Desktop vocal microphone

TINMAN82

Suggestions please for use with MacBook and Helix stomp. I’d like to record vocals to add to my GarageBand/ iMovie creations. Just a bit of fun, particularly during lockdown, but decent quality. 

octatonic

Shure SM7B.
You will need a decent preamp (with 70db of gain), and perhaps a Cloudlifter as it isn't that sensitive.

Or a Rode NT1a, you will need a preamp with phantom power.

TINMAN82

octatonic said:

Shure SM7B.
You will need a decent preamp (with 70db of gain), and perhaps a Cloudlifter as it isn't that sensitive.

Or a Rode NT1a, you will need a preamp with phantom power.

Googled...ooft, perhaps I should a given a budget! Anything “good enough” for non pro use under £200-250?

octatonic

NT1a is £166 at Thomann.

Danny1969

NT1A is a good shout, done many projects with one ... people complain it's bright but it's not hard to tone down. Incredibly quiet too

TINMAN82

Recommendations for a phantom power interface that plugs directly into macbook (for NT1A)?

Also, is this microphone mainly for singing applications or could it also be used for speaking ie zoom, podcasts etc too? Apologies I’m a newb in this field.

octatonic

You could use it for other things but you might find it picks up a lot of the room and external noise.
You might want to go with a dynamic mic for that.

I use an SM7b for doing videos, I mostly use condensers for vocals.
Wanting one mic to do it all is like wanting one guitar to do it all- yes you can do it but you might find some limitations.
Or you might not.

Budget for audio interface?
Focusrite, SSL, Audient do some decent cheap interfaces.

Wazmeister

NT1a for me.

TINMAN82

octatonic said:

You could use it for other things but you might find it picks up a lot of the room and external noise.
You might want to go with a dynamic mic for that.

I use an SM7b for doing videos, I mostly use condensers for vocals.
Wanting one mic to do it all is like wanting one guitar to do it all- yes you can do it but you might find some limitations.
Or you might not.

Budget for audio interface?
Focusrite, SSL, Audient do some decent cheap interfaces.

Much obliged, that’s enough to get me started on  some research.

TINMAN82

Noone bother with/ rate USB microphones for direct into MacBook?

octatonic

TINMAN82 said:

Noone bother with/ rate USB microphones for direct into MacBook?

Nope.
Avoid USB microphones if you can.