New MicroPhone, newbie. first time even touching a pro mic.

[rayc]

Kiwi & Australian pricesaa re astronomical & the import duties vary.
I can get a Zoom R16 by from Zounds for 1/2 the local cost but I'm not sure how much the NZ import duty would be.
Try ebay & get a used audio interface if you can. The Behri mixer will do as a work around but the sound isn't great - I have a collaborator I work with who uses one as his interface - there're often audio artifacts that have to be dealt with in the box (hum & hiss are prevelant).

 

[Bobbsy]

Okay, lotsa points here:

If you're using a 3.5mm socket on your computer, that's an unbalance input almost certainly to your onboard computer sound card. Onboard sound cards are pretty well always total rubbish--seriously, they are exactly one chip worth under a dollar. They're made for playing Youtube videos and making Skype calls, not any serious recording.

Yes, the Behringer mixer would work but it might not be ideal. The SM57 as a pretty low output level so even with the mixer you will likely be pushing the microphone pre amps up to a level where you'll here some audible noise (which will show up as a slight hiss for you). So yeah, it'll work but it's not ideal.

Your supplier is ripping you off even at New Zealand prices. A quick search found an NZ supplier of the FOCUSRITE SCARLETT 2i2 INTERFACE for $250. That's an interface with excellent pre amps. If that's a bit rich for you, here's an M AUDIO M TRACK, also in New Zealand, for $199. I recently bought one of these and it does what it says on the box and has enough gain for mics like the SM57. I don't know if Australia is any easier from a customs point of view but they're selling here pretty commonly for $139.

You've been ripped off comprehensively on your cables. Another quick search found a 10 foot XLR to XLR cable in New Zealand for $19.95. Even going for a name brand (Hosa) you could get a 30 foot cable for about $40. Your dealer is extracting the piss.

 

[ecc83]

I agree completely with those here that say go for an interface. But!

If you have to go for the mixer all is not as bad as painted IMHO (but if you possibly can go for the 802 not 502) . First mixer mic amplifier noise.
Now I know others here have had a different experience from me but I have run some numbers on my 802 and it compares very favourably with my NI KA6, Focusrite 8i6 and even an Allen & Heath zed10 mixer. I have used the 802 with an SM57 for acoustic guitar recording.

Then, a mixer has EQ controls and allows the problem of very close working, bass boost, to be cut, a facility you will not find on any AI I am aware of (some have HPFilters in software, 'spensive tho!). Working close and cutting LF also kills some room noise and poor acoustics.

The Behringer usb mixer is a 16bit only devices. This means their digital performance is compromised compared to a 24bit AI and you will have to record with levels a bit higher than with 24bits. However you should still keep levels down at -12dB on the recording software (?) and never allow peaks to exceed -6dB. Computers are NOT tape recorders! All the noise comes from the "outside" analogue path, there is nothing to be gained by recording "hot".

Lastly, I am convinced some people are upset with cheap usb audio devices because they do not set them up properly in Windows.

Dave.