Why is it that USB Microphones ( for the most part) sound really bad compared to regular XLR? I have seen really positive feedback about the atr2100 but other then that why do they sound bad? Shouldnt it sound better becasue its digital ?
I have used the yetti from blue and it was ok. Nothing special. I think it has something to do with the Digital sound usb mic causes. I could be wrong.
The most popular USB microphones are the Blue Snowball, the Blue Yeti, and the Audio-Technica ATR2020. They're all condenser mics. In the right environment, they can sound great. The ATR2100-USB is a dynamic microphone. As far as sounding bad, can you provide an example? We use them on Computers 2K Now. Many people have bought them on my recommendation. I have GIVEN them away. Every person I know who has one has been thrilled with it. The fact that it is a USB mic is irrelevant.
Maybe I'll do a comparison with the ATR2100 used as an XLR mic into a Millennia Media TD-1 preamp versus used as a USB mic directly into the computer. Unless you have really good ears, you will not be able to hear the difference on the Internet.
Please tell us more about bad sounding USB mics. Can you post links to some examples?
Please direct all questions for me to the forum so that all can benefit.
Mike great reply. I have a Blue Snowball and it sounds awful. The ATR 2100 on the other hand is a great mic. Would you be able to tell us what makes one better then the other. I was reading the other day that it really comes down to the preamp. Many companies use cheapo parts.
Microphones are complicated devices. Sometimes the most subtle changes can make big differences. The thickness of the diaphragm, the material of the diaphragm, the circumference, the age, the position of the element, the baffling, and on and on. Preamps are important in recording studio environments. They don't make a lot of difference in broadcasting.
Please direct all questions for me to the forum so that all can benefit.
Mike would you say the audio from an atr2100 via XLR sounds better then USB?
As already mentioned the usb mics have built-in convertors and preamps which aren't really the greatest. However I know some shows with what could be considered low quality with huge followings and shows with superior audio but no real fanbase, it really comes down to show quality and entertainment value above all else. Not that you shouldn't go for the best audio you can, but it's really not worth buying 10's of thousands of dollars worth of mics, preamps, compressors, etc because the listeners don't care or fret about it as much as you or I would tend to do.
Oh and I should say any modern usb mic has good enough audio to do a quality show.
Last edited by RRE; 12-25-2012 at 11:28 AM.
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