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Location: Sydney, Australia | SWMBO wants to get me a Valentines Day present. I'm watching what I eat, so chocolate is not a good idea and a new guitar is a bit over the top.
I'm thinking about this USB microphone . Has anyone used them or it's non-USB equivalent. I'm not going to do "professional" recording (who'd pay for what I'd produce) but I'd like to get some stuff into GarageBand. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Wow, I've never even heard of garageband.com
I'm sure I'm the last goober on the planet that hasn't heard of it.
Thanks for turning me on
(don't know nothing about usb mikes, either) |
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Location: Cicero, NY | I think JW picked up a usb mic a while back and recorded some noises with it. He might be able to give you a review. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I have the Samson USB. Damn good mic for the $. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by darkbarguitar:
Wow, I've never even heard of garageband.com
I was actually referring to this GarageBand |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
I have the Samson USB. Damn good mic for the $. The Samson is about $A50 more ($US30) is it worth the extra spend? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | If you have a regular mic you might also consider getting an Icicle which would allow you to use the USB port on a computer.
I got one for my son and it is very well built and works extremely well. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | That looks good, but at this point I don't have any microphone and am looking for the cheapest solution to get a reasonable microphone for not too much over $A100 ($US62 :mad: ). The pure USB solution looks cheaper than getting a microphone plus an adaptor.
Also, is a cheaper condenser microphone better than a more expensive brand dynamic microphone in the same price range? |
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Location: big island | richard,
i have a samson C01U i purchased last year but never once used it. if you have an interest, i'll sell it for $60(US) plus shipping. i do not know what shipping will cost at the moment but i might be able to give a reasonable estimate.
pm me if interested. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | What are you gonna do with it Richard? Vocals? |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Primarily vocals into the computer, but possibly recording Marlene on the piano as well. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | 'on' the piano, or 'playing' the piano?  |
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Location: NJ | junk |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Al, at what brand/mike does "junk" end and "reasonably decent" start? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I can't attest to the quality of the Behringer but, the Samson is a good value. I've recorded "some sounds" with it and have no complaints. I'd buy it again. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I'm not expert but in my limited experience it seems that mics are one fo the most solid examples of "you get what you pay for". Yes there are bargins to be had, but in the grand scheme of things there's no $50 mic that's gonna sound like a $500 mic. And none of those are gonna sound like a $5000. mic.
Now, that being said, at a given price range lets say maybe $200 there are better and worse choices, but they are all sorta "$200. mics" you know what I mean.
I don't have any really "good" mics - and my recordingss sound like it, unfortunately. I use MXL, Octavia and Rode. I just can't justify stepping up into the big leagues of mics. Voice lessons would probably produce at least as much improvement.
Anyway, just my 2 sense. You can buy some good looking mics for not much money. But a real studio will spend more on their stand than I do on my mic. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Hay, another stupid question. What the hell is a USB mic? I'm guessing duh! you plug it into your USB jack. So where is the mic preamp ???
Sorry if this is a stupid question, maybe I'm just old school. |
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Location: NJ | the USB is a gimmick
get a good mic and use a good interface and you are further along than buying a proprietary mic for a single purpose
when in doubt think neumann |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Dave, you should send your Oktava mics to Michael Joly and have him upgrade the electronics. I don't know which models you have (and he doesn't do them all) but I had some $99 specials that he upgraded and they now compare favorably to some mics I have used that cost around $1000.
Is it gonna sound like a Neumann or a Royer or a Blue....of course not but they are pretty damn good for the money.
OktavaMod |
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Location: Utah | MXL mics get very good reviews in the less-expensive range. We have a large condenser MXL that does not have USB, and we run it through a USB interface box (Lexicon Alpha). For home recording, I cannot imagine how it would be worth spending 10x the money on a mic!
Check out the user reviews on Musiciansfriend dot come or on Harmony-central dot com. You'll see that some brands get mostly good reviews and others get mostly bad reviews, and the information can help you differentiate between several choices.
Though the initial investment is a bit more, get a regular mic and then plug it into a USB interface box to your computer. You'll then be able to expand to plugging guitars in, or a second mic, or a guitar and a mic, etc. If you can afford it, it is worth the added cost. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Why would mics be any different than guitars?
Doesn't a $1000 guitar sound and play better than $100?
Why then wouldn't you think that a $1000 mic would sound much better than a $100 mic?
Of course, if you are using a usb interface, then you are absolutely correct.....only as good as the weakest link.
It would be like playing an expensive guitar with rusty strings. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | I think that's an excellent parallel, T. They shouldn't be considered any different than guitars but I think some of us might be missing the point here. If someone can't or simply doesn't want to spend $5k for a spectacular Collings or Martin and they only want an everyday $750 Tak because they just want to learn on it, we should be encouraging him, shouldn't we?
Personally I think it's more like playing an entry level guitar with good strings. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | My point exactly Mr Patrick!
Don't think or assume that just because it is a "home" recording that the mic won't make a difference and that $100 will get you a $1000 worth of sound.
Now....if all you want to do is lay down some budget tracks to see how you sound and you never want to try and improve your recordings, then by all means grab a usb mic for $50 and plug it into a $75 interface and go to town.
As a matter of fact, I got a used cassette deck around here somewhere that could be used.
For me, IMHO I try to never let my equipment be my limiting factor. If people think I suck, it will never be because I did not have the means to do it properly.....and that doesn't mean dropping 5K or 10K on recording gear. Start off modestly and then build your way up. It took me over 10 years to build my stereo/home theater system to a level I was satisfied with but I found it infinitely cheaper to save up and buy what I wanted one piece at a time rather than buy junk, have to sell it for a loss and then buy something a bit better, sell it, buy something a bit better, etc.....
All I am trying to say (in a rather wordy way) is to have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish with home recording and then don't take shortcuts that will be costly to correct down the road.
Damn.....I just confused myself and don't even know what the hell I am talking about anymore.
Weazy.....you gonna pay for this when we hang out together! |
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Location: Cicero, NY | And I look forward to every minute of it. :D |
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USB Microphone
