Oktava - MK-319

The OP has already stated he can't tell the difference between an SM57 and a U87 after processing. As long as both vocals have been recorded well and gain staged properly, neither can I - assuming both mics have also been processed optimally after recording. There is an advantage to this process. Trying various mics, angles etc takes time. It is frustrating for the talent (and the engineer) in terms of performance motivation and creativity. It also eats up valuable client studio time. Yes I am limiting myself, but in a positive way. We all know that limiting your choices forces a different work ethic: to become acquainted with what you have got intimately and to use it quickly and efficiently. Working this way results in a more positive frame of mind for me; I can focus on the the performance itself from the start without having my head full of technicalities that ultimately hamper the process. I get better results this way. For anyone who is vaguely interested my one-and-only vocal mic is an Oktava MK 319.

I like the oktava mk319, you can find them used for $200-$300 each, mod them yourself quite easily and have a fantastic set of stereo mics.

Choosing a mic is like choosing a wine. There is a price range and that drives what you would look for in a microphone. I'd say used is best use of funds. The $200-500 range on reverb has a lot of interesting choices. $500 - ADK Hamburg (pair - solid state 67 clone ) or pair Singular Audio 48 (u47 fet clone) or Neuman TLM102. sE z330a $400 - Avatone CV12, Warm Audio WA-87, Audio Techinca AT4050 and Weird Audio Little Red ( I own 2 of these myself - nice mic ) Lauten Audio LA-320 $200 - Oktava MK-319, Cad Equitek E100 ( look for American on 90s ) or CAD Conneaut Audio Device Equitek II (Early 90s) You can also look for 'modded mics' in this price range. Those should be upgraded mics with new components. Michael Joly used to do this about 10 years ago, but he stopped modding mics. There are other mic modders out there. Not a bad way to go take a $100 MXL and mod it.

Okrava Mk 319 large diaphragm condenser through a 2nd gen Scarlett 2i2 into Pro Tools First - the low cut filter depending on placement. Works well for recording when pointed at the soundboard below the bridge, also as a single mic for old school vocal & guitar one take stuff.

I really like the Oktava mics. But at least here in Germany a used MKH 8020, 8050 or 8060 should be within the budget. Same goes a MKH 416…

Give Deity’s mic’s a go for a budget mic. It’s not a Sennheiser, DPA or a Schoeps but it also won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Plus it’s cheap enough that you can get a mic per person, I’d check out the smic 3s. I’ve got an Oktava and without mods it comes out pretty flat and doesn’t have a very good reach. There’s also the at4053b which could be in your budget and may be more available.

You feel you're missing "detail "? A dynamic mic captures less detail than a condenser mic. However, the difference between a low-end and high-end dynamic mic isn't as pronounced as the difference between a low-end and high-end condenser mic. Cheap condenser mics can be noisy or lack mojo, and different mics are better suited for different sources, e.g., a ribbon mic on an amplifier cab. And if your post-production treatment is severe, the mic won't make as much difference as you're mangling the sound. That all said, a really nice mic makes a big difference to me. The difference between an Oktava and Beyer MC930 is stunning, and the MC930 is not an extraordinarily expensive mic. I like expensive mics, as they give me a great capture of the source, and if it doesn't sound good, I know it's not the mic.