Best XLR mic under €250 for Pop/Indie vocals in an UNTREATED room? (Upgrading AT2020)
Hey everyone,
I'm currently looking to upgrade my vocal microphone setup. My main goal is to record indie/pop songs that I actually want to finalize, mix, and officially release.
Right now, I am using an Audio-Technica AT2020 plugged into an audio interface, tracking inside FL Studio. Don't get me wrong, the AT2020 sounds decent for the price, but my recordings just don't feel "professional."
The biggest issue I'm facing is my environment. I am recording in a completely untreated room (lots of bare walls and natural echo), and my PC tower sits right next to me, so the condenser mic is picking up a ton of background fan hiss and room reflections. It's ruining my mixes when I try to apply compression and reverb later.
I need something that will give me a clean, radio-ready studio quality but is excellent at ignoring background noise and room echo. I don't need any USB features or built-in DSP apps, as I do all my mixing with EQ and plugins directly inside my DAW.
My absolute maximum budget is €250.
I’ve been heavily looking into the Shure MV7X since it's a dynamic mic and apparently shares the SM7B DNA for blocking room noise, but I’ve also looked at options like the AT2040, AT4040, or Rode NT series.
Given my untreated bedroom and PC fan noise, is the Shure MV7X my best bet for commercial pop vocals, or is there another dynamic microphone under €250 I should consider?
Thanks in advance for the help!