I am really glad you got sorted out, I think you have made the right choice. The setup may have cost you more than the USB mic but will give much more versatility when you need it.

It has been a while since I have been able to check into the blog, I imagine you have it pretty much sorted by now? One of the things I have been doing is recording and producing an EP for a local band. I took my microphones with me to this session and was using a custom made microphone cable of about 60ft, this you could not do with a USB mic, also, I used an analogue valve compressor… another thing you can not do with a USB mic.

As you are finding out, the key to getting a clean sound is a good input level. Get the gain as high as you can without risking a digital over. I find using the pop shield on the AKGC1000S beneficial for preventing the popping sound on p’s and b’s, however, I also angle the mic slightly, about 35-45 degrees to avoid popping.

Anyway, you will have to post a link to one of your shows sometime.

Best Regards
Lee

Your latest article was once again very good. Thanks!

I went for the AKG C1000S and the M-Audio MobilePre USB combination (bought it yesterday). All very easy to set-up and get working. Initially I had a lot of backgrund hiss and hum, but soon learnt that this disappeared as I got closer to the microphone and got my levels on the pre amp right. I found a good position and now have a clean vocal. I added it as a voice over to music and it sounds very good. I think I can stil improve the quality further. I will keep playing around. Do you have any further tips on this?

I was tempted to go for the USB microphone again, but thought I would go for a more traditional mic in case I want to use it with a mixer. I have heard the Rode Podcaster is a better option than the Samson, but at more than double the price it should be higher spec.

Thanks again for all your help!

Cheers,
Greg

I guess if your phone call was someone with experience of the Samson C01U they may well be right, however, if their opinion was a generalisation about USB mics then it may be worth trying again, they could be wrong.

On paper the mic seems good, I am very curious to know how it sounds in use.

I am please that the mp3’s helped; I think I will add one to my Zoom H4 review to demonstrate the built is microphones. It is a good bit of kit but I am know there are other ways of doing the job just as well with different kit, it is just a question of finding what is suitable to your particular recording requirements / budget.

My latest post cover this in a bit of detail - Microphone Connectivity with your PC / Recorder

The M-Audio Mobile Pre seems pretty featured I was just looking at it on Amazon. I have not used it personally but I know M-Audio to be a reputable make.

Lee

Thank you so much for those mp3’s, they really help!!! I can hear the slight hiss straight into the soundcard…. and I know from playing with noise reduction that it is not great. The H4 sounds PERFECT. I would love to get one of those

What is the M-Audio Mobile Pre USB Interface like?… will cost around £90 and solve my soundcard issues…. but that H4 would be nice. What is the microphone on the H4 like???

But I am really considering going for the Samson again as I know I could get that working….and only £50 hmmm!

Once again, thanks Lee… top man for all this!

Cheers,
Greg

I am quite surprised at the C01U, it just shows, it is always best to try things out. I guess you could have set the input gains to low in which case noise would increase. Can you get hold of it again to try? How far away were you from the mic?

Anyway, here are 3 tests for you to listen to.

3.5mm jack, basic soundcard
http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/audio/greg-1.mp3

The same but using Audacity noise removal
http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/audio/greg-2-noise-reduction.mp3

Using the H4 as a USB interface
http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/audio/greg-3.mp3

Regards
Lee

Looking at the CO1U again now I think I did it all wrong! I have learnt a lot since then… might give it another shot!

Well, well…. do you know what, I actually bought a Samson CO1U on the weekend just gone as it did appear to tick all the boxes (and before I found your blog). However, I found it to be very poor, creating a big hiss. I could hardly generate any noise out of the thing either. BUT, this was using my Brother’s PC. I then heard from a friend that it was not that great on PC’s, but decent on Macs so I took it straight back… but I am curious to see what it would be like on my PC now Still, probably not a high enough spec for a radio show anyway.

Even though I want to do this on a budget, I am not one for cutting corners on quality. The AKG C1000S seems like the best bet for me. (I have also read that the Battery gives a better sound than the Phantom Power itself?). I could try it with the XLR to 3.5mm jack to start with and if this doesn’t suffice get an additonal USB input device. My voice will never be the only sound as it would be a music show, so that may cover up any slight noise from the sound card (I hope!).

I would love one of those Zoom H4’s or the like (I love gadgets!) but that is probably pushing it. I would hope that my set-up would be OK. I am now worrying that a mic as good as the AKG will quite easily pick up my PC fan noise!!

This is as confusing as it is interesting!

I’ll have a think and let you know what I decide. Thanks again for all the advice, it has been invaluable.

Cheers,
Greg

Glad of the questions, it is giving me ideas for blog content

Some of what you are asking is in a piece I am writing at the moment but I still have some work to do on it before I publish it. When it is published you will see that some of my answers here are in the article too

It is good that you have been able to try a different mic and achieved a better result, it is always best to try things first if you can

The sure SM58 is great, however, you would definitely need a separate preamp or mixing desk with any dynamic mic and I personally would not recommend them for radio / podcast audio. Using a pre-amp / mixing desk you could get enough gain but it would not be anywhere as clean or bright as a condenser microphone.

I do recommend the AKG C1000, however, it is a question of balance. Here is what I mean… a basic soundcard usually has 3.5mm mini jack inputs, this means that the AKG microphone needs a special lead or adapter. This is fine, however, during tests I have carried out with my basic card, this lets some noise into the signal – not excessive, but it is there. I would think your card would do the same. As you are getting involved in internet radio this might become a problem at some stage and it would probably be best to get it right at the start.

I recommend using the AKGC1000S with a separate USB audio interface or a separate digital recorder which bypasses the soundcard. (this is what I do) Alternatively this mic needs a sound card with a XLR input. (the higher spec, more expensive ones)

With this option you would either need to put up with the slight soundcard noise or spend a about £30-100GBP extra for a USB input device.

Another option…
As you are looking to keep cost down I think you should give this option some consideration. Although I can’t personally recommend it as I have not used it, I hear the Samson C01U is pretty good and it is a digital mic meaning that the preamp is built in. It basically plugs into your USB port and does not use your soundcard for recording!

It also seems to tick all your boxes and you may be able to find a music store that can demonstrate this for you. Let your ears decide on the quality.

For what you are describing it seems to tick the boxes.
It is a condenser microphone by a known studio brand
It does not rely on your sound card, it has a USB cable straight into your PC/Mac.
It is very inexpensive - £47 at Amazon

Lee

I have since given up with that microphone. When I say it was cheap, I mean very cheap… and also VERY old - there is no make on it at all I have had far better results using a basic Labtec Headset I was able to get hold of. This has very little hush, so I can see the soundcard was not the problem. The quality is not bad at all, and the fact that you feel the spec of the sound card is quite good re-assures me further.

However, what I am putting together will be aired on internet radio, so getting the microphone right is key. I have been advised that it should be a condensor microphone with phantom power for the best results rather than a dynamic one (although a Shure SM58 has also been recommended, as has the cheaper C606W) What do you suggest? The AKG C1000S interests me in that it is battery powered and no need for a phantom power supply. Would highly recommend this mic? Would you still recommend a pre-amp or does the battery do the job? I am learning the other aspects quickly (mastering audacity pretty well anyway!) but this is a tough one, so any advice would be great. Budget wise I would like to keep the cost down, but I don’t want to sacrifice too much in terms of quality.

I wouldn’t say my need is urgent, but I have promised demos by the end of the week …. I would preferably like to wait for your mic comparison but not sure I can time wise

Thanks again for all your help (sorry for all the questions )

Cheers,
Greg