Small Diaphragm Condensor Microphones

For sources that need some clarity and precision like drum overheads, acoustic guitars, piano, etc. you'll probably want a nice pair of small diaphragm condensors. Here's a couple options that won't break the bank by any means.

Marshall MXL 603
These mics apparently sound exactly like the Oktava MK012 mics that are studio standards and cost around $200 more, depending on where you get them. I picked two of these up new for $120 on ebay. The MXL 604 are the new version of these, they're the same mics but have switchable omni and cardioid capsules that give you even more flexibility. Top money for your dollar with these mics.





Behringer ECM8000
As much as Behringer gets maligned, and often for good reason, the ECM8000 is worth checking out for those on a real tight budget. They're only $50 each! Recording guru Harvey Gerst highly recommends these as completely flat mics with great frequency response from 20 Hz to 30 kHz. They're actually designed to be used as a measuring tool for analyzing rooms, etc. They won't sweeten up your sound, but they're very accurate so you can get great results if you use them right.