Good PC microphones for podcast/voice recording?

[Punk Rock Geek]

So, I just purchased a Sony ECM-MS907 Microphone, and I'm starting to think I'd be better off returning it.

When I try it on my Laptop, I get this high pitch buzzing sound. When I try it on my desktop computer however, the buzzing is very low pitch (making it harder to hear), but my voice also records much quieter. Looking over the reviews on Amazon.com, it would seem that everyone who used this microphone with a minidisc player had good results, but those who used it with their PC, had bad results.

So that's why I'm asking for microphones that were built with the PC in mind. I also should be asking, is it even the fault of the mic at all, or do I just have bad sound cards? (These are very new computers...)

Finally, I'm looking for a microphone that is in the $100 range. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks!

Edited September 7, 2008 by Punk Rock Geek

[Twisted Chaz]

tbh, you will need to check that your sound card is good or not. Running it through the onboard won't really help!

[+Warwagon MVC]

http://www.amazon.com/Samson-CO1U-USB-Cond...c/dp/B000AP1RE8

I have that one. Its a USB microphone so it doesn't go through your soundcard

if you want to hear what it sounds like recording wise you can listen to the first part of my podcast shows starting with # 5 (That was the Episode were the sound quality improved by way of my recording method.)

http://www.avmypodcast.com/viewmypodcast.asp?pid=354

[Punk Rock Geek]

tbh, you will need to check that your sound card is good or not. Running it through the onboard won't really help!

How would I check that?

http://www.amazon.com/Samson-CO1U-USB-Cond...c/dp/B000AP1RE8

I have that one.

Your opinion of it?

[Punk Rock Geek]

if you want to hear what it sounds like recording wise you can listen to the first part of my podcast shows starting with # 5 (That was the Episode were the sound quality improved by way of my recording method.)

http://www.avmypodcast.com/viewmypodcast.asp?pid=354

Wow, that quality is amazing. Thank you!

So it will sound like that on all computers, because it is a USB mic? And also, you haven't done any noise removal editing? That's how it always sounds?

[+Warwagon MVC]

Wow, that quality is amazing. Thank you!

So it will sound like that on all computers, because it is a USB mic? And also, you haven't done any noise removal editing? That's how it always sounds?

No Noise removal. Because its USB its all digital not analog. But I also use a pop filter a big one that covers the entire mic. I recommend you buy one. It keeps your breath out of mic when you say P's and B's where you get those really loud pops. The little echo you hear in the recording is from the room I record it in. Kind of a small room so the sound kind of bounces around. Its also very directional. You can have someone coming through your speakers and unless its turned way up, they don't get an echo. Best 80 I ever spent.

Also if you want some more samples. Here is my Dragon Entry. I used the same microphone to do all the audio of my voice.

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...t&id=196080

[Punk Rock Geek]

No Noise removal. Because its USB its all digital not analog. But I also use a pop filter a big one that covers the entire mic. I recommend you buy one. It keeps your breath out of mic when you say P's and B's where you get those really loud pops. The little echo you hear in the recording is from the room I record it in. Kind of a small room so the sound kind of bounces around. Its also very directional. You can have someone coming through your speakers and unless its turned way up, they don't get an echo. Best 80 I ever spent.

Also if you want some more samples. Here is my Dragon Entry. I used the same microphone to do all the audio of my voice.

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...t&id=196080

Thanks! Do you recommend any specific pop filters, or are they all the same?

(Cool effects by the way)

[+Warwagon MVC]

Thanks! Do you recommend any specific pop filters, or are they all the same?

(Cool effects by the way)

Here is the filter i use

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002CZW0Y

and the special effects where extracted from Call of Duty 2 :laugh: Except for the dragon sounds. Those where just found online.

[Punk Rock Geek]

Here is the filter i use

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002CZW0Y

and the special effects where extracted from Call of Duty 2 :laugh: Except for the dragon sounds. Those where just found online.

Okay, just one last question. When you said:

"(That was the Episode were the sound quality improved by way of my recording method.)"

what did you mean? That's when you got the new mic, or did you do something else to improve the quality?

[+Warwagon MVC]

Okay, just one last question. When you said:

"(That was the Episode were the sound quality improved by way of my recording method.)"

what did you mean? That's when you got the new mic, or did you do something else to improve the quality?

Before episode 5 I would have audition running on my media center in the living room. I would then call the person I was talking to and also invite the media center. So that way it I could record my voice and his voice. So my voice quality was only as good as it would sound to someone else over skype.

I then installed a program on the computer I was recording at to record my voice and everyone voice on 2 different channels. A left channel for my voice and a right channel for everyone else. Well when I did that my voice quality wasn't getting compressed through skype it was heard as is. Hence why the quality improved.

[Punk Rock Geek]

Before episode 5 I would have audition running on my media center in the living room. I would then call the person I was talking to and also invite the media center. So that way it I could record my voice and his voice. So my voice quality was only as good as it would sound to someone else over skype.

I then installed a program on the computer I was recording at to record my voice and everyone voice on 2 different channels. A left channel for my voice and a right channel for everyone else. Well when I did that my voice quality wasn't getting compressed through skype it was heard as is. Hence why the quality improved.

I know I said that would be my last question, but this sounds exactly what like what I want to do. I want to be able to have a conversation with someone on Skype, have her record her end, and me record my end, and then piece it together. We are doing voice recording for a Flash animation, and I figure this would be the best way for us to interact with each other and also record our lines at the same time, since she lives so far away.

Which program did you install? (Thanks for all this help, by the way.)

[+Warwagon MVC]

I know I said that would be my last question, but this sounds exactly what like what I want to do. I want to be able to have a conversation with someone on Skype, have her record her end, and me record my end, and then piece it together. We are doing voice recording for a Flash animation, and I figure this would be the best way for us to interact with each other and also record our lines at the same time, since she lives so far away.

Which program did you install? (Thanks for all this help, by the way.)

PowerGramo