Shure - SM57-LC

A cheap interface (say a Scarlett 2i2) and a cheap mic (sm58 or sm57) will take you a long way. You can find both of those things used for very low prices.

sm57, or any other dynamic mic from a reputable *audio* brand (not RGB gaming brands) and an audio interface will sound great.

I’ve got an Audio Technica AT-2020 that I still use today, just felt no need to change it. It was under £100 if I recall, can’t remember the exact amount though. I also own a Shure SM57 for live stuff, I play midwest emo influenced music with tapping on the guitar while singing, and find the lack of grille allows me to see more of my fretboard when I’m performing these sections. It’s basically an SM58 but without a grille. But you can buy an external pop shield for recording situations, and also use the mic for instruments so it’s more versatile.

My current setup: 1. PreSonus Audiobox GO ($75) 2. Shure 57 ($99) 3. Cables/stands (~$50) 4. Reaper ($0; I promise, one day I'll buy it) ...and that's it. If I want to record vocals, I wrap a piece of foam over the 57. You can also find 57/58s or similar used for quite cheap. It is 100% worth it for getting decent-sounding recordings at home. As others have said, just don't let the GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) creep in once you have a working setup. Nothing wrong with recording on your phone in the meantime. People used to (and maybe still do) record entire albums on cassette players.

Shure sm57 is the way to go.

not a huge fan of the at2020 or 2035 for much. Theyre a bit harsh, and id take an sm57 or 58 any day over em

Well, FWIW I own an SM57, DR-40x, and two Neumann KM-184s, and I took apart my DR-40x to see how it works. And I have to say, it actually tastes pretty good. The memory card is a nice garnish, plus you can use the battery acid to make a good sauce if you heat it up with a little maple syrup. The SM57 was OK but it was a little too crunchy and bitter for my taste. I only ate one of my KM184s, it was so delicious that I'm saving the second one for a special occasion!

$100 interface and an SM57 and call it a day.

Dynamic mic with cardioid or hyper cardioid pattern. I use a Shure sm-57 with speakers, works great. The closer you can get it to you, the better.

57 is fine for loud instruments in live performances. But if you really want to hear what you sound like or want to record at home in general, you need a condenser microphone. They work more like human ears. You also need an audio interface to power it if you don’t have one already. Focusrite Solo interface goes for about $90 and then pick a $60 large diaphragm condenser microphone that does best in reviews and comparisons.

Good recommendations, except for the microphone. 57 works best with loud instruments, 58 is a live vocal mic. The AT2020 has a very weak bottom end, but that’s usually the way you’ll mix pop/rock/metal vocals anyway. Still, I’d probably go for something more neutral and learn the common mixing habits. Behringer and some other brands make large diaphragm condenser mics that really are pretty ok, as low as $50. Scarlett Solo is a solid choice.

The SM57 is a workhorse, but it's not great for nuance, it's more the indestructible spare that every producer has for a rainy day.

On the go I use the DJI Mics, they're convenient and sound ok. At the desk, depends how lazy I am...sometimes I just grab the DJI ones, sometimes I use my Yamaha audio interface and will plug in one of my live sound mics - I have SM58's, Beta58's, Beta57's, SM57's, Beta87's, SEv7's, SEv3's, Audix OM11, and obviously a bunch of instrument mics that don't make sense for vocals :) Personally I like the sound of my voice on the Beta87.

Haha, quite a lot I bet! Can’t go wrong the classic 57. Still so cheap, yet rock solid durability and sound!

“Good” preamp is subjective and not necessary. The preamp on any reputable brand interface will be more than good enough. “Good” microphone is also subjective and in all reality not a real thing. Microphones are tools, some situations require different tools. A simple $109 Shure SM57 can work well enough to create an entire record with. The skill of the person using the tools and the performance they are capturing matter more than any preamp or mic you can buy. A $5000 mic in the hands of someone who has no idea what they are doing will not sound a stood as a $50 in the hands of someone who does.

A pair of 57s will work great, then you also have a pair of 57s for other things.

Vintage 87s vary greatly from mic to mic, something to keep in mind. Some sound great, some can sound awful. For seasoned engineers, it’s a predictable go-to. Like a 57. There are certainly better mics, but when you’re in the heat of battle, and decisions need to get made, it’s one of the first grabs because I know exactly what it’s capable of.

Someone recommended an SM57, a great dynamic mic that is tough as nails and is often used to amplify instruments during live performance, but if you are wanting to record an acoustic piano at home or in a studio, I would prefer to use a pair of condenser mics. They are more sensitive and are better at capturing the full range and nuanced sounds of the instrument. I would avoid using them for live performance l, say with a jazz combo because their sensitivity could result in more bleed from other instruments. They are usually more expensive, but with mics, you usually really do get what you paid for.

SHURE SM57 most versatile mic ever made

If I only bought one mic it would be an SM57. You can add a $1 external windscreen for vocals plus you can use it on (almost) any instrument. I own both and totally use the 58 for vocals but if there’s a choice for one mic, I’d suggest the 57.

[The "go to"](https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM57-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B0000AQRST?th=1) for any Sound Engineer. Dont forget to pic up a good boom stand.

The truth is built in mics on phones these days are often very good. The ones on iPhones and higher end android phones can sound very crisp and I know multiple people have got away with using phone mic recordings on commercial records. Built in mics on cheap headphones won’t be as good as a decent phone mic. (Just make sure you record in WAV and turn off any noise cancelling features) I would highly recommend a Shure 57 as a first mic And just holding it back from your face a foot or so for recording vocals rather than singing right into it. They are built like tanks, industry standard, usable on most sources, and will last you for yeaaaars…. most cheap condenser mics (anything less than a few hundred bucks) will sound really fizzy at times and are likely to break.

Neumann U versions AKG 414 Sennheiser 441 Electro voice RE 20 Shure 57 and 58 versions Beyer Ribbon mic. I'm from the 1980s era so that's why I have no modern mics in my list. I edited out some mics because I realized we were only talking vocal mics. There were some days in my 3000 plus sessions where I had time to set up all these mics for a vocalist and then let them run down some of the song in each one. The Neumann i had was a U87. All late 1970s era mics. Within just a few minutes i knew what mic fit their vocal pre EQ. Miss those days..

Good mics are good no matter the age, people still recommend and use the sm58/57 even though they are super old at this point because they're very solid mics

I'd beg to differ, many many many great albums have been recorded with them

They work for drums and other instruments too, quite versatile. And if so many people say they're good for vocals, then obviously they are and you're the exception not the rule

Of course, with any mic it all depends on the exact sound you want. Same with vocals, each mic sounds different for each person. The sm57 is often put in many lists for great beginner mics and is generally described as being "good at everything, but not _great_ at everything". It's a good budget mic that's very versatile. You will get a better sound on an $8,000 neumann but not everyone needs that for every use case

Hard to over-rate the 57/58 tbh. Obviously it has its place, but it’s a pretty broad place.