I know a good few home studios who get skittish when talking about mics, because mics cost money and if you're tracking your friends at home and not making any to much money, it can be a hard area to invest into.
I get it!
But hopefully I've constructed a list below, that doesn't cut corners, doesn't recommend the next newest thing and if brought to a major commercial studio you would have nothing to apologize for. These are trusted and tried microphones that have been used on countless records and most importantly...
...won't break the bank!
Note: The prices of the mics are just what I've found at the time of writing this article. They could be more or less in your country or city or after this article is published. You don't have to purchase every mic or as many as I suggest. I recommend to still seek other opinions on these mics and do your research. I would save as much money as I can and purchase smart and sure and Shure...you'll see...
Okay...let's begin.
Shure SM57: $99
The mic is built like a tank and priced like a hatchback. You'll see them in commercial studios doing everything from micing; hi-hats, snares, guitar cabinets, bass cabinets, to vocals at times. Tom Petty was known to use one as his main vocal mic on stage for years. Anyone can afford one and they're just incredible to have around. I believe having at least four around is a good practice to keep.
Shure Beta 52a: $120
This is a great inexpensive kick drum mic and it delivers low end like many other mics don't. It's great as an inside kick mic and is priced very inexpensively.
AKG D112: $199
This is many engineers' favorite kick drum mic. It packs a punch but also clarity of the kick drum beater. It's used on countless records and is a staple in most studios.
Shure SM7b: $299
One of the greatest mics when working with tracking live band performances. This mic is perfect for rock vocals and lots of other voices. This mic has saved me many times and I'm sure you could find good use for it as well. It's smooth in all the right ways and has a fantastic proximity. An excellent mic for vocals.
Beyerdynamic M 201: $299
A pair of these make great overhead mics and can capture the kit quite well despite their size.
Electro-Voice RE-20: $449
Another great dynamic mic staple. It's a few times more than an SM57, but it produces a great sound another color for your tonal palette. And hey if it was good enough for Dolly Parton when she could have asked for Neumann when she recorded at RCA, then it's probably good enough for you.
Sennheiser MD421: $379
Excellent mics for toms on drum tracking days or micing guitar cabinets. They can be used for just about anything and like many of the mics in this article won't be break the bank too bad. I'd be sure to save and get two when you buy them though.
Audio Technica AT-831b
I find it exceptionally wise to have a few lavaliere mics lying around when working with acoustic instruments, especially of the folk/bluegrass variety. This one is excellent for mandolins, banjos and other stringed instruments. You can even put one by the f-hole on a standup bass and it will project a nice tone.
Shure SM11: $99
Probably one of the more popular of the lavaliere style mics used for recording instruments is the Shure SM11. It can be had for cheap and works well. Like other Shure products, it's built durable and does the job.
Shure SM58: $99
These mics set the standard for live performances and have even been used on everything from tracking Bono's vocals in U2 to Metallica. Another great mic to have in your locker.
Electro-Voice 635a: $100
It's not uncommon after tracking guitars with a SM57 for a long time to look for something else. The 635a is in the same price range and delivers an excellent guitar tone.
Shure Beta 57a: $139
If the midrange bite of the SM57 and the 635a are too harsh for you, you may want to try the Beta 57a, which has a smoother tone, almost like the poor man's ribbon mics, but it still resembles the 57, just smoother. And if you end up not liking it on guitar, try it on some vocals, Michael Buble sings through one live every night.
Beyerdynamic M-500: $329
If you don't own a ribbon mic, then this one can be had for very little money and performs exceptionally well. Great for guitars, vocals, or piano.
Shure SM81: $349
It's easy to want something that looks like the famous Neumann U47 when looking at condensers, but the Shure SM81 is nothing to snicker at. It has a place amongst the other great condensers and delivers a smooth balanced tone, great for most sound sources.
Shure KSM 137
RODE NT3: $269
Electro-Voice RE-200: $349
These mics market themselves as instrument condensers. They're intended for things like drums and other instruments. They don't make the best vocal mics, but who's to say they can't be used as one. I've seen these at most studios I've visited and they deliver a fine product. They are about as good as you can get for a condenser mic on guitar and even great for acoustic guitars.
Wunder Audio CM7 FET: $1,995
A real Neumann U47 is an incredible thing, but that comes at a hefty price. I don't subscribe to the school of thought that you can have a similar sound for under a grand. I'm sorry to all of you who've purchased condensers that look like 47's, but for my ear only a few come close. Wonder Audio gets incredibly close and for a fraction of a fraction of the original Neumanns.
Avantone CV-12: $499
One of my favorite mics in the world is a Telefunken C12. It has an amazing warmth and color that just makes a vocalist sound like a star, but with that world class tone comes a world class price tag. For much less you can have a very similar tone for fractions of the cost. Avantone has been doing some great work lately and their products speak for themselves.
AKG c414: $899
This is a serious staple in most studios for vocals. It's nearing that thousand dollar mark, but if you save enough you could afford one...and I promise the quality of tone and build won't let you down.
Neumann TLM 103: $999
This is a great budget Neumann. It has a world class tone with a reasonable price tag. I love it and recommend it.
Peluso Microphone Lab P-87: $994
So...you don't have money for a real U87...no problem! Peluso has been making quality mics that I trust and have that tone that you want. These make excellent vocal mics and they can be had for a reasonable price.
Telefunken CU-29: $1,295
This is an incredibly versatile mic and works across a broad range of voice types. I've had the pleasure of trying one out and it performed quite well.
RODE K2: $699
Cascade Fathead II: $299
Ribbon microphones generally aren't cheap, but this one is and it delivers too!
That's all for now. There's a lot more great gear to be had, but any of these will definitely get you through a session. I may add to this list as time goes on, but I stand by every mic I've listed above as professional and worth the investment.
