Simple beginner Mic

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fingtam
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Fingtam

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Hi everyone, this is my first post in these forums.

For the last few years I have been writing songs and recording them with either the built in mic in my home computer or my video camera. Obviously, these are extremely low tech and haven't given me very good sound quality, but they were (almost) sufficient for my purposes, posting my songs on youtube for my friends to hear.

Last year I joined the military, and I still want to record my songs to impress my friends and family back home, but the mic on my laptop is even worse then the ones I used to use. I was thinking about just going to radio shack and picking up an external mic to plug into my laptop for $20, but I figure that anything in that price range would produce sound quality that is no better than the mics I have already used.

I tried doing some research on the internet, but I don't even know what to look for in a mic. I don't understand any of the specs or anything.

With that said, I would appreciate any help to assist me in finding my first half way decent mic. I'm not asking you to tell me what is the "best" mic within my price range, I just need to know what to look for so I can be educated and make the decision on my own. I'm not picky, I just want something that can record the range of a guitar and a voice without clipping off the top frequencies and without sounding totally distorted. I would also appreciate any advice on stores or websites that are good to buy from.

Thanks
 
The mic you select is dependent on what you intend to plug it into. Major issue- *Real mics do not connect directly to computers* Any digital, real sound recording combination or signal chain has to have a microphone, a preamp, and an analog to digital (A-D) converter. It just depends on the quality and location of those three key elements. In your computer mic setup, the mic is in the computer, and the preamp and A-D conversion are in your soundcard. And- as you have observed, *they suck- all three*. The standard approach these days is to use an audio interface, which the mic plugs into. It provides "phantom power" for those mics that require it (most condenser mics), and it contains preamp(s) and an A-D convertor, and sends the signal to the computer, usually by USB or firewire. It also, as a rule, provides a headphone amp with a separate gain control, and outputs for monitor speakers. This allows you to use most recording or live mics. It bypasses your cruddy soundcard, and becomes an external soundcard for the purposes of recording. I like this, especially if you are a guitarist:

Line 6 POD Studio UX2 | 8thstreet.com | Call 1-800-878-8882 | Free Shipping on most orders!

and this:

M-Audio Fast Track Pro | 8thstreet.com | Call 1-800-878-8882 | Free Shipping on most orders!

Both come with basic recording software. There are alternatives. The main ones are USB mics or USB line converters, and standalone recorder/controllers.

USB mics are mics with the preamp and AD converter built in. With one or two exceptions, they are pretty cheap, which means they don't have much better preamps or A-D conversion than your soundcard. Some give you a headphone jack, and some don't. Here's a middle-of-the-road unit with a headphone jack:

Blue Yeti | 8thstreet.com | Call 1-800-878-8882 | Free Shipping on most orders!

This is cheaper, but you don't get the multiple polar patterns of the Yeti, and you don't get a headphone jack. (Which you will come to regret, if you don't get it in some form)

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=41780&Category=Microphones

Downsides: You pay for a mic that won't plug into any proper recording equipment, and you are stuck with a low quality preamp and A-D converter that you can't upgrade.

There are also cheap (and not so cheap) in line converters that contain a preamp and an A-D converter, which you can plug any mic into. Well, at least you can use any mic you want, but the quality of the cheap ones isn't very good, and the higher priced ones are really just audio interfaces that are missing half of the bells and whistles. Here's a cheap one (no headphone jack):

Marshall Electronics MXL Mic Mate / USB | 8thstreet.com | Call 1-800-878-8882 | Free Shipping on most orders!

Here's a better one (with a headphone jack):

CEntrance MicPort Pro | 8thstreet.com | Call 1-800-878-8882 | Free Shipping on most orders!

My personal choice is the standalone/controller. This can record all by itself, has built in stereo mics, and you can plug other mics into it. It can also be used to record direct to computer, so it acts as an interface, or as standalone recorder. It can dump audio files to a computer, import computer files, can run on batteries, off the wall, or by USB power.
Upsides- simultaneous multitrack recording, compact/portable, much more versatile, can function with or without a computer. Most important- when you have upgraded to better equipment, it will still be useful as an audio thinkpad, a remote recorder, and the scratchpad of a recording artist.
Downside- it simply costs more. I use this:

[url=https://en.audiofanzine.com/pocket-recorder-multitrack/zoom/H4/user_reviews/]Zoom H4n | 8thstreet.com | Call 1-800-878-8882 | Free Shipping on most orders![/url]

Finally, the mics themselves. Once you have something *to plug the mic into* I recommend a cheap dynamic and a cheap condenser. They have different applications. I like this (dirt cheap):

Behringer XM8500A | 8thstreet.com | Call 1-800-878-8882 | Free Shipping on most orders!

and this (fairly cheap):

Marshall Electronics MXL V67G | 8thstreet.com | Call 1-800-878-8882 | Free Shipping on most orders!

I hope that helps. Please post back and let us know what you did, and how it worked out.-Richie
 
Thanks for the help guys.
Rich, I looked through the products that you recommended, and it looks like I am going to have to spend a lot more money than I was hoping. Partially because I didn't know I will be needing anything more than just a mic. I'm going to weigh my options carefully. I don't want to dump a whole lot of cash into a hobby before I really know I am committed to it.

Anyways, there were two products that you listed that interest me more than the others.
1. The Blue Yeti. I like the idea of this one because I don't have to worry about a whole bunch of different components because they are all in one. I have two questions about this. First, is there anything else I would have to buy to go along with it, like cables or anything? Second, you mentioned that the preamp and A-D converter in this probably is not much better than the ones in my sound card. How much is "not much"? I have no interest in spending $150 on a unit that sounds the same as he one I am already using. When I use the mic on my computer, you can't even hear what I am singing. It's not even music; just noise.
You did describe this unit as "middle-of-the-road", which is all I care about. I don't need it to be crystal clear. I just want music that isn't totally distorted. Is there any way I could hear a sample of something recorded on one of these so I can judge for myself if the sound quality is sufficient for my needs?


2. The Zoom H4n. This is much more than I was hoping to spend, but I won't rule it out yet. What I like about that one is that it is also all inclusive, but I can opt to upgrade to better microphones, and still use it if I ever get more serious about home recording. My biggest question is the quality of the built in microphone. Is it good enough to use all by itself, or would I have to buy another mic to go along with it?
 
The Blue Yeti isn't a bad idea nor is the H4n. There's also the Samson G Track Samson GM1U G-Track USB Mic at zZounds which will allow you an extra line in and is as much an audio interface as it is a microphone.
The only problem with these is that you are pretty much left with them once you move on.
You can certainly use the mics for Skype and such or use the H4n for lectures.
B.L.U.E. also makes the Blue Icicle which turns any mic into a USB mic but in all honesty, at some time you have to bite the bullet and get the right gear.
Sorry!
 
Hey guys, I found a blue yeti on Ebay for $109 witch is about $40 less than I have seen it anywhere else. That is the one I was leaning towards buying in the first place, so I think I am going to to with that one.
Thanks for all the help.
 
If I was in your shoes, I would hit craigslist or the like and see what the world holds used. I have tons of gear now, and over half of it used... Used is not a dirty word. Test before you buy, research online and even download a pdf of the manual to make sure it will work for your needs.

And back to the OP's quest: I would take that zoom for a test drive. Do you have a music store you could rent one from locally? Just to try before you buy?
 
Will the Yeti sound better than what you've been using? Almost certainly. Is the mic (actually 2 of them) on the Zoom better than what you've been using? Yes. Anything you buy from the suggestions above will be an upgrade. If the Yeti works for you, don't worry about the things it doesn't do, and be happy.-Richie
 
canada_rokzz said:
If I was in your shoes, I would hit craigslist or the like and see what the world holds used. I have tons of gear now, and over half of it used... Used is not a dirty word. Test before you buy, research online and even download a pdf of the manual to make sure it will work for your needs.

And back to the OP's quest: I would take that zoom for a test drive. Do you have a music store you could rent one from locally? Just to try before you buy?
Click to expand...

Used, yes used will see you through times with little cash.
 
heck yeah!!! you can find some used stuff just like new.
 
Just so you all know, I did end up buying the Yeti and I haven't regretted it. It's been good to me so far.

Here is one of the first videos I made with it. This is so much fun. :)

YouTube - Sweet Child o' Mine
 
Thanks everyone! I appreciate the encouragement.


That was great Fingtam!!! I was kinda waiting for the vocals to come in though.
Click to expand...
haha. I'm not much of a singer, so it's purely instrumentals for me.
And the tuning that I use is the standard gCEA
 
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