pickup patterns have a narrowed pickup pattern to help with off axis rejection, but often have a very narrow pickup pattern 180* which you can isolate with the shield. This would be the Shure Beta57/Beta58/Super55, or similar. You’ll want to look at the pickup patterns, off axis rejection, and frequency response of the microphones with what you intend to record. For example, using an SM57 to record piano results in the top 3 octaves being artificially boosted because of the frequency response. It’s better to use a microphone with a more ‘flat’ response like the M-Audio Sputnik (which is what was used to record piano on one of Madonna’s albums actually). But that’s also a $1000 microphone and overkill. The SM57 works well for vocals, it’s what the president uses. It’s also a great instrument microphone for ‘most’ instruments but has a ‘boost’ in pickup in higher frequencies - which sometimes you want, and sometimes you don’t. And don’t forget about used equipment. Dynamic microphone are resilient and can take a ton of (ab)use. Buying used can allow you to open up your microphone cabinet to other microphones at a much lower price point than new. I’d pull the covers and clean them up before use, likely even replacing the foam, but there are lots of other options, like the EV Co9 which I like a lot for vocals because of the bass roll off and the high end is less ‘peaky’ than the Shure. At one point in time, these were actually available for $29 during a clearance event many years ago (though its quality is MUCH higher than that would suggest) and are mainly available used now for about $25-$75 each. No, it’s not likely going to be on a band’s rider, but it’s about getting the sound you want at a price point you can afford. Not everyone can afford to have a Neumann U47 they can pull out and record with (it would be nice, but that 5 figure price tag for used is WAY too much for my budget not to mention overkill for my occasional recording…). My mentioning the EV microphone is about finding equipment that will work really well for you without breaking the bank. Side note: You mentioned recording guitar but you were specific with the type of guitar. Most electric and acoustic/electric would use a Hi-Z input into the board or a DI box for recording. If you’re recording acoustic guitars then the SM57 would be a good choice, but you might want to look into an acoustic sound hole pickup as an option depending on the specifics of your recording. But regardless of the microphone you get, I’d start with an inexpensive microphone isolation shield and move your recording area to the closet for starters. BTW, leave the clothes in the closet - that’s part of creating the good recording space. And more clothes in that space is better. ;)

There are a ton of excellent microphones in that price range that meets your requirements. Some people love the SM57/58, others hate them, but they meet your requirements. Other microphones from EV, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, and many other brands will fit the bill as well. And don’t overlook used equipment either if it meets your needs and works properly. Dynamic microphones tend to be quite resilient so used may be an option if it has the right sound for you. For example, I picked up some EV CO9 microphones a while back and I like them a lot. SM57 is what the president has used since Kennedy (IIRC). SM58 is a touring superstar and used by a TON of bands on the road and even in the studio by some. Other like AT, or Sennheiser microphones. For example, the Sennheiser e835 is popular as well. But they’ll vary in frequency response and the resulting sound you get out of them…

Depends what you mean by ‘cheap’ because a $10,000 Neumann U47 tube microphone is ‘cheap’. Also depends on what you’re using it for as to if it’s a good fit. But extremely ‘budget’ conscious sub-$100 ‘new’ microphones… The Shure PG58 isn’t ‘bad’, but can have some handling noise. Not my favorite microphone but it works and has a metal body. The Fender P51 microphone isn’t bad. Metal body, but only comes with a switch on it. These were bundled with Fender PA systems years ago, and I used them for years at karaoke without any issues. Sound is similar to an SM58. The EV CO9 I picked up for $19 each and that microphone is worth a TON more. Wish I had picked up a few more when they were getting rid of them at Guitar Center years ago. As you approach the $100-$150 price range it opens up with the SM57 and SM58 falling into that range. The SM57 is what’s been used by every president since LBJ (Lyndon Johnson). The SM58 is routinely spec’d for touring because it’s darn near indestructible and the sound is consistent. I recently picked up a few microphones from Deity in this price range, but they’re lavalier microphones which are also waterproof (outdoor recording). But there are a LOT of great microphones at a wide variety of price points that fit a wide variety of different uses…

Two of the microphones I mentioned earlier are in contention. The P51 is inexpensive, about $49 IIRC and we’re bundled with the Fender PA systems. Nice vocal microphone - especially for the price. And the EV Cobalt Co9 was sold at Guitar Center (and my go to dealer for EV - NLFX Pro) for $19 or $29 (at different times) and I picked up a few. I really like the tone of those… and IIRC they were originally priced a lot higher. Used they now sell for about $50 or so IIRC. I’m using Deity w.pad pro and a few others from them for recording exhaust noise for car video shoots. Works surprisingly well for a lav and is waterproof which is handy - no rushing to pull it if it rains. It picks up well across the spectrum which is nice since I’m not working in typical vocal ranges in that application. For accuracy, the M-Audio Sputnik surprised me a LOT. That microphone response is FLAT AS A BOARD. 20Hz-20KHz +/- 1dB flat. Some may say it’s too flat. But that makes it a very accurate representation of the room acoustics and what you’re recording. A little pricey and out of production now, but I like them a lot but don’t get to use them very often. That more what you’re looking for. :) :D