(USB) Mic on a budget-ish

[LogicalDrm]

Getting into bit deep here as audio is far from my comfort zones.

 

I need mic to USB connection. It needs to be good for two scenarios. I will be using it laptop. Main uses are streaming sports and recording casting to VODs. Sports are usually streamed in rooms with some echo we can't get rid off, and where peaking/clipping is a concern as the sport itself is noisy (search for "sokkopingis suomi" if you need to know what kind of sport it is). Budget is under €100 (but MSRP can be over it as I'm also looking at used options). I'll be using Finnish stores and used marketplaces, so add 24% to any price and you kinda have my price range in USD.

[The_Prycer]

So you'll be needing a Cardiod style microphone for this. More specifically, a Cardiod condenser mic.

 

Both Fifine (for price) and Blue (for build quality) offer a number of options in this range. Shure is another brand I've hand good experiences with, but Shure can be a bit of a pricier option.

 

You could grab a used Blue Yeti for under 100 on Amazon

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00N1YPXW2

 

or spring for a brand new one for a bit extra.

 

The Blue Snowball line is always a solid pick. I've actually recorded vocals on one of these in a closet and it wasn't the worst audio quality.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Microphones-Snowball-Omnidirectional-Microphone/dp/B002OO18NS/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3D8K9UVGGSYPB&keywords=blue+snowball&qid=1567968867&rnid=340838031&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=blue%2Cmi%2C578&sr=1-3

 

I see this one here with some decent reviews, but having never used it myself I cannot confirm anything about it

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microphone-SUDOTACK-Professional-Condenser-Recording/dp/B07SYQCT8P/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3D8K9UVGGSYPB&keywords=blue+snowball&qid=1567968867&rnid=340838031&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=blue%2Cmi%2C578&sr=1-5

 

 

 

 

[mariushm]

Or you could get a decent USB sound card and still have plenty of money for normal microphone

 

20$ : Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 External USB Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play (No Drivers Required). Upgrade to 24-Bit 96Khz Playback : https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-70SB173000000-Sound-Blaster/dp/B06XBZ38ZJ

 

46$ plus shipping Comica CVM-VS08 Microphone for Smartphones, Cardioid Directional Shotgun Camera Microphone, Vlogging Mic for iPhone Samsung, iOS Android (3.5mm Jack) : https://www.amazon.com/CVM-VS08-Microphone-Smartphone-Condenser-Directional/dp/B07KZSTSWX/

 

70$  Audio-Technica ATR-6550 Video Camera Cardioid/Supercardioid Condenser Shotgun Microphone https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR-6550-Supercardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B002GYPS3M/

 

etc etc

 

[LogicalDrm]

15 hours ago, mariushm said:

Or you could get a decent USB sound card and still have plenty of money for normal microphone

 

20$ : Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 External USB Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play (No Drivers Required). Upgrade to 24-Bit 96Khz Playback : https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-70SB173000000-Sound-Blaster/dp/B06XBZ38ZJ

 

46$ plus shipping Comica CVM-VS08 Microphone for Smartphones, Cardioid Directional Shotgun Camera Microphone, Vlogging Mic for iPhone Samsung, iOS Android (3.5mm Jack) : https://www.amazon.com/CVM-VS08-Microphone-Smartphone-Condenser-Directional/dp/B07KZSTSWX/

 

70$  Audio-Technica ATR-6550 Video Camera Cardioid/Supercardioid Condenser Shotgun Microphone https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR-6550-Supercardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B002GYPS3M/

 

etc etc

 

 

Do you have personal experience of that kind of setup vs having just good quality USB mic?

 

Also, to @The_Prycer too, do you guys think something like acoustic screen behind mic has enough power to block some echo and other external noises (aircon, another game at next room etc.)? Our upcoming test stream will have some "3D headphone" setup which is supposed to do that, but I haven't seen it in action to know how its going to work.

 

Used Yeti's go around €80, most of other things mentioned I'd have to order from Amazon.de, not optimal. Except that Audio Technica, but review of it doesn't really impress me for usage I would use it for.

[The_Prycer]

1 hour ago, LogicalDrm said:

 

Do you have personal experience of that kind of setup vs having just good quality USB mic?

 

Also, to @The_Prycer too, do you guys think something like acoustic screen behind mic has enough power to block some echo and other external noises (aircon, another game at next room etc.)? Our upcoming test stream will have some "3D headphone" setup which is supposed to do that, but I haven't seen it in action to know how its going to work.

 

Used Yeti's go around €80, most of other things mentioned I'd have to order from Amazon.de, not optimal. Except that Audio Technica, but review of it doesn't really impress me for usage I would use it for.

 I actually have experience with both.

 

USB mics are fine and dandy for most standard voice recordings that do not need to be done at a professional level, but some models like the Blue Yeti are used for projects such as audiobooks or even the highly acclaimed DBZ Abridged series by Team Four Star. The usage of a USB converter will allow you access to higher end microphones with even crisper quality and better filtering of background noise, but then you have to make sure your converter is of sufficient quality as well as your mic, and hope you don't need to update any drivers for it before recording.

 

So it's really a trade off of plug and play versus upgrade paths

 

As for using an acoustic screen, any little thing will help. You're going to have to deal with some background noise so I'd consider loosely packing some towels in to pillow cases for low-end sound dampening. If you're ready to go even deeper down the rabbit hole, start looking in to using an open source DAW like Ardour or LMMS or grabbing a cheap MAGIX one off Steam to try out some of their compressor and EQ options. 

 

As for Amazon.de, I searched for Cardiod mics and this is what I found. 

 

https://www.amazon.de/TONOR-Kondensator-Shock-Halterung-Verstellbarem-Mikrofonständer/dp/B07NMJ84FW/ref=sr_1_6?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&keywords=cardiod&qid=1568047415&s=gateway&sr=8-6-spell

 

Reviews seems positive, but Ég tala ekki finnsku.

 

 

[LogicalDrm]

3 minutes ago, The_Prycer said:

 I actually have experience with both.

...

 

Thanks, thats actually helpful. As I don't have any plans to going that deep into audio things and if I do, I probably have secure income at that point anyway. So in that sense I think USB mic is better way to go for now.