Looking for good USB mic input

[commandlion]

So I've been having trouble with a constant whining sound in the background when using my ModMic plugged into my front panel mic input. This problem is made worse by the fact that it isn't loud enough at 100% volume so I have to turn on boost, which seems to boost the noise more than my voice. I know that people here don't really like the modmic that much but I've tested it plugged into my phone and a borrowed H4N and it sounds fine.

 

I figured this was probably due to EM interference. My immediate solution was to dig this cheap USB sound card out of a bin in my closet. It solved the background noise issue but just sounds bad. My voice comes through loud and without whining but at significantly worse quality than what I can get by plugging into my phone. I'm looking for something better. I just want to stream and record gameplay without my voice sounding like total garbage.

 

I read through this old forum post, but I wanted to check in before buying anything. The products recommended are:

• Just the word "sybadac." A quick google search tells me this is probably it. The amazon page I linked has a bunch of wildly different products on the same page, the "DAC with EQ" option at $20 seems like a good bet/what I'm looking for. Is "sybdac" something popular/notable enough that I should know what it means? Is this it? Does anyone have experience with the product linked?
• Creative Soundblaster Play 2. This also seems like it will do well and is only $25. Creative is a brand I've heard of. Will this sound good?
• A few cheap little no-name USB cards that are essentially the same as what I already have. One from the description of a video linked and another with the comment "This is the most I would spend on fixing the modmic any more is wasted money". I'm skeptical because the card I already have is just like these and it sounds bad. A cursory search implies that everyone is just rebadging audio chips from the same company that made the chip in mine. Also I don't know why spending more than $5 is a waste of money, I'm perfectly happy with the ModMic itself.

My question is:

Does anyone have experience with any of the products I've found? Does anyone have any other products to suggest? What is "sybdac?" What kind of specifications should I be looking for when shopping for sound inputs that don't sound like a 90's flip phone?

 

Thanks!

[AlwaysFSX]

Just plug it in to a USB port on your motherboard..?

[commandlion]

Just now, AlwaysFSX said:

Just plug it in to a USB port on your motherboard..?

...plug what? The ModMic has two 3.5mm plugs.

[maxgamble2]

Have you had a look at any of the entry level 'studio' stuff? Cards like the focusrite 2i2 may be totally overkill and too much money, but you could potentially get one of the Behringer USB Mixers - or a Behringer U-phoria UM2. something like that perhaps? 

Or, you know... A Lynx Aurora...
 

[commandlion]

6 minutes ago, maxgamble2 said:

Have you had a look at any of the entry level 'studio' stuff? Cards like the focusrite 2i2 may be totally overkill and too much money, but you could potentially get one of the Behringer USB Mixers - or a Behringer U-phoria UM2. something like that perhaps? 

Hmmm the 2i2 looks good but pricey, the UM2 looks promising price wise. Some places are listing it for about $40. Question: what's that mic input on both of them called? It's bigger and weird shaped and I'd definitely need an adapter from 3.5mm right?

 

6 minutes ago, maxgamble2 said:

Or, you know... A Lynx Aurora...

Only a little bit above my price point lol...

[Void_Viking]

I own the Blue Snowball ICE. As well as the program "Voice Meeter"

I use it for gaming/streaming. And people often ask if I'm using a studio quality mic.

[commandlion]

Just now, Void_Viking said:

I own the Blue Snowball ICE. As well as the program "Voice Meeter"

I use it for gaming/streaming. And people often ask if I'm using a studio quality mic.

My roommate has that mic, it does sound great. That being said, I'm looking for a sound card to use with my existing mic, not a new mic 

[maxgamble2]

11 minutes ago, chuckasaurus rex said:

Question: what's that mic input on both of them called? It's bigger and weird shaped and I'd definitely need an adapter from 3.5mm right?

Those are XLR connectors; they're used on professional mics, however some interfaces (including the UM2) has a special socket that takes both XLR and 1/4" Jack, so you'd only need a 1/8th to 1/4" jack adapter to get it working

 

15 minutes ago, chuckasaurus rex said:

Only a little bit above my price point lol...

Hehe, mine too *dreams on*
 

12 minutes ago, Void_Viking said:

I own the Blue Snowball ICE.

Snowballs are lovely mics, especially for the price!!