Shure SM57
- Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
- Common uses: Snare, Toms, Guitar Amps
- Frequency Response: 40Hz - 15kHz
- ‘Midrange honk’
- Price: £83
Shure SM58
- Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
- Commonly used for live vocals
- Frequency response: 50Hz - 15kHz
- Price: £83
Differences from SM57:
- The ball grille contains a foam blast filter
- The ball grille reduces the bass boost due to proximity effect, simply because it prevents the mic’s capsule from being positioned so close to a sound source.
- The dynamic cartridge has a different resonator disk than is found on the SM57 (although the cartridges are internally identical).
Electro-Voice RE20
- Dynamic Cardioid Microphone
- Bass, voice (radio)
- Frequency response: 45Hz - 18kHz
- Price: £340
Beyerdynamic M 88 TG
- Hypercardioid Dynamic Directional Microphone
- Price: £225
- Kick drum (external pop shield recommended), bass amp, vocals
- Frequency response: 30Hz - 20kHz
AKG D112
- Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
- ‘The Egg’
- Kick drum, bass amp
- Handles up to 160 dB SPL with no audible distortion
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 17kHz
- Price: £118
Sennheiser MD 421
- Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
- Toms, Snare
- Five position bass roll-off switch: compensates for proximity effect
- Frequency response: 30Hz - 17kHz
- Price: £310
Shure SM7B
‘The Shure SM7B is an industry standard dynamic microphone. It has been the flagship of Shure’s dynamic mic product line for years, and has a reputation for being a go-to studio mic for numerous sources, including vocals.’
- Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
- Vocals, Bass amp, Radio
- Frequency response: 50Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £290
Neumann U 87 Ai
‘The readers of SOUND ON SOUND magazine have voted: U 87 Ai - the BEST MICROPHONE, announced during the Winter NAMM show 2012 in Anaheim, California.’
- Tripolar, Large-diaphragm, FET Condenser Microphone
- Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8
- Vocals, spot mic for any instrument
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £2,150
Earthworks Audio QTC40 (matched pair)
‘The QTC40 is a “High Definition” omnidirectional condenser, initially released as the QTC1 in 1998. It is the most popular of Earthworks’ QTC series.’
- Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone
- Room mics, Ambience, orchestras, choirs
- Frequency response: 4Hz - 40kHz
- Price: £1,500
Neumann M 149
T’he M 149 is one of Neumann’s flagship tube condenser microphones, with a large-diaphragm capsule, 9-way pattern-control switch, and very low self-noise.’
- Dual diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone
- Tube microcphone, K49 capsule
- Vocals, horns, strings, wind instruments, piano
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £3,100
RØDE NT1
- Cardioid condenser microphone
- Vocals, guitar, drum overhead, piano etc
- Max SPL: 132dB
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £190
AKG C 12 VR
‘The AKG C 12 Condenser Microphone is considered one of the first famous tube microphones in the history of recording. This collector’s item is still very much sought after and engineers all over the world love it for its fantastic, unique sound. The C 12 VR started a remarkable renaissance of the original’
- Multi-pattern Tube Condenser Microphone
- Vocals, solo instruments
- Frequency response: 30Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £3,500
Coles Electracoustics 4038
The 4038 is a classic Studio Ribbon Microphone designed by the BBC and originally manufactured by STC. Coles, the outsourced manufacturer, bought the rights to the STC microphone line in 1974.
- Bidirectional ribbon microphone
- Frequency response: 30Hz - 15kHz
- Max SPL: 125dB
- Price: £730
DPA 4006A
Neumann KM 184
‘The Neumann KM184 is extremely quiet (16dB A-weighted self-noise), making it excellent for capturing the subtle nuances of acoustic guitar and orchestral performances’
- Cardioid Pencil Condenser Microphone
- Max SPL: 38dB
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £480
Beyerdynamic M 160
‘The M160 is an unusual ribbon microphone, in that it has a hypercardioid pickup pattern.’
‘It is easy to hear why the Beyers are so well-known for drums. The lovely smooth lift at around 4kHz has the effect of making snare drums jump out of the wider mix and really punch you in the face…’
‘The M 160 is a dynamic microphone that, unlike other ribbon mics, has two ribbons! These ribbons, each of which is only 0.002 of a millimeter thick, are arranged one above the other just half a millimeter apart. Beyerdynamic’s masterful technical design and production performance has produced a system that is sonically clear and well defined.
‘Ideal for Stringed instruments’
- Hypercardioid Ribbon Microphone
- Frequency response: 40Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £460
Audix D6
‘The D6 is a cardioid dynamic microphone intended for use on kick drum and bass cabinet. It has an aggressively tailored frequency response, with a “scooped-mids” curve that shows 15dB of attenuation:
There is a peak from 35Hz-80Hz.
Frequencies from 90Hz-600Hz are attenuated to reduce boominess.
Another peak above 1000Hz gives clarity and definition’
- Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
- Frequency response: 30Hz - 15kHz
- Max SPL: 144dB
- Price: £145
SE Electronics Magneto
‘Ideal for use on vocals and acoustic instruments, the sE Magneto represents a great starting point for those wanting to purchase their first studio condenser microphone.’
- Cardioid Condenser Microphone
- Max SPL: 140dB
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Price £70
AKG D 5
‘AKG’s D5 is a handheld dynamic vocal microphone designed for stage use. The specific design goals included the reduction of handling noise and the reduction or elimination of feedback.’
‘A direct competitor to Shure’s famous SM58, this full and detailed dynamic microphone is a good choice if you want something that’s equally at home on the stage as it is in the studio. Its supercardioid pickup pattern helps tame feedback, too.’
- Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone
- Frequency response: 70Hz - 20kHz
- Max SPL: 147dB
- Price: £65
RØDE M3
‘This inexpensive small-diaphragm condenser is an all-rounder, being equally good for recording vocals and instruments. It can also run off phantom power or a 9V battery, making it highly portable and a strong choice as a versatile first mic.’
‘Rode’s M3 is an electret condenser designed as a multipurpose mic for stage or studio use.’
- Cardioid Condenser Microphone
- Max SPL: 142dB
- Frequency response: 40Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £60
Audio Technica AT2020 USB
‘This USB mic offers a similar spec to the standard AT2020 but with the added benefit of a direct-to-computer connection. It offers tonal consistency across a wide dynamic range and has a a subtle sweet-spot, enhancing the upper mid-range and lower treble signals. As ‘no fuss’ as it gets, the AT2020 USB should appeal to podcasters and home musicians alike.’
- Cardioid Condenser Microphone
- Max SPL: 144dB
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Price £75
sE Electronics X1
‘The X1 USB is aimed at voiceover, video presentation and singer/solo instrumentalist applications, and the sound quality fits the bill admirably. It’s a solid and self-contained solution for the lone recordist, and has a nice tone.’
‘And that’s what’s most interesting about the X1 USB; it performs identically to the X1, meaning the X1 USB is the only true USB microphone to perform to the same standard as a studio-quality condenser microphone.’
- Frequency response:
- Price: £142
Avant Electronics Avantone CR-14
‘This affordable, retro-style mic is packed full of character, with a warm, ‘dark’ tone that responds well to EQ boosting in the top end. Being a ribbon mic, though, it needs to be handled with care.’
‘The CR-14 is a passive dual-ribbon design in an unusual form-factor — flat and rectangular. The second ribbon motor increases the mic’s sensitivity and output level (although a lot of clean gain is still needed for quiet sources).’
- Figure-8 Ribbon Microphone
- Price: £200
sE Electronics 2200T
‘Building on sE’s successful sE2200A condenser, this tube version boasts a slightly hyped top end that makes it ideal for recording vocals - and at this price, it’s hard to beat if you’re after your first valve mic.’
‘The 2200T is a tube version of the company’s 2200a FET condenser. Both mics use the same single-membrane capsule, and have fixed cardioid pickup patterns.’
- Cardioid Tube Condenser Microphone
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Price: £250
