USB mics
-
oscarcahue
- bugler
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2019 4:06 pm
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: USB mics
USB mics are trash for the most part.
Recommend buying your choice of a XLR Mic + USB Audio Interface. (Such as the behringer or focusrite models $50-$100)
Recommend buying your choice of a XLR Mic + USB Audio Interface. (Such as the behringer or focusrite models $50-$100)
1940 Conn 32k Sousaphone
1962 Conn 20k Sousaphone
1920 Conn 38k Sousaphone
Wessex Bb Mighty Midget
Reynolds Contempora Bb Tuba
1965 King 1250 Sousaphone (Sold)
1962 Conn 20k Sousaphone
1920 Conn 38k Sousaphone
Wessex Bb Mighty Midget
Reynolds Contempora Bb Tuba
1965 King 1250 Sousaphone (Sold)
-
Renodoc
- bugler
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2018 9:59 pm
- Location: Reno, NV
Re: USB mics
Thanks- This is why I'm asking! New territory for me.
Andy Pasternak
Family Doc in the Biggest Little City
Hirsbrunner HB7
Family Doc in the Biggest Little City
Hirsbrunner HB7
-
GC
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1800
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 5:52 am
- Location: Rome, GA (between Rosedale and Armuchee)
Re: USB mics
Even an XLR mike and a cheap mixer with USB output should work well. The specs of inexpensive mixers have improved radically over the years, and they provide a lot of flexibility. The mike is still the major factor in determining sound quality. Avoid cheap mikes with poor noise rejection.
Then again, there are tons of dedicated recorders with excellent stereo mikes built-in . . . tons. When you're through recording you either plug the recorder into your computer or plug in the memory card.
Then again, there are tons of dedicated recorders with excellent stereo mikes built-in . . . tons. When you're through recording you either plug the recorder into your computer or plug in the memory card.
JP/Sterling 377 compensating Eb; Warburton "The Grail" T.G.4, RM-9 7.8, Yamaha 66D4; for sale > 1914 Conn Monster Eb (my avatar), ca. 1905 Fillmore Bros 1/4-size Eb, Bach 42B trombone
-
Rick Denney
- Resident Genius
- Posts: 6650
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:18 am
- Contact:
Re: USB mics
I've been systematically recording my LP's onto a computer, so I can put them on a thumb drive and play them in the car, and also so I can put them on my phone.
Focusrite is a good brand, and probably the best low-cost audio-digital converter. Behringer, though, makes very good mixers for the price, though they don't all have USB outputs, so be careful. Tascam also has several models. The problem with most of these is needing good microphone preamp controls to manage input gain, and that's why a mixer is easier to use than a straight interface. Make sure what you buy has a gain control for the microphone input.
Also, if you use a condenser microphone, which is probably the best quality, you'll need phantom power. Most mixers have phantom power output to power the microphone condenser preamp (in the mic), but few regular audio interfaces do. I recently found two different Electro-Voice condenser microphones used on ebay for under $75, and these are much better than the usual dynamic mic that we used to call "road mics".
In the end, I found (preowned and priced well below the new price) a high-end audio converter that takes baseband audio (output from the phono preamp in my Adcom preamplifier) and digitizes it for the computer. It's a Benchmark ADC-1 USB--but really too pricey for most folks and lacks support for microphones. Coupled with a decent mixer and a good mic, though, and it's a very nice setup. A $75 ebay mic, however, wastes it.
Rick "who paid $65 for an excellent little Behringer 12-channel, 5-mic mixer for the church recently" Denney
Focusrite is a good brand, and probably the best low-cost audio-digital converter. Behringer, though, makes very good mixers for the price, though they don't all have USB outputs, so be careful. Tascam also has several models. The problem with most of these is needing good microphone preamp controls to manage input gain, and that's why a mixer is easier to use than a straight interface. Make sure what you buy has a gain control for the microphone input.
Also, if you use a condenser microphone, which is probably the best quality, you'll need phantom power. Most mixers have phantom power output to power the microphone condenser preamp (in the mic), but few regular audio interfaces do. I recently found two different Electro-Voice condenser microphones used on ebay for under $75, and these are much better than the usual dynamic mic that we used to call "road mics".
In the end, I found (preowned and priced well below the new price) a high-end audio converter that takes baseband audio (output from the phono preamp in my Adcom preamplifier) and digitizes it for the computer. It's a Benchmark ADC-1 USB--but really too pricey for most folks and lacks support for microphones. Coupled with a decent mixer and a good mic, though, and it's a very nice setup. A $75 ebay mic, however, wastes it.
Rick "who paid $65 for an excellent little Behringer 12-channel, 5-mic mixer for the church recently" Denney