sm58. never a bad first shot.

kmetal, post: 409273 wrote: sm58. never a bad first shot.

I do not have a amp thing to plug into for the 48V of phantom power. Reason I listed USB's.
I don't really want to spend $100+ for something like this. I also don't order from ebay or amazon.

My recording environment is quiet: No cars or anything really.

kmetal, post: 409273 wrote: sm58. never a bad first shot.

plus one

bought the at2020 usb mic. Love the quality, but might be returning and purchasing the XLR one.

Whats a cheap ($40-60 dollar) xlr input and how do I connect it to my pc?

NeedaMic, post: 409294 wrote: bought the at2020 usb mic. Love the quality, but might be returning and purchasing the XLR one.

Whats a cheap ($40-60 dollar) xlr input and how do I connect it to my pc?

What you're talking about is called an "audio interface", and they connect via USB or Firewire to your PC. Or via whatever macs use these days. They basically replace your internal soundcard with an external version of a soundcard that's much better quality, and has XLR inputs (and sometimes also 1/4 inch, RCA and/or MIDI inputs on it). I am not aware of any available at that price point and I'm pretty sure than if an audio interface was in that price range, it probably wouldn't be worth owning. You can try searching around for a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which seems to be getting decent reviews as an entry level piece of gear from respectable sources. You might get it for less than 100$ on ebay (it's currently 109$ new on Amazon), but you say you don't use Ebay or Amazon. Search whatever vendors you do use and see what they're charging for one. If you don't want to go that route, then you're probably better off just sticking with the USB mic you already have than trying to find a 60$ interface. Personally, I'd aim for the Scarlett and, as others here suggested, the SM58 to plug into it, although it would work with any non-USB mic (including the XLR version of the AT2020). Total cost would be about 220$ or so for the Scarlett and a SM58, which is more than you wanted to spend, but it's a good starter set, and that mic will last forever, hold its value forever, and you'll find ways to use it forever.

With 20$ of difference, why oh why, don't you go in a store and try both, then decide which is sounding better for your voice (which is unique)

apstrong, post: 409296 wrote: What you're talking about is called an "audio interface", and they connect via USB or Firewire to your PC. Or via whatever macs use these days. They basically replace your internal soundcard with an external version of a soundcard that's much better quality, and has XLR inputs (and sometimes also 1/4 inch, RCA and/or MIDI inputs on it). I am not aware of any available at that price point and I'm pretty sure than if an audio interface was in that price range, it probably wouldn't be worth owning. You can try searching around for a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which seems to be getting decent reviews as an entry level piece of gear from respectable sources. You might get it for less than 100$ on ebay (it's currently 109$ new on Amazon), but you say you don't use Ebay or Amazon. Search whatever vendors you do use and see what they're charging for one. If you don't want to go that route, then you're probably better off just sticking with the USB mic you already have than trying to find a 60$ interface. Personally, I'd aim for the Scarlett and, as others here suggested, the SM58 to plug into it, although it would work with any non-USB mic (including the XLR version of the AT2020). Total cost would be about 220$ or so for the Scarlett and a SM58, which is more than you wanted to spend, but it's a good starter set, and that mic will last forever, hold its value forever, and you'll find ways to use it forever.

I would love to try the SM58, but I did search quality tests and the AT2020 seems to get more of your natural voice. I'm not in a loud house (no cars, nothing loud except my fan in my room which I don't really even use). I feel like a condenser would be better in my case than a dynamic.
Then again though, I might get a cheap audio interface and try the SM58 in the future.

Would these interfaces give better quality than a usb?:

[="http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=35_766_775&item_id=029589"]Canada Computers | Pro Audio | Behringer Xenyx 502, Small Format Mixer - Premium 5-Input 2-Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamp and British EQ[/]="http://www.canadaco…"]Canada Computers | Pro Audio | Behringer Xenyx 502, Small Format Mixer - Premium 5-Input 2-Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamp and British EQ[/]

[[url=http://="http://www.canadaco…"]Canada Computers | Pro Audio | Behringer XENYX 302USB - 5 Input Compact Mixer with USB[/]="http://www.canadaco…"]Canada Computers | Pro Audio | Behringer XENYX 302USB - 5 Input Compact Mixer with USB[/]

Thank you.

NeedaMic, post: 409299 wrote:

Would these interfaces give better quality than a usb?:

The first link is just a mixer, not an interface to a computer, so you'd still need an interface to get sound from the mixer to your computer. The second link is a mixer with built in USB interface to your computer, so it would do the job, but my experience with that manufacturer is that their mixers are noisy, unreliable, and prone to breaking. That's why they cost so little.

apstrong, post: 409301 wrote: The first link is just a mixer, not an interface to a computer, so you'd still need an interface to get sound from the mixer to your computer. The second link is a mixer with built in USB interface to your computer, so it would do the job, but my experience with that manufacturer is that their mixers are noisy, unreliable, and prone to breaking. That's why they cost so little.

Should I just stick with the USB AT2020 then?

If you like the mic then sure, that's the cheap and easy solution.