Help me pick a microphone + headphones!

[doomdragon6]

Hi all.

Recently the various things I do require voice recording, and I need to get a good microphone to do it.

I looked online to help me pick, and that was a terrible decision because there are more possibilities for microphones than I knew existed.

So what I'm looking for is a microphone that:
- Is best for recording a speaking voice ; potentially a singing voice
- Can record straight to my computer and retain quaity [I understand this can be difficult, so what various things will I need to accomplish this?]
- Doesn't cost much. Ideally less than $50.

I am NOT looking for Mr. Audiophiles Super-Amazing Microphone. I am looking for a micophone that is better than the typical headset / webcam / computer microphone. Just something that will get clear vocals recorded.

From what little research I've done, I understand I need a uni-directional cardioid mic. I'm basically asking for help choosing an inexpensive, functional, fairly easy-to-use mic and set-up.

For example, I know there are pre-amps and whatnot? I don't know exactly what this is, how it works, or what relation it has between my mic and my computer. Plus, I hear they're expensive.

Furthermore, I am also looking to get an inexpensive mic stand, boom, and pop-filter. Any help here would be loved.

--------------------------

Headphones:

All I have are my laptop's speakers, Hello Kitty Earbuds, and M&M Earbuds to hear sound with. I don't want desk speakers as I like a clean desktop and wires piss me off, and I am constantly moving my laptop around.

I would like a decent set of headphones that will accurately convey the sound that is intended. Again, preferably inexpensive.

I am open to the larger headphones that fully cover your ears, because I think those look cool and professional as hell.

I am also open to "high-quality earbuds" but I most certainly do not want ones where you have to pop the gel part inside your ear, as opposed to just setting them in your ear. I hate those, they creep me out, and I can't use them. Plus, earbuds just feel like they can't provide good sound, but I'm sure plenty can.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks guys!

 

[drifter]

Mic: Maybe a Snowball? Blue has a pretty good reputation, and I remember being impressed with KCWM's guitar he recorded through his Snowball mic. USB, cardioid, comes with a desk stand, about $60. You can make your own pop filter for a couple bucks, but they only cost like $10, so meh. Looks like cheap mic stands are $13. Unless you have a hefty mic, a cheap $18 boom stand works fine. Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, Amazon, they're all in the same price range. If you have a Music-Go-Round near you, it might be worth checking out if you don't mind used.

Headphones: I've heard you should either spend no more than $30 or no less than $100 (or was it $150?). Anything in-between is (with occasional exceptions,) not worth the money. The Koss Porta-Pro's are supposed to sound excellent, are on-ear styled, and pretty cheap ($30-40). Also, retro-licious.

-edit-

Head-fi.org has a headphone shootout here. It's also divided into price classes, which is nice.

 

[figmentPez]

Headphones: I've heard you should either spend no more than $30 or no less than $100 (or was it $150?). Anything in-between is (with occasional exceptions,) not worth the money. The Koss Porta-Pro's are supposed to sound excellent, are on-ear styled, and pretty cheap ($30-40). Also, retro-licious.

With the slow economy prices have come down, to varying degrees, in the audio market. A couple years ago a pair of, highly regarded, Sennheiser HD280 headphones would be well over $100 (original MSRP was $199), now they're down to under $80.

 

[doomdragon6]

Hey thanks.

I looked around some more and eventually decided on a GLS ES57 mic, as it's apparently as good as the Shure SM57, which is a standard for vocal recordings. It's cheaper and I can get some package deals on them. Got a cheap stand/boom.

Still looking for some advice on the preamps.

I'll check out the headphones. Thanks!

 

[doomdragon6]

So using that huge review page posted, I think I'm liking the DT 235 SW the best.

They're inexpensive enough, I like the style, and have better stats than similarly priced models on that page.

Anyone else have any thoughts there?

 

[drifter]

I've heard good things about that mic. If you don't already have one, you're gonna need a cable. Following that, if you want to plug directly into the computer, you'll probably want an XLR female to 1/8" (3.5mm) male,a assuming your sound card only has 1/8" jacks (or an XLR to 1/4" with an 1/8" adapter works, too). I'd recommend Monoprice for all your cabling needs.

I think PatrThom, among others, knows a good bit about sound gear; might be worth waiting to see if they chime in.

 

[Jay]

I for one hate dark fonts.

 

[drifter]

Hrm, must've changed the color on accident again. Fixed.

 

[PatrThom]

Sorry to take so long, I didn't want to get into the thread at work (where I can't do much research) and then forgot about it when I got home (tree fell in my yard, I've been ... occupied).

"omnidirectional" and "cardioid" are pretty much opposites. Omnidirectional means that it picks up sound from all directions equally. Cardioid means that it prefers one direction over the rest (the pickup pattern resembles a heart ♡, hence the name). The other pattern you will run into is a "figure-8" which concentrates only on those things directly in front of or behind the mic.

If you're looking for a solution-in-a-box, I really recommend Blue's Yeti mic. The Yeti Pro has more room to grow (it has XLR input), but it costs an additional $75 or so (only get it if you can genuinely afford it). There are places selling Yeti kits which contain the mic, a set of halfway decent over-the-ear headphones, and even a pop filter as a package deal for only $150. Might be what you're looking for.

--Patrick