affordable condenser microphones

Just my 2 cents' worth - it's totally untrue that all condensers below $1000 are worthless. Sure, don't go for the $100-$200 type, but Studio Projects, Audio-Technica, especially RODE! etc make some great mics in the $300 and up range. In my opinion, given the current up-front sound of pop music vocals, it's much better to use condensers because of the detail offered. Sure, MJ and bunch used SM57's, but they also had great pre's and also effected their vocals to death with choruses, etc. And at the same time, if you listen to those recordings and recordings recorded with condensers, you'll still hear a difference in the tonal quality and level of detail. Sorry, it's condensers for me all the way. :)

Also, the background noise issue is a bit exaggerated. Condensers are more sensitive, yes, but I've had no trouble getting a decent vocal sound with no perceptible background noise once the instruments, etc are in. I once recorded a guy in my dorm room with my cheap Studio Projects C1 and my roommates watching NFL football just outside! No problems in the end.
 
Ichiro: where did you find the ADK?

tat-tong: all the power to you for being able to record with the TV on. Guess your sound isolation technique must have been great. Care to share what you did?

I would guess that it is a matter of preference, style of singing, how good you are with the mix, acoustics as well as other miscellaneous interruptions that can affect your recording.

Dynamics for me, personally :) (though I will be getting a condensor soon for back up).
 
No real sound isolation beyond closing the door! The truth is, if you can sing really close to your condenser mic (we're talking about 1-2 inches from it), a lot of the sound isolation issues just go away. Your signal is really loud compared to the background noise when you do that, and you can just gate away the rest during the silent moments. Easy!

That being said, some mics have pretty boomy proximity effect when you do that, so you'd have to experiment to get the placement right without having this occur.
 
like what tat tong says. I mobile record all the time, either next to a metalcore hard hitting neighbouring band in the jam room, or one of the band member's place outside them blasting Xbox live laughing away etc. it's not exactly a MUST that you have to have a nice soundproof/acoustically treated room just to record. not everyone can afford that, but at least the basics : outside don't be too loud, and everyone in the recording vicinity have a cup of shut the love up. if you're REALLY particular, why are you recording at home in the first place? go to a real studio. if not, you're more likely to be hallucinating the noise louder than the noise getting recorded into the mic itself.

then again this is just my 30¢ worth.
 
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