Need help on picking a mic or headset for vocals

  • Thread starter Thread starter SingMyPart
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SingMyPart

New member
Non-professional here.

I have been using a Radio Shack dynamic mic and a pair of cheap earphones to record directly into Sony Vegas, mostly vocals.

I would like to get a better microphone and headphones, or a headset with both, and still be able to record directly into Sony Vegas. I don't want to add any other equipment, I want to continue to record directly into the computer. What are the pros and cons of a USB mic versus the ones that use the 1/8" port on the computer? Or is an all in one headset better? I need to also get a pop filter; is it possible to add one on the headset mics? My budget for the mic and headphones is about $150. I would probably go up to $400 if I could be convinced that its that much better.

Other question is if it is possible to set something up so I can hear the track currently being recorded in the headphones. What I hear now is just the tracks I've already recorded. I would like to hear the new track and the already recorded tracks in the headphones.

Thank you.
 
Well, here it is-

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=42789&Category=Audio_Interfaces

I don't know how good a mic it is, but it's probably better than Rat Shack. You get your headphone jack, and another input. Here's the upside and downside of USB mics:
Upside: It bypasses the cruddy preamp in your computer's soundcard
Downside: It forces you to use the cruddy preamp in the USB mic.

Most people on this board would probably agree that this is not the best way to do it, but given the restrictions you have put in place, it's the best I can do. -Richie
 
hey...

the shure sm57 is a standard all around mic. it's not typically used for vocals, but it does work and they're only about 100 to 150 dollars.

as far as pop screens go... a coat hanger and an old pair of nylons can be substituted if you're on a serious budget. haha.

s
 
haymedic said:
hey...

the shure sm57 is a standard all around mic. it's not typically used for vocals, but it does work and they're only about 100 to 150 dollars.
s
Click to expand...

Heck It's good enough for the Who in live vocals (back in the day)
 
Lindsey Buckingham used it for over 20 years live too.
 
Thank you. Just to make sure I understand, these mics will allow me to hear the already recorded tracks plus the new one through the headphones (I think I read somewhere this is called "input monitoring")?
 
I'm not sure what you mean by "these mics". I believe the G-track will, if I understand their product description. The SM57 discussed above won't, and it doesn't plug into a computer at all. It requires a separate interface. The interface provides analog to digital conversion, preamps, and headphone access. The SM57, while a perfectly good mic, is not what you asked for.-Richie
 
Richard Monroe said:
I'm not sure what you mean by "these mics". I believe the G-track will, if I understand their product description. The SM57 discussed above won't, and it doesn't plug into a computer at all. It requires a separate interface. The interface provides analog to digital conversion, preamps, and headphone access. The SM57, while a perfectly good mic, is not what you asked for.-Richie
Click to expand...

he's right... sorry, i didn't realize that it was about USB mics... i don't know ANYTHING about USB mics so i'll shut up now. :)

s
 
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