Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
It depends on your needs...and I'm not just talking about sound quality.
Some USB mics can sound okay--similar to non-USB mics in the same price range. However, there are a number of drawbacks. First, you're stuck with that one mic and, as you get into recording, you'll quickly find you want a choice depending on what you're recording. A good vocal mic probably won't be so good on instruments and vice versa. Similarly, with most computers and DAWS you can only use one USB mic at a time, ruling out recording in stereo or having one mic on your voice and the other on your guitar.
Another issue can be monitoring. Very few USB mics let you monitor via the mic (and those that do often have limitations). Using the USB to record and you inbuilt sound card for monitoring will result in quite a long round trip and pretty serious latency.
So, the answer is: yes you can get away with a USB mic but going this route paints you into a corner in terms of any ability to expand or change. Although a mic and basic 2 channel interface may be slightly more expensive now, the saving will disappear as soon as you decide you want to expand or change.
Some USB mics can sound okay--similar to non-USB mics in the same price range. However, there are a number of drawbacks. First, you're stuck with that one mic and, as you get into recording, you'll quickly find you want a choice depending on what you're recording. A good vocal mic probably won't be so good on instruments and vice versa. Similarly, with most computers and DAWS you can only use one USB mic at a time, ruling out recording in stereo or having one mic on your voice and the other on your guitar.
Another issue can be monitoring. Very few USB mics let you monitor via the mic (and those that do often have limitations). Using the USB to record and you inbuilt sound card for monitoring will result in quite a long round trip and pretty serious latency.
So, the answer is: yes you can get away with a USB mic but going this route paints you into a corner in terms of any ability to expand or change. Although a mic and basic 2 channel interface may be slightly more expensive now, the saving will disappear as soon as you decide you want to expand or change.