Budget do everything Mics?

[sevenSHARPnine]

I'm a big fan of the SM-57. Sounds good with instruments, vocals, even overheads for drums. Unfortunately I can't offer any insight on your other choices, sorry

[jrmy]

If you can get a Shure Beta 57A, it's worth it. It's a little more than the regular 57, but I think it's worth it. My bandmate is our recording engineer, and has tons of fancy-ass mics. I'd say 85 - 90 percent of the time, we just track with the Beta 57A.

[Seeker of Rock]

Haven't used the EV, but used 57s extensively since '84 and have owned the 609 for 3 years or so. The 57 can track good vocals, guit amps. I used one as a single mic for a kit once (before I knew the importance of placement and treatment) and it sounded meh. I think I may have tracked an old "Earth" bass cab with it with good results. I usually DI bass.

The 609 is gold on guit amps, but haven't used it for anything else. I imagine it would track vocals decently as well, and probably bass. I've been wanting to try it on my snare drum in place of the 58 that's on there now. I have to be honest, you may have a hard time getting a good drum sound with one dynamic mic, but never know until you try right? Both of these are great mics though.

[whiskey_face]

absolutly a sm 57. jack of many trades master to none. however for the cost its WAY versitile

[Chumley]

I dunno, I've never liked 57s as much as 609s...

[Chumley]

That, basically.

[TomTFS]

absolutly a sm 57. jack of many trades master to none. however for the cost its WAY versitile

I think "master of none" is a bit strong. It's a master of snares, some would argue toms, it's an invaluable tool for guitar and bass cabs and many other things.
Just because it doesn't stand out like a Neumann. I think 57's are actually far too cheap for what they are actually capable of, what other mic could you get away with using on everything for a recording/gig and barely lose anything soundwise?

Definately get the 57, regular, none of this beta nonsense, unless you really like the extra brightness/harshness. Don't bother with a 606/609 unless you can stretch to a 906 which sound MUCH better (because you can switch off that nasty high end boost the 606's have).

[themanwhowasthursday]

SM57 all the way, cheap (ish) and really really useful, they are great as a standard mike pretty much anything mike.

[modernage]

It's hard to cover all those bases with one mic. The SM57 is pretty solid for guitars. I haven't tried one yet, but the Audix i5 is supposed to be a SM57 killer. Perhaps someone else here has experience with them no guitar. I also agree, bass is great if you run it DI.

Also I might recommend using at least 2 mics for drums. That way you'll be able to record them in stereo. You don't need 8 or more mics to record drums despite what a lot of engineers today would say. Led Zepplin mostly used 3, and those recordings bring the thunder.

[Scruffie]

AKG C1000s are pretty good general mics, i'd pair it up with a Shure if it was me but they're good enough for vocals, drums & guitar on there own and as they're quite old now, pretty cheap, phantom powered though (although they'll take 9V batteries IIRC)

[sevenSHARPnine]

Led Zepplin mostly used 3, and those recordings bring the thunder.

I've read that the drum track on When The Levee Breaks is Bonham playing in the 1st floor of a 3 story building, with a stereo mike set up on the 2nd floor. So cool.

[theavondon]

Led Zepplin mostly used 3, and those recordings bring the thunder.

I've read that the drum track on When The Levee Breaks is Bonham playing in the 1st floor of a 3 story building, with a stereo mike set up on the 2nd floor. So cool.

It was actually like a staircase, so a super huge ceiling. Watch It Might Get Loud. It gave me a new found appreciation for everything except rack gear.

[MannequinRaces]

Led Zepplin mostly used 3, and those recordings bring the thunder.

I've read that the drum track on When The Levee Breaks is Bonham playing in the 1st floor of a 3 story building, with a stereo mike set up on the 2nd floor. So cool.

It was actually like a staircase, so a super huge ceiling. Watch It Might Get Loud. It gave me a new found appreciation for everything except rack gear.

I've never really gotten into rack gear either. That was a good movie and the videos of Page playing with Zep were great.

Oh, and back on topic. The SM57 is a great all around mic. I would also get a decent condenser mic to cover the rest of your bases.