USB Mics Anyone?

[Angelface]

I'm looking for an easy to use mic that's inexpensive for me to record demos of guitar, piano, and vocals...my guitar teacher recommended a USB mic...are there anyones that are really good?

Phil

 

[sdelsolray]

I'm looking for an easy to use mic that's inexpensive for me to record demos of guitar, piano, and vocals...my guitar teacher recommended a USB mic...are there anyones that are really good?

Phil

Dunno if they're any good. If you get one though, I think you won't be able to add a second one. You would not be able to record with two mics at the same time (stereo).

 

[petermiller]

I'm looking for an easy to use mic that's inexpensive for me to record demos of guitar, piano, and vocals...my guitar teacher recommended a USB mic...are there anyones that are really good?

Phil

For your demo approach to recording for your own reference they are ok. The only one that I know of right now is the Samson C01 and the two new ones the multi pattern cond. + the Dynamic. Rode has one slated to be out shortly that will of course be of much better quality than the Samson. I would go with a external USB interface to give you better conversion + phantom power + more inputs or at least stereo if you feel the need.

 

[slidey]

SE electronics have one I think

welcome to the forum

 

[sdelsolray]

I would go with a external USB interface to give you better conversion + phantom power + more inputs or at least stereo if you feel the need.

A USB mic will not work with a standrd USB interface, which has standard preamps. That's the point of a USB mic - it has a preamp and converter built into it. You just plug it into the USB port on your computer.

 

[rushofblood]

Blue put one out recently too, the snowball

 

[_Niko_]

I would avoid them
Thing is, to use them in recording applications they are presenting themselves as an input only USB audio device. Since they don't offer output you're stuck with monitoring through another soundcard. Now if you use ASIO drivers for your soundcard there is a problem 'cause the ASIO protocol does only permit the use of one driver at a time. So how do you monitor what you're recording? The Samson mic comes with an ASIO driver, the Blue one seemingly not, which means it uses the standard windows usb audio driver, which has a high latency, making realtime monitoring impossible (no fun singing while hearing everything with a 500 msec delay . At least that's my understanding from what I've read about them, so far. If anyone has different experience please correct me.
Also I personally find a Microphone that needs a computer to work at all, not a good thing.
Better get a cheap conventional Condenser and a small preamp or sound interface with preamp. Maybe a little less convenient to carry around but a better investment in the long run, me thinks.

 

[slidey]

I would avoid them
Thing is, to use them in recording applications they are presenting themselves as an input only USB audio device. Since they don't offer output you're stuck with monitoring through another soundcard. Now if you use ASIO drivers for your soundcard there is a problem 'cause the ASIO protocol does only permit the use of one driver at a time. So how do you monitor what you're recording? The Samson mic comes with an ASIO driver, the Blue one seemingly not, which means it uses the standard windows usb audio driver, which has a high latency, making realtime monitoring impossible (no fun singing while hearing everything with a 500 msec delay . At least that's my understanding from what I've read about them, so far. If anyone has different experience please correct me.
Also I personally find a Microphone that needs a computer to work at all, not a good thing.
Better get a cheap conventional Condenser and a small preamp or sound interface with preamp. Maybe a little less convenient to carry around but a better investment in the long run, me thinks.

the dude with a laptop & a want to just put down his acoustic or A-tuned spoons or whatever isn't thinking about the ins & outs of the quality or what's going on in the puter he just wants a sketch. One might not even be monitoring whilst recording

it's a case of have laptop/puter whatever with rec S/ware buy USB mic can record. Hence the start of a multi million selling triple album

obviously it's better to buy the individual bits & bobs, but as the guy said "just demos"

I wouldn't buy one BUT for ease factor & easiest route to 1st recordings why not.......

 

[Gargamel]

When they come out with a true bypass USB mic i'm in.


lol

 

[petermiller]

A USB mic will not work with a standrd USB interface, which has standard preamps. That's the point of a USB mic - it has a preamp and converter built into it. You just plug it into the USB port on your computer.

I meant instead of a usb Mic !!!!! The use of a usb mic is rather obvious