Hello Geeks! I need help in buying a microphone. It's a present for someone so need to get it right so, he's a singer who uses his Macbook for making music (as well as sings live) but can I get something that plugs directly into the PC and/or an amp or plugs into PC which is connected to the amp??, he wants it for home use generally, I think....I looked around internet and been to Currys and PC World all I got offered was a small 'chat online' style thing. . any help which leads directly to a purchase will be rewarded with a chocolate shaped Santa.
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Help needed: Microphone Troubles
- Thread starter MISS T
- Start date
wmrcomputers
Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
I used to be a DJ, but also have had certain involvment with digital music production before. My personal opinion is that you won't find the quality you are looking for to plug into the PC, all decent mic's are designed to go straight into the amp.
Also, the soundcard on the PC wouldnt do him any justice anyway, unless he's got one worth a good couple of hundred quid.
Just my opinion folks, so please correct me if I am wrong.
Also, the soundcard on the PC wouldnt do him any justice anyway, unless he's got one worth a good couple of hundred quid.
Just my opinion folks, so please correct me if I am wrong.
Goldilox
How do I edit this?
Condensor microphones are fairly standard recording gear, and have dropped a lot in price in recent years (they now start at about £30 - 5 years ago it was £100). They do require phantom power, and the usual way to attach one to a computer is via an interface that will provide 2 or more inputs and then link to the computer via USB (about £100). However you can now get condensors with a USB link that will draw power from the computer and cut out the need for the interface - however with an ordinary soundcard you may find this results in latency issues (ie if you play along to the sound coming out of the speakers it won't match up - there's a time lag). All of that applies if the mic is for home recording.
If the mic is for live use then dynamic microphones are the way to go - the shure SM58 is the industry standard on the basis that you can hammer nails in with it, use it to beat a member of another band to a bloody pulp, throw it out of a hotel room window, and still use it to sing into afterwards. These AKGs do the same job, cost less and sound better (but might break if you hit a roadie over the head with it). Finally if you wanted something more basic I have one of these Behringers which I used as my only mic live and recording for a couple of months, and still use as a harmonica mic - it has a great sound for its tiny price. And Shure PG48s are also very good for budget mics.
I hope some of this made some sense to you, please feel free to point out anything I need to translate into english
Wormella has just told me we need a 'I bet you wished you never asked' smilie.
edited for a rogue apostrophe
If the mic is for live use then dynamic microphones are the way to go - the shure SM58 is the industry standard on the basis that you can hammer nails in with it, use it to beat a member of another band to a bloody pulp, throw it out of a hotel room window, and still use it to sing into afterwards. These AKGs do the same job, cost less and sound better (but might break if you hit a roadie over the head with it). Finally if you wanted something more basic I have one of these Behringers which I used as my only mic live and recording for a couple of months, and still use as a harmonica mic - it has a great sound for its tiny price. And Shure PG48s are also very good for budget mics.
I hope some of this made some sense to you, please feel free to point out anything I need to translate into english
Wormella has just told me we need a 'I bet you wished you never asked' smilie.
edited for a rogue apostrophe
wmrcomputers
Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
@ goldilox....
You know you're Mic's !
The time lag through the PC would surely make it a nightmare?
I agree that SM58's are the way forward, especially if not going through a PC first (which I can't see being viable in this case).
Their are other good alternatives, but I know you can get an SM58 for a good price online these days if you shop around online.
You know you're Mic's !
The time lag through the PC would surely make it a nightmare?
I agree that SM58's are the way forward, especially if not going through a PC first (which I can't see being viable in this case).
Their are other good alternatives, but I know you can get an SM58 for a good price online these days if you shop around online.
db
#chaplife
no, you're very right, and i was going to put my music technology degree to good use for the first time ever in my whole life, then goldilox came along and did a better job than i ever could anyway lol..wmrcomputers said:
good grief, you can get a usb condensor mic these days?? you really can get a usb anything these days, innit?? lol..Goldilox said:
(please don't turn this into a "usb-lol" thread - we have one of those here
)in summary, miss t, unless this person has specifically asked you to get them a mic, i wouldn't bother.. musicians tend to be quite anal about stuff like this, and if an "amateur" buys them something it will invariably not be up to their standards/fit in with the way they like to work, and so you will have wasted your money..
like, i never ask anyone to buy me gadgets, because i don't trust anyone else to make the best choice lol.. i'd never say "i'd love an mp3 player," because they would just buy me an ipod and wouldn't spend months researching which has the best signal:noise ratio etc. like i would lol..
Goldilox
How do I edit this?
It's only a problem if you're multitracking - I lived with it recording guitar and vocal live by just turning the speakers off. It's a bit limiting if you want to do more than that, though.wmrcomputers said:
Sorry, didn't mean step on anyone's (better qualified) toes. If it's any consolation, my history degree hasn't been put to any use beyond a pub quiz.dirtybobby said: