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There doesn't seem to be a great consensus on the best microphones to use on my usual sources (HN). This is surprising because the difference between laptop mic

by zests 5y ago

There doesn't seem to be a great consensus on the best microphones to use on my usual sources (HN). This is surprising because the difference between laptop mic or bluetooth mic and a good microphone is enormous. I also don't mind spending a bit more $$$ because this is for my day job. But when buying a mic, I've read many types of good microphones (bluetooth streamer/podcaster looking mics vs XLR traditional looking mics e.g., Shure SM58-LC). Its hard to pull the trigger and know whats best. At this point I'll go with the Shure model, a stand and an XLR to USB-C cable sooner rather than later. I have a nice webcam so a great mic is the next step.

crazygringo 5y ago
I think your main choice is primarily just condenser vs dynamic -- for budget, that means something like a Blue Snowball vs an AT2005 (similar to the Shure you mentioned). And that's ultimately a question these days mainly of aesthetics -- how do you want your voice to sound? I personally prefer the condenser for being a bit more "full-range" (brighter, more sensitive = more realistic) but plenty prefer the dynamic precisely for being less sensitive so it picks up less background noise.
- justincormack 5y ago
  Choice also depends on how much you use it. I do a lot of calls so I gave up on the mic on a stand that needs to be moved in place and mounted a small condenser on a boom above my head so its not in the way of the monitor and is always in the right place.
ghaff 5y ago
>the difference between laptop mic or bluetooth mic and a good microphone is enormous Yes but for most of us for most purposes, you can probably spend $50-$100 and you're pretty much there. Something like that Shure is almost certainly fine. I have a Blue Snowball and a Behringer XM1800S that I use for different purposes. (Not for different sound quality but the Behringer is plugged into a mixer for podcasting.)

by zests 5y ago

crazygringo 5y ago

I think your main choice is primarily just condenser vs dynamic -- for budget, that means something like a Blue Snowball vs an AT2005 (similar to the Shure you mentioned). And that's ultimately a question these days mainly of aesthetics -- how do you want your voice to sound? I personally prefer the condenser for being a bit more "full-range" (brighter, more sensitive = more realistic) but plenty prefer the dynamic precisely for being less sensitive so it picks up less background noise.

justincormack 5y ago
Choice also depends on how much you use it. I do a lot of calls so I gave up on the mic on a stand that needs to be moved in place and mounted a small condenser on a boom above my head so its not in the way of the monitor and is always in the right place.

ghaff 5y ago

>the difference between laptop mic or bluetooth mic and a good microphone is enormous Yes but for most of us for most purposes, you can probably spend $50-$100 and you're pretty much there. Something like that Shure is almost certainly fine. I have a Blue Snowball and a Behringer XM1800S that I use for different purposes. (Not for different sound quality but the Behringer is plugged into a mixer for podcasting.)