Microphone review thread

[Azure]

Go here to read/fill out survey questions about mics used by members.

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We get asked a lot about microphones, so I thought it'd be a good idea for people to post reviews of their microphones and how they do over time so when VAs need to get new microphones they can have a look.
I think this would be especially helpful to anyone looking to splash out on an expensive microphone.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
USB Microphone
Logitech USB Desktop Microphone
Samson C01U *USB Condenser
Blue SnowBall *USB Condenser
MXL USB

Condenser Microphone
Shure KSM 27
Shure SM86
Samson C03
Audio-Technica AT2020
Audio-Technica AT3035

Desktop/PC Microphone
Altec Lansing PC Mic

Headset Microphone
ALTEC LANSING AHS202i
LOGITECH PREMIUM STEREO HEADSET

Dynamic Microphone
AUDIO TECHNICA LIMITED EDITION ST95 MKII
Shure SM58

[Azure]

Logitech USB Desktop Microphone
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...CONTENTID=6776

When I first got this microphone I was impressed at how easy it was to install and the clarity it gave for voice recording. It seemed especially good at picking up the inflections on my voice and how little Bg noise it picked. It does however seem to loose sensitivity I have trouble with higher kids voices, and when I raise the volume of my voice it gets tinny.

It's great as a first mic but I'm not sure it'll last long term, it's good if you talk a lot but if you have to yell you have to be very careful with settings.

[mphughes]

Thanks for the help/sticky Azure.

Hopefully I can assault VAA with what my voice prof says is, "a perfect radio voice."

[Tony]

Thanks for the help/sticky Azure.

Hopefully I can assault VAA with what my voice prof says is, "a perfect radio voice."

Don't confuse that with "a face for radio." Also, welcome.

[Seishiro17]

Samson C01U

SPECS:http://www.samsontech.com/products/p...1810&brandID=2

well first off it's a studio condenser that pops directly into usb, which is great for the VA that dosn't want several cables running over his/her floor. personally I've been recommending it for what seems like forever,9 months I think. it's a very nice upgrade from a basic starter mic like the logitech usb, and all in all I think for 70 american it's pretty kickass.

PROBLEMS

1. first problem someone might encounter is the necesity of a mic stand, I'm saying this because unlike the logitech, it dosn't have a mount built in.

2. k first tech problem, though a pointless one.it shows that it dosn't pick up as well on the left/right channel as it does on the other one. THIS MIGHT SHOW A PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NONE, it records the same equally on both sides, this is simply a strange effect that happens when you run a meter, weird I know, but take my word for it, theres no problem. I've extensivly tested it myself.

3. THIS IS THE MAIN PROBLEM, it generates a small buzzing. this isn't because of background noise. this is because it has power running through it in a unique setup that causes this buzzing.
(cure for this = advantage 3)


ADVANTAGES

1. affordibility, this is probobly the best quality mic you can get for under a hunded american total, stand included

2. it's universally compatible, mac/pc whatever you use you won'thave to buy a single f'ing adapter.

3. now for the solution to problem three, because the buzzing is a constant, you can easily noise reduce it to get clear recordings in just about any program except audacity. because it removes actual noise instead of ambient noise. thats why if you use noise reduction on it during your lines you end up sounding robotic/ drowning

4. the final advantage is #4 because it's selective. this is a mac only advantage currently, if you use a mac you can download free leveling/monitering/recording type settings instead of using that crappy windows volume thing that dosn't even moniter you. but like I said it's a mac advantage FOR NOW, as it says on the webpage they are working on a windows port of the software.

there's my review of the C01U, all in all it's an awesome mic in my opinion.

[Fernie]

PROBLEMS

3. THIS IS THE MAIN PROBLEM, it generates a small buzzing. this isn't because of background noise. this is because it has power running through it in a unique setup that causes this buzzing.
(cure for this = advantage 3)

Buzzing? O_o
I've had the thing for about a month now and I've never run into any sort of buzzing. Recordings are nice and clean and there isn't too much of a need to noise reduce, at least on my computer.
I should also add that once you get beyond the realm of computer desktop microphones it’s pretty much expected that a stand will be required.

I've wrote a bit about this Microphone before so I'll just copy and paste the rest:

I've been using it for about a month now and I like it. The price is great as you don't also need to buy a preamp, cables and anything else that using a professional microphone would entail. Of course that's also it's biggest downfall as you're tethered to a computer. If you ever plan to upgrade the rest of your recording equipment this mic will be useless. Then again, by the time that happens you'll probably be upgrading to a better microphone anyway so it's not a total negative.
Personally speaking I think 80 bucks for a decent condenser is a great value. It has a nice natural quality to the sound, probably a bit flat but that's something that can be equalized if needed. I don't have much experience with other condensers so I can't accurately compare it to the more professional stuff, but coming from a regular desktop usb mic there's quite a difference. In my quiet room it hardly picks up any noise, severely reducing the need to use noise reduction. It also has a much greater tolerance for loudness, I can practically yell into the thing and the recording won't clip, much better than the desktop one where I'd be facing 90 degrees from it with the volume as low as it can go to get a decent take. That being said you still have to screw around with the volume a lot, although again not as much as the generic desktop usb ones. I should note that although it doesn't bother me, I've heard from others is that there's a slight lag if you're monitoring yourself while recording. I don't listen to myself while recording but I could see how that would bug others.
Heh, I'm not terribly good at describing microphones, but I still have links to a few reviews I found prior to purchasing the mic.
http://www.macintouch.com/samsonc01u.html
http://www.podsqod.com/2005/08/22/po...n-c01u-review/ (with audio)

[zeavott.com]

Microphone: Shure KSM 27
Specs: http://www.shure.com/microphones/models/ksm27.asp


I have tried many different microphones. Electrovoice, M-Audio, AKG, you name it.
I've personally found the Shure makes the best microphones for Voice Overs.
It has the best range for all frequency pick-ups.

I highly recommend this specific one or any of the other Shure microphones... Even the lower end ones.

[Drake]

I've heard some people on this forum talking about "pop protectors" or "puff blockers". They're refering to screens or something that remove or greatly reduce the annoying puffs that mics always pick up. I searched amazon.com using those terms and found nothing. I was wondering if anyone knew where to buy these devices and if there is a better name for them (an official name).

PS: I also recommend the Logitech USB Microphone that Azure suggested. I use it, and I can tell you that it delivers very clear recordings and is an excellent value for its price.

PSS: Oh, I just saw that other sticky with the homemade pop screen, and that seems to be the official name. That still doesn't turn anything relevant up in an amazon.com search, though.

[Seishiro17]

that's because it's amazon, do the search in a more relevent shop such as musiciansfriend or sweetwater. they have em for sure though they might get a tad pricy.

[Drake]

Oh wait, I finally found something on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=UTF8&v=glance