Reddit mentions of CAD Audio U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone

He needs one of these

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

Cheap as fuck and sounds amazing. Mine's been going strong for 4 years.

edit; theres a sample recording by an amazon user in the reviews. I also don't work for CAD or anything I just think it's a great mic.

You can get a cheap usb condenser mic. Not ideal over a more expensive xlr mic setup (watch the video I linked at the end, it explains a lot there), but for just gaming it's better than pretty much any headset. If you don't have room on the desk, there's the Antlion Modmic. Overpriced for the sound quality imo, but it should still be better than most headsets. I'm not sure if the a40s have a detachable cable, but if they do you can also get the V-moda boompro. I've used mine for a few years before upgrading to the ATR2500, and it sounds almost as good as the standalone mic and I like the sound signature much more than the Antlion. The only downside being some hiss that the condenser doesn't have, and it needs power from one of the channels for the mic to work, so you need to adjust the center for the headphones. Ideally if you're just using voice chat in games and in programs like Teamspeak, Discord, Mumble or whatever, the most you should be spending is around $50.

Here's a video if you wanna take the plunge and get something more professional for voice overs some time in the future.

For me at least the sound is way more important than the video quality. Laptop mics have an unfortunate tendency to pick up fan and hard drive noise, especially when you're trying to record something like whispering.

I'd HIGHLY recommend a USB condenser-style mic. You can get a good one for under $100 (right now I see that the classic Samson CO1U is discounted on Amazon, MSRP is over $200, it's listed for $77. Or the CAD U37 is under $50 and comes with a (cheap) mic stand.

Having said all that, I'd say just try it with what you have and see how it sound/looks before spending money.

Hey man, I have to suggest the Cad U37. It was ~$90 when I bought it in 2010. It's now 40 bucks. I can guarantee that this mic will blow your fucking mind and is EXCELLENT for recording acoustic instruments and vocals. I cannot recommend it enough. Mine crapped out on me (mostly because I treated it like shit) a few years after I bought it but I'm buying another one just because of how reliable it is. This is definitely what you are looking for.

I'll be frank with you, using a kinect is probably not the ideal way of starting out in voice acting, even if it's just for fun. Is it possible for you to save up a small amount of money and buy yourself an actual mic for the purpose of vocal recording?

There are plenty of inexpensive microphones out there. Buying something like the CAD U37 might be a perfect way of getting a real feel for voice acting. You can probably audition for a lot of projects, and you won't be instantly rejected because of poor audio quality.

Now, there's a lot more than can be said here, but for now, consider saving up and buying an inexpensive mic. If you are going to go with this route, remember to download and learn how to use a program called Audacity, and how to use noise removal. I think this is enough information to help you get started.

EDIT: I almost forgot about pop filters. If you're going to invest in getting a mic, you need a pop filter. You can find them on Amazon for cheap.

Good luck on everything,

Cheers

I know that a lot of streamers use the audio technica microphones so here's one. There is also the Blue Yeti. In terms of budget microphones, there is the Blue Snowball and the CAD u37. You also might want to consider an audio interface as well. Here's an excellent combo, cause its awesome.

I managed to get a beast of a gaming + streaming PC together.

I did focus a lot on the streaming part as well.

I'll provide you with my standard list of videos to help you understand why I suggest these products.

Also; will provide you with a couple of great guides to help you build the PC.

Lastly, I'll give a bunch of software that you'll want to get to overclock your CPU & GPU.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price

----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor | $389.99 @ Newegg
CPU Cooler | CRYORIG H5 Ultimate 76.0 CFM CPU Cooler | $42.25 @ Newegg
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-X99-UD3P (rev. 1.0) ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard | $193.99 @ Newegg
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2800 Memory | $109.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $87.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $74.99 @ Newegg
Video Card | Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card | $599.99 @ Amazon
Case | Fractal Design Define S ATX Mid Tower Case | $59.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply | EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $125.98 @ Newegg
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) | $93.99 @ NCIX US
Monitor | AOC P2370SD 60Hz 23.0" Monitor | $124.99 @ Best Buy
Monitor | Asus PB258Q 60Hz 25.0" Monitor | $316.99 @ NCIX US
Keyboard | AZIO MGK1-K Wired Gaming Keyboard | $69.99 @ Amazon
Mouse | Mionix AVIOR 7000 Wired Optical Mouse | $54.99 @ Amazon
Headphones | Sennheiser HD 518 Headphones | $67.00 @ Amazon
Speakers | Logitech Z200 0W 2ch Speakers | $24.99 @ Amazon
Mouse Mat| Aukey Soft Smooth Gaming Mouse Pad| $18.00 @ Amazon
Microphone| CAD U37 MicroPhone| $45.00 @ Amazon
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $2491.10
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-21 16:17 EST-0500 |


---

Learn about cool technology in only a couple minutes!

---

What is overclocking?: Here - 2:32 minutes.

What is the difference between i3, i5 & i7?: Here - 4:32
What is hyperthreading?: Here - 4:47
What is Turbo boost?: Here - 4:05
CPU shopping guide: Here - 5:01
GPU shopping guide: Here - 4:11
How many cores do I need for gaming?: Here - 8:18
How many cores do I need for prosuming?: Here - 7:53
DDR3 vs DDR4: Here - 8:01
What are benchmarks?: Here - 5:21
Pre-built vs building your own?: Here - 6:04
Optical vs laser mouse: Here - 2:10
SSD vs HDD: Here - 4:05
What is resolution?: Here - 5:22
Different panel types: Here - 2:29
What is G-sync?: Here - 5:52
What is Shadowplay?: Here - 3:59
Case air pressure: Here - 5:21
Case fan orientation: Here - 3:42
What is a NAS?: Here - 5:06
What PSU to buy?: Here - 5:12
What does 80+ mean?: Here - 3:02

Likely that TechQuickie got even more video's that you can have a look at to get answers. It's a great youtube channel for easy, quickly explained questions about PC tech.

---

Guides

---

Now before you have a look at all these guides. The best guide in most cases will always be your MANUAL. Some manuals are garbage, but most of them are more than good enough to be able to help figure out most problems.

How to build an Intel 115x socket PC? This is my personal favorite because it goes in depth, but still keeps the video relatively short. It also got great camera work so you are able to follow all the steps very well. I decided to skip the start of the video. The reason being that the video is posted on 17th of May 2013, he gives the rationale of his selected parts at the start. This is a very long time ago, so the parts are very old, so no need to hear this out. But building a PC is still pretty much the same. No drastic changes.
There are a lot of different build guides on the internet, but I really like this one. It's easy to follow.

How to install a 2011(-3) CPU? Again not too complicated. But be aware, every motherboard is different. If unsure, check the manual!
How to install RAM? It's very simple these days. For DDR4 it's pretty much the same.
How to install Windows 8(.1) or 10 from an USB drive? You have to download "media creation tool" which is located at the bottom of the page (blue button). Run that program with a 4GB+ USB flash drive plugged into a PC. Then follow the simple steps and the program will make the USB drive bootable. After that all you have to do is build the PC and boot from that USB drive to install Windows.
How to set up your SSD & HDD? This video is another older video, but it works pretty much the same in Win 8/10. He does talk about a few things that aren't very important, but it's good to know.
How to overclock an Intel 2011-3 Haswell-E CPU? Again a simple video and not too long. They used an Asus motherboard which got different names in the BIOS compared to other brands. So you might have to look around a little bit. But in general they're named very similar.
* How to use Ninite? This video explains it very well, as well as their recommendations. For security I advise to only get Avira (if you don't mind to get an add every day; if you do mind - just use Microsoft Defender) & Malwarebytes. If you want to pay for an anti-virus; Webroot! Light weight; very high detection rate.

---

Stress test software!

---

Software|How to download?|What does it do?

----|:----|:----
CPU-Z | Pink button down at the right | Monitor CPU performance / voltage
RealTemp | Download RealTemp | Monitor CPU temperatures
CineBench R15 | Bottom of the page "CINEBENCH is.. ..a free download at the MAXON website (click to download)." | CPU benchmark
IntelBurnTest | Download now | Stress test CPU!
Unigine Heaven | Bottom of the page "Download Locations" | Benchmark GPU + CPU (a little)
MSI Afterburner & Combustor | Tab > downloads | Overclocking tool for GPU.
Furmark | Download Furmark | GPU Stress test
PCMark | Under logo: steam / download from | GPU/CPU benchmark
Aida64 | Aida64 Extreme trial version | A great package that got everything!
||| \^ Free for 30 days

##Hope you like it and If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

cad u37

recommend it every thread

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

can get the mic, stand, pop filter for all under 100 and sounds ok for the price point

cheap mic and cheap mike

Blue Snowball $48

ATR2500 USB $57

CAD U37 $47

Personally I use the Blue snowball (DON'T get the ICE version). It's a favorite among newer YouTubers. Same with the ATR2500. Haven't used the CAD U37, but heard good things. If you have more money look into the Blue Yeti or the AT2020 mic. Also the Rode Podcaster.

Don't forget to get a Pop filter which will help a lot. Also I suggest using Audacity to record, (and it is free). If you need help with Audacity, here's a good video to get you started

Yeah it is very small. I only recommended it because I have it so I can vouch for it. I have it clipped to a music stand for closer speaking. Your laptop is a bit too far away for some applications. This one is the best seller on amazon. Even has a stand.

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417232729&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+microphone

It really depends on the setup you want. I used a headset for a long time that had good audio and sound for the price. Was a plantronics gamecom 780., But really, any mic will do for the most part. If you just want a basic USB mic, id go with something like this and as for a webcam Id go with the Logitech C525 which I actually still use for my "cat cam" since upgrading my cam a while ago to the C920. So about $60 for a decent setup that wont disappoint. The main thing with the microphone is to properly setup all the necessary filters to get the most out of it

I started with a Rockband mic (lol), moved to a CAD USB mic, and now that I'm serious about music, I use a Rode NT1, which I really love. However, if you are really serious about making music, I would recommend spending a little more and focusing on quality up front, because eventually you will want to upgrade anyway when you realize the limitations of cheaper microphones. Another thing to consider is buying an interface (I needed one for the NT1). This will allow you to connect XLR microphones (like the NT1) and eliminate the annoying latency associated with USB mics.

This one. I would recommend using getting a foam cover for it.

Maybe an Audio Technica 2020.

Edit: Here's a list of Amazon Links for mics that should do fine for under $100. Mind you, these aren't going to be as good as more expensive mics.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1397680493&sr=1-2&keywords=audio+technica+at2020

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CZ0RLK/ref=s9_simh_gw_p267_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1HB6SGG69DC63CE0W94T&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1397680546&sr=1-1&keywords=cad+u37

(This next one has a used one for under a hundred. Just over a hundred for new.)

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B008F4USMS/ref=sr_du_2_map?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1397680579&sr=1-2

Edit 2:

If you want something pretty good even cheaper, this one will actually do you fine. You might notice a difference, but you also might not. It should be perfectly adequate if you don't intend to do anything more than amateur work.

http://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Vocal-Microphone-ES-58-S/dp/B000RKVH0K/ref=pd_cp_MI_0

That's what I assumed too but in the Q&A under the product on Amazon I found someone who asked a similar question, and it sounds to me like the USB does NOT act as phantom power. It makes no sense to me why that wouldn't power it but ....

Looks like I'll either need to try tunnelsup's idea, using the box I have or just get a new mic. If my box doesn't work, I think I'd sooner buy a new mic than spend $100 on the box he linked, since my current mic is likely not that great compared to one I could get for ~$100, and not have to mess with the extra equipment.

Something like:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3341940462&pd_rd_wg=usvQf&pf_rd_r=MYY3HVKDYCKQ5X1C7WDV&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B001AIQGUO&pd_rd_w=rztVA&pf_rd_i=cardioid+dynamic+mic&pd_rd_r=dd2399dd-3576-490a-850b-74a9ce98bea6&ie=UTF8&qid=1510069656&sr=3

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015MJE22/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wirerealm-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0015MJE22&linkId=48aeb14c54c5e3fdb71465825fa1b06b

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072PR6W8P/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002VA464S&linkCode=as2&tag=wirerealm-20&th=1

All but 1 cost less than the box, and have great reviews. Proven to sound great and work out of the box direct to PC.

https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

Generally speaking, an XLR microphone will need an audio interface with a microphone preamp. They will likely not work with an XLR to mini cable, for several reasons- you are seeing one of the uncommon circumstances where it is working, and you obviously see how poorly it is working. I could go further into detail, but it comes down to the fact that you're using cheap equipment in the wrong way.

The cheapest way to get your current mic to work would be to get a dinkly little audio interface like this, to plug the mic into with an XLR cable.

Alternatly, you could just get a native USB microphone, like this one.

I purchased this from amazon to do a bit of recording. Pretty good recording quality for the price. As for webcams, I have an old Logitech HD720P that works out of the box, but the quality on it is not so good. I'm in the process of looking to upgrade myself.

Personally I use this mic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AIQGUO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But I hear the Blue Yeti and Audiotechnica mics are the best for doing commentary.

However the mic I link was one I purchased on sale 3 years ago for $30 (USD). But I think there could possibly be others that are cheaper with same or better quality.

I personally have the CAD u37 which I find to be quite decent for $35. However, it is a condenser microphone and will pick up a lot of ambient noise if you aren't in a quiet environment.

The Knox is a good choice as you can use it now as USB and later as an XLR if you add a mixer. Since it is dynamic, it will do much better at not picking up unintentional sounds.

I just started using Voice Attack this week. I'm amazed how well it works with my desktop microphone, even with a noisy portable air conditioner on and playing youtube videos in the background.

Here's what I have:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001AIQGUO/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o2_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Keep doing what you're doing, bro, perhaps with a better mic, the info is great.

But for some reason these naming schemes just irk me.

Why does every minor modification to an attack strategy need its own name?

The CAD u37 is a nice condenser mic listed on Amazon for $45 right now. It's the mic I use so you can check a past broadcast of mine to see what kind of quality I get out of it :)

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

I use the CAD U37.( http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO ) And I've been enjoying it very much. Also the 598s are amazing headphones.

Just get the Logitech C920 1080p and be done with it, it's the best cam out there and you can find it like 70$ on sale sometimes. I would bet that even a refurbished one would be great. Mics are a little different and there are lots of options but i bought recently this http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO and it's 50$ now and great quality.

Getting good gear is the one of the hardest parts about streaming, it's like buying a new musical instrument or something but when you think about how much time you are going to use this object then i think higher prices justify themselves. You stream few hours a day and in a month you'll have used that item for like 100 hours, in a year 1200 hours and then just think about how much you paid per hour for it lol

Or you can just get a better microphone. This microphone is fine, but there are better ones out there.

I have a CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Mic. I did a lot of research on the subject when I was looking into a new mic, and I went with the U37 over the Blue Snowball for a few reasons:

• Stand that it comes with is higher quality
  
• CAD U37 fits most standard boom stands
  
• Blue Snowball is occasionally known to be overly sensitive
  
• Sound quality is just as good, if not better than the Blue Snowball
  
• CAD U37 is less expensive

For under 50? Most likely a blue snowball or a CAD U37

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Snowball-Microphone-Textured/dp/B000EOPQ7E

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=pd_cp_MI_1#customerReviews

I could give you plenty of links to XLR ones but they'll cost you more than 50. These are your best bets for quality!

The Blue Yeti is a good mic but over rated. Before I went with an XLR condenser mic I was using a CAD U37 USB mic on loan from a friend. For less than half the price of a Yeti, it does produce a very nice sound. It also isn't so frickin' HUGE.

The Yeti has a pretty poor sound for the price you pay. The low end is really thin on them, the upper frequencies sound harsh, and they really just don't sound like an over $100 mic. While it's possible to get a somewhat decent sound out of a Yeti, I can also get a decent sound out of a $15 BM-800. It's fine to use for practice, gaming, and skype/discord chat, the extra polar patterns can actually come in handy for people who have little to no treatment, but for the price you pay there are a lot of better options. Even as far as USB mics go, the CAD U37 USB has a better sound, and is cheaper even if you get the kit with the floor stand, pop filter, and headphones. The Yeti costs about as much as it takes to get a sound you can use professionally, but it just doesn't perform at that level.

​

Here is the best sound demo I could find from a Yeti.

Here is me with an XLR mic (Lewitt LCT 440 Pure)

​

I'd do a side by side comparison, but I don't have a Yeti, sorry. Hopefully the clips I linked will let you get a better idea of what I am talking about with the difference in sound quality. If you listen to some of the other stuff I have up, I also use the AT875R on some and the V67G in places (those two exclusively for the character demo)

​

So to answer your question, it's just for the hype and the brand. They did a great job with marketing, I'll give them that, but I don't see the Yeti as being a good microphone.

I recommend giving low-end audiophile-quality headphones a try, with a low-cost separate mic.

Madlustenvy's guide (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-5-6-2019-hifiman-ananda-added.534479/) is a great resource for folks getting more interested in gaining a competitive edge in gaming via sound.

• The Audiotecnica ATH-AD 700xs are on sale: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD700X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S332TQ
  
• The Zalman isn't fancy but will get the job done and is cheap: https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=zalman+mic&qid=1558825303&s=electronics&sr=1-1-spell
  
  ​
  
  
• Staying within your budget, you could also spring for the CAD u37 as a better quality mic: https://www.amazon.com/CAD-Studio-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=26DAFE61J5FP1&keywords=cad+u37+microphone&qid=1558825317&s=electronics&sprefix=cad+u%2Celectronics%2C132&sr=1-3
  
• Finally, the Antlion (https://www.amazon.com/d/Computer-Microphones/Antlion-Audio-ModMic-Attachable-Microphone/B00R98JVVU) is popular, though I had one a while back and didn't like how the adhesive wore down so quickly. Been using the CAD for years now and like it.

I own the 58x and they sing with a DAC so I strongly recommend getting something. I'm currently using them with my Fiio E10K USB DAC which is not bad but could be better.

As for modmic, I made the modmic mistake. I recommend staying away from the modmic or anything like it. They don't stay on (or are all too easily torn off), the cable is a hassle, and the quality is not good. A good desktop mic is what you should be looking for. I have a Cad u37 ($50) and it's great.

In all honesty, the DT770s have some clarity issues, especially compared to the M50 (subjective!).

However at 80 ohms, they REALLY need an AMP to be driven properly. In that case you are going to be spending more.

My microphone recommendations are limited sadly, but these three come to mind:
CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone.
Audio-Technica ATR2500-USB Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone

and if you can find it at a lower price, this one is HIGHLY recommended:
Audio Technica AT2020

May I also recommend this one?

I've used this mic for over 3 years now.

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

I have the -10DB distortion feature on, the bass reduction off, and the AGC off so it doesn't pick up sound in the next room and amplify them. Works pretty good.

This one, the CAD U37 gets lots of good reviews on Amazon

CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_fQXfub0JCZXRM
I'm awful at formatting and also I'm on mobile lol.

I personally have a CAD U37 mic. It sounds very clean and with the correct settings outperforms a Yeti in a lot of ways especially cost. Here is an amazon link.

No problem! Yeah, I get friends being busy, always kind of frustrating.

If you want a recommendation for a mic that isn't too hard on the wallet, I use the ~$40 CAD U37 and it sounds absolutely phenomenal for the price. Here's a video I recorded using that mic if you want an example of how it sounds. I also use this guide for setting up my microphone and doing post processing, helps out immensely. You should try this even if you don't get a better mic; it isn't a magic fix for poor mic quality, but it'll help you get the best quality you can out of it.

lol that music.

loved your first ep, so this should be good

(also no offence but maybe look into eventually getting a better mic if you're going to be podcasting. these are all excellent.

https://www.amazon.com/Floureon-BM-800-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B00Q4RGQHY/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467856010&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=fleureon+condenser

https://www.amazon.com/Samson-Mic-Portable-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B001R76D42/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1467820949&sr=8-18&keywords=usb+microphone

https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Snowball-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B006DIA77E/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1467820854&sr=8-8&keywords=usb+microphone)

CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_R2bfAbAGW8ZNM

This is what I use, it's fantastic quality for under $40. I keep it behind my monitor and people in discord hear me just fine. There is a blue flashing LED on it that annoyed me, but I just put a piece of electrical tape over it and it was perfect.

Honestly the mic you use doesn’t matter as much as what EQ, noise gate and compression setting your have applied to it. I personally use a CAD U37 mic, which is around $40 and a post filter software. (I use Guitar Rig Pro 5, but I hear reaper works too.) Which makes my $40 mic sound clear, makes my voice sound better, gets rid of all background noise and even mouth noise if I want, aaand I can add filters like distortion and whatnot to have a radio mic sound, robot voice sound, etc. and I even have a preset to make it sound like Kylo Ren’s helmet for fun.

Bottom line, fuck shelling out loads of money on a “professional quality 1337 gaming studio mic for gamers by gamers #twitch” and look more into audio post processing software.

EDIT: also, the effects are applied in real time completely software side and the mic is connected by USB. So no spending MORE money to get an XLR hookup to your PC.

EDIT ep2: I can upload an audio sample sometime later tonight or tomorrow if you want.

EDIT ep3 -Revenge of the Sith: Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO?th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

I like this one, but I use it for voice chats mostly. Listen to some tests of this and blue mics. Decide which you like best

I have a CAD U37 with pop filter. Great condition, barely used. I'll do $30 shipped if you're interested.

Sorry about the excessive cursing, I guess in a way cursing is another filler that we use to try to add some significance to what we are saying. We shall work on that!

As for the place of recording and recorder alike- we recorded this in my basement. There really isn't anything to absorb the sound other then the shag carpet ( the floor is tiled). We recorded this while sitting on a couch and place it on a table about 2 feet away. Not the most formalized environment for recording. The microphone is CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone and we also have a filter on it as well.

Yea itll be fine. And a DAC would make it sound even better.
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001AIQGUO/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?qid=1452034496&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=Microphone&dpPl=1&dpID=31A-rD6WNdL&ref=plSrch

It really depends on how much money you're willing to spend. The Blue Yeti is an excellent microphone but costs $200. A pretty solid choice for $50 is this one here. Honestly, as long as you don't try to save by buying a crummy walmart $12 mic, you'll be fine with whatever you can find.





^^I ^^had ^^to ^^redo ^^this ^^because ^^I ^^accidentally ^^used ^^referrals

I too rock the 598's, and this mic has done me very well.

Yeah. I might test out another USB mic that I've had for years; I bought it about 5 years ago: CAD U37. This is what I used to use with some of my older videos on Youtube. Then I got a TAKSTAR shotgun mic to hook up to my mirrorless camera. I might compare those two with the Insignia. We'll see! I mostly did it to avoid doing homework lol

As for the stereo, it's not the most accurate, but I do like how deep it sounds. Would have to play with the placement of it in relation to the board; I don't have a mic stand/arm that fits the threading that it has. It uses a smaller mount.

I use a CAD u37 microphone and a set of SADES A60S headphones(Unless I'm recording on console, then I use some cheap Gummy earbuds, since my TV doesn't support the SADES.) I typically try to keep the microphone a few inches to a foot away from me to get the best sound.

The CAD U37 and so far so good. That's awesome, what do you play?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AIQGUO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=thetecpla07-20&ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001AIQGUO&linkCode=as2&linkId=3RV6IMNHSAOOO6C3

Obviously I need a pop filter and a new stand, but would this be bad to start with?

Here's my mic. Apparently the best of its price range, I wouldnt know of comparison... but it seems great to me so far!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001AIQGUO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yeah this reddit helped me so I thought I'd share back, hoping it would help someone else, because it has taken me like 6-7 weeks to finally have my audio where I want it without having to upgrade anything through spending money, and this 6-7 weeks was heavily spent towards SEARCHING for this solution. So yeah!

There you go, not studio level, but not laptop level either. With some mixing you can get some decent stuff with it, but don't expect Amazing quality. I've heard tracks with this mic that I can bump to, so if you can sound good on this mic eventually, you can upgrade at that time.

CAD u37. About $40 on Amazon

Rapping is something I've always wanted to do, but I don't want to invest a lot of money into a mic if I end up hating my voice or just rapping itself.

That said, I want to get a mic but drop minimal money on it. Under $50 if possible, since I don't want to make any big purchases with my son being born in 8 weeks.

Would a mic in this price range possibly be of enough quality to let me know if this is something I'd like to continue pursuing (like give me a decent idea of how my voice would sound on a track, because cell mic and webcam mics aren't capturing it well)? Not sure if this question makes a lot of sense, but I don't want to spend hundreds on a hobby that I could just scrap.

I see this mic thrown around a lot (I'd grab a pop filter, too): https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

Would this mic provide a decent "test run" if I rapped over an instrumental in audacity?

I'm just intimidated by all the different kinds of mics, phantom power and all that, people saying that you need to spend hundreds to have any decent sound, etc. I'm also too nervous to just try rapping in front of any of my other friends who are into hip hop or my SO so I wanted to do this on my own and critique myself.

Any other recommendations for a mic under $50?

TL:DR - Don't want to drop a bunch of money on a mic when I'm not sure if I'll stick with rapping. Would the CAD-U37 posted above be good for an unsure noobie? If not, any other recommendations under $50?

It appears to be this microphone. Doesn't look at all like a Blue Yeti.

As a person who used a usb microphone for a long time i'd say if you're just starting you should be fine using a usb microphone. I made a lot of good recordings with a $50 usb microphone and a napkin for a pop filter all through highschool. It's obviously not gonna be the best way to do it, but if you're on a budget it gets the job done and it FORCES you to become better at mixing and mastering in order for it to sound decent. i'd say go with the cheap mic until you know if you like recording and what you like. Everyone who is saying dont get the USB mic has experienced both and has an opinion, you should go with what you think will be the best fit for your needs.

Here's the mic I used if you care: http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

the mic i used and the one you're considering seem to be very similar products

I've got a CAD u37 that's worked great for getting ideas down quickly in Audacity.

My feedback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_OEOOwb1CA91BK

The blue snowball is an option, if you want one that looks closer to the yeti and is even less than the snowball: http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/

Believe it or not, it never did.

When I go to the studio, I typically use this. It's a pretty standard condenser. I've (we've) never had the funding to get anything extravagant.

I have my own packed away somewhere, but for simple things like this I generally just use a Turtle Beach X11 headset, which is what I use for my videos. I'm able to spit out a decent quality track with a bit of post-production most of the time.

And, of course: World's Classiest Gamers!

Like everyone else here, I can't recommend enough getting a better microphone, but if your total budget is only $50>, I can recommend the U37.


If you're wanting to take it more seriously, you're going to want to get an interface and a good microphone.


[CAD U37-USB] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5rszybPEYJN3W)



[Pop Filter] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016JQ4ISS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_y0szybHY4BT3W)

https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

just bought this the other day, so far no complaints.

Here's an Amazon link to it. You should be able to find some audio samples from it in the reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/CAD-Studio-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=57740553522&gclid=CjwKCAiA5JnuBRA-EiwA-0ggPa3gvbOU8t4R43mb9mGLfG2VCJ_v0EOhJxx-MgNyIr69Ty8PJX6lbxoCTzoQAvD_BwE&hvadid=274900503349&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9010869&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6590324304485027558&hvtargid=kwd-303091327593&hydadcr=12825_9456377&keywords=cad+u37+microphone&qid=1573356113&sr=8-3

CAD u37 is great, but it seems to have some issues on Mac...
I got it on sale at amazon and I love it!
http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/

If your looking for Cheap I would Look for a USB condenser. It will hook directly to your computer. You will not need a cord, it will have the USB cord included.

I don't own this, but the Amazon review are favorable. One of the reviewers made a sound sample. Sounds good for the money.

I'm playing skyrim right, but I should be cleaning. I'm gonna have some people over tonight and get drunk! Tomorrow I might go to goodwill and buy a recliner, been wanting one for a while. [This] (http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=JGXG0457A0OJ&coliid=I1QQWCK0QZYPNY) would be sick! 1.21 Gigawatts

CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LYjezbHJJA5VM does this look good?

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1418767635&sr=8-5&keywords=mic&pebp=1418767642092

I bought a filter with mine so no background noise comes in. Believe it or not for a cheap mic like that it works perfectly.

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

does this look decent?

I love low budget challenges. So much so that I'm thinking of doing several videos about low priced tech on my channel. $40 isn't a bad budget for entry level as You can get something like the CAD U37 which is really good for the price.

Here is an amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO

Here is an audio example: https://youtu.be/o5-16CdWmPU?t=1m18s

I think you'll find it difficult to disagree that the quality is good. Everyone also recommends keeping it on the -10db setting for this mic. Anyways, I hope that helps.

The SM57/58 isn't a very good general-purpose mic. It has relatively poor high-frequency response, so tends to sound dull and muffled on acoustic guitars or vocals. It works reasonably well on some baritone voices, it does a decent job on guitar amps and snare drums, but otherwise I wouldn't use it in a studio.

A cheap USB condenser will sound significantly better on both vocals and acoustic guitar. OP won't need to buy an audio interface, which is a significant cost saving.

I use the CAD u37 USB microphone. Amazon has it here

Pm'd you. So I'm like 0 level beginner. Have basically no knowledge of any of this stuff but I want to learn keyboard. I've seen some people say that drumpads on a keyboard aren't that great but that they should be fine for a beginner, or that you can even use the keys for the drum parts. Would something like this be a good choice? I like that it's not too expensive, plug and play (easy), has keyboards and drum pad, and a pretty good rating. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M13A6JT/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1I have also considered the Akai LPK25, or a similar one by Pyle. Or a Worlde Panda one that has drumpads as well. But this one looks like the best option to me so far.I have a CAD usb mic which I use mostly to record myself singinghttps://www.amazon.com/CAD-Studio-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=cad+microphone&qid=1559163345&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-3The reason I want to make my own music, rather than using premade instrumentals is that I want to make something that's completely mine, that I can be proud of. I know it'll probably be a long way til I'm making anything decent but I figure it'll be a fun learning process, at least I hope.Thanks for your help!

​

Edit: Oh, also I've researched on good options for free DAWs and I've seen a lot of websites say that Magix Music Maker is probably the best free DAW for Windows. And it also looks the easiest to use, though I haven't been able to do much with it yet. Do you know anything about that? I would definitely still like to get Ableton Live Lite to see if that ends up being preferable.

https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO

CAD u37. I don't recommend it, it either picks up all the saliva and spit noises from my mouth or my keyboard/mouse sounds are louder than my voice. Freaking gross.

Like everybody is saying, good mic and direct capture are key.

If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive mic with great quality for price, look HERE at the CAD U37. Similar price to the Snowball (which is also highly recommended), but slightly better quality IMO.

Before you pick a microphone, make sure you take into account the other things needed for a successful recording: stand, headphones (something over the ear with a good seal), pop filter, and your room environment. The best mic in the world won't be worth much.

That said, I do like Rode's USB mic. Comes with some nice accessories. But it's slightly more than your range. http://en.rode.com/nt-usb

CAD also makes a decent mic for the money if you're looking for something to try and make sure you're committed to the this kind of mic: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO

Also, USB 2.0 devices will work just fine in USB 3.0 ports. They find a common speed to negotiate and most audio doesn't need more than 2.0 speeds.

I almost got your microphone as well, but instead went with the CAD U37. 2spooky4me.

Thank you so much for the follow and welcome! :) I am from Massachusetts.


The microphone I use is a CAD U37. It's not the best, but for under $50, I think it's a good value. I also use Adobe Auditions to help reduce background noise a bit.

edit: I should add that I haven't really done any work in my "highlight" videos. I often forget about them. So you probably won't get the best gauge from those. Feel free to check out past broadcasts though!

Total slightly over $50 but the best budget mic I've tried for podcast/Voiceover/live stream is the CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone $50 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QTSLBb2DPN0JT

Pair that with a cheap stand like NEEWER Adjustable Microphone Suspension Boom Scissor Arm Stand, Compact Mic Stand Made of Durable Steel for Radio Broadcasting Studio, Voice-Over Sound Studio, Stages, and TV Stations https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DY1F2CS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fXSLBbGSNTMWV and you're in business.

I've used my CAD since 2013 and it's been solid. Recently I tried a Blue Snowball since it's always been rated so well and I ended up returning it. Did such a bad job picking up voice I had to have my mouth within a few inches unless I wanted to adjust the audio in post and it popped like heck without a filter. Never had those problems with the CAD - it's gain is pretty consistent from a foot or two away.

Grab a pair of quality headphones + an external mic = something better than the vast majority of "gaming headsets".

I recommend also checking in with /r/headphones, but this is my usual recommendation for someone looking for a new "headset"

Any of these headphones:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD500X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S333U4/

http://www.amazon.com/AKG-240-Stereo-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0016MNBAM

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A

http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Prestige-Series-SR80e-Headphones/dp/B00L1LXOWS/

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8/

http://www.amazon.com/AKG-240-Semi-Open-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0001ARCFA/

http://www.amazon.com/Samson-SR850-Professional-Reference-Headphones/dp/B002LBSEQS/

With any of these mics:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMCS3-Omnidirectional-Stereo-Microphone/dp/B0058MJX4O/

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U1-Dynamic-Recording-Microphone/dp/B000ULQTE0/

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Snowball-Microphone-Gloss/dp/B002OO18NS/

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Snowball-iCE-Microphone

I'm assuming you don't really have anything other than your computer at this point, so you'll need a USB microphone. The one I bought is the CAD U37 When used properly you can get AMAZING quality from this for the price (I can provide a track recorded with it if wanted). However some others I considered were the Blue Yeti and the Blue Snowball. I went with the CAD U37 though because of its size and price. The blue yeti and snowball are awkward sizes.

EDIT: You know what screw it: How proper use treats your vocals w/ the CAD u37

All I had was a cardboard box with pillows in it for an "isolation box" I sang into that in a quiet room. I fit a thick sock over the microphone for a pop filter. Only thing I did to the vocal track was add reverb and EQ'd it to bring out the bass in my voice.

BOOM. This is something i can help you with. Listen to me, i work with stuff like this all the time. Get a CAD u37. It's such a great condenser mic for the price! I have found that the best settings you can change that are on the mic itself is to keep the switches switched to the right. If you want, buy a pop filter but i just throw a sock over it. The purpose of filters is to break up wind to keep things from sounding muffled. Now onto programs...

Install Audacity (free) and record audio separately. Trust me, de-noising audio when your voice and the games audio is all one whole thing totally ruins the ambient game noises and muddies them up. And you will be de-noising if you're looking for that perfect clear sounding voice. Always experiment though before doing recordings for real. It sucks capturing such an awesome moment only for it to end up sounding like shit. Onto syncing...

There are a variety ways to sync your voice with gameplay footage. Some clap sync, but this is my method: Start recording, do some checks (1 2 1 2, check check) to make sure that your levels look good (you'll get used to how high yours typically peak through testing). I always say 'levels are good' if they are so that i saw they were upon reviewing it in post. I tab into the game. I hit my record hot key to record gameplay while in a server browser list, and i click to highlight servers each time as i say '1 2 3, 1 2 3'. In post you sync those both your audio in that point of time and the footage in that point of time up and you should be good to go. Now for settings...

Follow this guide. This guy is fast, straight to the point and no bs. Take from it as you will and experiment. Get to know what everything does. Figure out what works for you and what doesn't.

Things to note: On some games when you launch it, your mic sensitivity can shoot all the way up to 100 so always double check. In Windows, check your sound settings and properties of the mic to change it. Also un-check AGC if things are too loud or if you're picking up too much background noise. You really have to just play with everything little like this until you get what you're looking for. Some mics pick up the sound from fluorescent lights so turn those off if you ever get a whine, and even a 2-prong plug that you're drawing as a main source of power from can screw things up, so try and stick with a 3-prong (i guess because they're grounded?). If you have a stock CPU cooler that runs hot and loud, then it is time to upgrade. I got a new one recently, much better sounding audio and my room doesn't get 100+ degrees anymore (I'm not over exaggerating, i live in a desert).

It is all about finding a balance essentially and figuring out which settings work best with your setup. My work environment keeps on changing so I'm constantly undergoing issues and having to fix things. I'd share examples of stuff I've made, but it's not where i want it to be at yet and i also don't want it to come across as adverting in the comments section. Anyways, hope this helped! Your workflow will be different than mine as it is for everyone else. Take from this as you need.

No problem! I'm always glad to help.

Also, if I may, I would highly suggest this microphone and a pop filter. Very cheap, and the recordings I've heard from it are much nicer than anything from a Blue Snowball.

http://www.amazon.ca/CAD-Audio-U37-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410875269&sr=8-1&keywords=CAD+u37

No can do. :(

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410874788&sr=8-1&keywords=cad+u-37 in stock here :)

Blue Microphones Snowball Black iCE Condenser Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014PYGTUQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_7fPMxb9B7X9MA

Or

CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EhPMxb30B1DH1


How big is the sound difference and what is more bang for the Buck?

1. I have been saving up to buy a usb microphone to finally record something, when I have wanted to, but haven't had a microphone to do so for like 10+ years.
   
   
2. I want to be the weirdo that makes youtube videos of me covering different songs. I also want something substantial to submit to a talent competition or something...one day. I initially had a different mic on my wishlist and almost bought it today, but I looked at the reviews this one was significantly higher rated and worth the extra $14. One day.....
   
   Saving Private Ryan

Well I was thinking about buying this. Do you think that'll be good enough?

Edit: I also found this one

mine works fine on 17.3 and 18

First result on Amazon, would definitely be a good place to start:

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414433154&sr=8-1&keywords=USB+condenser+mic

I used to record voice overs for my shitty Youtube video game reviews with a Samson C01UCW. I bought it at Target years ago for $120. A few weeks later, they had it on clearance for $50. Amazon has it cheap now:

http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414433154&sr=8-1&keywords=USB+condenser+mic

Here are some in your price point.

CAD U37 USB $43.92

Blue Snowball iCE $49.00

Ohuhu $24.99

The cheapest one on the list isn't bad but it has a pretty small pickup radius. If you can, I would suggest saving a few bucks and get the snowball iCE.