I DO need Geek-help! Sorry I took your lunch money! Help!

[ludditeretard]

I make commercials as a side-line. I can't grow my business because all the production studs I have worked with become flakey over time. Also, I tire of breaking off cash for these guys. I down-loaded Audacity, and intend to learn it. But I need to buy a microphone. I'd like to keep it under 150, and get top quality. Used is fine. But I know nothing. Can anyone tell me what kind of specs I should look for when purchasing a mic? May the Lord smile upon you and not smite you and stuff.

[quote]

[Märk]

Get a Shure SM58. Duh.

[ludditeretard]

Thanks for the info! Sorry about the ceiling. That was me.

[jb]

Well, sure sm58's are mostly used for live sound. If dude's making commercials he probably wants a condenser. One of those cheap condenser's like Ken's always pushing. Go to musiciansfriend.com and type "condenser" in the search box.

If your budget is $150, don't buy anything that advertises it comes with a case, or two mics, or a preamp or whatever. You just want the microphone, and any added crap is just there to mask a crappy microphone. After all, the more they spend on the case and the preamp, the less they spent making the microphone. Get the most mic for your money.

[king_arthur]

Well, a preamp might be important if he's just planning on plugging into his soundcard and doesn't have phantom power... or, y'know, XLR inputs...

LR, tell us what other hardware you have right now. What sort of soundcard or audio interface do you have? Have you done any recording at all? Are you using this just for voiceover, or will you be recording instruments as well?

Charles

[jb]

Please note what I said: Don't get the package deal if your budget is $150.

If he doesn't have a preamp, he needs one. If you're on a budget, you have to be careful buying music gear, because you can't afford a mistake-- you'll live with it for a year.

Be practical.

JB

[ludditeretard]

I will be using the mic only for voice work. Any sound beds will come from a library. I'll be exporting in mp3. I have no mixer, just planning to plug into the back of my computer. I hope to use Audacity to get the levels right. Is this feasible?

[Tonamel]

Technically yes, realistically no. At least, not "top quality," and not for $150.

[Märk]

Well, yeah, I guess a condenser would be good too, but you need either a power supply or a mixer w/ phantom power for one of those. If you want to go that route, I found this for cheap:

Blue Snowball USB mic. (Although I don't know how it provides its own power through a 5V USB connection)