vocal mic

The Behringer XM8500 (a Shure SM58 clone) is very good vocal mic for its price.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-XM8500-Microphone?sku=270490
/ Kalle

For studio on a budget I like the Rode NT2 condenser and it's also great for acoustic guitar. It needs phantom power .

If $100 isn't too much go Shure SM58. Its the world standard for vocal mics. WORLD STANDARD. Game, set, match.

If $100 isn't too much go Shure SM58. Its the world standard for vocal mics. WORLD STANDARD. Game, set, match.

Not quite. A dynamic mike is fine for live use or thickening a male voice on a rock track in the studio. However, for a good studio recording with plenty of 'air' around it you need a large condenser.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid
9/20 stupid deal of the day
Nady RSM-5 Ribbon Studio Microphone

Sm58 is a good start. The NT2 is nice. NTK for a Tube mic. Here's an LDC for $100.00 : http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/AKG-Perception-100-LargeDiaphragm-Condenser-Microphone?sku=271242

Audio Technica 4040

Also there are the EV Re20 dynamic. Studio Projects T1 another Tube mic for around $300.00 cardiod only though. Which is fine as long as you don't plan on doing any choral micing or anything that requires an omni.
I've used a Studio Project B1 but in all honesty, it can sound a little honky. Better for female vox. $130.

Don't be afraid to buy a cheap condenser so long as your gear has phantom power. If you're just starting out, it'll probably be better than what you're accustomed to. And if you are using a cheap preamp, a condenser will be considerably less noisy than a good dynamic. Upgrade your preamps and the story might be different but the difference betweed a cheap preamp and a "good" one is often better than $500.00 IE: FMR Really Nice Preamp on the cheap side.

As a side note, I noticed Mercenary Audio has the FMR Really Nice Compressor for $175! At any rate.....

I stand corrected. The SM58 is the leader for live mic's. Its not even that thier performance is that outstanding but rather thier fine balacing act between performance and durability make them a winner.

I have read several articles by professional producers that say sm57 and sm58 are all they use. I am not sure if they were coerced into saying that but they referenced the fact that super high performance mics were so delicate that they weren't worth having around drunk/drugged up musicans with no respect for gear.

I will see if I can dig some stuff up.

But agreed, there are better mic's for recording. Also agreed with another poster that sm58 is a good start.

I doubt there is a professional studio in the world without a 57/58. They are workhorse mics. Actually, a lot of hit vocals were recorded with an sm58. It's not such an unusual thing. Again, you need to take into consideration that those mics were probably going into a Rupert Neve console and a UA 1176 compressor. It's unfortunate but 99.9% of home recording enthusiasts can't afford that kind of gear, much less a UA channel strip.