Recommended mic setup?

[SteamBakedPotato]

Anyone have specific recommendations for a microphone setup?

I plan on using it for more or less discord and zoom, basically only vocal

My requirements would be: decently robust, decent audio, and low background noise pickup (dynamic mics and similar)

I don't mind spending more for quality, but since I'm not recording audio with it I'd prefer a lower cost total price.

My current theoretical list is as follows:

Mic: XM8500 ~$35

Interface: UM2 or similar ~$50

Arm: ~$15

XLR cable: ~$10

I don't have a lot of experience with XLR microphones, so any input or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[The Flying Sloth]

The link in my signature is probably going to be quite helpful to you.
Generally, I don't recommend anything under the UMC202HD as anything below doesn't have up-to-date drivers or a dedicated headphone amplifier.
With the prices your talking about I think the best sound quality for money will be found in either the Samson Q2U or AT2005, since they're USB mics you won't need an interface but since they also have an XLR port they will allow you to upgrade to one if and/or when you choose to.

[Ahoy Hoy]

Its fair to say your budget just isnt there for a decent XLR system. At 100 dolars your getting the lowest end of xlr system. I wouldn't feel happy recommending a XLR microphone below the 80 dollar mark because I just don't think there is anything worth anyone's time below that price point. Im not saying the XM8500 is a bad microphone because its not. Its built for a price point and the quality represents that and its good for the price but its bad compared to anything meaningful. (you can get it for $23)  I wouldn't feel confident recommending it or a system at that price point to you.

You could buy a cheap system and upgrade it in the future but your current budget doesn't really account for it. In my eyes upgrading is replacing one component and making it better but the whole system would need upgrading and thats just buying again making the first system a waste of money.

I get where sloth is going with his recommendations but I also dont understand because you get those XLR USB microphones use USB then get a interface nothing changes. The sound quality doesnt just rocket up now you get a interface and start using XLR. Its basically the same quality now you possibly got a knob to change to volume and maybe some speaker outputs or headphone port, is that worth 50 to 70 more dollars for features which you may not want and to gain no major benefit.

You could just go USB microphone and if you have no need to use a XLR system (IE you use the microphone with a camera which has XLR) dont waste money on it as XLR doesn't make a audio system better. Theres some very capable USB microphones out there.
I quite like the Shure MV5 and the Rode NT USB. Both around 100 dolars and decent USB microphones. Even sloths recommendations are good USB microphones.

[The Flying Sloth]

1 hour ago, Ahoy Hoy said:

I get where sloth is going with his recommendations but I also dont understand because you get those XLR USB microphones use USB then get a interface nothing changes. The sound quality doesnt just rocket up now you get a interface and start using XLR. Its basically the same quality now you possibly got a knob to change to volume and maybe some speaker outputs or headphone port, is that worth 50 to 70 more dollars for features which you may not want and to gain no major benefit.

It's simple really, there are two main reason we tend to recommend these combo mics here rather than straight USB options:

 

1, If you're going to move to an audio interface eventually having XLR on your USB mic takes some of the sting away from the upgrade, you can get the interface on its own and then if/when you choose to get a new mic the only cost you're up for is the mic itself. Besides, I would absolutely pay $70 for proper input gain controls and a dedicated headphone amplifier.

 

2, USB mics tend to be made as cheap as possible, to be 'good enough' for a consumer that doesn't know better and thinks they found a hack to getting studio quality sound without the price tag. They also tend to break a lot for this very reason, especially USB condensers which is why we recommend relatively electrically simple dynamic mics. From experience we know these two specific mics sound decent and can survive some abuse but should the worst happen and the USB section fail (and it would be the first thing to fail) you still have XLR as an option, helping to avoid you having to purchase an entirely new mic.