Keith G wrote:
I've had some very good advice here on mics and (usual for me) ignored it a
wee bit....!!!

:-)

I have been assured by someone who sells them (??) that Oktava are the 'best
by far' cheap

I think that was certainly the normal view, but there are shed loads of
cheap end condenser mics around now. I wouldn't pretend to be able to
tell you what's what these days but the Sound on Sound website is a good
source of info - http://www.soundonsound.com/

Then there's good old ebay. I got a pair of Audio Technica AT3525s (a
fairly respectable mid size diaphragm condenser with suspension) at a
reasonable price (forget exactly but about £100) which I use with a
Firewire 410 interface to the mac.

Roy.