I'd offer a correction: you CAN record with multiple USB mics. So many free digital audio interface programs have multiple mic inputs available, regardless of which mic is your main one in the computer settings. VoiceMeeter is a great program to get around that, even with the very slight latency
I found a broken usb mic under a couch of a house I was remodeling. Took it home and re soldered the input and....power. Turned out to be one of the best sounding mics I have for my voice. Don't even know the make/model off hand, never cared. Sound is all that matters. It's older now but it never struck me as a super cheap one. Nice free find
I actually checked a few weeks ago after I posted the comment, just out of curiosity. It says "producer usb". I think its a old m-audio model? I have tape from when I fixed it covering the capaule cover...where the make logo probably is. Idk 🤷♂️. Probably wasn't very expensive but I don't care if it was only $20. It sounds good (on my voice at least, and thats a pretty rare thing lol). It sounds nice as a acoustic guitar room mic too. I just gotta gain it carefully when I use it as a room mic tho or it gets a little self noise. Nothing major, amd it only ends up revealing itself after some thick compression and saturation. Surprise! Sneaky little prick 😆
@@XMGi00 Ah yes. Gotta love those ancient really old USB microphones from way back in good old days of 2005. Because nothing says vintage like the mid 2000s amirite?
Two things… I appreciate how to the point and concise this review was. Secondly… I was not prepared for what a great voice you had. That song was awesome. Thanks for both.
The XLR sounds a bit fuller to me but I've also been a musician for a majority of my life so my ear is trained to an extent. I don't think the average Joe would be able to tell at all
Not really a commenter but I came for a mic comparison for podcasting purposes for my son, wasn't watching the video, but when you started singing 😳 my man, incredible sounding vocal!
The difference is the initial cost. The USB mike one price one piece. The XLR needs many more components which will increase the cost to work correctly.
However when needing replacement, you won't need to replace the other components or equipment (like pre-amp or mixer) every time. Just need to pick for your purpose, I guess.
That's the problem. I can get a good entry level usb mic that sounds great for my current needs for around 70 euros. If I want to invest in equipment I'll be able to keep using and expand on in the form of an audio interface and a proper mic I'm spending more than 200 euros on good entry level equipment (because if I'm gonna go that route there's no point getting the absolute cheapest Behringer stuff) that will get me the same sound.
U can get a decent xlr mic and a good audio interface and get better than audio in the same price range as a usb mic. Xlr mics have better ranges and sound fuller.
Nice comparison. I ended up getting several USB microphones before realising that only one could be used at a time. And obviously a USB microphone really needs a computer to use it. XLR microphones can be used with other kit (plugged into a Zoom or Tascam recorder, or into a mixing desk or even a powered PA speaker for example) and if you want to record singing and guitar at the same time (or a duo or whatever else) then having multiple microphones makes a difference. Another point is that different microphones are good for different things, a fantastic microphone for recording the kick drum may not be the same one you'd use for a piccolo. A great microphone for a choir may not be the same as the one for a single male (or female) voice. It's one of the reasons that many recording engineers use two different microphones on a guitar cabinet (usually a Shure SM57 and a ribbon microphone) and then mix the signals to get the best sound. So a great podcasting microphone isn't necessarily the best instrument for recording your trumpet solo ... And you've really made it clear here, thanks!
@@Zeromaus Thank you! I'd heard of it, but assumed it mixed them all to a stereo signal and that was all that I could then feed into Cubase/Reaper etc. but I now see it can output up to 8 ASIO channels, which is plenty. Again, many thanks
saw a comparison some time ago between the usb version and the xlr one, the diference was almost imperceptible, I really needed to focus to tell and even then at least for me the convenience and easyness to pack and travel with is a must for me, also the durability of it, any other mic I don't think it would resist some hits in the box when I travel, this is an all metal body tested for many years as one of the most durable mics there is.
First time on your channel and second video about how to choose a mic. The X sounded good at first, then thick; the + sounded thin; the XLR was a nice middle ground and more subtle, but man, I was so stunned by your voice. It rarely makes me realize how much work it takes to ever get close to that quality of singing!
Thanks for conducting this comparison. Recently I have been testing mics for our nonprofit using a variety of XLR to USB converters, which has proven to be an interesting exercise. I have a future project in mind where I want to record a band using nothing but USB mics to see what the results might be. There are some nice USB mics being made today, for sure. BTW, I found the USB mic in this shootout to be more sibilant and while it sounded pretty good, the XLR produced a more full range of frequencies and knocked the edge of the top end. Cheers.
This comparison is misleading and he left out a lot of information. The AT2020 usb and xlr mics share the same internals so you are going to get the same audio the usb connection is irrelevant. If he had compared a different usb mic it would've sounded different. Same with shures sm7b and their usb version share the same internals so theyll sound similar too. You can make any mic sound amazing with software these days but quality parts do make for a better mic, and the mics need to be tested and put in correct phase.
@@5kdaking334 The converters/signal adapters are used to take a XLR mic, plug it into adapter, which can then be plugged into a USB port. If you have a USB mic, you are plug and play ready, so you don't need a converter. th-cam.com/video/4cLjVDBCAyk/w-d-xo.html Audio interfaces are typically used with XLR mics, so in order to use the audio interface you will need to purchase a XLR mic. If you would like some ideas of where to start with XLR mics, I am happy to offer my opinion. Questions in forming an opinion would include price limit, what environment it would be used in, what do you want to record with it, how will the recording be used, what audio interface are you plugging into?
@@theglobalzrecordingproject good to know. I got a scarlet audio interface. I just do general music recording. I got a 40 dollar Amazon mic that does me pretty well. I just got studio monitors and an interface for Christmas so I don’t mind upgrading the mic as well.
usb mics generally simply have a worse digital converter and amplifier than an audio interface for a xlr mic and you cannot upgrade them without ditching the mic, you also cannot add some additional hardware effects too
Seeing this comparison, though there is a distinct difference when played back to back like that, it makes me realize that I wouldn't realistically be able to tell if someone was using a USB mic for vocals. At least, not with how good they've gotten lately. At the same time, listening to this comparison as a music producer, I can tell the USB mic's vocals are a bit more... Fragile. Though that lower quality would be fine on its own, any sort of heavy processing would only make those blemishes even worse where the xlr mic would still sound just fine. Reguardless it really is just a case of knowing your needs, your use cases, and your budget.
Speaking of uses. Just curious your opinion. If someone wanted to do voice-over and ASMR, would it be best to get 2 seperate microphones for 2 differing subjects? Or world it all be dependent on getting enough experience to make 1 microphone work?
XLR sounds better to me. Now I'm curious about how some popular XLRs (recording mics) would compare to a popular live vocal mike such as an SM58 in a recording situation. I'm thinking about recording my 4-man acapella group. Rather than record each vocalist separately I'm considering using 4 SM58s and recording it all at the same time (with some space between each vocalist).
if live/vocal only is the vibe you're going for, using a room mic would work better. a live recording sounds best for a capella, if you wanted to do effects, then doing it individually would work the best
you have two options. 1. buy a condenser microphone to record your vocalist in individual sessions. the reason is because, condenser microphones are sensitive to detail if that is your concern. 2. your option is alright as well, buying 2 to 4 dynamic microphones to record all your vocalist in one room can be a nice option. though, you could definitely find cheaper alternatives than the SM58 if budget is an issue.
Here's my breakdown of achieving easy and good recordings: 50% Good room setup (turn off AC/fridge/heater. Get blankets or a foam shield.) 40% Preparation of script (have confidence and fluidity behind what is said. Pacing is more important than one would think.) 10% Decent mic. I can record directly into an iphone using a wired headset and get better audio than folks that incorrectly use a $3000 mic.
well, no, you can't get better audio because phone mics have shit consistency and are just bad in general compared to any large diaphragm mics. "Better" audio beyond specs and logic is just subjective. Plus, modern plugins help a ton with careless room setup if there's static noise.
@@DE3P_Beats I think that saying "I could use an AT2020+ USB that costs 120$ with a correctly prepared ambient and good mixing and sound better than folks that incorrectly use a 3000$ mic" would have been more realistic, because that's true. Using a 3000$ mic on a reverby place, with your fan at your side, the dog, and at a kilometer far from the mic is gonna make you sound pretty much worse than if a cheaper USB one on better conditions, but not than on a iPhone, phone mics are pretty bad for recording
Was just curious on the difference, tbh when started singing i was a bit surprised and expecting a pretty mid example. Most people just don't sing that good or consistently (no offense to anyone starting, just its hard to do well. Which can be an issue when you're trying to compare audio) But got to say I'm impressed, that was a great example. As well as some really clear singing. Good video too, short, to the point and very clear. Thanks!
🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏻, However, there are some high-end USB microphones that can offer sound quality comparable to entry-level XLR microphones. It's important to note that the sound quality of any microphone will depend on many factors beyond just its type of connection, such as its frequency response, polar pattern, and sensitivity.
came here looking to make my screams sound better. left here crying after that beautiful song. ive been using a usb mic. just learned about interfaced and i think i know i need an xlr mic. thank you so much for making this video
The usb port just broke on my AT2005, not a bad mic and super easy to use then you don't have you're audio interface around and beed to plug it into the laptop (well via usb-c adaptor on Mac) I have the AT2020 (XLR) too, had it for years - remember mics can last decades unlike all the other stuff we will toss after 5 years or so.
The problem with USB mic is probably that if the internal ADC breaks, it breaks, increasing the likelihood of the whole thing breaking. That being said, I don't know anyone with a broken USB mic so maybe this is not a big deal.
i got here trying to find out if i got a suiting microphone for recording vocals, but i got an amazing performance on top of it. absolutely beautiful voice! thank you!
well, we also have to take into account all audio is destroyed by social media platforms that will use lossy formats optimized for streaming, unless you are in some fancy streaming platform that transmits lossless audio or in some hi-fi player with the dac & amp & headphones up to the task.
I was using a blue yeti which is usb and just got the AKG P120. Biggest difference is podcast mics are not meant to handle the range (volume) one might project while singing. Also, the fact that I can plug the XLR into my interface means I can manually adjust the gain. Something you can’t do with a usb. I haven’t watched the video
@@EdwardSmithMusic I was enthralled by it and it really helped me. Great video again. Does rhe XLR come woth the mic clip or is that a separate purchase other then the stand? I can't find where rhe clip would be and rhe stand says clip sold separately
Best listened with earbuds/headphones. I can tell the USB ones sound a little "farther away" but the XLR one sounds closer as if he is standing next to u. Best way I can describe it. Tho, Industry standard or not, I can tell it won't matter what u select unless ur recording with multiple instruments at same time, cuz even with the USB (has more latency tho), there r plenty of audio effects u can use to get the sound pretty close to an XLR. But XLR does sound fuller n has the least amount of latency which means u can use even more audio effects than possible without worrying about too high of latency in the end... so it's no wonder why XLR is the Industry standard
The difference I heard wasn't as much about the mic quality as the amount of background noise - I heard enough noice on the USB mic in your tests that I wouldn't want to use it. I purchased the AT2020 (XLR) specifically because of the background noise issue.
But that subtle background noise is easily remediated by using a software that removes it such as NVIDIA Broadcast, Crisp, (Might be spelled KRISP Im not sure) Steel Series Sonar or OBS Filters. Idk just saying.
Do you have a long version of this song ?? I loved it :) I like the USB-X and XLR, unfortunately not the money for all the stuff beside with an XLR so I will go for the USB-X for recording songs & playing games. Even tho XLR is better for vocals but I don't have much money right now! I hope it's still gonna be good that I go with the USB-X
It's interesting seeing how this mic compares to its usb version, but I'm not sure you can really compare these mics like it's a buying decision someone might make. No-one who already has an audio interface would really consider getting a usb mic instead, so really the comparison is between a $150 usb mic and a $250-300 setup with an audio interface, since a quality entry level interface will cost 100-150, plus the stand and cable mentioned. In that comparison on sound quality alone usb mics come out way ahead.
When you started singing James Blunt's song, I forgot I was supposed to be listening to the microphones (I couldn't tell the difference if I'm honest), but I didn't expect you to sound so much like James. That threw me off. 😂 Nice one!
I own 4 Audio-Technica At2020 XLR mics that I use with a TASCAM MIXCAST4 podcast mixer and I just ordered a AT2020 USBX microphone that should have been here 2 days ago. However, I am not upset, it will be here tomorrow.
It all depends on the ADC chip and the processing (DSP). Their newest, the AT2020 USB-XP samples at upto 192 kHz at 24 bit. Needless to say sound quality is superb.
I think the XLR sounded marginally better than the USB AT2020+ but when you mix it, people won't be able to tell the difference. The difference in sound isn't anything a good vocal performance and mix can't make up for. However, depending on how large the projects you're working on are, the USB mics' latency could become a problem. As a professional, I'd always go with the XLR. But as an artist - especially if you're on a budget - I don't think you could go wrong with the USB AT2020+
@Marc's That's true on most case scenario on USB mics that cut a lot of frequencies or have very cheap inner preamps, but in the AT2020 USB case it doesn't cut as much frequencies and it has a pretty decent inner preamp for an USB mic
A usb microphone is performing the digital conversion right at the microphone. Assuming identical analog side components, the USB microphone will always capture more accurately with modern ADC.
exactly, for me if you don't want to go for a higher tier microphone down the line and this one is perfect for what you need at least in my case the choice was obvious, 170 dollars for the usb+ from USA to my country vs 270 dollars between the mic and the scarlett solo plus a XLR cable, 3 points of failure and 2 more things that can break when I travel vs one that sounds practically the same as the XLR if you don't really focus on a comparison or don't have trained ears, which most of the people that listens to me certainly doesn't have
USB is so great for everyday use, practicing etc. You can connect it straight to your smartphone and record even with karaoke app and sounds pretty good! I really like it because it is very quick and just doing a great job - dont need to think about equipment etc. just focus on singing. xlr is a bit better if we are talking about studio quality, but there are so many other important things like type of microphone, mixing, setup of audio interface etc.
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By any question how would you tell the key difference between clarity and crispy audio if they are really similar in sound?
Hey Edward do u recommend if I use an xlr to usb cable and plug it into my mac book do u think the audio will sound good yes or no pls respond
I'd offer a correction:
you CAN record with multiple USB mics. So many free digital audio interface programs have multiple mic inputs available, regardless of which mic is your main one in the computer settings. VoiceMeeter is a great program to get around that, even with the very slight latency
And pulsemeeter for Linux.
Your comment makes my day today. Thanks a lot!
How do you get around the latency with a usb mic
I was cancelling my purchase of 3 usb mics. Now I will not.
The owner seeing where his mic went
I found a broken usb mic under a couch of a house I was remodeling. Took it home and re soldered the input and....power. Turned out to be one of the best sounding mics I have for my voice. Don't even know the make/model off hand, never cared. Sound is all that matters. It's older now but it never struck me as a super cheap one. Nice free find
I actually checked a few weeks ago after I posted the comment, just out of curiosity. It says "producer usb". I think its a old m-audio model? I have tape from when I fixed it covering the capaule cover...where the make logo probably is. Idk 🤷♂️. Probably wasn't very expensive but I don't care if it was only $20. It sounds good (on my voice at least, and thats a pretty rare thing lol). It sounds nice as a acoustic guitar room mic too. I just gotta gain it carefully when I use it as a room mic tho or it gets a little self noise. Nothing major, amd it only ends up revealing itself after some thick compression and saturation. Surprise! Sneaky little prick 😆
Modern mics just aren't built as they were used to. I think the older or vintage ones just have better magnets and wiring?
Agree I love my usb condenser mic
@@XMGi00 Ah yes. Gotta love those ancient really old USB microphones from way back in good old days of 2005. Because nothing says vintage like the mid 2000s amirite?
@@spamspasm8183lmao
To be honest, I closed my eyes entire time while playing this video twice and I didn't notice any differences at all
bro I clicked on this video to learn something and got left in awe when u started singing
Thank you!!
Two things… I appreciate how to the point and concise this review was. Secondly… I was not prepared for what a great voice you had. That song was awesome. Thanks for both.
Xlr definitely sounded better to me but when mix I think majority cannot tell the difference haha! Love the content bro❤️🔥❤️🔥
Thank you so much for supporting the channel!!
the truth, is there is no difference between us if you don't have a mix table. Xlr is not to "upgrade" the quality
The XLR sounds a bit fuller to me but I've also been a musician for a majority of my life so my ear is trained to an extent. I don't think the average Joe would be able to tell at all
lot of griiiiii griiiii
No
Jesus...this went from a quick comparison video to an absolute amazing concert. Can't wait to see you take off. WOW!
Short, high quality, and straight to the point. Loved it
The Shure MV51 is probably the best USB mic I've ever seen/used, bought it when it came out, and nobody talks about it. Highly recommend
Epic vocal peformance btw! Could not listen to microphone quality due to insane amount of feel you put into vocals! A+ man! A+.
Not really a commenter but I came for a mic comparison for podcasting purposes for my son, wasn't watching the video, but when you started singing 😳 my man, incredible sounding vocal!
At-2020 is perfect for podcasting
man everything aside, I just really can't help but notice how much of an AMAZING singer you are
Thank you so much 🙏🏻
The difference is the initial cost. The USB mike one price one piece. The XLR needs many more components which will increase the cost to work correctly.
However when needing replacement, you won't need to replace the other components or equipment (like pre-amp or mixer) every time. Just need to pick for your purpose, I guess.
That's the problem. I can get a good entry level usb mic that sounds great for my current needs for around 70 euros. If I want to invest in equipment I'll be able to keep using and expand on in the form of an audio interface and a proper mic I'm spending more than 200 euros on good entry level equipment (because if I'm gonna go that route there's no point getting the absolute cheapest Behringer stuff) that will get me the same sound.
U can get a decent xlr mic and a good audio interface and get better than audio in the same price range as a usb mic. Xlr mics have better ranges and sound fuller.
was NOT expecting u to hit them vocals! fire video family, Thank you
Thanks bro!!🙏🏻
@@EdwardSmithMusic absolutely, thank you for the knowledge
Bro, I love the character of your voice in the song you’re singing!
after watching this video I've come to the conclusion that its my voice that's been fking up my tracks, thanks!
🤣
🤣🤣👍
Nice comparison. I ended up getting several USB microphones before realising that only one could be used at a time. And obviously a USB microphone really needs a computer to use it. XLR microphones can be used with other kit (plugged into a Zoom or Tascam recorder, or into a mixing desk or even a powered PA speaker for example) and if you want to record singing and guitar at the same time (or a duo or whatever else) then having multiple microphones makes a difference.
Another point is that different microphones are good for different things, a fantastic microphone for recording the kick drum may not be the same one you'd use for a piccolo. A great microphone for a choir may not be the same as the one for a single male (or female) voice. It's one of the reasons that many recording engineers use two different microphones on a guitar cabinet (usually a Shure SM57 and a ribbon microphone) and then mix the signals to get the best sound.
So a great podcasting microphone isn't necessarily the best instrument for recording your trumpet solo ...
And you've really made it clear here, thanks!
Well usb mic can work directly to a smartphone
@@Sammirdiary I've not tried it, but it's not surprising as smartphones are basically small tablet computers with a phone app.
You definitely can use multiple USB mics at a time with something like VoiceMeeter
@@Zeromaus Thank you! I'd heard of it, but assumed it mixed them all to a stereo signal and that was all that I could then feed into Cubase/Reaper etc. but I now see it can output up to 8 ASIO channels, which is plenty. Again, many thanks
@@makingmusiconline2309 Happy to help! Best tool I've had in years
your voice is amazing!
Thank you 🙏🏻
@@EdwardSmithMusic hey can u tell what u sing for song
I own the usb2020+ and did a vocal comparison test with the XLR that I borrowed from a friend. NO DIFFERENCES IN SOUND AT ALL.
That’s nice tho, I just ordered one now. My fear is latency tho
Especially cuz my last mic gave me that, but I’ll also kinda blame that on pc specs
UPDATE: it actually had no latency, that’s when recording into the playlist directly, but recording with Edison does give latency
@dekaf5983 wow, good troubleshooting..... * 0 *
Is Edison a software or a brand of microphone? 🤔
@@maylin1986 Edison is a recording/editing plugin within FL Studio
saw a comparison some time ago between the usb version and the xlr one, the diference was almost imperceptible, I really needed to focus to tell and even then at least for me the convenience and easyness to pack and travel with is a must for me, also the durability of it, any other mic I don't think it would resist some hits in the box when I travel, this is an all metal body tested for many years as one of the most durable mics there is.
Holy smokes. Came here to see microphone comparison and fell in love with your singing. Incredible.
I heard somewhere that regardless of the hardware you use; if you have the talent, you will still shine. btw, great voice my man!
Wow, thank you!
First time on your channel and second video about how to choose a mic. The X sounded good at first, then thick; the + sounded thin; the XLR was a nice middle ground and more subtle, but man, I was so stunned by your voice. It rarely makes me realize how much work it takes to ever get close to that quality of singing!
Simple, honest, to the point for the rest of us - thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for conducting this comparison. Recently I have been testing mics for our nonprofit using a variety of XLR to USB converters, which has proven to be an interesting exercise. I have a future project in mind where I want to record a band using nothing but USB mics to see what the results might be. There are some nice USB mics being made today, for sure. BTW, I found the USB mic in this shootout to be more sibilant and while it sounded pretty good, the XLR produced a more full range of frequencies and knocked the edge of the top end. Cheers.
This comparison is misleading and he left out a lot of information. The AT2020 usb and xlr mics share the same internals so you are going to get the same audio the usb connection is irrelevant. If he had compared a different usb mic it would've sounded different. Same with shures sm7b and their usb version share the same internals so theyll sound similar too. You can make any mic sound amazing with software these days but quality parts do make for a better mic, and the mics need to be tested and put in correct phase.
What's a good convertor? I just got a audio interface for Christmas but I have a usb mic. I don't want to buy another mic if I don't have to.
@@5kdaking334 The converters/signal adapters are used to take a XLR mic, plug it into adapter, which can then be plugged into a USB port. If you have a USB mic, you are plug and play ready, so you don't need a converter.
th-cam.com/video/4cLjVDBCAyk/w-d-xo.html
Audio interfaces are typically used with XLR mics, so in order to use the audio interface you will need to purchase a XLR mic. If you would like some ideas of where to start with XLR mics, I am happy to offer my opinion. Questions in forming an opinion would include price limit, what environment it would be used in, what do you want to record with it, how will the recording be used, what audio interface are you plugging into?
@@theglobalzrecordingproject good to know. I got a scarlet audio interface. I just do general music recording. I got a 40 dollar Amazon mic that does me pretty well. I just got studio monitors and an interface for Christmas so I don’t mind upgrading the mic as well.
Ur singing is amazing! Im lovin it
Came here looking for mics. Damn, your voice is fantastic. My wife and daughter loved it too. Great job!
Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻
usb mics generally simply have a worse digital converter and amplifier than an audio interface for a xlr mic and you cannot upgrade them without ditching the mic, you also cannot add some additional hardware effects too
i cant understand what you are saying when you sing but dayummm, you sound so good
Haha... I'll take that! 🤣
no idea who you were and your voice when testing the mic, damn!!!! fire man!
Haha glad you liked the vocals! 😆
I came here for the review but your voice is just ... amazing.
Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻
My man your vocals are phenomenal
Thank you so much!
Seeing this comparison, though there is a distinct difference when played back to back like that, it makes me realize that I wouldn't realistically be able to tell if someone was using a USB mic for vocals. At least, not with how good they've gotten lately.
At the same time, listening to this comparison as a music producer, I can tell the USB mic's vocals are a bit more... Fragile. Though that lower quality would be fine on its own, any sort of heavy processing would only make those blemishes even worse where the xlr mic would still sound just fine.
Reguardless it really is just a case of knowing your needs, your use cases, and your budget.
Speaking of uses. Just curious your opinion. If someone wanted to do voice-over and ASMR, would it be best to get 2 seperate microphones for 2 differing subjects? Or world it all be dependent on getting enough experience to make 1 microphone work?
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Great microphones with great and crisp and sounding quality
dope content as usual
Appreciate it!
the best part of the video. Listening to him singing like an angel, gosh loved it!!
Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻
XLR sounds better to me. Now I'm curious about how some popular XLRs (recording mics) would compare to a popular live vocal mike such as an SM58 in a recording situation. I'm thinking about recording my 4-man acapella group. Rather than record each vocalist separately I'm considering using 4 SM58s and recording it all at the same time (with some space between each vocalist).
if live/vocal only is the vibe you're going for, using a room mic would work better. a live recording sounds best for a capella, if you wanted to do effects, then doing it individually would work the best
you have two options.
1. buy a condenser microphone to record your vocalist in individual sessions. the reason is because, condenser microphones are sensitive to detail if that is your concern.
2. your option is alright as well, buying 2 to 4 dynamic microphones to record all your vocalist in one room can be a nice option. though, you could definitely find cheaper alternatives than the SM58 if budget is an issue.
Samson 2qu is pretty good!
beyonce used sm57 as her studio mic iirc
large diaphragm condenser mics just suit more people
anyway neither sm59 nor sm57 are usb, don't use usb mics
@@Etsa yes but also quite noisy over usb. I have two of them and their usb noise levels are different too.
Simple yet concise and straight to the point. Thanks man.
Thanks for watching!!
man, you have an amazing voice
and that's me saying this (= very rare to say compliments like this)
Thank you so much 😀
This guy has the voice of an angel! That caught me completely by surprise! Well done bro!
Loved the way you compared the audio! Made it easy to try and pick the differences
Short, informative, high quality production... Thank you!
Nice vocals bro, came for the mic but thoroughly impressed by the vocals.
Thank you!! 🙏🏻
Here's my breakdown of achieving easy and good recordings:
50% Good room setup (turn off AC/fridge/heater. Get blankets or a foam shield.)
40% Preparation of script (have confidence and fluidity behind what is said. Pacing is more important than one would think.)
10% Decent mic.
I can record directly into an iphone using a wired headset and get better audio than folks that incorrectly use a $3000 mic.
well, no, you can't get better audio because phone mics have shit consistency and are just bad in general compared to any large diaphragm mics. "Better" audio beyond specs and logic is just subjective. Plus, modern plugins help a ton with careless room setup if there's static noise.
@@DE3P_Beats I think that saying "I could use an AT2020+ USB that costs 120$ with a correctly prepared ambient and good mixing and sound better than folks that incorrectly use a 3000$ mic" would have been more realistic, because that's true. Using a 3000$ mic on a reverby place, with your fan at your side, the dog, and at a kilometer far from the mic is gonna make you sound pretty much worse than if a cheaper USB one on better conditions, but not than on a iPhone, phone mics are pretty bad for recording
Was just curious on the difference, tbh when started singing i was a bit surprised and expecting a pretty mid example. Most people just don't sing that good or consistently (no offense to anyone starting, just its hard to do well. Which can be an issue when you're trying to compare audio)
But got to say I'm impressed, that was a great example. As well as some really clear singing. Good video too, short, to the point and very clear. Thanks!
Thank you for watching!!
Damn, you have some awesome local range.. I forgot that I’m looking for a microphone. Very good vocals. I appreciate it.
Thank you! I appreciate your comment 🙏🏻
Your voice is amazing 👏
Thank you so much!!
Came for the mic stayed for the voice keep it up mate
Thank you for watching!!
🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏻, However, there are some high-end USB microphones that can offer sound quality comparable to entry-level XLR microphones. It's important to note that the sound quality of any microphone will depend on many factors beyond just its type of connection, such as its frequency response, polar pattern, and sensitivity.
I'm listening on studio monitors and the XLR sounds way better / crispier to me but that's not to say the USB mic sounded bad
true the usb just sounds like a drier signal than xlr
Nice singing! And, appreciated the confirmation about xlr:)
came here looking to make my screams sound better. left here crying after that beautiful song.
ive been using a usb mic. just learned about interfaced and i think i know i need an xlr mic. thank you so much for making this video
Thanks for the video, and your voice sounds amazing!
Thank you 🙏🏻
The usb port just broke on my AT2005, not a bad mic and super easy to use then you don't have you're audio interface around and beed to plug it into the laptop (well via usb-c adaptor on Mac) I have the AT2020 (XLR) too, had it for years - remember mics can last decades unlike all the other stuff we will toss after 5 years or so.
I found your videos looking for an easy budget mic but I'm subscribing for your voice
love your videos!!!
Thank you!!
ngl i wasnt expecting that angelic voice wow!
@@LeNguyen-fk6xl Thank you so much 🙏🏻
Thanks for making this info available for beginners! BTW you've absolutely fine-tuned the fantastic range and make excellent use of your voice!
Sooo where do we download the full version of you singing this song because that was incredible.
Unfortunately I don't have a full version, but thank you so much for the kind comment!
Thank you for this review - was super helpful. The comparison and showing people that used it and how they sound like was a brilliant idea. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Good video! XLR sounds better to my ears!
You're an amazing singer btw , great vid fam!
The problem with USB mic is probably that if the internal ADC breaks, it breaks, increasing the likelihood of the whole thing breaking.
That being said, I don't know anyone with a broken USB mic so maybe this is not a big deal.
Thank You for this Video 🙏
Hi from India 🇮🇳
amazing voice bro!!
Thanks a ton!
i got here trying to find out if i got a suiting microphone for recording vocals, but i got an amazing performance on top of it. absolutely beautiful voice! thank you!
well, we also have to take into account all audio is destroyed by social media platforms that will use lossy formats optimized for streaming, unless you are in some fancy streaming platform that transmits lossless audio or in some hi-fi player with the dac & amp & headphones up to the task.
I was using a blue yeti which is usb and just got the AKG P120. Biggest difference is podcast mics are not meant to handle the range (volume) one might project while singing. Also, the fact that I can plug the XLR into my interface means I can manually adjust the gain. Something you can’t do with a usb. I haven’t watched the video
thank you because i’am having trouble getting my micphoneing on the iPad to record
Have you considered making a full cover for Bonfire Heart? That was excellent
Thank you so much! I will definitely consider doing a full cover in future.
@@EdwardSmithMusic 🙂
Thank you very much 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
That was a great video. Acapella showed the difference
Glad you liked it!
@@EdwardSmithMusic I was enthralled by it and it really helped me. Great video again. Does rhe XLR come woth the mic clip or is that a separate purchase other then the stand? I can't find where rhe clip would be and rhe stand says clip sold separately
Best listened with earbuds/headphones. I can tell the USB ones sound a little "farther away" but the XLR one sounds closer as if he is standing next to u. Best way I can describe it. Tho, Industry standard or not, I can tell it won't matter what u select unless ur recording with multiple instruments at same time, cuz even with the USB (has more latency tho), there r plenty of audio effects u can use to get the sound pretty close to an XLR. But XLR does sound fuller n has the least amount of latency which means u can use even more audio effects than possible without worrying about too high of latency in the end... so it's no wonder why XLR is the Industry standard
The difference I heard wasn't as much about the mic quality as the amount of background noise - I heard enough noice on the USB mic in your tests that I wouldn't want to use it. I purchased the AT2020 (XLR) specifically because of the background noise issue.
But that subtle background noise is easily remediated by using a software that removes it such as NVIDIA Broadcast, Crisp, (Might be spelled KRISP Im not sure) Steel Series Sonar or OBS Filters. Idk just saying.
I think the usb-mic sounds more pure, but the XLR-mic more balanced.
Do you have a long version of this song ?? I loved it :)
I like the USB-X and XLR, unfortunately not the money for all the stuff beside with an XLR so I will go for the USB-X for recording songs & playing games. Even tho XLR is better for vocals but I don't have much money right now! I hope it's still gonna be good that I go with the USB-X
The song is called bonfire heart by James blunt
Came looking for info on mics but found you!!! Love the voice and found your music. A cover of this song would be lovely!
It's interesting seeing how this mic compares to its usb version, but I'm not sure you can really compare these mics like it's a buying decision someone might make. No-one who already has an audio interface would really consider getting a usb mic instead, so really the comparison is between a $150 usb mic and a $250-300 setup with an audio interface, since a quality entry level interface will cost 100-150, plus the stand and cable mentioned. In that comparison on sound quality alone usb mics come out way ahead.
What matters is the mix post recording
I can hear the difference of both USB microphones.
XLR sounds more natural, you can hear more little details at your voice.
When you started singing James Blunt's song, I forgot I was supposed to be listening to the microphones (I couldn't tell the difference if I'm honest), but I didn't expect you to sound so much like James. That threw me off. 😂 Nice one!
holy FUK i did not expect dreamy vocals out of a mic review lol 👍
Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻
I own 4 Audio-Technica At2020 XLR mics that I use with a TASCAM MIXCAST4 podcast mixer and I just ordered a AT2020 USBX microphone that should have been here 2 days ago. However, I am not upset, it will be here tomorrow.
You should make blind test for us as when info is displayed I had some impression that xls is a bit better but it might be just self suggestion.
It all depends on the ADC chip and the processing (DSP). Their newest, the AT2020 USB-XP samples at upto 192 kHz at 24 bit. Needless to say sound quality is superb.
Your voice is awesome in the microphone! I love it!
usb can do multiple at a time you just need an external application like voicemeter and a little bit of config/setup
I think the XLR sounded marginally better than the USB AT2020+ but when you mix it, people won't be able to tell the difference. The difference in sound isn't anything a good vocal performance and mix can't make up for.
However, depending on how large the projects you're working on are, the USB mics' latency could become a problem.
As a professional, I'd always go with the XLR. But as an artist - especially if you're on a budget - I don't think you could go wrong with the USB AT2020+
That's so true, if you use a DAW like Reaper or Audacity, you can do wonders with an AT2020+ easily, just you gotta make sure to work around with it
@Marc's That's true on most case scenario on USB mics that cut a lot of frequencies or have very cheap inner preamps, but in the AT2020 USB case it doesn't cut as much frequencies and it has a pretty decent inner preamp for an USB mic
Is the usb at2020+ the best usb mic for vocals?
@@ransm_ftsRøde nt usb+ also really good i have it
XRL gives some kinda "really opened" voice from you, but I can not hear this voice from USB micrafon, the best content ever bro👍
What is that pop filter? It looks like it might help reduce sibilance and convenient because you can just replace the filter instead of clean it.
Here is a link - amzn.to/41NqPdZ
A usb microphone is performing the digital conversion right at the microphone. Assuming identical analog side components, the USB microphone will always capture more accurately with modern ADC.
exactly, for me if you don't want to go for a higher tier microphone down the line and this one is perfect for what you need at least in my case the choice was obvious, 170 dollars for the usb+ from USA to my country vs 270 dollars between the mic and the scarlett solo plus a XLR cable, 3 points of failure and 2 more things that can break when I travel vs one that sounds practically the same as the XLR if you don't really focus on a comparison or don't have trained ears, which most of the people that listens to me certainly doesn't have
Your vdo and sound quality is so good. What is the camera and sound system do you use?
Your singing was beautiful!
USB is so great for everyday use, practicing etc. You can connect it straight to your smartphone and record even with karaoke app and sounds pretty good!
I really like it because it is very quick and just doing a great job - dont need to think about equipment etc. just focus on singing.
xlr is a bit better if we are talking about studio quality, but there are so many other important things like type of microphone, mixing, setup of audio interface etc.
It’s something about that non usb mic that hit different
i come for the mic, and stay for your voice. godamn
Thank you!! 🙏🏻
dude ur voice is beautiful
Thank you so much!!
I would listen to the whole song in your singing with guitar only. Thanks for the comparison
Thank you for watching!!
Both sounded thin and audio seemed to be clipping. XLR a little better
woah.. you’re amazing with your vocals 🤩