Microphone HELP PLEASE!!!

[frankie420]

Hey everyone....I want to buy my girlfriend a mic for her birthday and I was looking at this one mic in particular:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--RODNT1A

Can it connect to a Macbook and how would it happen? If you can suggest a better home Mic to hook up to a MacBook that is comparable to that one it would be greatly appreciated..

PS. I have no clue what I'm doing here...please help!

 

[Bisson820]

i need to know a few things...

what specifically does she want to do with it?

what instruments?

how much you willing to spend?

.... what oyu will need


*not recommended*

getting a mic with a USB input

*recommended*

getting a recording interface (its a gateway to get from microphone to computer)

and getting a good microphone depending on what she will be doing... guitar? vocals?

if its any instrument.. i suggest the Shure SM57 ($100)

If its vocals... it really can depend.

so fill me in on a those things and i'll try to help you from there!

 

[suprstar]

You need some type of interface with a mic pre and phantom power. It can be something as simple as a 1 channel usb mic pre:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Icicle/

to a USB mixer that streams 2 channels to your computer:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MultiMix8USB/

to a big 8 channel firewire interface that streams all inputs separately:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FireStuProj/

There's nothing wrong with USB as long as you're only doing a couple channels at once. If you need 4+ mics, then firewire is the way to go. But for one mic, USB is fine. Whatever you get, know that any condensor mic requires phantom power. Bisson is right tho, there MAY be a better mic depending on what you need it for. SM57 is great on guitar cabs and snares and hi-toms, not the best choice for vox.. NT1 is a far better vox mic.

 

[frankie420]

I like the idea of the Icicle and she needs the mic mainly for vocals but she also has a bass guitar she might record with....but mainly vocals.

Any Mic recommendations for $150 - $200 that work with the Icicle?

 

[darrin_h2000]

Buy a used AT3035...I bought mine for ony $50 and its exellent on just about everything

 

[frankie420]

OK! We're getting somewhere!

Thanks for all the help so far but I have more questions!

I'm going to go with the Blue Icicle for power and the AT3035 with shock mount....but what the hell do I attach the Mic to? Not a normal mic stand right?

Help please! I'm forever in all your debt!

 

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Frankie! The AT3035 is a perfectly good basic condenser mic, and should work fine for vocals. Like most condensers, it can be sensitive to popping from aspirated consonants like "P's", so plan on a pop filter, such as:

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=41613&Category=Recording_Accessories

The icicle will work, but has limited monitoring capabilites (no headphone output), and you may (or may not) experience some latency (delay) issues if you are trying to monitor through the laptop's headphone out.And given its price, the preamp and A-D conversion are *seriously* entry-level. Aside from being dirt-cheap, it has the advantage of being extremely portable.

As soon as funds become available, consider upgrading to an interface, which will be powered by the laptop's USB, and will offer direct instrument input for the bass, such as:

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=12031&Category=Audio_Interfaces.

Have no fear- the shockmount is made to screw onto a standard mic stand. So the hookup is: Mic > XLR cable > XLR input on whatever interface you are using > USB cable out > USB input on laptop. If she doesn't already have recording software, you can download Audacity for free, or buy the more versatile Reaper for about $50.

Hope this helps- good luck.-Richie

 

[frankie420]

Richie and Everyone,

Thanks everybody for the sound advice and now I know what to get her for her birthday! Thanks!

-Frankie420