As an indie artist, you’re used to DIY projects. If your next project involves recording at home, be sure you put time into choosing the right microphone to get the sound you want. Whether you’re recording vocals, guitar, drums or bass (or otherwise), there are a lot of mics in a variety of price ranges. Here are some points to consider before making a purchase:

• Research: Rapid advances in technology, specifically wireless tech, have helped bring many new mics to the market. It’s important that you do your research before making a purchase to ensure the mic you choose is right for you. Do your research online, but also ask around to see what your peers recommend.

• Purpose: Are you recording vocals? Acoustic guitar? You may have your eyes on a dynamic microphone, but a condenser will do the best job. Are you recording drums? Then you’ll want a combination of both dynamic and condenser mics. Be sure you know the difference and the advantages and disadvantages to both. Know what will work best for what you need.

• Budget: Mics are available in various price ranges. You can get a good one for around $100 or over $700. An Oktava MC012 is only $99 and is great for recording acoustic guitar. Or a Neumann KM184 will do the trick on the higher end of the budget for $730. No matter what, know your budget before purchasing, and stick to it.
• Experience/experiment: Sometimes it just takes using a mic to get to know it to figure out your own personal preference. Can you borrow that Shure SM7B from a friend before you buy one of your own? It’s a good idea to try before you buy!

Tell us what you think! Have you purchased a microphone for home recording recently? What did you buy? Are you happy? What are the pros and cons?

Up next: We’ll share some of the best websites for buying recording equipment.

The SongCast Crew