Thanks guys! That was a fun one to learn.
Any thoughts on the Blue Snowball mic on CL? Might buy something like that and then buy a camera in the $200 range. Pretty nice mics in my area on CL, but I have no idea what I need if I don’t buy one with a USB connection.
I didn’t know anything about the Blue Snowball, but I googled it and it looks like it’s primarily being marketed as a podcasting mic. I didn’t find any reviews of people using it for music. It’s $63 new on Amazon. I’m not sure how much the other stuff in the Craigslist bundle is worth.
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I have no idea what I need if I don’t buy one with a USB connection
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If you get a mic without a USB connection, you have to supply power for the mic some other way. Phantom power units start pretty cheap ($30 to $40) and go up, depending on your needs. I have a cheap little phantom power unit with a single XLR connector, but you can use other things. My guitar effects processor has an XLR connector, so I can use it as a preamp, too.
I don’t own one, but I have played with blue mics (a Bluebird), and I like them. The Bluebird has a good sound. Sorry, I do not know what “on CL” means. If you don’t buy a USB mic and you want to record to your PC, I think the easiest method is with a computer audio interface. I have Focusrite Saffire 6 USB. I got the Focusrite as their preamps got good reviews, and I have been pleased with it. To be honest, it’s amazing what you can buy for a few hundred dollars. The mics I am using were something I bought just to “hold me over” until I picked some “nicer items.” I haven’t replaced them and I don’t feel a strong need. I got a pair of cheapie MXL mics (990 and 991) for about $100, and they sound good to me. They are a bit harsh for vocals, but I get more into the instrument sound and they seem accurate to me. At some point, I’ll probably get something a bit warmer for vocals, but I don’t know if I’ll need to replace these for micing instruments.
Sorry about that Mike. I posted a Craigslist (CL) link in one of my posts. I got the idea of Blue mics from Oldhat but I think he got a Blue Yeti. I don’t think the snowball is as good as the Yeti based on reviews.
Larry, the price difference on a USB mic and one with out is about the price of a phantom power unit. I reckon I’ll just spend the extra for a USB mic. I looked the snowball up on Amazon too. The guy has some headphones and pop filter but I still think he’s asking more than what he paid for it new.
I think I’ve made a decision. I am going to buy the Canon powershot 130 that Mike linked and an Audio technica at2020 USB mic.
The Canon is about $230 with a memory card and case.
The Mic is $130 plus $17 for a pop filter.
About $380 total. What do you guys think? Do I need the pop filter?
Sounds like a good plan. I’m using a discontinued Audio-Technica (AT3035) that is very similar to the AT2020, and I think fiddlewood is using the AT2020, too, so I believe it will serve you well.
Sorry… I am a little slow. I didn’t make the connection between CL and CraigsList. I was trying to figure out what kind of technology was involved in CL 
I like AT mics. I haven’t used a 2020, but I have been happy with similar design and price range models. I look forward to hearing more playing!
You asked about a pop filter… they are great if you record vocals. We used to make them out of wire clothes hangers and panty hose, but it’s kind of nice to get one pre-made.
Ah, so if it’s not needed to record instruments I won’t get the filter. You will NOT be hearing me sing. 
Thanks for the help!
Yeah, it’s literally just to keep your exhaled breath from bottoming out the microphone element. So you are correct, if you are not singing, you generally don’t need one.
On a related note: when I play fingerstyle, my posture is often terrible and I kind of lean over the guitar… I have ruined some good takes by breathing on the mic 
It took me a while to figure out where that low frequency rumble was coming from.
Haha! I’m not getting my face anywhere near a mic, I know better!
I have a tendency to lean over my guitar from time to time too. I usually end up drooling on it though. 
Man I need to quit dipping snuff.
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I usually end up drooling on it though.
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Insert banjo joke here —>
I suspect you might enjoy this song:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu6_FlyQxm0[/video]
Back to talking about mics… I noticed in the Devil’s Dream vid it looks like Ben has a Shure SM7. That was one of the mics I was kind of thinking of at one point for a vocal mic. Anyone ever use one for vocals?
I haven’t heard that one Mike. Yeah, for some reason the ladies don’t like snuff, go figure.
I thought at one point Ben used an AT2020 mic. I’m sure he has a ton of mics though.
I found both the cam and the mic at Best Buy and they did some price matching. Gotta love getting an item right when ya pay for it.
Very happy with both and I love the sound I’m getting from the mic. Just never figured I would get this much improvement in sound over my other recording setup.
The camera said it takes 720p vid, but on the menu you have an option for 690p or 1280p, don’t know whats up with that, but it exceeds what I was expecting. I recorded a one minute video just to see what it looked like and it comes up in 720p. Pics come out pretty good. I think I can get some better shots tinkering with it some in natural light without the flash or playing with the settings instead of using the auto focus deal. Again, blows away my old cam.
I hate to even post this video since it was just to see what it looked like and it is a song I’m just learning. Oh well. This is just the camera and not the new mic. I think the sound on this cam is waaay better than the old one, but nowhere close to what I’m getting from the AT2020.
The mic, I love the mic! Ha!
Tried to download the latest version of Audacity (2.3.0 or something) and everything looked good. When I tried to go into it, I get an error message saying that the application failed. So, I downloaded an older version (1.2.6 I think) and it works fine. Don’t know how many settings I’m missing with the older version, but this version is simple to use, and that’s right up my alley. I recorded some Red Haired Boy rhythm at a sane pace and played lead over it for a while. That was a blast, going to help my picking a bunch. Not sure how to download anything from Audacity to the forum, but I will try ( if I don’t get sidetracked again ).
I would love to record some video but use the mic for the sound. Can I do that type of editing with Audacity?
Cool! Glad you are digging your new toys.
Even though I’ve seen pictures of it before, I gotta say that is one pretty guitar. The new camera really shows off the grain.
Can’t wait to hear the guitar with the new mic. I don’t think your old mic was doing it justice.
I record videos with a separate mic all the time. Just turn off the mic on your camera and capture the audio with your AT2020 and Audacity like normal. Then you have to sync the audio and video. I just use the Windows Movie Maker that came with Windows 7 to do it.
Looks great and sounds good enough with the built in… with that said, I am looking forward to hearing the AT! I bet that will be awesome.
Tried to download a wav/mp3 file straight to the forum but it was just a little too big. I’ll have to figure out a better way to do all of that.
Anyways, here’s a little Black Mtn. hack job with the new mic!
Nice recording. A lot less noise than your Cuckoo’s Nest tracks. A clean signal like that makes mixing a lot easier.
Cool arrangement, too. I had a Black Mountain Rag break figured out a while back. Now, you got me itching to dust it off.
I have a lot to learn about mic placement and all the controls in Audacity, but I’m pretty happy with the sound so far.
That’s one of Ben’s Black Mtn. Rag breaks. I think he has two of 'em. That one (in C), seems to roll right off the fingers, for the most part. I just need to get my head out of the way of my fingers.