Looking for a Quality microphone for Voice Overs

[Jeff Carpenter]

I don’t know too much about USB mics, but I don’t recall seeing too many high-quality ones. They’re mostly made for IM chatting.

You probably want something like this:

https://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic2/

You can convert any mic to a USB signal using it so you won’t be limited to USB mics only. I’d suggest bhphotovideo.com as a good place to browse for mics if you don’t have anything in mind already.

[Marco D.]

I use a Shure SM-58, connected to a small and affordable Alesis mixer. The mixer goes into the sound card of the G5.

No USB here, not sure I’d want it either. The setup we use was relatively cheap, and provides very good sound quality.

Now I don’t know how ‘high’ you mean when you say ‘high quality’ sound. This is very relative…

Good luck.

Marco

[Dean Sensui]

You might consider getting a good mic, then connecting to your NLE via your camera’s XLR input and Firewire.

Our co-producer/on-camera talent does that for post-production voiceovers.

Dean Sensui — http://www.HawaiiGoesFishing.com

[Mark Raudonis]

The audio industry has finally awoken to the fact that lots of people now want a quality mike to go directly into their computer via USB or Firewire.

Go to Sweetwater.com and do a search for “USB” microphones. You’ll find plenty.

We recently bought the “Snowball” by Blue. It’s less than $150 bucks and is great for VO’s.

Samson makes the C01USB “studio condenser” for less than a hundred bucks. These are both good mic’s for casual work.

mark

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

I usually attract a dissenting comment or two when I post this info, but here I go again…

I own and use several expensive studio condenser microphones.

But here is a link to a Mic that simply will work great for VO work, choir and orchestra recording.
Its very sensitive with low noise, so it will work well for recording stage plays.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/s=mics/search/detail/base_pid/273156/

The price is $69.99 (yes, that’s 1 cent under $70).
Check often, as it goes on SALE for as low as $49.95 (almost FREE)!

I’m not kidding, this is a terrific mic. It requires Phantom Power to operate.
The standard phantom power is 48 volts, but I have easily run this mic on 12v to 20v phantom power from a battery-powered mixer.)
If you’re looking at a Behringer mixer, they work great together.

A pair of these mics mounted in the right place can help you create a beautiful stereo recording.

This mic also sounds quite good on piano, string instruments and woodwinds.

Because it is very sensitive, it can be over-powered by the close-micing of percussion and some brass instruments.
There is another version (for a bit more money) that has a 10dB attenuator for use under LOUDER conditions.

Info on this mic has been posted on the COW many times and it ALWAYS gets surprised and grateful responses from those who buy it.

If your camcorder accepts XLR mics, and has a “phantom power” switch, you can record direct to a tape in the camera and capture the tape (a great method if you want Timecode on the voice tracks.)

[Sebastian Knight]

I would like to take the time to say thank you to everyone who took the time read and reply to my post. This is the type of feedback I was looking for. I have never purchased a microphone before, as I have never received nothing short of great help from my fellow Creative Cow’s. If anyone would like to add additional suggestions or recommendations, please feel free to add them. As I think this Post will help me and several other members to trying to create a better Final Cut Studio experience a little at a time, because of financial restrictions, so once again thank each reader and Poster.

Sebastian