Build a Microphone Cabinet on any Budget

Sep 1, 2000 12:00 PM, BRIAN KNAVE AND MYLES BOISEN

           
 

Bare Bones Budget ($400)

By Brian Knave

(1) Shure SM 57 ($146)
(1) Audio-Technica AT3528 ($259)

I, too, recommend the SM 57 as a solid starting point for the Bare Bones cabinet - or for any mic cabinet, for that matter. Indeed, you would be hard-pressed to find a professional studio that doesn't have at least one SM 57 on hand, and big studios typically own a half-dozen or more. The particular thonk that this mic can capture from a snare drum has contributed to countless hit songs over the years, and, needless to say, the SM 57 is also a killer on stage ("SM," after all, stands for "stage mic"), whether you're miking vocals or guitar amps.

Two other inexpensive dynamics worth checking out are the AKG D 880 ($138), notable for its big lows and crisp highs, and the Electro-Voice N/D 267 ($140), which has a smooth, round sound characterized by enhanced low-mids that really help fatten up a thin or underconfident voice.

Budget condenser mics are a relatively new phenomenon, and the price threshold seems to get lower each year. For this Bare Bones cabinet, I recommend the Audio-Technica AT3528, a small-diaphragm cardioid condenser with an overall bright but (for the price) quite smooth sound. I have tested this mic on many sources and was impressed by its versatility and accuracy. It sounds nearly as good as some small-diaphragm condensers costing twice as much. The AKG C 1000S ($288) is another good budget condenser - if you don't mind going a bit over our target price. Though it can sound thin in certain applications, this mic is quite versatile, in part because it offers a battery-power option - a real boon for location recording.

If saving money is a key concern, be sure to watch for what is evidently the lowest-price condenser mic available: the new Rode NT3 ($199), a "medium-diaphragm" (31/44-inch) model that has just begun shipping. I haven't yet tested the Rode in the studio, but I gave it a fair listen at the 2000 Winter NAMM show and was quite impressed. I remember the sound as being very clear and present, with sparkly highs and nice lows.