I need help with choosing a mic

  • Thread starter Thread starter fox929
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mjdx88 said:
I would be a little uneasy about how clean the signal is coming in to your computer. I would recommend, going a nice interface. One of which that has been recommended.

As far as the mic goes, 635A, RE50 are both great mics that are on a professional level. Spend the rest of the your budget on a nice pop filter, and stand. You can pick up a better mic later when you become more serious.
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Yep, your right. The signal has this annoying hissing sound...its ever so annoying!

Hmm what if I go low budget for a microphone? Something like.. this?

http://www.cannonsound.com.au/p/579864/jts-universal-microphone-stand-base.html

http://www.cannonsound.com.au/p/838...r-mic-w-3-capsules-led-low-cut--10db-pad.html

Specs here ---> http://www.jts.com.tw/_english/02_products/03_detail.php?MainID=5&SID=26&ID=81

From here? https://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/view/2635/jts-gooseneck-microphone/

I think the main problem here is that i've got a low budget....in Australian dollars. Whilst I love the RE-20, it's over my price range when converted to Australian dollars :(

I'd love a gooseneck to be honest :) but what do you guys think?
 
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OK, you are starting to get it. Consider this:

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=41822&Category=Microphones

No preamp or interface required- made in Australia!! All you need is a kick drum mic stand, which works fine as a desk stand, as in:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/ProLine-Low-Profile-Boom-Microphone-Stand?sku=454312

and a pop filter (also an Australian product)-

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=44633&Category=Recording_Accessories

and you are good to go. I didn't know you were in Australia, or I would have started with Rode right off the bat, The tariffs can kill you. Rode also makes the Broadcaster, a higher end mic specifically for broadcast work, but it is quite a bit more pricey, and then you are back to needing a preamp/interface. Regardless of what appeals to your enthusiasm, for what you want to do, given your budget, a USB mic simply makes sense, and Rode customer service and support are second to none. Good luck-Richie
 
Richard Monroe said:
OK, you are starting to get it. Consider this:

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=41822&Category=Microphones

No preamp or interface required- made in Australia!! All you need is a kick drum mic stand, which works fine as a desk stand, as in:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/ProLine-Low-Profile-Boom-Microphone-Stand?sku=454312

and a pop filter (also an Australian product)-

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=44633&Category=Recording_Accessories

and you are good to go. I didn't know you were in Australia, or I would have started with Rode right off the bat, The tariffs can kill you. Rode also makes the Broadcaster, a higher end mic specifically for broadcast work, but it is quite a bit more pricey, and then you are back to needing a preamp/interface. Regardless of what appeals to your enthusiasm, for what you want to do, given your budget, a USB mic simply makes sense, and Rode customer service and support are second to none. Good luck-Richie
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Hmm sounds good. Although..still out of my budget uh oh :( wish there was some kind of money tree haha. I will however, still consider it though.

Back to that gooseneck for a sec..it would be considerably cheaper - $119.99 for the Gooseneck itself with the LED and the cable; and then the base being the same price.

Seeing that it can be powered by batteries for phantom power, would that be able to be plugged into my computer? From XLR to 1/4inch Jack? Or not? Cause if it could, that would be my best option. And when I get more into it, i'll take a look at the Broadcaster by Rode and so forth.

Thanks Richard..it's muchly appreciated!!
 
fox929 said:
Seeing that it can be powered by batteries for phantom power, would that be able to be plugged into my computer? From XLR to 1/4inch Jack? Or not? Cause if it could, that would be my best option. And when I get more into it, i'll take a look at the Broadcaster by Rode and so forth.
Click to expand...

The power issue is only part of the equation. You would still need to amplify the signal and perform a quality A/D conversion. That's where the combo preamp/interface comes in.

I would be a little leery of the gooseneck microphones. They're not really designed for what you're after.

If you move quick, here's a buy on a RODE in the AU: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-RODE-PROCASTER-DYNAMIC-MICROPHONE_W0QQitemZ290310511117QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Pro_Audio?hash=item290310511117&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Pair that with an Icicle or MicPortPro, and you're set.
 
KineticSound said:
The power issue is only part of the equation. You would still need to amplify the signal and perform a quality A/D conversion. That's where the combo preamp/interface comes in.

I would be a little leery of the gooseneck microphones. They're not really designed for what you're after.

If you move quick, here's a buy on a RODE in the AU:

Pair that with an Icicle or MicPortPro, and you're set.
Click to expand...

Ahh, the Procaster was one of the ones I actually was looking at about a week ago...and didn't know if it was the right one!

Thanks very much! Although the NT1-A was second in thought...so i'll choose one between those two next time I go out.

And that Icicle thing...i'll definitely look into that. Thanks! :)
 
See all of the above. The answer is NO!!!! You ***can't*** plug an XLR mic level output directly into a computer. First, you need a mic preamp, and then you need analog to digital conversion. You can ask the question as many different ways as you want to, but it still won't work.-Richie
 
I get it I get it lol.

Ok...so when I get the icicle component thing, which would you guys think would be better?

The Rode Procaster, or the NT1-A?
 
fox929 said:
I'd love a gooseneck to be honest :) but what do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Bad Idea...after seeing how much you will have to spend on this hobby...you dont want your wife to be able to strangle you with only one hand.
:eek:
 
^ That was funny. And admit you have a valid point lol!

Still...love the Goosenecks :)
 
I think the Procaster is a better choice than NT1a for your application. First, it is more like the big time studio dynamics you will use in a real studio, and secondly, based on your budget, I doubt you have a well prepared studio space to work in. The Procaster, by it's design, is likely to pick up less annoying background/computer noise. If the budget here is an issue, you don't even want to know what it costs to silence a computer.-Richie
 
^ Yeah fair point. I'll skip the NT1-A then. Plus, Procaster is in the budget by about $45, so it'll give me more money to put towards a stand/shock mount and Icicle thing.

Thanks :).

Just browsing an online shop in Aus... is this of any help? I have no idea.

http://www.new-media.com.au/Behringer-PS400-Phantom-Power-Supply-pr-2453.html

Hmm and just looking at this, we have this at school for guitars

http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/i..._details?category_id=22637&product_id=1197154

I suppose both of them are a no go?
 
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Ok so i've bought a Mbox2 Mini, and it's on its way. So now I have an interface...so it should be good from here!

I still like the goosenecks though...like the AKG ESP 30E and the CK 47 Microphone capsule. Would that be alright? It's most probably because I have a station here in Australia that I absolutely love...love their setup, their equipment, everything! So I don't see why it wouldn't be alright?

Unless the RE-20 would be better?

Thoughts?
 
Realistic 1070

danhughes said:
I managed a radio station and taught broadcasting for 26 years. Both the RE20 and the SM7 are certainly fantastic microphones, and the Sennheiser 421 is also great. (All the great WLS SuperJocks used the 421).

But all three of these mics are quite expensive.

Someone else suggested the EV635A, and I concur. You can get one for less than $100:

http://tinyurl.com/cyqb7a

This mic has been used in radio since the 1960's, and it is also used by TV news standup field reporters. It is probably the best-selling radio microphone of all time.

The EV RE50 is the same mic as the 635A, with a better pop filter built in, and less handling noise. (Handling noise is not an issue if the mic is mounted on an arm). The EV RE50 costs about $150:

http://tinyurl.com/d6zq7t

You can't go wrong with either of these, and then you can get one of the more expensive mics later if you stick with the biz.

You do need to know that it is difficult to find an on-air radio job nowadays, and nigh on impossible to find one that pays a living wage.

---Dan, http://danhughes.net
Click to expand...

The Realistic 1070b is an RE50 clone made by Shure for Radio Shack and can be had for around $20 used. The 1070c and 1070d are the same mic but they're black. The 1070d costs the most because it has the magic word Shure on the label.

It's a clone in that it's a look alike. It actually has an extended frequency response which makes it less good for eng (recording interviews in the field) but better for voice over and recording music.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
A little bit off topic

Hi,

I do voice over for my Something Blue radio show and podcast.

http://sbblues.com

I have a deep radio voice that really sounds good with my Blues and Jazz programming. I have used many of the mics mentioned. But now I'm using a weird little setup. And I like it the best.

I record into the internal mic on my Iriver H320. This is basically a mono dictaphone mic. I use USB to attach the Iriver to my computer. Then I use Audacity to make it stereo (2 track mono, really). I use a high pass filter at 120 hz and I boost 2 db at 200 and 400. I use SAW Classic for post but that's another story. I've been doing this for about twenty years and I'm set in my ways. I used to run SAW on windows 3.1.

I told you it was weird. But you can listen to my podcast and hear the results.

I did this when we had an ice storm and I didn't have power so the little Iriver was very attractive. I was actually using it as a USB key when I had to do some voiceover so I thought I'd try it. I don't even need a wind screen or to be in real close.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
Well guys, thanks for the input!

Decided for the Electrovoice RE20, and it looks sweet! Should be coming in the next month or so.

Sorry if I was repetitive in my questions..I wasn't tech minded with microphones much, so you guys have helped heaps!

Now it's time to sell the Mbox2 Mini for an Mbox2 haha!

Thanks guys! :)
 
Well been a while since i've been on here!

I've now got the RE-20 and am still using the Mbox2 Mini...have a laptop and a desktop, use the desktop to record and laptop when i'm out and about. Just waiting for a K&M 25960 Stand to come in and it can be mounted for when it's being used. I've also got three other mics through family members since they thought i'd find some use for them....two good ones, and another old one but its still a goodie.

I have a question though, and if anyone can help me, that would be awesome! If I am trying to broadcast on radio, from a location outside the studio, how would I go about doing that? Should I start a new thread in another sub-forum? :S
 
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