Microphone for recording vocals

[Casey]

No it wouldnt, it would sound like a U47 through shitty USB converters. Come on you should know better than this. It's like a U47 into an mbox sounds like ass too. There is so much more to consider with a signal path than just the MIC.

But now we're getting into different territory. Obviously XLR mic going into some amazing gear is better than USB mic going straight in, and you can't route the USB mics through the gear, but I'm strictly talking about the mics only. If it were possible to plug USB mics into great preamps etc as well then there'd be no difference.... obviously that's not possible right now.

But like I said, in this situation Chronic is looking for just a mic and not any other gear, at least that's the impression I got anyway.

If he goes straight into USB he will limit the future possibility to expand with better out board gear. If he decides he wants to upgrade his sound quality he'll end up buying another mic anyway.

Yeah, absolutely. I started my home studio with a USB mic, and then ended up buying a bunch of different XLR's like the Apex and a SE one. But my point is really just that getting a USB mic to start off with would make more sense on a budget than getting an XLR, a preamp and an interface and it will suffice for home demo recordings. If he decides to take it more seriously it's not like he can't sell the USB mic to upgrade. They pretty much don't change in value.

Its not that bad, I just dont like it, I find that its fine when boosting EQ but I dont like to boost on the way in I like to cut what I dont want and I find the cuts to be a bit harsh and obvious. That is just my personal opinion though. Id rather use other EQs.

Cool. Which EQ's do you prefer, out of interest?

 

[Rukas]

But now we're getting into different territory. Obviously XLR mic going into some amazing gear is better than USB mic going straight in, and you can't route the USB mics through the gear, but I'm strictly talking about the mics only. If it were possible to plug USB mics into great preamps etc as well then there'd be no difference.... obviously that's not possible right now.

Its not different territory. You told him to buy a USB mic. I said a USB mic sucks, for various reasons. Same territory. USB mics sound like shit.

But like I said, in this situation Chronic is looking for just a mic and not any other gear, at least that's the impression I got anyway.

In the case he should get a shitty PC mic then, see if he has skill, and then upgrade. The only time I see a USB mic being useful is for scratch vocals on the road very quickly into logic just to remember delivery and lyrics. It should be an addition to a workflow, but never the main source to record on, it's just a waste of money. He's better off either saving for something decent or not spending anything and getting a PC mic. Its just a waste.

Yeah, absolutely. I started my home studio with a USB mic, and then ended up buying a bunch of different XLR's like the Apex and a SE one. But my point is really just that getting a USB mic to start off with would make more sense on a budget than getting an XLR, a preamp and an interface and it will suffice for home demo recordings. If he decides to take it more seriously it's not like he can't sell the USB mic to upgrade. They pretty much don't change in value.

Yeah but you had a real studio to go to and he doesnt. The USB mic is just wasted money.

Cool. Which EQ's do you prefer, out of interest?

Coincidently I love the Avalon 2055 but I want an API 5500 and Great River EQ2NV.

 

[Rukas]

SM7 is a great mic....but it ain't a U47.

I would also like to point out Chronic, that not every mic suits every voice. Ive heard that Fred Durst for example sounds like ass on a U47 (example could have stated u67 I cant remember but the point is the same) yet sounds awesome on an SM7 and that's all he ever uses for vocals. Which is a "cheap" dynamic.

But then some people would say Fred Durst sounds like ass all the time, lol, *kanye shurg* (Im not one of them though. Fred gets my support.)

 

[Casey]

Its not different territory. You told him to buy a USB mic. I said a USB mic sucks, for various reasons. Same territory. USB mics sound like shit.

I disagree, but each to their own.

In the case he should get a shitty PC mic then, see if he has skill, and then upgrade. The only time I see a USB mic being useful is for scratch vocals on the road very quickly into logic just to remember delivery and lyrics. It should be an addition to a workflow, but never the main source to record on, it's just a waste of money. He's better off either saving for something decent or not spending anything and getting a PC mic. Its just a waste.

Come on, a USB condenser mic is about 10x better than a PC mic. Really. I think you would be impressed with the sound of some of the newer Samson models. The sound quality on them is exactly the same as their XLR equivalents, as I was saying before Samson release the same mics in XLR and USB variants and they sound exactly the same....the only difference is that you can't run the USB one through any gear.

Yeah but you had a real studio to go to and he doesnt. The USB mic is just wasted money.

Valid point, but I don't think it's wasted money and I am sure there are people that would agree. There's backing vocals that will be on the final cut of my album that were done as demo's on a USB mic. Obviously I've redone all the leads in the proper studio but the BV's are more than good enough after being processed and mixed to sit behind the leads.

Anyway I guess we'll agree to disagree on this one. I know Will.I.Am uses a USB mic sometimes and there are some backing vocals and adlib tracks on his solo album that were done with one.

 

[Chronic]

Now I don't know what I should do :*(
I'll test my friend's microphone and see if I'm pleased, otherwise invest in something better. Again, thanks for the replies.

 

[Rukas]

I view it like this Chronic...

1. You just want to do stuff for yourself and no one will ever hear it. In that case just get a PC mic.

2. You want to start small, but leave the option to expanding. In that case save a little more get an okay XLR mic and an interface and then late on you can get a better mic.

With a USB mic you'll just need to do 2 anyway if you decide to expand later on. But if it's 1 it wont matter if its USB or PC mic anyway.