USB Microphones. Are they any good?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Doctor Varney
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Doctor Varney

Cave dwelling Luddite
I've seen a USB Mic going for a good price in a local shop and, it being a condenser type, am wondering if it might be worth buying. I currently use a dynamic mic, which is reliant on my Behringer 1204 mixer's pre-amps which I think are the source of hiss and my sound card - well, I don't know if that even works any more. I was thinking a USB mic would not be reliant on the audio I/O and that perhaps it would expand the range of computers (ie: my laptop) for more portable recording.

But I've heard some people say that USB mics aren't the best choice (for some reason). So I thought I'd ask your opinions. What do you think?

I don't know what model it is, but if USB is a good solution then I can always look it up and read reviews before I buy.

As many of you will by now be aware, I'm not singing and tracking over music. I'm literally tracking, one voice at a time, the spoken word. For now...

This one I've seen comes with recording software. Will many other DAWs detect a USB Mic?

Cheers

V
 
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USB microphones are good for *on the go* recordings.
At this point you may want to look at a Zoom H4n ... then dump that recording into your computer. Just a thought.
 
If this is just for voice work, not music, a USB mic will probably be ok for you - note the noise level may be no better than the Behr preamps, though.
 
mjbphotos said:
If this is just for voice work, not music, a USB mic will probably be ok for you - note the noise level may be no better than the Behr preamps, though.
Click to expand...

Oh!

Well, since USB doesn't rely on an analogue input and sound card, I thought it would be less prone to noisy recordings. Of course, everything is analogue up to the point where it hits a DAC but... Hmmm. So it could sound awful then? But it wouldn't be as quiet, would it? I mean I really struggle to get a decent input level with the Behry and the dynamic mic. It works, but once I've normalised the wave, I have to do a little bit of clean up.
 
Read all of that. Good work! Thanks, Bobbsy.
 
A $50 usb mic is actually >2< devices.

A $25 interface and a $25 mic..... ugh.....

Save your money, get a standard interface and standard XLR mics.
 
Right... well... USB mic ties me to the computer... and since I've been trying to minimize on my computer dependancy, I think I might as well put the £38 it's going to cost towards the MTR I'm aiming for. I admit, I was looking for a quick fix to get some work done. My dynamic mic at least works on the laptop. Sounds completely shit but it's good enough for learning lines and uploading to a dictaphone.

I have two main purposes for recording, you see. The first is personal, just an actor's tool to help me get lines down in record time. The other is for audio productions that I'm hoping to publish. For the former, I use my Olympus dictaphone (which has never let me down), the latter needs a bit of thought and consideration.
 
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