Best condenser mic for under $300

[Bellringer]

My AKG C3000B sound great on vox,overhead drums, acoustic guitar and probably other stuff I haven't tried yet.

[runpre311]

I recently got the C1. I was skeptical at first because it was Studio Projects (i had no previous experience with their stuff) I think its a great mic, I use it daily for vocals, through an ART Tube Pre/Tube EQ, which you can really dial in your personal sound, and that mic sounds really up-front and warm in the mix without much effort. I also love the AT4040, cant go wrong with that on an acoustic 8-10 in. up neck from the soundhole.

[smopo24]

yea, i hear the c1 does rule...but i'm curious to try the nt1a; i've heard good things about that one too.

[fargone]

There's something about many of the Rødes mics that I've used that I just don't like. A certain character that sounds off to me.

[smopo24]

any opinions on the at 2020?

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by smopo24

any opinions on the at 2020?

yeah, it sounds cheap. Used it with my friends MBOX on a small project we were doing. It didn't sound particularly bad on vocals but can't really say it did anything I liked.

[Nubus]

I got a MXL 57 and I've got to say it isn't that bad. I've heard some amazingly crap sounding cheapo LDCs.
The things i've noticed so far about that mxl57 are:
1. The proximity effect makes it nice sounding. However the sweet spot is too small.
2. The highs are hyped, but not too terrible. It cuts through nice for some voices... others it just does not work on.
3. One guy dropped it. A drummer has smacked it. It is still working and looking fine.

[MarlonBrandoCalrissian]

The Studio Projects B1 is pretty rad too - for an even smaller budget ($100). I recorded some acoustic guitar tracks with it and was very impressed - almost made me forget I was recording a piece of crap ovation with a 5" crack in the neck. I haven't really had the time to record other things, but I"m going to try it out with some vocals here soon....