Why such a huge price difference between Mixers, and the M-audio Fast track pro?

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Buncing

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I am confused. I am looking up gear to create a podcast. I have an Audio Technica AT2020, but need a micriophone that won't pick up background noise.

So I am thinking of grabbing an AKG D5 or SM58.

That said, I need equipment to hook those mic's up to, and into the computer. I want to use USB because it will get rid of all the machine noise.

People keep recommending the M-Audio Fast Track pro. It retails for around $160. here is it.

However, I read something where they said this setup works well also

Behringer XENYX 802 8-Channel Compact Audio Mixer

Behringer UCA202 - Low Latency 2 Input / 2 Output USB/Audio Interface

Combined, a little over $70

Why is the M-audio over double the cost of the mixer and USB adapter? Wouldn't the mixer be even better because you can EQ the microphone and have 8 other channels?

Does the M-audio just sound better?

I am confused on where there is such a large price difference. You can find all of them at Bhphotovideo, I am unable to post links because I don't have 5 posts.
 
there is a huge difference between the two thing you are speaking of. why dont you do some research?
 
shortedaman said:
there is a huge difference between the two thing you are speaking of. why dont you do some research?
Click to expand...

My mistake, I thought the point of this forum was for asking questions....

That is what I am trying to do by posting here. I understand that the mixer offers a much wider array of tools to use. But I don't understand what makes the M-audio Fast Track Pro $160+ and a Mixer + USB adapter only $90-$100. Even though the Mixer has far more inputs, EQ etc.,

I have been searching around the net for hours, and I can't find any explanation of what the M-audio Fast Track pro does for your audio, that a mixer + usb combo wouldn't.

I assume there must be something, since so many people are buying the M-audio Fast Track Pro.
 
It's down to the quality of the build and components used. Behringer mixers have their place but they are very much built to a price. Their mic pre amps tend to get pretty noisy when pushed a bit by low output microphones. When used a lot, their service life can be fairly short before you start to get reliability problems--and the "sound" isn't necessarily great.

As always, it's a bit of "you get what you pay for" and "if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is". However, for light duty, voice only recordings that are going to be converted to low bit rate compressed files, maybe the Behringers are "good enough". However, if you are going to care about the best quality, you'll soon start to hear the differences.

Bob
 
The thing that stands out the most to me is that the behringer combo you are referring to doesn't have any midi in/outs. Also the two behringer products would have to be used together to do what the fast track pro does by itself. The fast track pro is a good interface for the price.
 
I agree with both of the previous posters about Fast Track Pro. Also it comes with Ableton Live Lite software.
 
I'm going to disagree with musicmachine here. The SM58 is a classic because it's a 40 year old design and lots of rock bands use it because they see lots of other rock bands also using it.

There are far nicer sounding microphones out there now. I've never tried a D5 on vocals but suspect it would sound smoother than the SM58 for spoken word stuff like a podcast. However, a better approach again would be to use the AT2020 and build yourself a little foam lined box to put the microphone in. (Even better would be to acoustically treat your studio but....yeah..) Also play with room position and mic aiming to minimise room noises--the aforementioned foam lined box behind the mic with curtains, other soft furniture or even a bookshelf full of paperbacks behind the speaker would probably make a lot of difference.

The SM58 is okay for screaming rock singers in a live situation (even then I need some channel EQ to tame the presence peak) but it would never be my first choice for quiet spoken word work.

Bob
 
I agree Bob.
The M-Audio is a reliable interface and will be easier to use.
Also it is great value for money.
I use something similar, the Tascam US-122L.
They both do a fine job, the features on the Behringer (EQ and so on) can all be altered in post production in your editing software- Logic or Cubase..
 
Bobbsy said:
I'm going to disagree with musicmachine here. The SM58 is a classic because it's a 40 year old design and lots of rock bands use it because they see lots of other rock bands also using it.
Click to expand...
I'm one of those rarities in that I think the 58 sucks.
I find them dull and lifeless sounding.
Even for live I won't use 'em, preferring EV by a very wide margin.
About the only thing I find the 58/57 to be good for is guitar cab micing and even then I prefer other mics.
 
I agree they're dull and lifeless...except for that little bit of unpleasant screech on the upper-mid presence peak.

My latest live favourites are the Audix OM series...OM5 and OM6 for most vocalists and the OM7 as my "get out of jail free card" for vocalists performing with a huge amount of noise around them, for example drummers. Far more sparkle and clarity-but still a nice warmth-than the dreaded SM58 even with little or no EQ on the channel strip.

I have SM58s in my mic box for those that demand them but have converted a number of bands by letting them try the Audix stuff.
 
Buncing said:
I am confused. I am looking up gear to create a podcast. I have an Audio Technica AT2020, but need a micriophone that won't pick up background noise.

So I am thinking of grabbing an AKG D5 or SM58.

That said, I need equipment to hook those mic's up to, and into the computer. I want to use USB because it will get rid of all the machine noise.

People keep recommending the M-Audio Fast Track pro. It retails for around $160. here is it.

However, I read something where they said this setup works well also

Behringer XENYX 802 8-Channel Compact Audio Mixer

Behringer UCA202 - Low Latency 2 Input / 2 Output USB/Audio Interface

Combined, a little over $70

Why is the M-audio over double the cost of the mixer and USB adapter? Wouldn't the mixer be even better because you can EQ the microphone and have 8 other channels?

Does the M-audio just sound better?

I am confused on where there is such a large price difference. You can find all of them at Bhphotovideo, I am unable to post links because I don't have 5 posts.
Click to expand...

Behringer makes the cheapest equipment on the market. You are looking at a cheap little 8 channel analog mixer. Then using a cheap little USB interface. They keep the prices low by using the absolute cheapest parts available in the world.

The M-Audio is an integrated multi-channel interface and will last better and sound better. It also has Midi I/O.


For a pod cast it probably doesn't matter.

The question you should be asking isn't "Why is the M-Audio over double the cost of the mixer and USB Adapter"
The question you should be asking is "Why is this Behringer equipment less than half the cost of all the other equipment?"
 
Thanks for all the information, it has helped alot.

Is the M-audio Fast Track MK2 as good (sound quality wise) as the M-audio Fast track pro?

I really only need a single microphone input, and the ability to adjust the gain(some background noise).

Also, of all the $100 Microphones, which would you suggest outside of the SM58? I am leaning toward the D5, but any other suggestions would be awesome.
 
Frankly, I repeat my advice to spend your money on reducing the background noise and using your existing AT microphone instead. The long term results will be much better. Move yourself closer to the mic, move you and the mic farther from the source of the noise, put some padding on a stand behind you, etc. etc. Changing from a good mic to a lesser one in the hope of reducing noise is a mugs game.

Maybe this is a good time to explain that sound follows the "inverse square law". If you were a foot from the mic and move to six inches, this quadruples the amount of your voice hitting the mic. Conversely, if the mic is 3 feet from a noisy computer fan and you move to 6 feet you quarter the background noise. Move to 12 feet and you quarter it again. If you halve your distance to the mic and double the noise's distance, your noise problem is an eighth what it was...and so on. Also, be aware of mic pick up patterns. Your AT is cardioid which means it has strong pickup from the front and practically none behind...so if you put soft stuff directly behind you, that cuts most of the problem reflections. A little tweaking can make a big difference.

Bob
 
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Bobbsy said:
Frankly, I repeat my advice to spend your money on reducing the background noise and using your existing AT microphone instead. The long term results will be much better. Move yourself closer to the mic, move you and the mic farther from the source of the noise, put some padding on a stand behind you, etc. etc. Changing from a good mic to a lesser one in the hope of reducing noise is a mugs game.

Maybe this is a good time to explain that sound follows the "inverse square law". If you were a foot from the mic and move to six inches, this doubles the amount of your voice hitting the mic. Conversely, if the mic is 3 feet from a noisy computer fan and you move to 6 feet you halve the background noise. Move to 12 feet and you quarter it. If you halve your distance to the mic and double the noise's distance, your noise problem is quartered...and so on. Also, be aware of mic pick up patterns. Your AT is cardioid which means it has strong pickup from the front and practically none behind...so if you put soft stuff directly behind you, that cuts most of the problem reflections. A little tweaking can make a big difference.

Bob
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I appreciate it Bob. I will give it a shot. Since it is a USB, and I am using callburner to record a raw audio track, I couldn't adjust the gain.

What I did do though, was turn the Windows recording levels (for the USB mic) way way down. It elminate 90 percent of the background noise. However, it lowered the sound of my vocal track very low. So that when I normalize it, or use a hard limiter, it makes it sound very boomy even at -3.

I will see what I can do about building an enclousre for the microphone.

A big issue I have is I have noise coming from all direction. The window to the right and behind me, and the door to the lef of me. I may set it up in a corner though.
 
My bad not noticing you had the USB version. That limits you a bit--and long term you'll probably want an interface and a conventional mic on XLR anyway. However, experience gained in sorting out the acoustics around you will apply equally to a new mic anyway.

As you've discovered, turning down the gain to reduce the noise just lowers all the levels but leaves the ratio between your voice and the noise the same. The trick is to make your voice louder compared to the noise.

Similarly, because the mic is directional, put the quietest part of the room behind you and the noisiest part behind the mic. If you make a simple "enclosure", don't put the mic right in it...just behind the mic. And put soft stuff behind you.

Good luck.
 
Since you are recording the podcast first (it appears), why not use Reaper (it's free to try out) to do the recording, you should be able to EQ and filter enough to do what you need.
 
Buncing said:
Does the XXXX just sound better? I am confused on where there is such a large price difference.
Click to expand...

Do you want to run out on the freeway in:
A) a $2500 Tata Motors city car
B) a $14k Chevy or
C) a $60k BMW

There different levels of equipment in EVERY hobby. YOU have to determine:
A) What you can afford
B) What will work for you
C) What level of quality you will accept

Getting just up from the 'bottom of the barrel' is usually a good choice with any tech.
The old adage "Buy cheap and you'll lose by having to buy twice" is good to keep in mind.
 
I agree with Bobbys that the room noise problem is best solved as he described. Buying a new mic & interface won't solve that problem. I suggest you consider spending $50-60 on low priced audio recording software instead of using callburner. Software dedicated to recording audio/music will give you more control & it will probably include some compressor options which might help with the background noise too (if used correctly). Bobbsy can probably explain that better than I can. Look at Reaper or Mixcraft 5. Just make sure your PC has the needed requirements. The AT2020 is a fine mic for what you're doing. Upgrade your software first. My 2 cents.
 
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