Anybody here have solid knowledge about home recording or a good source to learn about it?

I need a mic that can record voice (singing/talking) and instruments (mainly piano).

I want decent sound, but don't want to spend very much (few hundred max). I just want something that I can plug into my computer and record with, as I don't have any other recording equipment. Is there a reason to avoid USB mics? Is an xlr > usb adapter preferable, so that a person can use an xlr mic?

How good/bad would something like this be? It sounds like it would be perfect, but I'm just reading the company's own description. http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...47fe4c62ccen02

This is for youtube videos/mp3 downloads, so I need it to be pretty good, but not expecting perfect audio.

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on getting an interface and wanna go with a straight USB mic, I would probably go with this one:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT2020USB/

Great price and Audio-Technica makes very solid entry level mics. (Never used this particular one, but I'm pretty familiar with their normal range of mics.)
I would assume that the converters in simple XLR-USB adapter are gonna be worse than the ones built into those USB mics.

Rode NT2A is a nice condenser mic for different sources at a good price. I've used it on vox, strings, harp, drum overheads, etc. Quite versatile. Multi-pattern. I think you'd be happy with it.

He right. Rode make great mics for your purposes. Do yourself a favour tho and get a decent interface. You'll need something to supply the mic with phantom power (from the interface or your mixer).

thx for replies.

not sure what this means: "decent interface"

I use a Samson Meteor Mic usb microphone, and I'm not too impressed. It's better than the $20 cheapy that I started out with, but that's about it. My recordings sound muddy. I have been kicking around the idea trying something else, but I don't want to spend more money to get the same results.

Interface = sound card, basically.

My knowledge of gear is quite outdated but as far as I can see, motu are still the leaders in the interface department.

Same with Rode. They're not by any means the leaders but the nt2 is great value for a home set up.

I would steer away from usb mics and look at some interfaces

An interface is just an external sound card, equipped with preampts, multiple inputs/outputs, A/d and d/a converters, sometimes a wordclock etc. They usually connect via firewire or usb, but some are pci-e.

There are plenty of cheap interfaces at the consumer level that, when paired with something like the rode that was suggested, would be fine for your purposes. A bit more of an investment, but well worth it imo.

Some of the products are dated here, but the info is relevant

http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards...ome_studio.htm

for your needs the interface wouldn't have to be that expensive either, here's a couple of cheap but decent options. With those you would be able to use any normal XLR connector type mic.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Alpha
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB

Rode and Audio Technica probably have the best value in their entry level line of mics as some other people said as well.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT2035/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT4040/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NT1AAnniv/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NT2AStuBun/

For what it's worth, I have a degree in music production and engineering and experience in major label recording studios

My only advice: probably don't buy from Sweetwater. They are the most skilled at knowing their products inside out, but they'll cold call you relentlessly.

"Hey, man. Just seeing how that gear is working for you and if you have any questions about it."
"Nah, man. It's cool. Like I said, I've worked with these for years. Thanks for the call."
"Okay, cool. You need anything else... strings, picks, polish... a SSL 924?"
"Wtf...? lol"

[month later]

"Hey, just calling to see if you need any gear. I've got a killer Digi that just came in that you might be interested in."
"Dude... like I said - I'll call you if I need something."
"Okay, cool, man. Take care."

[2 months later]

"Hey, man. I'm smoking out these last Avalons and wanted to make sure I got you one before I gave them all away. I don't think I've ever sold you any compressors."
"DUDE... da fu*k...?"

[2 months later]

<email> Hey, man....

Thx for the replies.

Well, if an interface + xlr mic is that much better than a usb mic and the former would only be $500, I'll go that route, then. I want as good of quality as I can get but can't justify spending thousands.

Oh wow. LOL. So true!

rothko

I got one of these a few months back

http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H2-Portab...4262368&sr=8-1

A portable mike/recorder. I use it for podcasts, but it got lots of good reviews for recording music in a variety of situations (one player, a band, a concert...) etc. The amazon page gives some great details about this, which is useful.

It just plugs into a puter and you can download the recordings, or you can use it as a usb mike directly (I've not tried it myself in this mode).

PS If you do go for this, get a 4GB card not a 16GB. I tried it with both and it takes an age to properly start up with a much bigger stick.

http://www.bluemic.com/yeti/

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphon.../dp/B002VA464S

I got one of these to record podcasts a few weeks back and have been thoroughly impressed with it. It's a USB, but there are different settings depending on what you want to record. It has great reviews and two different CompUSA employees commented on how good it supposedly was on my way from taking it off the shelf to the checkout line. Definitely haven't been disappointed so far.

yeah, i had been considering the yeti, as well.

db, what is your podcast called? where can i find it?