Microphone for a 16 years old on budget

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Shure SM-57.

You can use it on guitar amps, instruments (I've used one for sax in a pinch) and even vocals.

It's the Swiss Army Knife of mics....
 
Ok, sounds like my budget is way low.

Yes, we need something to connect to the computer as well. This Blue Snowball looks good and fit the budget.

What would be a better choice if we up the budget?
 
There is a device that let you use any dynamic microphone to be recorded on to a computer via USB. I can't remember the name but someone may chime in with it or you can try a google search. If I remember the name or find it I'll post it for you.

The microphone doesn't need to be new. Look on craigs list or ebay for a good used microphone, so a microphone like a shure SM57 or 58 that is new at $100. can be found all day long for $35. to $50. used!

But believe me you don't want to use a USB microphone. Unless it is just for spoken word not singing.

Now this is a sixteen year old what? Different microphones are better than others for different genders or species.






:cool:
 
moresound said:
There is a device that let you use any dynamic microphone to be recorded on to a computer via USB. I can't remember the name but someone may chime in with it or you can try a google search. If I remember the name or find it I'll post it for you.
Click to expand...

Umm... Wouldn't that be just about any USB preamp/audio interface? :P

The one I thought of when I first read that is the MXL Mic Mate. It's about $40 and is supposed to supply phantom power for condensers too... It's probably not any better than the Blue Snowball though.

Another cheapish option is a M-Audio MobilePre USB. I got one used on eBay for about $50, and it has two channels, phantom power, and both XLR and 1/4" inputs, so you can plug in guitars and such too (which you may or may not need...). It may or may not be any better than the Mic Mate, and most people would recommend against it, but I think it's pretty good for a low budget.

I might as well also recommend the Behringer ECM 8000. It's probably not at all what you're looking for, but it's $50 (new; they don't seem to be much better priced used), so that and the MobilePre could be around $100 together.

These are pretty much the only things I have because I'm on a low budget too, and they may not work for everyone, but I'm happy with them.
 
You know who would know is John Willette he posted about it a few weeks ago but I can't find that post. I just PM him so You'll get an answer soon. But he is in England they won't be up for a while now.





:cool:
 
moresound said:
You know who would know is John Willette he posted about it a few weeks ago but I can't find that post. I just PM him so You'll get an answer soon. But he is in England they won't be up for a while now.
Click to expand...

I found it! https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=3441532&postcount=12 is the thread.
CEntrance MicPort Pro (http://www.centrance.com/products/mp/) is the product.
It costs $150 though... :(
But it does 24/96... Unlike my MobilePre which is only 16/48... :)
And "MicPort Pro is used by the BBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, NPR, Harpo Studios, Warner Brothers, and professional musicians and voiceover artists worldwide."
And it has a "stylish and sturdy aluminum body that's only 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) long."
And it has "studio-grade knobs." Yay! Sometimes regular knobs just aren't good enough.
And... I should shut up. I just love advertisements too much!
 
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Yeah that's it! Good, well dune exhnozoaa.
WOW I didn't remember it costing $150. :( that is way over budget isn't it?
Well keep that thread booked marked exhnozoaa for this question pops up A LOT.
Now ....lets see man I really hate USB microphones but with that budget what else can one do?
There is the Blue Icicle that performs the same duty but at a smaller bit rate, at only $59. then a used Shure SM 58 or 57 would be about $35. to $50. would keep you with in budget.

You could up the budget to $150. and get just a USB microphone like the Blue*Yeti* or the Samson *G-Track* For they have good features.





:cool:
 
ifi said:
It is a 16 years old boy, almost 17.
Click to expand...

And, all the more reason not to get a Ribbon or Tube or other mic that doesn't do well when used as a lawn dart. Not that they'll be used as lawn darts, but it very well could be I'm in a hurry, toss it on the bed and run. Oops, I MISSED.

Shure SM57 or SM58 ($50-ish USED / $100-ish NEW)

plus an interface.


I got an M-Audio Mobile Pre ($80 on craigslist and quite common).
I actually had two at one time so I could use a phantom powered and non-phantom powered mic at the same time. Lots of input and output options, but limited in the 16/48 sample rate and only 2 channels. Not that you need more than that for most things voice over. Unless you need the really good stuff for the super low noise floor and other perks only available on the good stuff.

There's many NEW-ish ones that do 24/96 over USB. USB mics combine the mic, interface and preamps all into one package. But you get a number of limits going that route, and not always the highest quality of gear. Plus they have virtually no resale value. Snowball is the normal option there. Some of the MXL (cheap made in china) mics have USB options as well.

Edirol UA-25 or something like that seems to be the interface of choice these days in terms of USB interfaces. EMU 0404, and others. It really depends on what the goal is with this endeavor? Just to skype with mom over the internet? Or something more commercial?

Basically plan on:
$100 mic
$100 interface
$50 cable + stand + pop filter
(maybe more depending on gadget count)
(maybe less an SM58 has it's own pop filter of sorts)

You can buy used and cut most of that in half. With the possibility of resale-ing the gear at costs.

You can buy a combo USB mic and lower the price by about a 1/3rd. But you'll almost have to give it away to get rid of it.

Or you can forgo most of this by using the mic on your laptop / webcam / camcorder / telephone / CB / ......... But not really much hope of achieving pro-ish results that way. And probably something to do with a soldering iron and a grain of knowledge as well.
 
Shadow_7 said:
It really depends on what the goal is with this endeavor? Just to skype with mom over the internet? Or something more commercial?
Click to expand...

Singing and some voice over, so something between skype and commercial. He is working on a school project and wants to get more than A+.
 
I would recommend an SM57, but I don't recommend those to a 16 year old. Maybe when you were 14, I'd recommend it. Don't buy one until you are 19.
 
Shadow_7 said:
Basically plan on:
$100 mic
$100 interface
$50 cable + stand + pop filter
(maybe more depending on gadget count)
(maybe less an SM58 has it's own pop filter of sorts)
Click to expand...

$250 is the new budget.

Interfaces are very expensive :(
 
you can get MXL 990 condenser mic with Shockmount
Presonus Audio box USB ( theres a deal at Amazon from unionsquared , presonus audiobox with low quality headphones and xlr cable , click here )
Mic stand and pop filter.

Everything comes under $250
 
ifi said:
$250 is the new budget.

Interfaces are very expensive :(
Click to expand...

It depends on the interface. And whether it's new or used. A zoom H2 or H4n might also fit the bill. You don't really need a computer to use that thing. But still in that > $100 budget. Zoom H1 was a recent option. In that $100 range. And includes mics. Lots of options depending on how cornered you want to be, versus how upgradeable you want to be. Several $50 camcorder mics are decent and can feed existing interfaces / soundcards. Not quite pro-ish, but noticeably better than a webcam / camcorder.

I'm favoring an AT3035 for voice($120 used). To a sound devices MM-1 ($350 new) microphone preamp. To an M-Audio Mobile Pre ($80 used). With a desktop mic stand and pop filter ($30 used). 15' Mogami quad core cables x2 ($40 x2 new). One from mic to preamp, one from preamp to interface. And an sE reflexion filter (the BIG one $140 used / ($300 new)). I really like the results, although I'm not sure it's worth the costs.

Not my only option(s) as I also have a Korg MR-1000 field recorder and a Delta 44 desktop interface. Both the Korg and Mobile Pre have their own preamps so I don't technically NEED those MM-1's. But they are noticeably better than the other preamps. And I wouldn't be able to use the Delta 44 without them. Plus it gives me 4 channels of inputs between the Korg and MM-1's x2. to the Delta 44 which has 4x inputs.
 
Perhaps a sample.



note: bedroom
note: late at night
note: 10+ beers
note: 19dB of gain
note: 3dB of hard limit to go beyond 16dB of gain
note: amateur hack for all intents.
note: all other details should be self evident.
note: except for pop filter which I failed to mention.
note: and roughly 6" to 12" from the mic.
note: pop filter about 4" out.

If I set the levels better it'd probably be closer to 6dB of gain. And if I cared about content I'd probably be picking up a trumpet or trombone, but I'm a lazy old fart. (not quite 40, but still)
 
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