Best Condenser Mic

[zjams]

Guys,

I'm starting a website and I could use some help if anyone is interested.

I'm launching a site to review affordable Condenser Microphones for people trying to get a good home recording sound on a budget.

I'm looking for people who have used some of these mics I'm reviewing such as the Audio Technica At2020, the Blue Yeti and the Samsung Co1u and similar.

If there are other suggestions throw them at me.

Appreciate it.

 

[moresound]

So Z, your just talking USB microphones and condensers for cheap?

 

[Supercreep]

I'm looking for people who have used some of these mics I'm reviewing.

For what purpose are you looking for these people?

 

[moresound]

For what purpose are you looking for these people?

I think it's a TRAP!

 

[John Willett]

If you are wanting to record USB - the best way to go at an affordable cost is to get a CEntrance MicPort Pro and use the mic. of your choice.

This way you can use the mic. for other things as well, and you can still use the mic. later when you go on to better things.

 

[Shadow_7]

How would your site differ from say gearwire.com or many of the existing comparisons (new media gear) and such on youtube? Will you be using it on some specific instrument(s)? Or just your voice that no one but you has ever heard out in the wild / public. As I long for a mic shootout that uses trombone(s), not geeeeeetar or some odd guy with an odd voice.

blue snowball
mxl 990

and many others that come with USB "options". Not that many of those are fair comparisons of the capabilities of the mic(s). Since the cheap ADC chips on them are generally not all that swell. Relative to other external options. But probably better than most peoples integrated chipsets. And there's even differences in the USB bus between machines.

 

[zjams]

If you are wanting to record USB - the best way to go at an affordable cost is to get a CEntrance MicPort Pro and use the mic. of your choice.

This way you can use the mic. for other things as well, and you can still use the mic. later when you go on to better things.

I'm trying to see the benefit to using the MicPort over a standard USB interface?

 

[zjams]

How would your site differ from say gearwire.com or many of the existing comparisons (new media gear) and such on youtube? Will you be using it on some specific instrument(s)? Or just your voice that no one but you has ever heard out in the wild / public. As I long for a mic shootout that uses trombone(s), not geeeeeetar or some odd guy with an odd voice.

blue snowball
mxl 990

and many others that come with USB "options". Not that many of those are fair comparisons of the capabilities of the mic(s). Since the cheap ADC chips on them are generally not all that swell. Relative to other external options. But probably better than most peoples integrated chipsets. And there's even differences in the USB bus between machines.

A this point there is very little difference between my site and every music gear review site on the internet. I'm targeting different keywords however, so I will be able to capitalize on a different market.

I'm not USB microphone exclusive. I am trying to balance high quality with affordability though.

What's the best mic for your buck?

I know every true audiophile of this site would lynch me for even asking that question since there are so many variables. Honestly though, the average consumer doesn't care about the highly technical jargon. They just want to sound decent when recording a few tracks from their home studio.

 

[Massive Master]

Condenser microphones are typically used for studio recording since they (snip -- blah, blah, blah...)

Oh Jeebus, here we go again...

(Isn't there some sort of "banging your head against a brick wall" icon here somewhere...?)

 

[gcolbert]

A this point there is very little difference between my site and every music gear review site on the internet. I'm targeting different keywords however, so I will be able to capitalize on a different market.

Not trying to be elitist or anything, but what kind of electronc testing background do you have and do you even have the physycal capability (anechoic chamber - studio) to perform this testing in? Do you have enough of an EE background to even be able to describe what you are measuring or to quantify your testing?

 

[zjams]

Not sure I follow........

 

[zjams]

Not trying to be elitist or anything, but what kind of electronc testing background do you have and do you even have the physycal capability (anechoic chamber - studio) to perform this testing in? Do you have enough of an EE background to even be able to describe what you are measuring or to quantify your testing?

No, I have none of those fancy tester things or any of the expertise you're talking about.

To be honest I was just planning on regurgitating information from the 1000's of mic reviews posted online, use SEO to get some traffic to my site, and post a bunch of links to Amazon hoping to collect some affiliate money if someone buys one of the mics I recommend..

Been playing guitar for almost two decades, so I'm not just some clever trying to exploit a random niche. I have bills to pay just like the next guy. Family to feed, mortgage to pay and all that. Since the rockstar thing worked out about as well as a full time job, I'm forced to etch out a living as a bottom feeder.

Feel free to throw more stones since you obviously know way more about music than I do.

 

[Shadow_7]

Most times those advertising dollars hardly pay for site maintenance. So I hope you have a passion for that technical side of things. Outside of some forum type setup, you're not going to have enough hits to make advertising dollars cover your hosting fees. Which are not a whole lot of cash for a basic setup these days. But at least you never have to leave home to do that type of thing in a lot of cases.

As I look at linuxmusicians.com and other sites, and if they've had more than one of dozens of subforums updated this month, they're doing good. Most of the forums have three plus months of threads on page 1 of each forum. And that's probably one of the more popular sites for "niche" activity. Some of the automotive forums have even less traffic than that for any one "niche" that doesn't involve race cars or other things. I'm not trying to discourage you, but perhaps keeping your expectations realistic.

As I just try to keep my youtube channel semi-current. And if I'm posting more than one video a month, I'm doing good IMO. And that's without any of the usual distractions.

As I recall a lot of my former private instructors. And the common thread of I don't write how-to books on the subject because so many others have already done it, and I've got nothing that would improve on their efforts.

 

[Disease8]

Well Samson mics are always awful.
The Audio Technica are not meant to be very good.
Not sure about the Blue one.
So you don't know what a good mic sounds like? how can you write a review?
You should get traffic from having good content.

 

[gcolbert]

No, I have none of those fancy tester things or any of the expertise you're talking about.

To be honest I was just planning on regurgitating information from the 1000's of mic reviews posted online, use SEO to get some traffic to my site, and post a bunch of links to Amazon hoping to collect some affiliate money if someone buys one of the mics I recommend..

<snip>
Feel free to throw more stones since you obviously know way more about music than I do.

This does not have anything to do with throwing stones. I would personally like to see a good independent laborotory type review and comparison site that lined up microphones side by side and provided solid information to help make informed buying decisions. I can find more opinions than I can read on any microphone right here. Some of them written by people who do have respectable opinions.

I've played the same old beat-up Yamaha classical guitar for over 40 years now. To me, it is what a nylon stringed guitar is supposed to sound like. If I were to review a new Taylor classical guitar I would probably trash it because it sounded overly boomy and bright at the same time. Subjective comparisons (particularly those who are collected from people with unspecified qualifications) are meaningless. It is approaches like this that create such a market for snake oil in the music technology business. I'm sure that there is someone out there who will insist that microphone X is the best possible mike for any occasion. Just insert the manufacturer and model into the X.

Now if someone were to set up a site that performed standardized testing under controlled conditions and facilitated a side-by-side comparison based on the same tests and measures that would draw a lot of this crowd. Does the Pukinger X435 really have the frequency response that the manufacturer says in the specifications? If I'm looking for something that sounds like an EarBanger X45, but don't have the zorkmids to buy one, what alternatives have the same sensitivity, frequency response curves and other characteristics that make me like the EarBanger. Is the FlatUl 45 really comparable to the SM58?

We are currently forced to rely on the manufacturer's published specifications. While I'm sure that they are all honest and forthcomming about their product's performance, each of them uses different tests to determine the specs, and there can be considerable differences between one unit and the next off of the factory floor. Do something to add value and people will show up at your site.

 

[c7sus]

Who the hell is gonna pay for all that???

Hint: not any of the manufacturers.

99% of the questions around here are about $99 mics anyways. Spend your $99 and take yer chances fer Christssakes.

The op's premise is fail. Dumbshit uneducated consumers get what they deserve.

 

[John Willett]

Now if someone were to set up a site that performed standardized testing under controlled conditions and facilitated a side-by-side comparison based on the same tests and measures that would draw a lot of this crowd.

Yes, but it would not really tell you enough.

Learning to read polar-patterns and manufacturers specs helps.

But if, for instance, you try various mics on an instrument - it will only tell you that w mic is best for x instrument through a y pre-amp in z acoustics.

Use an a instrument in b acoustics, and you may find that c microphone and d pre-amp are best - even though c microphone sounded cr*p on the first test.

It really comes down to experience and trying lots of mics in lots of situations and understanding the various characteristics of different mics and working out what the sound you want is.

I was doing a lecture once and someone came up to me and told me how he used an SM58 on drums - probably the last microphone I would choose. But he then said that it gave him exactly the sound he wanted - in which case it was exactly the right mic. to use.

 

[John Willett]

I'm trying to see the benefit to using the MicPort over a standard USB interface?

It's cheaper.

Obviously a decent USB (or firewire) interface is the better option. But these are far more expensive and may give you all sorts of things that you don't need.

The MicPort Pro is the sensible alternative to a USB microphone - that's all I am saying.

 

[Shadow_7]

To many variables for any meaningful comparison on most things. Even side by sides with different mics of different flavors. Each mic has a preferred usage. Which accents various pluses and minuses of a space / voice / recording chain. If you want to make a difference, start a try before you buy store. Although you'd probably lose a lot on such an endeavor. As anyone who needs a one time deal, will essentially borrow the gear from you. And then return it for a full refund. And cheap USB mics already have virtually no resale value. Plus the usual swine flu and other health concerns. No one I know can make a trip to Vegas these days and NOT come home sick with something. Not a stigma you'd want associated with such a store.

 

[gcolbert]

Yes, but it would not really tell you enough.

I agree completely. However, lacking absolutly any other source it would be better than nothing.

A point that I was trying to make (but possibly not clearly enough) is that there are already good places to read opinions - this being one of them. Even better, the members here tend to express their opinions clearly enough to determine if you generally agree with them. Lots of opinions to choose from. I can get to amazon on my own once I make up my mind.

To make it worth while for ME to go to another site for information on "the best microphone" there has to be something more than just someone's opinion. Post something that I can use and I will use a site.

Who the hell is gonna pay for all that???

Real good question, but there are organizations who may be interested in doing this. Possibly one of the Ziff-Davis subsidiaries? I'm not really sure who AudioFanzine is (the sponsors for this site?), but there is a real nice comparison of 27 acoustic guitars on this site (i've been listening to it for weeks now). An effort like this wonderful guitar sampler might be a good starting point for an independent microphone review. Not to say it would be easy for someone, but things like this can be done.