Good choice for a mic used for voiceovers?

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

Well, this is like asking “Is there a good choice for lunch?” as there are so many personal preferences.

You will need to feed the mic into the computer (unless you intend to record it to a camcorder first).
If you buy a “standard” mic (dynamic or electret [battery-powered] condenser), you can first connect the mic to a camcorder and send that in via FW.
Or, you can connect the mic via one of several USB-connected audio inputs for the Mac.
The Griffin iMic is popular and inexpensive but make sure you can adapt your mic’s output to a 1/8″ mini-jack input.
There are many more USB audio input boxes, some with more complete mixing abilities.

If you buy a “studio condenser” mic (which is one of the best quality mics for any kind of recording) the above connection options will apply… PLUS, you will need to Phantom Power the mic (some camcorders will do this, or you may need a separate mixer or power supply).

As to WHICH mic… the debates tend to heat up.

https://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_read_post.cgi?univpostid=854906&forumid=30&postid=854906&pview=t

The link above is recent one over on the COW Audio Pro Forum.

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Matte:

> Well, this is like asking “Is there a good choice for lunch?” as there are so
> many personal preferences.

Granted, I”m asking for a good option at lower price points. Decent quality in something rugged enough to withstand the abuse of careless students.

>
> You will need to feed the mic into the computer (unless you intend to record
> it to a camcorder first).
> If you buy a “standard” mic (dynamic or electret [battery-powered] condenser),
> you can first connect the mic to a camcorder and send that in via FW.

That’s appealing because the mic can then do double duty to record in the field and be used for editing. However. There are limited number of firewire ports on the Emac/Imac. I don’t see room on these computers to add a firewire card. But perhaps there is a work flow that will address this limitation.

> Or, you can connect the mic via one of several USB-connected audio inputs for
> the Mac.
> The Griffin iMic is popular and inexpensive but make sure you can adapt your
> mic’s output to a 1/8″ mini-jack input.

That’s a possibility. In fact we will be using a number of consumer cams that only have mini-jack inputs. Is there a decent mic that uses this type of plug? I know we will be limited by the length of the wire but for voiceovers and many shoots that should not be a problem. It’s not like these cams have powerful zoom lenses. Granted depth of field will be a problem. Students will need to be their own art directors/floor managers.

> There are many more USB audio input boxes, some with more complete mixing
> abilities.
>
> If you buy a “studio condenser” mic (which is one of the best quality mics for
> any kind of recording) the above connection options will apply… PLUS, you
> will need to Phantom Power the mic (some camcorders will do this, or you may
> need a separate mixer or power supply).

What do you think of this:

https://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=38508&SourceType=BestSeller

>
> As to WHICH mic… the debates tend to heat up.

Again, any suggestions on the low end but decent and rugged? In other words at what price point does the debate really begin?

Thanks.

OSX 10.3.8; Quicksilver Dual 1 gig; FCP 3.0.4; Sony camcorder vx2000; write professionally for a variety of media