When getting started with voice-over recordings, the budding audio producer may wonder what makes a great mic.
Here’s what you need to know before making a mic purchase.
There are two main things to consider.
The first is that for all of the tens of thousands of mic choices it’s important to remember that microphones are designed for different purposes. For example some are designed for use with a video camera, others are designed to record drums, and some are also created for specific musical instruments. For voice-over narrations you need one that is designed for spoken voice (which is NOT the same as a mic for singing voice.)
Here is the second consideration. When you are recording direct to your computer, you now have the choice of using a USB microphone rather than one that is designed to be connected to an amplifier and mixing console. The advantage of using a USB mic, is that a high quality sound card to convert the audio into a digital signal isn’t required. This is because you’re going directly into the computer with the audio signal.
Even with these two requirements there are still plenty of microphones to choose from. So let’s narrow the field a bit further. The best quality mics today continue to be made by microphone manufacturers. They have much more R&D to draw from, and in most cases many decades of experience at designing and producing great quality microphones.
Although you’ll find that many companies who manufacture computers accessories (for example a mouse or a webcam) are now producing headset mics (and the like), the best bang for your buck – and still the best quality, comes from manufacturers such as Rode, Shure, Samson, Electrovoice, AKG, Neumann, Marshall Electronics, and so forth. And the great news is that most of these manufacturers realize that there is a market for USB recording mics.
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Hello:
Good information! I would specifically like to suggest that folks have a look at the USB mic from Audio Technica, the AT2020-USB. We have evaluated most of the USB mics on the market and this on offers the best value in a professional studio-type microphone:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/AT2020-USB
If you need something small and still excellent in sound quality, I would look at this one:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-PODCAST-1
If anyone needs help using a USB mic, please feel free to call or write to us:
Hope this helps!
Chris Carfagno
The Sound Professionals, Inc.
800-213-3021
http://www.soundprofessionals.com
sales@soundprofessionals.com
I thought about Audio Technica too. But it’s been over 10 years since I have heard one used – and they had always sounded a bit thin compared with others, and had a lower output level. As a result you had to PUSH your voice a bit too much to get decent tone.
So it’s absence from this list is purely that I haven’t tested any new ones myself. Glad to hear they have a good one on the market now.
Hi Ginny:
I would be curious to know which AT mics you have tried. I have generally found them to be excellent mics. They have been (and still are) the mic brand of choice at the Olympics since 2000, and many famous artist have used them over the years, including Tony Bennet (on his recent “Duets”), Alan Parsons, and many more.
Here is more info:
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/site/24ca27d9a4b486fe/index.html
I personally own a pair of AT4050 side address studio mics and I can honestly say that I have never used a mic that sounded better, regardless of price.
The AT2020USB is a great value. Here is a sound sample:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/MP3files/PRODUCTS/AT2020USB.mp3
By the way, I don’t work for AT…….just a big fan (of course, we sell them, and others). I just find that they offer the best bang for the buck.
Take care!!
Chris Carfagno
Hi Chris,
My experience with AT was a cardioid dynmaic mic but I don’t remember the model. In fact it might have been a colourful mike – for example red.
I took a quick look at their site and didn’t see anything similar.
Ginny
Hi:
I remember those…..they were more gimmicky than anything else. Hey, believe me, they have their low end mics, too, and they sound that way
Chris
Main thing is Chris, the point we are in agreement on … is go for the brand name. There are simply a lot of great choices to work from.
Ginny
Hi Ginny
A big fan of your work. Mind revealing what mic and/or audio chain you personally use?
Dave
My favorite voice-over mic for internet work is a RODE PODCASTER. It has a great price point, and has a built-in headphone jack with volume control. It’s not a good singing mic though
For vocals, there are a few I like, and the best-suited for my own voice is a Neuman U87 or at the low end, an EV ND257.
As for audio chain … everything is now software driven. No more hardware except for live instruments, my mac, an audio interface and a great set of speakers.
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