Microphone recommendations?

mp3guy

I'll be undertaking a large home music project this summer and I think I'm gonna need a decent microphone for it. I'll be hoping to record a few acoustic instruments, such as guitar, piano, violin and hammered dulcimer.

Basically I want a microphone that's going to produce zero hiss. I'll be able to sort out a silent environment to record in. I'll be using my laptop or pc to record into, so far I'm just using an Audigy 2 NX line connection.

So if someone could recommend a few different mics with different price ranges that'd be great.

PaulBrewer

mp3guy wrote: »

I'll be undertaking a large home music project this summer and I think I'm gonna need a decent microphone for it. I'll be hoping to record a few acoustic instruments, such as guitar, piano, violin and hammered dulcimer.

Basically I want a microphone that's going to produce zero hiss. I'll be able to sort out a silent environment to record in. I'll be using my laptop or pc to record into, so far I'm just using an Audigy 2 NX line connection.

So if someone could recommend a few different mics with different price ranges that'd be great.

Any dynamic mic will produce 'zero hiss'

i57dwun4yb1pt8

no point getting a decent mic unless you have a good interface with a good preamp .

particularly for acoustic instruments

i think the jack is a 3.5 mil with basic preamp .

i dont think the audugy will cut it .

may as well just use an sm58 or 57 .

mp3guy

You sure about the hiss thing? I've used a few different mics and there's always a small hiss, that or the output sounds really muffled.

PaulBrewer

mp3guy wrote: »

You sure about the hiss thing? I've used a few different mics and there's always a small hiss, that or the output sounds really muffled.

Yes, I'm sure.

What's the mic is connected to may well be a source of hiss though.

fitz

What Paul's getting at is that the hiss, if you're using a dynamic mic, is probably coming from your interface (the audigy). Definitely something to replace if you're going to try recording anything with a view to getting good, clean recordings with low noise.

mp3guy

Can you recommend a good interface I should get then? I've got USB2.0 and FireWire so either will do.

shayleon

mp3guy wrote: »

I'll be undertaking a large home music project this summer and I think I'm gonna need a decent microphone for it. I'll be hoping to record a few acoustic instruments, such as guitar, piano, violin and hammered dulcimer.

Basically I want a microphone that's going to produce zero hiss. I'll be able to sort out a silent environment to record in. I'll be using my laptop or pc to record into, so far I'm just using an Audigy 2 NX line connection.

So if someone could recommend a few different mics with different price ranges that'd be great.

I wouldn't worry so much about the hiss. Unless you record 1 single instrument played very very quiet hiss will not be a problem.

Dynamic microphone such as the SM58 has a much lower frequency range than condensers and will give you poor results, especially when using acoustic instruments.

Constant and quiet hiss can easily be removed with denoizers, and some are quite cheap, though it's always best to capture the best signal from the start.

If your budget allows, I'll go for a Neumann U87, followed by Neumann TLM, AKG C414. Also check Groove Tubes. I never tried the SE mics, and perhaps Paul Brewer will be able to give some feedback about those, as their price range is quite competitive.

All the best.
Shay.

shayleon

mp3guy wrote: »

Can you recommend a good interface I should get then? I've got USB2.0 and FireWire so either will do.

I have been using Presonus Firewire and very happy with it. Has 8 channels, and should cost €650.

Focusrite released a bunch of amazing interfaces recently, so definitely check them.

If your budget is lower, check EMU. Great quality too.