USB mic

Dean Larsen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

Hello mic experts,

I can't help but notice that most everyone is using condeser mics with pre-amps, etc. But I purchased a USB condenser mic that is a Marshall MXL USB.006 and have it directly inputed into my computer via the USB cable and recording onto Sony's Soundforge 7 recording software. Am I sacrificing recording quality by using a USB mic and foregoing the whole pre-amp stuff? It sounds good to me, but maybe I'm missing something. I recently purchased a book on setting up a home recording studio and it doesn't mention USB mics as recommended let alone not recommended. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dean

Allen Scofield · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 181

Hi Dean, I can't say anything good or bad about USB mics as I haven't had any experience with them. But from my experience using a condenser, I cannot see how a USB mic could even come close to a condenser mic/preamp combo. I would think the USB mic would be fine for auditions but not for any "real" work.

Anyone else feel free to chime in here...

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

I have a Blue Snowball Mic. It is USB. You can listen to the quality on my demos. I have been in the final cut twice so far, but have yet to land work.

Good Luck,

Gary Johnston · **Voice Talent** Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 57

Dean,

Based on what I read about your mic, and other USB condenser mic models, the main feature is that a pre-amp is not needed. Usually, a condenser mic plugged directly into the mix, without a pre-amp, is at lower then desired levels. It sounds to me like the three position attentuation switch on your mic is how they've addressed this problem.
There are lots of other uses for pre-processing but most can probably be accomplished in software. I wouldn't worry that you are missing anything!

Dean Larsen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

I appreciate the responses to my querry on the USB mic I'm using. As I listen to some demos of you guys using analogue condenser mics with pre-amps, I think I can detect a smoother more mellow recording quality. I'm going to try to smooth out the USB mic sound a bit by using the smooth/enhance on Soundforge. I guess that's probably what you were suggesting, Gary, when you mentoned processings that can be accomplished using software.

Thanks again,
Dean