What is a good quality microphone for personal music recording; just starting out?

Try the Snowball. I use it for exactly that, recording voice and 12-string guitar. My wife uses it also for podcasts. It comes with a small table stand, but it can fit on to any standard mike stand. It’s a USB plug ‘n’ play device, and can be used with any recording software that will take a USB input.

I also used it to overdub and add harmonies to my lead vocals.

Thanks! Do you have a video so I can hear the quality of the recording?

I’m still working on that. I’ll get it to you and PM you when I get it done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shure_SM57 ShureM57 is very popular lot of people use it

I went with what is called the E609 both pretty similar and price range just personal preference for me.

and I 2nd the Snowball mic, and I really like the 3 “modes” it has. You can also look at other condenser and dynamic mics, because if you decide to get serious about recording or just upgrade even at home a lot of it comes down to personal taste/opinion and what you like.

Good luck. Might wanna read some stuff just get an ideal of what it is all about….

http://homerecording.about.com/od/microphones101/a/mic_types.htm

Shure

Shure 2nded for quality