The Budget Album Project: Post No. 3 - 327 Days Left

   A microphone is one of the most important, if not THE most important piece of equipment in a recording studio. Microphones can be found for as little as $20, while high-end models can cost upwards of $10,000. Obviously, we will not be able to buy the best microphone in the world for the Budget Album Project, but we will find a suitable balance between price and quality. First, we must figure out what type of microphone suits our needs.

   There are two main types of microphone, dynamic mics and condenser mics. Most dynamic microphones are very durable and can take some hard knocks with no resulting drop in performance, while condenser microphones are more fragile. Dynamic microphones truly shine when picking up loud sounds (such as a fortissimo trombone), while condensers are at their best while recording soft, tender sounds (strings or voice). Condenser microphones are the industry standard for most recording applications while dynamics are the king of live performance. There are exceptions to all of this, but it will serve as a general rule. After some research, I found that a Large-Diaphragm Condenser microphone would be ideal to record the cappella voice, and thus would be perfect for the Budget Album Project. If you want to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the different types to find the best fit for your album, check out Using Microphones and The Musician's Guide to Home Recording, which have a lot of well-presented, helpful info.

   Decent, mid-price range condenser microphones, such as the Audio-Technica AT4040 and the Røde NT1A, can be found for under $500. These mics are not the best out there, but they do an excellent job on a moderately low budget. Unfortunately for the Budget Album Project, these mics require an additional interface to connect to a computer and supply power, which can cost another $100 - $500. We could not purchase the necessary equipment for one of these mics without eating up the entire $500 budget.

   In 2001, companies began making microphones that connected to a computer via USB port. These mics are truly "plug and play" and require no extra equipment to operate. Despite their low cost (many under $100) many produce clear recordings. The three most popular USB condenser mics available today are the Blue Snowball, the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB, and the Samson C03U. All three mics have similar specifications, which makes choosing between them difficult. Since they are all made well and produce a good sound, it is best to listen to samples recorded on each of the mics to find which one sounds the best to you. I searched for sound samples all over the web, finding few definitive, good-quality samples. However, I was impressed by the sample on the Samson C03U home page (linked above). The sample isn't perfect, but with the addition of a pop filter and proper mic placement(and maybe some reverb) I think it will handle recording wonderfully. Although I am sure any of the three mics would perform well, I prefer what I've heard from the Samson better than what I've heard from the others. So I went with my gut and bought the Samson C03U, which should arrive sometime next week.

If you want to purchase any of the equipment mentioned in this post, please consider buying through the following links. It will not cost you anything and it will help me continue to add to this project.

USB Mics

- Samson C03U (Project's Pick)

- Audio-Technica AT2020 USB

- Blue SnowBall

XLR Mics
- Audio Technica AT4040
- Rode NT1A (with accessories)