Blue yeti.
> On Mar 27, 2020, at 6:10 PM, David Schwartz <[email protected]> > wrote: > > HA! You’re asking for a one-size-fits-all computer, OS, and programming > language! > > Mics are inherently very specialized pieces of equipment. You choose a mic to > fit your need. Anything even approxminating a one-size-fits-all solution is > not going to produce good results for a wide range of needs. > > The only truly solid thing I can recommend is to look for a “unidirectional” > mic. That would be one with a “cardioid” or “hypercardioid” pickup pattern > rather than “omnidirectional”. > > Omnidirectional mics pick up everything in the room, and are the main source > of feedback you hear when people have their computer speakers on. > > FWIW, most lapel mics (the ones that clip onto your shirt) are almost all > omni’s. They tend to be paired with transmitter packs that have ALC so they > don’t pickup a lot of room noise, just the loudest signal nearby. > > > Another general recommendation if you want to use it with a computer is that > you typically have two choices: > > 1) get a mic with a built-in A/D converter and a USB plug on it; or > > 2) get a mic with a common XLR (3-pin) connector on it and a decent mixer / > preamp / computer interface. > > A mic with a USB connector on it will be mostly “plug-n-play” for most > situations and fairly universal. It’ll look like a sound card and USB port. > > They typically come with a desk stand, or are designed to be mounted on a mic > stand or moveable arm. > > > There are generally two kinds of mics: dynamic and condenser. Actually, > they’re ALL dynamic, but some have a preamp built in, and they’re called > “condenser” mics. So you need "phantom power” to make them work, and you get > it from a preamp or mixer. (Some take batteries, but most use phantom power.) > > Mics have different sensitivity levels and different abilities to handle high > Sound Pressure Levels (SPLs). You put mics that can handle high SPLs on drums > and brass instruments. > > Electric guitars have pickups built-in and they put out line-level signals > that are much higher than typical mics. Keyboards also put out line-level > signals. > > Acoustic guitars and woodwinds would use mics that are good for vocals. > They’d also be good for podcasting, voiceovers, and Zoom-type meetings. Don’t > use them for drums or brass instruments or you’re likely to damage them. > > The most popular all-purpose mics in the world are the Shure SM57 and SM58 > (and its little brother, the SM48). You’ll need a preamp to use them with > your computer. Shure also makes some nice USB mics with desk stands. > > Many USB mics have a rather retro look to them. > > > A lot of people get these big (4”) round things on a gooseneck that are > suspended in front of the mic. I think they’re pretty silly unless you’re > doing professional-level sound. They’re used as “pop filters”. A foam > windscreen that goes over the mic is just as effective most of the time, and > a lot cheaper. > > Mics designed to sit on your desk typically have foam inside the mic. An > external foam windscreen is good today because you can take it off and wash > it. > > > You could consider a gaming headset; they’re going to have both a mic and > headphones, along with either a USB plug or two 1/8” connectors (pink and > green, for the mic and headphones). Headsets usually have omni mics on them, > which is OK since you’re listening through the headphones. > > I prefer to listen through my computer speakers, and I use an AudioTechnica > PRO-8HEx head-mounted mic. It’s a unidirectional dynamic mic, so you need a > preamp or mixer with it. I use a Scarlett Solo. These head-mounted mics are > used by lots of radio and sports announcers who work in noisy environments, > as well as traffic reporters who report live from helicopters. If they can > block out chopper noise, you think they can block out your computer speakers > and prevent feedback? HECK YEAH! And dogs, kids, traffic noise outside, etc., > all of which are often picked up with cheap omni mics. > > Omni mics have their purposes, for sure, but not for use in front of > computers. That’s one reason there’s not a one-size-fits-all mic unless you > get one that has a switch on it that lets you select the pickup pattern. > > > > A few interfaces I can suggest are: > > * Scarlett Solo or 2i2 — great quality, looks like a sound card to the > system, but they have their own Windows drivers. (Dunno about Linux.) > > * Zoom LiveTrak L-8 — it’s a new device that’s designed for podcasting. It > has some really unique features, like the ability to plug in a TRRS plug from > a cell phone that bypasses the main mix (called mix-minus) to avoid feedback. > It’s for when you want to talk with someone on the phone during a podcast or > to record an interview. It’s a 12-track recorder, mixer, EFX, 4-channel > headphone splitter, and computer interface all in one spiffy box. Computer is > optional. > > * Presonus StudioLive AR8c — this is another new device that’s very similar > to the L-8 but instead of a TRRS plug it has Bluetooth 5.0 built-in. And no > headphone splitter. > > > As an aside on mixers today: There are something like three vendors who make > A/D and D/A chips that are used by virtually everybody who makes digital > audio equipment today. So the specs on most equipment are going to be nearly > identical. Which means companies are finally starting to have to innovate by > adding new and useful features to these devices without charging an > arm-and-a-leg for them. The features you find on these two mixers at the > level of sound quality they offer was unheardof 10 years ago. They are full > digital recording studios in a box with a bunch of EFX and other features you > usually wouldn’t find in typical mixers. And the EFX themselves are quite > good quality. > > So most people buy a MIXER that has a bundle of features they’d want or need > (even if it’s as simple as a Scarlett Solo or 2i2), and then get a couple of > basic mics to use with it. The nice thing is, mics are universal things, like > keyboards — they can plug into just about everything. So you don’t get “one > to beat all”. Rather, you get a mixer, and then add mics that you need when > you need them. > > -David Schwartz > > > >> On Mar 27, 2020, at 4:41 PM, der.hans <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> moin moin, >> >> With everyone else suddenly going online I need to finally improve some of >> my versatility. >> >> Any recommendations for microphones? >> >> >> Needs: >> >> * something that does well with voice, e.g. podcasts, presentations, meetings >> >> * something that will work for an acoustic instrument >> >> * works with laptops and desktops >> >> * can eliminate background noises >> >> * works with debian/Ubuntu >> >> >> Wants: >> >> * one mic to rule them all rather than needing multiple mics >> >> * works with cellphones >> >> * wired connection option >> >> * inexpensive >> >> * can be used in an open room with someone else joining the same chat room >> in a different room in the house without flashback sound effects >> >> * can be used in an open room with someone else joining the same chat room >> in a different room in the house with flashback sound effects because >> kidling thinks it's hilarious :) >> >> >> We already have that last feature with the current setup. >> >> For the most part, mic use can be in isolated parts of house. I might end >> up needing multiple mics. If so, preferably they'd all be the same, but >> that's not strictly a requirement. Most likely, I'll be buying one mic and >> multiple headsets with mics. >> >> Preferably, I'll be buying from Newegg. >> >> ciao, >> >> der.hans >> -- >> # https://www.LuftHans.com https://www.PhxLinux.org >> # Linux Fest Northwest cancelled, working to get presentations online >> # https://www.lfnw.org/conferences/2020 >> # The key to making programs fast is to make them do practically >> # nothing. ;-) -- Mike Haertel, 2011Aug21 >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - [email protected] >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - [email protected] > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
