How to I achieve great voice over audio for a macbook pro

Question

Should I just plug in a mic? Do I need a external soundcard like the "apogee one" or is a USB mic a better solution?
I also play the guitar so maby one day I would like to record some guitar to, but in logic or similar.

Answer 1

Any mic, a quiet room and a good working knowledge of EQ. [The very best of the Logic plugins/"inserts" are in FCPX, btw.] If you don't have a quiet place (like me) then the very best -- BAR NONE -- noise reduction is in ScreenFlow - just take the default setting (80%). It's amazing - no "granular electronic" sound on the edges of quiet and sound like you get in just about everything else.
That said: Zoom mics are really quite good. Inexpensive (H1), portable, and can be used as a USB audio interface (mic and other sources). The S/N is incredibly high - there is no detectable noise in the recording at all - quiet is DEAD quiet. The H1 (as well as the H2 and H4)  has an extra audio input so you can actually use any other mic you like as the recording source, like... a Shure SM-58 (with XLR to 1/8 inch stereo connector).  This particular Shure mic is one of the most popular in the world for all kinds of applications (talk radio, singers, etc...). It will make you sound like "THE VOICE". And the H1 makes the Shure *very portable*. The Zoom mics will also accept Line level input, so you can record from your computer, a CD player, etc...
If you have an acoustic guitar, the H1 + a lavalier mic (Audio-Technica ATR-3350 for instance) clipped to the soundhole (so the mic is inside) sounds unexpectedly good — you decide: http://sight-creations.com/prv/audio/improv_030612_03.mp3 [production notes: strictly an improvised piece (not very good - but doesn't violate anyone's copyright; I was playing with and feeling out a new partial capo); "finished" in Logic with Space Designer>Medium Spaces>Nice Hall (toned down) + Adaptive Limiter (as a signal booster); no noise reduction used whatsoever, and the original source recorded outside on a breezy day with occasional traffic (none of which you will hear!)... I recorded at a lower level to keep extraneous noise out and since the S/N is so high, I can boost the signal in post without adding any unwanted hiss.]
[**I'm not fishing for comments about the music here, I'd rather not hear about it! ... just demo'ing a setup.]