Microphone (NOT HEADSET) recommendations

[synkr0nized]

Hello.

My microphone is dying / has died.

I am looking to replace it. I mostly use it for Skype and similar purposes but also use it for in-game chatting and would use it for voiceover work on video if I did any of the LP/guide ideas I keep telling myself might be fun to do.

I have quality headphones, so I would prefer not to have a headset as it would be redundant and inferior.

I am probably going to stick with USB options for better quality.

I would prefer to have it sit about one to two feet from my face on the desk/monitor shelf and not need to "eat the mic" as they say for it to detect me. However I also want to avoid it picking up music or other sounds in my office if I choose not to use headphones at the same time (I am aware this may not be possible without a headset or close-range mic; so be it).

Fire away any suggestions or recommendations you have -- conference call mics, cardoid, omnidirectional, shotgun, ones with stands, whatever. Don't worry about budget if that affects your answer -- I am more interested in general opinions and recommendations than trying to fit it to a price range at the moment.

[Aerozord]

Whats your price range?

[Nikose Tyris]

I'm a big fan of the Blue Yeti for it's ridiculously high quality. However, for the price, you might prefer the Snowball- It was the best there was for USB microphones at the time- it was the first proper USB condenser mic of it's generation.

The Snowball doesn't really hold up compared to other microphones, but if you're just doing LP/guides and want to be clear, not "uncompressed audio files of your perfect lyrical voice", the Snowball would probably do it for you.

[synkr0nized]

That's one of the ones that I've read and watched reviews for in my explorations. How close does it need to be in order to work effectively? It was my impression it needed to be a few inches away, no more.

Also the audio quality of it and comparable mics, based at least on soundcloud clips and YouTube videos from folks reviewing them, is more than sufficient for me. I'm no singer, no musician, and I just want clarity and, if possible, to minimize ambient noise. I'd prefer an on/off switch, too, but I can just get into the habit of unplugging it.

So for example I have looked at: Blue Snowball, Blue Yeti, Samson Meteor, MXL AC-404 (my grad school lab group had these, used them for remote team collaboration studies and conference calling, had good experiences there), and a couple Audio-Technica and Shure mics (but these are more for performance and need to be close). I've also been looking at the Logitech C920 webcam as a kind of dual knockout to replace my low-quality webcam and offer me a mic replacement, but since I use the cam so little I thought maybe I should still look for better quality mics.

I have a Logitech desktop mic that plugs into a 3.5mm jack of a sound card, so its direct replacement would probably be this USB version (http://www.staples.com/Logitech-USB-Desktop-Microphone/product_645264).

[RickZarber]

I have a Blue Yeti Pro which I absolutely adore, so I can second a recommendation on that. Now, I mainly use it for voice-over work so I know that doesn't help you much, but I do also use it for video game chatting, and it seems to work very well from a distance that is roughly two feet away, as you specified.

(This is where I keep it for chat stuff--I get much closer for voice work):
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/908/4i8sVl.jpg

It does a good job of directionality (I generally keep it on Front Only). Of course if there's anything behind you it'll pick that up too, even, like, sounds bouncing off a wall, but there's a lot of play with the gain knob; it just takes some tweaking. I dunno about playing music while using it, though...

Anyway, probably not too much help, but I thought I'd throw my two cents in since it's something I could personally recommend.

[synkr0nized]

Is that where you leave it when chatting? If so, I can read, honest.

That's a great approximation for the distance on my own desk. Thanks for the picture and recommendation!

[Doc ock rokc]

if your really cheap here is one suggestion. go to a used game store or a pawn shop and try to find Rockband 1 or 2 microphones. You can tell them from RB3 mics because they will have more metal parts. These mics are surprisingly high quality and USB. They also are Dirt cheep

[Nikose Tyris]

if your really cheap here is one suggestion. go to a used game store or a pawn shop and try to find Rockband 1 or 2 microphones. You can tell them from RB3 mics because they will have more metal parts. These mics are surprisingly high quality and USB. They also are Dirt cheep

They're cheap and they work, but they're slightly lesser quality than the Blue Snowball, which needs to be a little closer than the Yeti (as in Rick's example.)

Basically, for your needs, Yeti or Yeti 2 would be fab from my experience, Snowball if you can find it for $50 or less.

[synkr0nized]

if your really cheap here is one suggestion. go to a used game store or a pawn shop and try to find Rockband 1 or 2 microphones. You can tell them from RB3 mics because they will have more metal parts. These mics are surprisingly high quality and USB. They also are Dirt cheep

I saw this as a recommendation in another thread elsewhere on the Interbutts, but I didn't see much follow-up from it. I will give it an honest consideration, though, and see what used game stores in my area have.

[rpgdemon]

I saw this as a recommendation in another thread elsewhere on the Interbutts, but I didn't see much follow-up from it. I will give it an honest consideration, though, and see what used game stores in my area have.

Yeah, I tried out doing a recording with one awhile back and was incredibly impressed with how not like butts it sounded.

[synkr0nized]

Random FYI: I got a Blue Yeti, and it has been great for both chat and recording so far.

[Nikose Tyris]

Really glad to hear! We've got one at the house now and it's absolutely ridiculously good.