Microphones

This page is currently planned to be a guide in the same idea of the Headphones page. For general information on microphones and how they work down to their basics, please visit Wikipedia. Any known guides involving microphones and other related equipment to them could possibly be on the bottom of this page.

While Microphone Threads on imageboards are very rare and my extreme lack of knowledge about them, I wish for this to still be a useful resource for mics in some way.

USB and XLR microphones

Are you interested in doing podcasts? Are you doing obnoxious and humorless lets plays of horror games? Are your friends sick of hearing your annoying distorted voice through your webcam mic? Well kiddo, looks like you are in dire need of a quality microphone.

It is easy to end up ripping yourself off; you need a good balance between quality and cost.

USB microphones

The only requirements for a USB Microphone is a USB port and maybe a driver. That is it! You are ready to go!

• Blue Yeti - An excellent quality USB microphone with an affordable price.
• Snowball - Quality is not as great as the yeti and lacks the features, but is a good option if you are poor.

Here is a video of some asshole in an ambient room comparing the two [1]

• AT2020

XLR microphones

If you want an XLR microphone you need an audio interface, a microphone stand and an xlr cable.

• AT2020 - This condenser microphone combined with a decent audio interface should provide you with "studio quality" vocals. Short review

USB Audio interfaces

• Focusrite Scarlett - Comes in different shapes and sizes. It is definitely the best bang for your buck audio interface.
• presonus audiobox
• tascam

Placebos

• Pop filter - Prevents that "popping" sound from fast moving air. Prevents moisture and saliva from getting into your mic.
• Shock mount - If you are in a very sensitive environment doing recordings you do not want any vibrations traveling to your mic. The shock mount just absorbs those vibrations- like banging your desk, tapping your feet, or your mom walking around the house.

Quick Do's and Do-Not's

• While becoming increasingly more convenient to carry with the higher proliferation of USB ports, USB mics draw power directly from the computer or other embedded device, thus causing very high amounts of static to be heard, even with little to no audio boosting. Unless you're trying to intentionally sound like you're speaking inside a garbage can, I highly suggest avoiding USB mics like a contagious disease, so at least use mics with 3.5mm jacks.

• Unless you want to counteract the static of USB mics or plugging in XLR-based microphones, Audio Interfaces aren't completely necessary for the average person.

External links

A Google Spreadsheet from /g/'s Headphone General.

A Youtube series aimed towards amateur voice actors, but there's still a sizable chunk of useful info, even if it's geared towards the more spendy of equipment. Part 2