What would it be?

Beyerdynamic M88 TG

Orpheum/Viking 32mm LDC

3U Audio MKIV ( or MKID) or 3U Audio Warbler 127 (matched pair flat cards) - I know it's cheating, but mono-mic recording ended about 50+ years ago.

Or NoHype SRM-1 stereo ribbon. It's just one mic. With 2 ch. outputs. So, I'm closer to abiding by the stoopid one-mic rule, which is in direct violation of the GS Charter of Gear Acquisition.

+1

+2

What are you planning on using it for? Vocals, instruments, taxi cab dispatcher?

End-fire Cardioid, moving-coil dynamic microphone from Aston Stealth with built-in Class-A gain stage.

quick before mods move it, and they will quicks smart...RODE NT1 best mic for under $500 comes with cable and pop filter and cover..awesome mic.

Beyerdynamic M88 would work for all of those.

There's someone on one of the local Craigslists, who's been trying to offload an ancient Shure gooseneck mic, with what looks to be an attached chewed up RCA connector and cable, for $20. It's been consistently reposted for a few years now, just like the Hammond clonewheel dust cover in the next Craigslist over.

The Shure actually looks perfect for a taxi dispatcher, or school announcements. There was one like that at my primary school. They always used to let different kids say the announcements, and I don't think anyone there knew how to clean it, or even thought about that. It was different times.

Personally, I'd get something like that for the dispatcher, and then spend the rest of the money on better speakers for the taxi cabs.

My vote goes to RØDE NT2 / NT2-A.

Been using one for 20 years on vocals, acoustic guitars, percussion, etc.
Sounds wonderful on EVERYTHING.

Damn you people and your recommendations. That M88 might be one to try out with the gong. Anyone here ever tried that?

A Rode nt2a thru a kt-1176 is what we ended up using for my wife's vocals on our last couple YouTube tracks.

A Shure sm57 on guitars ... also used by the POTUS for eons.

The holy grail mic I have in mind is the neumann u87 ai.

Vintage Shure Unidyne III SM57. Sounds great on everything and is indestructible.

Right now, I'd say one of the NoHype Audio ribbons. Unless you want a vibey mic, in which case no single mic will ever cover them all.

Many people do seem to crave for vibey mics tho

3U Warbler MKID or MKIVD

I would be perfectly happy with any of these sub-$500 mics:

Beyer M88
EV RE20
3U Warbler MKID

Of all of them, I think the Warbler would be easiest to cut a whole record with. The damn thing works.

NT2 is a great mic, as is the NTV.

But if I could only have one mic in my home studio it would be an MD-421. Much easier to use and get great sound than any condensor in my room.

This.. All Day... Unless you are lucky enough to find a used Sennheiser MD441 under $500. Thats about the only other "Desert Island" I would use for everything.

Ive used M88 on darn near everything. Granted there are some mics that can beat it out in certain instances but it NEVER sucks on anything.

Agreed. Also agreed about the 441, cut a whole record with those no problem. If I ever saw one for under $500 I'd be dead-sure it was broken, though.

The 441 is the king of dynamics for me. Absolutely love it. I'd still take a Warbler overall, for use on anything, but I never want to be without at least one 441.

Another M88 vote (would get a minty/used one for around $300-then sneak in my AKG D790 and P120 (Black) somehow.
Chris
P.S. Says the guy who just bought-yet another-vocal mic... Warm WA-47 Jr. New for only just around $215.00 total.

A well taken care of used AT 4050. Multi pattern and sounds really good on whatever or whoever I have placed it in front of.

The thread asks, if we could only own one mic under $500, what would it be.
Is there any limit on how many mics OVER $500 that we could own at the same time?
And if we pick a $100 Shure 58, we can’t buy some other mics with the remainder?
This seems far, far away from any real-world mic decisions.

I'm running out for my lottery tickets right now!
Chris

Of the mics I’ve used, if I could only keep one, I guess it would be an re20.

But I can have more than one, which is nice.

Yes, Beyerdynamic M88 or Sennheiser MD421 (maybe not the II version as I have heard it's different). Those are maybe the most universal mics I have.

ISK 2B would be hard to beat for an under $500 one mic locker, IMHO.
(If they are still available under that price, I don't know.)
Good luck.