USB Microphone

I'm considering professionally recording my music. I have access to an amazing variety of Grand Piano, and it seems just a waste if I don't record.

I'm looking for a USB microphone (plug into my laptop) that's cheaper than $200. From what I've researched, I've found MXL USB(.008), which ranged from $100-300.

Anyone with experience? Thanks!

Easily the best bang for the buck: http://www.bluemic.com/snowball/

Hmmm. I'm researching it right now. Amazing price and great reviews. I think I might get it! Thanks! :D

edit: Would you recommend the Yeti or the Snowball? :P

The Blue Snowball is certainly some bang for your buck... I'd also recommend:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT2020USB/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PG27USB/

The MXL stuff is okay (as generally Yamaha products tend to be) but you'll get a bit more mic for your hard-earned-pennies with something else.

Hmmm. Snowball seems great... been listening to reviews. But I'd rather get something "better" if I can afford it. I'll look into the AT2020 USB, thanks.

Don't count out separate units... There's a nice benefit to being able to switch outa microphone or run more than one mic at once...

I always plug Presonus products, but that's mainly because that's what I use...

Where can I buy the Snowball in Canada? I can get it from a retail for $115, which is close by. Online, it's the same thing, with shipping/handling.

Just bought a Snowball. It looks cute... a bit too cute. I'm going to look like a fool recording with something like this.

Thanks for the recommendations!

I'm considering professionally recording my music. I have access to an amazing variety of Grand Piano, and it seems just a waste if I don't record.

Just one mild word of warning: The desire to record a piano professionally may be a rather big jump in this case. Most professional piano recordings would use at least two microphones, each of them several times as expensive as your budget in this case, plus additional preamps, converters, etc. But even more importantly: Years of training and experience as a sound engineer.

Not to put you down or anything. It is by no means necessary to own lots of expensive gear to make really nice recordings. But I'd be careful when talking about "recording professionally".

One problem you'll certainly have to deal with is the large size of a grand piano. As I mentioned, pianos are almost always recorded with several mics (most often two, but sometimes even more), in order to really capture the full instrument. A single cardioid microphone will record sound mostly from straight in front of it, so in order to still get all strings well enough you'll have to place the microphone at a greater distance than if you were using two mics, which can make the sound slightly less precise. (And still may not really capture the "volume" of the instrument.) I think your microphone also can be set to omnidirectional, yes? Maybe one could experiment with that a bit, in a grand piano.

Personally, when I have the desire to get a "professional recording", I ask people who are able to do just that. But sure, to get a quick recording that sounds more or less decent, a small setup is enough. (As long as you don't only have access to great pianos, but have them located in decently sounding rooms as well.)

I second what Gardener said. Sound engineering is a field on its own and requires lots of experience and knowledge in recording techniques, microphones placement, selecting the right type of microphones and so on, which are more expensive that the mic you are considering. Also, the acoustics of the rooms where those pianos are is a very important factor. Sure, making decent recordings on your own is possible, but I personally think you would achieve better results (sound-quality-wise) if you combine a MIDI keyboard with high-quality samples (EWQL, for example).

Wow, thank you for the great information. I'll definitely have to research a bit of Sound Engineering then. :D

So I'm in a predicament. My laptop mic sounds a lot clearer than the Blue Mic, aside from the annoying laptop fan.

Here's a sample. Ben Fold's Landed intro.

http://www.box.net/shared/v4u8pfo192

There are 4 versions. First is my laptop mic. Second is setting number 3 (360 degree). Third is setting number 2 (-10dB). Last is nomal.

The microphone is right inside the grand Steinway. It's a crappy Steinway but it's the only one I have available. =(

That crackle on the 360° and the the "normal" is some clipping. nothing a little mixing and preamps won't help. You'll lose that with the 10db pad (the -10db setting).

A lot can be said for the stuff that was talked about with mixing and mic placement, but that biggest help will be to sit down and listen to what you record, how you recorded it-- it's the same thing as composing, just a-whole-nother layer.

Personally I wouldn't use a 10db pad on a piano. That may be needed for micing a trumpet up close, but a piano never really gets so loud to need that. Just don't turn the gain up quite as much. Especially if you're going to pull the mic farther away from the piano, which also depends on what kind of sound you are going for: Pop recordings, for instance, are usually recorded relatively close to the strings, inside the piano, whereas for classical recordings the microphones are traditionally placed outside the piano, to get a bit more room reverb into the sound and to get the kind of sound as it is actually heard by a listener -outside- the piano. The latter is generally perceived more "natural" (since that's how we're used to hear live pianos), whereas the former will colour the sound much more. Especially when using just a single mic.

But yeah, Ferk is right of course. Just experiment, then listen, then experiment again, then listen again.

Recording pianos is tough, but I've had a lot of luck putting my only mic underneath the piano. Granted, I was recording in a huge baroque catholic cathedral, so it was a quick and dirty solution to eliminating most of the reflections and room noise, but it worked.

I'm planning on returning the Blue Microphone. The tone of the microphone is too blunt, compared to my built-in microphone in my laptop.

Here's the last test I did: http://www.box.net/shared/na989qq2a4 Is this the type of sound I should be expecting from a Snowball? I recorded it outside of the piano, about a quarter meter away.

I'm sure I can optimize the capability of the microphone if I use some editing programs, but I think I've given up on that. I'll need to do a course on that sometime.

Anyhow. I might just get a regular mic. Do those work with computers, through the Line-in, or do I require something else?

Thanks again for all the help. Really insightful information.

Anyhow. I might just get a regular mic. Do those work with computers, through the Line-in, or do I require something else?

No, you likely can't use a microphone in the line-in port. The reason for this has to do with the sensitivity of the microphone and the lack of power in most computer line-in ports. What you will need is a preamp or a USB interface. What I'd suggest is for you to get two sm57s and something like this: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB/. Now I'm not endorsing the product, only the company -- do your own research and find what's right for you. Granted, this plan about doubles your budget, and that's not including cables and mic stands.

Things to look for: XLR jacks -- EVERY microphone worth ANYTHING is XLR. Phantom Power -- this lets you use decent condensor mics. Alternative inputs -- Firewire, etc. This only lets you work faster and with less lag.

Let me know how your search is coming :)

You think that is bad recording quality?? By blunt do you mean that there is all piano sound and no room sound? mic farther away if you want more room sound. I think that is really nice recording quality personally.

The tone of the microphone is too blunt, compared to my built-in microphone in my laptop.

90% of proper recording is placement, not the microphone.