Comments on: Professional Podcast Recording & Production - #2 Microphones for High Quality Podcast Recording http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/ Royalty Free Music, Custom Music, Professional Voice-over & Audio Editing for Multi-Media Production Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:36:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: vocal microphones http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-21224 vocal microphones Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:33:10 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-21224 Greg---- skip the Behringer. I'm personally not a big fan of most Behringer stuff. try this mic out --- the Blue Snowball. Blue is a cool new company, the mics look and perform amazingly well. They also make another USB mic called the snowflake... but the Snowball is probably better for recording vocals. you should be able to get one for about $100 bucks. You won't need any drivers or anything- its a plug-and-play mic. you will need a headset and that is it. Let me know what happens! I have a Blue Snowball that I ordered for myself before I added the full line of Blue mics to my store. Check it out at vocalmicrophonesdirect.com. Greg—- skip the Behringer. I’m personally not a big fan of most Behringer stuff. try this mic out — the Blue Snowball. Blue is a cool new company, the mics look and perform amazingly well. They also make another USB mic called the snowflake… but the Snowball is probably better for recording vocals. you should be able to get one for about $100 bucks. You won’t need any drivers or anything- its a plug-and-play mic. you will need a headset and that is it. Let me know what happens! I have a Blue Snowball that I ordered for myself before I added the full line of Blue mics to my store. Check it out at vocalmicrophonesdirect.com.

]]> By: Evan Shaffhauser http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-18674 Evan Shaffhauser Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:54:12 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-18674 USB kind of blows for the most part, and for anything serious you go wired with mic preamps and all that... Thats how i used to think. Now i getting into it, its so easy to set up and the quality is getting better and better... anyway--- im really just writing this to mention the new XLR>>USB adapter from SHURE... its pretty cool and a long awaited development. Has anyone else played around with their vocal microphones and the Shure adapter? and if so, what kind of results are you getting? -- Evan. USB kind of blows for the most part, and for anything serious you go wired with mic preamps and all that… Thats how i used to think. Now i getting into it, its so easy to set up and the quality is getting better and better… anyway— im really just writing this to mention the new XLR>>USB adapter from SHURE… its pretty cool and a long awaited development. Has anyone else played around with their vocal microphones and the Shure adapter? and if so, what kind of results are you getting? — Evan.

]]> By: Ed http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-618 Ed Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:38:47 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-618 Hi Greg, I've been reading some of your comments. I'm not Podcasting yet, but here's what I have as a simple studio set-up at home. A Behringer Mixer ($150), Shure SM-58 Mic ($99) 2 Numark CD Players (175 Each) a Mic Boom Stand ($15) and KOSS Headset ($40). Everything is patched into my eMac and I'm using Sound Studio and Audacity Audio Editing Software. I keep my levels in the neg 50 range on the VU. They can always be boosted later, add compression, EQ, etc., using the software programs. I find that my work is very clean. Some of the stuffI have done has been used on commercial stations so I know I'm putting out a decent product. You don't have to spend a lot of money on your equipment. Let me say this, if you're using Windows, buy Adobe Audition. It's one of the best programs for the money, around $300, but shop around. Audacity is "free" and does a great job too, but doesn't have all the bells and whistles Adobe has. Good luck! Hi Greg, I’ve been reading some of your comments. I’m not Podcasting yet, but here’s what I have as a simple studio set-up at home. A Behringer Mixer ($150), Shure SM-58 Mic ($99) 2 Numark CD Players (175 Each) a Mic Boom Stand ($15) and KOSS Headset ($40). Everything is patched into my eMac and I’m using Sound Studio and Audacity Audio Editing Software.
I keep my levels in the neg 50 range on the VU. They can always be boosted later, add compression, EQ, etc., using the software programs. I find that my work is very clean. Some of the stuffI have done has been used on commercial stations so I know I’m putting out a decent product. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on your equipment. Let me say this, if you’re using Windows, buy Adobe Audition. It’s one of the best programs for the money, around $300, but shop around. Audacity is “free” and does a great job too, but doesn’t have all the bells and whistles Adobe has. Good luck!

]]> By: Lee Pritchard http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-393 Lee Pritchard Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:03:25 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-393 Hi Greg 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 Hi Greg

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

]]> By: Greg http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-298 Greg Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:17:39 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-298 Hi 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? :smile: 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 Hi 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? :smile:

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

]]> By: Lee Pritchard http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-243 Lee Pritchard Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:44:25 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-243 Hi 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 <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=M-Audio%20Mobile%20Pre&tag=medmusnow-21&index=blended&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738" rel="nofollow">M-Audio Mobile Pre</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=medmusnow-21&l=ur2&o=2" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> 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 Hi 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

]]> By: Greg http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Greg Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:45:12 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-198 I wouldn't take any notice of my experience with the CO1U. I think I royally messed that up. I am quite keen to test it again to be honest. May well buy it again! I coincidentally got a phone call whilst testing it telling me those USB mics were no good and gave up. I doubt that to be the case now :roll: 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 :smile: 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! :smile: Cheers, Greg I wouldn’t take any notice of my experience with the CO1U. I think I royally messed that up. I am quite keen to test it again to be honest. May well buy it again! I coincidentally got a phone call whilst testing it telling me those USB mics were no good and gave up. I doubt that to be the case now :roll:

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 :smile:

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! :smile:

Cheers,
Greg

]]> By: Lee Pritchard http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-188 Lee Pritchard Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:52:35 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-188 Hi 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 Hi 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

]]> By: Greg http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Greg Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:20:22 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-183 fyi 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! fyi

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!

]]> By: Greg http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/2007/07/13/microphones-for-high-quality-podcast-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Greg Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:39:38 +0000 http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog/?p=186#comment-178 Thanks Lee! 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 :oops: 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!! :roll: This is as confusing as it is interesting! :lol: I'll have a think and let you know what I decide. Thanks again for all the advice, it has been invaluable. Cheers, Greg Thanks Lee!

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 :oops: 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!! :roll:

This is as confusing as it is interesting! :lol:

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

Cheers,
Greg

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