Best studio recording microphones

Start here: Audio-Technica AT4040. It's the sweet spot for a first serious studio mic — a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser that stays clean and natural on vocals, acoustic guitar and drum overheads, with low self-noise and a built-in roll-off. Hard to outgrow.

Who the others suit:

• Neumann TLM-103 — if you want a pro vocal mic you'll keep for a decade; cardioid only, so less flexible.
• AKG C414 XLII — the do-everything choice: five polar patterns for vocals, room mics and stereo work.
• Warm Audio WA-87 R2 — vintage-flavoured vocals on a budget, with three patterns.
• AKG C214 — a simpler, cardioid-only take on the C414 sound.
• AT2035 / WA-47jr SE — tight-budget first mics that still record well.
• AT2050 — multi-pattern flexibility at the entry level.

Skip the unbranded cheap condensers; they rarely hold up on a real session.