so i want to record dialogue in both podcast format and overdubbing for film. currently, i'm using audacity for software, but want to know about professional audio programs (for windows, wish i had a mac).

also, i've found a few good studio microphones, especially in my price range. however, i wanted to know about the best mics in the market, since i'm still pretty ignorant.

7/30/2009 11:19:57 PM

Here ya go: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Blue-The-Bottle-Studio-Condenser-Microphone-270708-i1382903.gc

7/30/2009 11:22:53 PM

most everything Blue makes is pretty decent.

personally, i like the Rode NT1-A. you'd also be pretty safe with something like an AT2035. pick up a decent interface like the presonus audiobox, or i think e-mu makes a pretty decent 2-port USB interface.

7/31/2009 12:32:36 AM

i was making a joke about him saying 'the best mics on the market'. i doubt he had $6k in mind. lol at me.

7/31/2009 5:28:48 PM

What's your capture card at the moment? A decent mic will be better than most built-in audio's noise threshold.

7/31/2009 9:58:50 PM

^^but blue doesn't make the best mics on the market that'd be neumann

and believe me, i lol'd.

(p.s. if you want something cheap, the blue snowball is fairly decent)

7/31/2009 11:05:00 PM

I only know of what I've heard people use, but for software, I'd check out Pro Tools, Ableton, and Sony SoundForge/Acid Pro.

8/1/2009 8:12:23 AM

hi,

i have used the blue usb that COD has, and it is okay, but not great. But I am picky.

I recommend buying a nice cheap microphone like a Shure SM-57 or SM-58 - one is complete flat, the other has a midrange bump that sweetens vocals a little bit, but i recommend going with the SM57 because you can EQ and get the same results -- in the end you get a more flexible microphone. every studio has at least a couple of these lying around because they are good, cheap and durable.

For recording, I use a line6 UX2. This has tremendous flexibility for the money -- perhaps more than you need. It uses software modeling of lots of preamps and effect pedals. Just going with one of the presets will do wonders for voice -- like the sunset FM DJ preset. You get a nice preamp, some EQ and a dynamic range compressor. They make a cheaper version that has a single input, but you get the same podfarm software.

Get a mike stand. A table top one is okay, for a very few dollars more you can get a floor model.

Finally -- spend the $25 - $30 for a pop filter. This is super important. It is hard (but not impossible with the application of duct tape) to add one of these to the blue -- and will tame the percussives like "p" and make you sound professional.

before someone points this out -- having a mike with built in usb doesn't get around the fact that the microphone component itself is not digital -- it is analog. it is more a matter of convenience than performance. as i mentioned before -- getting the all in one solution means you have bought a mike you are stuck with -- there is no upgrade path.

later you can invest in other mikes like a cheap condenser.

what i have described is the core of my home studio. yes, it is twice what a blue costs, but makes a fairly dramatic difference in outcome.

8/1/2009 10:49:04 AM

lol, a sm58 + ux2 + pop filter is more expensive than a blue mic? maybe the snowball, yes...

8/1/2009 12:51:32 PM

its my understand than an SM58 and an SM57 only differ by their windscreens... ie, take of the '58s windscreen and you have a 57. identical diaphrams/guts/etc.

I bet pros could do more w/ 57s/58s/ than any of us could with a $6k mic. I've alway been perfectly happy w/ my 57s and 58s for my purposes. I also had a Studio Projects B1 condenser that was cheap and fun to play with.

8/2/2009 4:27:50 PM

don't get me wrong, i love my beta 58's and sm57's... every studio should have a few of each... but they have their weaknesses

for podcasting, however, a 58 would be more than adequate.

8/2/2009 5:17:47 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260453859172&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Cheap used SM57

8/2/2009 5:23:40 PM

http://www.coutant.org/contents.html

8/2/2009 8:28:03 PM