Desktop Microphone

[Casperian]

Hey guys, This is really shaping up to be an expensive year...

 

Anyway, My headset I've been using as a mic (This was a bad idea, my neck is now sore.) decided it want to give up on life and now it's cutting in and out, refusing to work or just playing static.

So I'm now looking for a microphone, I have no mixing equipment so I'm leaning toward a USB mic and would like to buy it as soon as possible. I am needing to voice call daily for about 4 hours at a time and my current setup is less than ideal.

 

Now, one issue I have is a keyboard with cherry blues. I'm fine recording the keyboard as long as it is quieter than me. (So really cheap mics are definitely out now)

 

I am having a real hard time finding mics in NZ though, all I've found is headsets. Although that mic be because tech stores don't have microphone categories, only headsets. I'll try a music store tomorrow but from memory, I don't need anything that high end.

[Ian Schmid]

blue Snowball is a good Mic or you could get its bigger brother for a bit more the blue Yettie

[nikolaizombie1]

Hey guys, This is really shaping up to be an expensive year...

 

Anyway, My headset I've been using as a mic (This was a bad idea, my neck is now sore.) decided it want to give up on life and now it's cutting in and out, refusing to work or just playing static.

So I'm now looking for a microphone, I have no mixing equipment so I'm leaning toward a USB mic and would like to buy it as soon as possible. I am needing to voice call daily for about 4 hours at a time and my current setup is less than ideal.

 

Now, one issue I have is a keyboard with cherry blues. I'm fine recording the keyboard as long as it is quieter than me. (So really cheap mics are definitely out now)

 

I am having a real hard time finding mics in NZ though, all I've found is headsets. Although that mic be because tech stores don't have microphone categories, only headsets. I'll try a music store tomorrow but from memory, I don't need anything that high end.

For the 50$ budget i would get the blue snowball

For the 100$ budget i would get the blue yeti or the audio technica at2020

[Casperian]

For the 50$ budget i would get the blue snowball

For the 100$ budget i would get the blue yeti or the audio technica at2020

Well I found the AT2020 at $170NZ (XLR). And the yeti at $300. If I can find a cheap mixer, I'm probably good with the AT2020.

[nikolaizombie1]

Well I found the AT2020 at $170NZ (XLR). And the yeti at $300. If I can find a cheap mixer, I'm probably good with the AT2020.

oh your from new zealand ?

[Casperian]

oh your from new zealand ?

Yeah, The prices are completely insane on some things here. Mics don't seem too bad but I guess they are considering the difference in cost. The cheapest thing I can find to convert XLR to USB is $100 NZ. So, that puts the AT2020 at the same price.

 

Whats funny is the snowball is the equivalent of $100 US...

[nikolaizombie1]

Yeah, The prices are completely insane on some things here. Mics don't seem too bad but I guess they are considering the difference in cost. The cheapest thing I can find to convert XLR to USB is $100 NZ. So, that puts the AT2020 at the same price.

 

Whats funny is the snowball is the equivalent of $100 US...

witch are you going to get the audio technica at2020 or the blue snowball

[smallie]

Have you looked in to the RODE NT-USB

[Casperian]

witch are you going to get the audio technica at2020 or the blue snowball

Not sure, probably the snowball. I'm still wanting to get a better monitor, hence this year shaping up to be expensive.

The Snowball is more affordable. The AT2020 is equal to Yeti in price (as it should be). 

[Casperian]

Have you looked in to the RODE NT-USB

Never heard of them before. They are $350 NZ though

[smallie]

Never heard of them before. They are $350 NZ though

Ah, okay. They're the same as an AT2020 where I live.

[Casperian]

Well, after hearing sound tests and rewatching Linus's review, I think I'll end up going with the yeti. I didn't realise the snowball had no gain or monitoring.

Also I forgot I was selling my old GPU, so that just paid for whatever mic I choose.

[Verne]

If you want to go with the Yeti then you probably also want to invest into a boom arm to bring the mic as close to your mouth as possible. This way you can reduce the gain and not have it pick up background noise like the Cherry MX Blue clacks too much.

[Timmy-P]

Just for variety, how much is the Samson Meteor or Meteorite microphone?

[Casperian]

Just for variety, how much is the Samson Meteor or Meteorite microphone?

$149 NZ for the Meteor. $79 NZ for the Meteorite. I have no idea of sound quality but at those price, they are close to the blue snowball.

And Yeti is £100, I wonder what shipping times would be on a mic and pop filter from the UK (plus internal shipping within the UK though, so probably not great).

 

EDIT: Well, the price of almost all audio gear is cheaper in the UK. Considering a boom arm is also ~$200 NZ. I think I'll live with the lead time and buy everything from the UK. Or maybe even Australia, they apparently don't have Australia tax on the yeti.

[Jimbillroo Digital]

I like the Blue Snowball.

[Casperian]

If you want to go with the Yeti then you probably also want to invest into a boom arm to bring the mic as close to your mouth as possible. This way you can reduce the gain and not have it pick up background noise like the Cherry MX Blue clacks too much.

Yeah, Are shock mounts a good investment?

Also how necessary is a pop filter, basically can I get away without on or it is a necessity?

[BrinkGG]

Yeah, Are shock mounts a good investment?

Also how necessary is a pop filter, basically can I get away without on or it is a necessity?

For the AT 2020 at least, cutting the foam that it came packaged in works really well as a pop filter. (lol)

And you really don't need a shockmount, just don't bump the mic. 

Also, there is a USB version of the AT2020, if you're going to run it straight to your computer, that's what I recommend.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020USB-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B001AS6OYC

[Verne]

Yeah, Are shock mounts a good investment?

Also how necessary is a pop filter, basically can I get away without on or it is a necessity?

Most desk mics have some kind of a "built-in" pop filter that does ok job. I'd rank them 'Boom Arm' > 'Shock Mount' > 'Pop Filter' in order of importance.

[BrinkGG]

Most desk mics have some kind of a "built-in" pop filter that does ok job. I'd rank them 'Boom Arm' > 'Shock Mount' > 'Pop Filter' in order of importance.

Pop filter can move up that chart depending on the microphone. Not all mics are created equal.

[Oktyabr]

Snowball.  Mount it on the same arm or gooseneck as any other microphone.  I think it provides the best "bang for the buck", far better quality than what is required for simple Skype, etc. and likely far superior to any built-in headset microphone.  No sense spending much more for day to day use/SOHO.

[Casperian]

Snowball.  Mount it on the same arm or gooseneck as any other microphone.  I think it provides the best "bang for the buck", far better quality than what is required for simple Skype, etc. and likely far superior to any built-in headset microphone.  No sense spending much more for day to day use/SOHO.

I see where you are coming from but I'll use it for daily usage (Logging progress in a project), communicating with my team on the project. Also, I found a yeti for $20 more than the snowball.

[Timmy-P]

$149 NZ for the Meteor. $79 NZ for the Meteorite. I have no idea of sound quality but at those price, they are close to the blue snowball.

And Yeti is £100, I wonder what shipping times would be on a mic and pop filter from the UK (plus internal shipping within the UK though, so probably not great).

EDIT: Well, the price of almost all audio gear is cheaper in the UK. Considering a boom arm is also ~$200 NZ. I think I'll live with the lead time and buy everything from the UK. Or maybe even Australia, they apparently don't have Australia tax on the yeti.

Forgive me if you already stated this, but what are you needing to do with the mic besides voice comms? If you're just doing strictly voice chat, then any of the mics mentioned will be more than enough and better than your headset mic.

[Casperian]

Forgive me if you already stated this, but what are you needing to do with the mic besides voice comms? If you're just doing strictly voice chat, then any of the mics mentioned will be more than enough and better than your headset mic.

Video logging a project, Voice Comms and possibly getting back into twitch.

[Oktyabr]

He's right.  I bought the snowball because the quality of the sound amazed me compared to the ancient audio technica I was using before that (in a semi-pro setup).  Not because I couldn't afford better (I tend to shop for the best deal i can find and then ultimately end up with something more expensive in the end anyway).  That said, if I could have found a Yeti for only $20 more I probably would have bought it too.