Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
My friend needs an affordable mic or recorder for voiceovers/podcasting (she doesnt need professional stuff). The budget is only $125. What would you recommend? (The problem is that the soundcards in notebooks have pretty noisy input, she already recorded something with Skype mic and the sound was full of noise / she achieved much better result with her cell phone)
Thanks for any tips. |
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
What's SKYPE mic?
|
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Regular cheap microphone for voice communication over internet (Skype etc. :) I dont now the details.
|
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Does she need to wear it?
If not, the MCA SP-1 is less than $50 USD and sounds quite a bit better. With SKYPE calls, she really needs to be wearing headphones and muting the computer speakers. Ty Ford Audio and Video: MCA SP-1 Cardioid Condenser Mic Regards, Ty Ford |
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Thanks. I was wondering if you can record noise-free voiceovers with ordinary soundcard. I never achieved a quality audio recording with my soundcard. I had allways MUCH better results when recording voiceovers with microphone pluged into my (prosumer) camera. But she doesnt have a camera. So I was wondering if some cheap sound recorder (like Zoom H1) would be a better solution.
|
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Although a bit of a battery eater, the TASCAM DR-60D at $349 USD is a nice recorder. (get an external power supply)
Ty Ford Audio and Video: TASCAM DR-60D Four-Track Digital Recorder for DSLR and other uses Regards, Ty Ford |
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
So do you think that MCA SP-1 pluged into a regular soundcard on a PC will sound ok? Or should I recommend her rather Zoom H1 (or MCA SP-1 plus Zoom H1)? The Tascam is out of her budget.
BTW, MCA SP-1 is a XLR mic, so she will need some XLR to 3,5mm adapter, right? |
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Have a look at one of the USB offerings from Blue Microphones
|
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Blue Microphones Yeti looks great.
|
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
I've been using one of these now for a couple of years. It sounds better than I expected for the $$. Since it is also a USB mic you don't have to worry about noisy laptops.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/673811-REG/M_Audio_8250_10009_61_Pro_Tools_Vocal_Studio.html |
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Quote:
The H1 will not work, it provides plug-in power which is not the same as phantom power. The H1 or H2n or H6 can all be connected directly to the computer and used as a USB mic, an alternative to the various USB mics being recommended in this thread. Fran |
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Most pro and semi-pro studio type condenser mics like the MCA SP-1 need Phantom Power via an XLR>XLR cable, so a common everyday (noisy, awful sounding) consumer sound card would not work. In the OPs case and IMO, a USB mic would be the best choice.. eliminating the need/cost/installation/set-up for a Phantom Powered mic preamp.
|
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
Quote:
Presumably mics like this and the more expensive (c. $230) Rode Podcaster have simple pre-amps built in, before the A-to-D and USB circuitry. |
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
It is plenty good enough for a podcast.
I don't use the version of pro-tools that comes with the mic. I use Audacity due to its light footprint and its more modest hardware requirements. It works very well with that software. I've even set up my steadicam case as a bit of a sound box to remove some room tone from the recordings. |
Re: Lowbudget solution for voiceovers/podcasting
I would look at the Audio Technica AT2020 USB.
The AT2020 is a good deal for the price, and I trust that Audio Technica did a decent job of making a USB version. The built-in USB interface bypasses the uniformly terrible built-in audio inputs found on all computers. Remember that the environment is AT LEAST as important as the microphone. If you have a noisy location, reflective surfaces, and/or a nearby computer with a whirring fan, the best microphone in the world will sound no better than the built-in mic on your laptop. |
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:58 AM. |
DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network