Best portable mic for podcasting outside

Hey everyone
I do a couple podcasts. One is a triathlon one and I'm going to Hawaii to cover the Ironman world champs next month. I want to get a portable mic that will record into MP3s. This way I'll be able to interview athletes outside.
Let me know if you have any recommendations.
Thanks for your time.
Bevan

IMTalk wrote:
Hey everyone
I do a couple podcasts. One is a triathlon one and I'm going to Hawaii to cover the Ironman world champs next month. I want to get a portable mic that will record into MP3s. This way I'll be able to interview athletes outside.
Let me know if you have any recommendations.
I agree with the suggestion that's it's better, easier, and more reliable to use a portable flash recorder and then transfer files to your computer, rather than lugging around your computer with you.
Don't know what your budget is, but if you can afford it, HHB makes a flash recorder stuffed into a microphone that is excellent for field interviews:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FlashMic/
One (superficial, but real) benefit to using it is that if you're doing interviews, it looks like a microphone, so people immediately get what you're doing and respond.
If something like that is out of your budget, I'd try and get a portable flash recorder designed for music rather than voice recording. While the Olympus could work great, it's designed for voice recording (and may be more than sufficient for your needs). However, portable recorders designed for music rather than voice tend to work better for both. Here's a Sweetwater page on popular models. (I like the Sony's, but there are cheaper models that are used and praised all the time for what you are describing):
http://www.sweetwater.com/c1006--Portable_Recorders

Similar Messages

Best Headset Mic for Podcasting in Garageband?

What is the best headset mic for recording a podcast with Garageband '08?

The Logitech ClearChat Pro USB headset works pretty well for me. Just make sure the mic is far enough away where you're not going to be breathing directly into it. To really make the tracks sound studio-quality, add a Compressor (with vocal presets) and possible a Gate to the vocal track of your podcast in GarageBand.

Best value mic for Podcast recording

Can you recommend a microphone for recording podcasts, apart from the built-in MacBook mic?
Or, how good is the sound quality from the built-in? Podcast worthy?
Many thanks!

I have a Samson Q1U and am very happy with it.
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1879
Macbook Pro 1.83 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Best mic for Podcasting using Garageband

Hey
I was just wondering which mic would be best for podcasting with garageband. Plus will I need two mics for a two person podcast?
See ya
Bevan James Eyles

Is there really that much of a difference in
bandwidth speed between Firewire 400 and USB 2.0?
You'd have to do some web research to get solid numbers. I know what I've read, and experienced, and FireWire moves more data more easily. On paper, I believe USB 2.0 is speced to be faster (480mbs vs 400mbs), but with FireWire handling all it's own smarts in moving data, it just does a better job in the REal World.
guess I didn't think that with USB, bandwidth would
be something to consider, unless you are talking
Firewire 800 which most machines don't come with.
My opinion is that it really depends how far you are going to push the machine and GB. I'm working on a 52 or 53 track project, I need every bit and every cycle I can get (and it's playing fine via my FireWire drive)
I have to admit, I am kind of curious now ... maybe when I get a chance I'll try copying the project to a USB drive and see if it can still play it. If it can, perhaps the difference is small enough that it doesn't matter. Probably the REAL test, which I'm doubtful I'll tackle, would be pushing the project to just the point where it will play from the FW drive (iow, one more track and it can't), and then move that to the USB drive. Not perfectly scientific (fragmentation could be an issue, etc), but it would be interesting to try.
On the USB/Firewire using CPU issue, that I didn't
think about. I guess in some situations it might be
an issue, but again, for audio podcasting I just
didn't take that into consideration.
Yeah, for a PodCast, how many tracks are you REALLY going to create, half dozen tops? Maybe a few more for special-special effects, but they won't be playing through the entire cast, so, agreed, it's not likely to be an issue on a small project.
As far as one being better, or "cleaner" as an input
device, have there been any tests and results posted
on this? I would like to see that if there were.
The bus is not going to make a difference. All USB and FireWire are doing is moving the data, not changing it. Th quality comes from the Mic PREs and line-level preamps, the A/D converters, the mic you're using (the room...)
Thanks for your knowledge on all this.
Hope this helped --HangTime [Will Compute for Food] B-|>

Best Portable Computer for me?

Hi all.
Just wondering what is the best apple portable computor for me?
I'll be using it for college work, downloading/watching videos & music & making videos.
I have the Iphone 4 & i love it!
Thanks,
Rob.

First of all if you. Are really gonna follow my advise then I must tell you that there is no cd drive in any of the MacBook air though in this times we use less CD but we still stumble across them also the graphic card is no good for games and the camera is not HD but if you are not harmed by this disadvantages you can take a 13 inch model because if has a big screen with 720 resolution and it also has more memory It also has an sd card slot so this MacBook is perfect for you
If you feel I gave less info you can always go to http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air/select
And by the way you can take a portable cd drive for the MacBook but then you will end up haveing many stuff

Best portable speakers for macbook?

Any sugguestions for portable speaker for my new MacBook? I just got a BIGJambox but I'm very disappointed. It sounds tinny and won't stay connected via bluetooth. Don't necessarily need bluetooth but quality sound would be nice.

As sound is a very subjective thing, it's hard to say which sound best but if you're looking for portable speakers, I would say either TravelSound 400 or TravelSound 250. I prefer the TravelSound 400 over the 250 model.
Jason

Best portable charger for phone and tablet

What is the best portable charger

Agreed - the best depends on what you want, like and need to charge.
I got one from Huuman (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NJY11RK)
And I love it. I like that it's slim so I can put it in my pocket. I found most high capacity chargers are chunky and for me, that's not the best. Plus the color is gorgous gotta look good right? lol - it charges my ipod6 and my ipad mini super fast.
I found out there's a deal if you buy it from their website: http://store.imhuuman.com/collections/frontpage/products/maxx-portable-external- battery-charger
the promo is for 10% off till end of Dec. Try this code: HIHUMN10

Best Vocal Mic for Logic7.........

Ok,
At least I put Logic7 in subject header......Though this post applies to all DAWs
I have this overwhelming desire to share this with all of you budget-minded L7 cats.....
STUDIO PROJECTS C1 condenser.........199.00$ (it is a chinese Neuman U87 clone)
This mic sounds incredible on any vocalist....it needs NO eq...sits in mix perfect.
A real Neuman U87 costs between 1100-4000...THIS mic sounds virtually identical......Our studio owns 2 U87s....and we just purchased 10!!! C1s (2 for each of our 5 sound-designers)
Everybody that speaks/sings through this Mic......says, what did you do to my voice, I sound awesome
199.00$
Even with just a mackie preamp..it sounds great.......with a good mic-pre like a neve clone or ua -610...this thing is unbeatable......
I still can't get my head around it........All last week, I was A/Bing the U87 with the C1......the same.....THAT sound, that IT sound........dang
199.00$
SvK

I own the C3 (multi-pattern version of the C1) as well as the tube version T3. Both are excellent mics for the money.
However, (my version of Timpthy's "but"), the Studio Project mics have a "bump" in the upper mids. This can often be misinterpreted as more "open" sounding, and to be fair, on some vocalists, it's the perfect solution for their voice.
But on other vocalists, it can be strident, and harsh, and a sibilant nightmare. Especially when further compression and EQ is applied to the track during mixing.
In all my years working with various Neumann microphones, including the 87's, I never had that experience. Granted, I prefer something like their 147's over the 87's, but the Neumann mics seem to accept EQ in a far more graceful manner.
Still, the Studio Project mics are excellent choices when budget is of a concern (and when isn't it?) I just wanted to add a different perspective to this thread, because, no one mic is going to be the end all-be all... and even if there was such a mic, experiences would differ.

Best Portable Device for me?

Hi all.
Im just wondering what is the best apple portable computor to buy??
I'm going to be using it for college work, downloading/watching movies & music & making videos.
Thanks.
Rob.

Rob1994 wrote:
Im just wondering what is the best apple portable computor to buy??
I'm going to be using it for college work, downloading/watching movies & music & making videos.
15" or 17" MacBook Pro with anti-glare screen/high-res option.
1: Performance for video, playback and generation.
2: Anti-glare option as you can see the whole screen outside, inside, in classes, in the car, on the plane, bus etc nearly all of the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X0wo6dIsMU
(warning: sound spike!)
3: The high res option on the 17" only, offers a true 1920 x 1080 (1080i) viewing on it's 1920 x 1200 pixel screen.
MacTruck, AppleCare.

Condenser mic for podcasts

Apols if this has already been covered, but I've just bought a Sony condenser mic (can clip on, or sit on a stand) to enhance the sound of my voice on my debut podcast. However, in spite of changing the System Preferences to line-in it doesn't actually pick anything up. There re no sound bars showing, either in System Preferences or Garageband. There's nothing wrong with the mic (tested it elsewhere), so are faulty line-ins a known issue with G5s? Or would a USB-powered mic have been a better buy.

I'm assuming since you said you tested it elsewhere that this mic has a battery? Condenser mics need a power supply of some kind
As for plugging a Mic into a Line-In, here's some background:
and finally "does such a microphone pre-amp thing exist."
Yes, there are many. A popular chocie in this forum has been the MIDIMAN Audio Buddy Dual Microphone Preamp
I think you might be better off returning the Sony mic and looking at a high quality USB mic such as the Blue Snowball USB Microphone, with which I have no personal experience, but I have seen very positive comments online regarding it.
Hope that helps --HangTime [Will Compute for Food] B-|>
Note: I am an Amazon Associate, if you purchase this item via my link I will get a small commission)

Whats the best portable drive for use with iMovie?

I use iMovie on my macbook on my long commute to and from work. I have read that the best solution is to edit movies on an external drive and not the one on the mac.
What is the minimum drive speed (rpm) and minimum transfer (firewire 400 ? usb 2?) for this to work.
All the drives on the online apple store talk about transfering documents, photos and using them as backup devices and I am trying to be cautious about what I buy given a limited budget.
For example is the "Iomega 160GB Portable Hard Drive with Dual Interface" suitable ?
All advice gratefully received, thanks

I haven't seen that point.
I worked on my old iMac using just the hard drive for a while. Performance is not the issue, but space can be, which is why I moved to an external drive.
Drive performance is complicated. If you have enough memory, your internal drive will probably have better performance than an external drive. The SATA bus is a lot faster than the FireWire or USB buses.
On the other hand, if you are memory constrained and are using other i/o intensive applications at the same time, the external may perform better. You definitely want to avoid excessive swapping of your virtual memory while using iMovie or anything else. (and this is best handled by having sufficient RAM. I have 2GB.
In iMovie 08, once you have your video imported into an event, you can edit away, because iMovie is just writing pointers in the project file to the source files in the EVENT. Disk performance is more critical on import (front end) and sharing or rendering (back-end), but internal drives are more than up to this task.
Space is the issue. If you are shooting high definition footage, you can get event files of 20GB to 40GB+. That can eat up a laptop real quick.

Best Portable HD for MBP?

Appreciate recommendations for a reliable portable HD [ 500G ].
Thx,
Steve

If it works its good, if it doesn't its bad. They all are good and if they come in an enclosure they will have their own sudden motion sensor which is also good, BUT avoid using it as an internal drive drive for your MBP. There often is a compatibility issue with the MBP SMS.
As an aside, upgrade to Snow Leopard. It is more efficient than Leopard and is only $29.
Ciao.

A Mic for voice-over and podcasting

I have been researching large diaphgram condenser mics for podcasting, some vocals and some acoustic guitar . I am looking for a mic that is quiet, warm as opposed to bright for the voice work. My budget is about 150-250.I will be plugging the mic into a Behringer 1204FX mixer.Here are some that I have looked at (on-line) and some with my comments- the comments are based upon reading reviews as I have not heard any of these-I wish I could.
AKG Perception 200 - $200 Warm low end
Audio Technica $99.00
Audio Technica 3035 - $199
Rode NT1A -$229 Great mic but is very stark-
MXL V67i - $149 some issues with quality
Also, I would like a mic that would reject as much sound as possible after about 4-5 feet directly in front as well of course as from the rear, due to some noise in the room - is that possible, as some mics better at this than others.

redshift,
Here's just a brief idea of the difference:
For a remote broadcast mike, you want a mike that:
-Picks up the frequency range of the human voice, but not the other frequency ranges;
-Has a very pronounced Proximity effect (meaning it picks up sound much better close, and not well at all far away);
-Is Unidirectional (picks up sound well directly in front of it, not well at all behind or to the side).
On the other hand, a studio mike could be any mike, depending on the application.
For voice and guitar:
-You would definitely want a mike with a broader frequency response, for example,to pick up the overtones (the upper harmonics) of the guitar, as well as the resonances of the lower notes.
-You also want a mike with greater sensitivity to dynamics, and the ability to accurately reproduce the sound of the voice or instrument.
WH
old G4 Mac OS X (10.4)

Mics (for live use)

Hi Guys,
What's the best vocal mic for live performances? Wireless if possible, budgets around £500.00.
Also need a good reverb for live use, budget s around £300.00 (£400.00 maybe)
Thanx
John

Have a look at one of these:
http://www.djtronix.com/shpgwisy4.html
I think that you will find that this is (ok David, I accept not all :-)) pretty much the standard live mic for vocals.
Best, Fred

Best Mic for Moving Target

I am doing remote podcast interviews. I have two small desktop stands, the recorder, but need a couple of durable mics. I was considering 2 SM57s or 58s, but thought I would ask everyone here for a little advice first.
Price range up to $200 each.
Needs to endure road conditions.
Needs to be able to record voice only.
Users are not pros, so will tend to move around (sit back etc)
Noisy background sometimes.
Let me know what would be the best mic for these parameters.
Thanks!

That was very helpful. Mostly because it just confirms the use of the 58s. Just wanted to make sure I did not miss another that might be a better choice. Thanks WH!
You're welcome. Glad to add my 2.7 cents worth (inflation).
Many big podcasters have gone with headset or lavaliere mics.
A good headset mic can work well for an interview (it will stay the same distance away from the speaker).
As for a lavaliere, I know they are used on TV a lot.
However, for amateur interviewees, it may not be a good choice. My advice is to avoid the temptation to use lavaliere microphones, at least for interview recording. Clipped to a lapel, or hanging around the neck, the lav mic is in a less-than-ideal position for good voice pick-up. Additionally, if the subject is moving around, clothes and cables will likely add unacceptable noise.
WH

Best portable mic for podcasting outside

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for