It's actually a very good mic. I've been using one most of today and just finished my second VO session using one. It has about the lowest noise floor of any mic (5dBA) at any price.

For VOs I'd highly recommend getting a popper stopper. Being a LDC it will really pickup the plosives. Also keep it dry. If you only own one mic then the NT1A would be the mic to own, lowest noise floor of any mic. It's pretty clinical which means you can use it for just about anything apart from kick drum. I would not recommend it for singers who like to "use" the mic as unlike a dynamic mic it lack any proximity effect.

Bob.

Thanks both. :-)

I have a small Mickie mixer to connect it to and then from there to either a Delta 44 card or a ESI Julia to connect it to. I will probably go on the Delta 44.

The poppe rstopper actually comes in the kit I get for the $250 together with a shock mount .

/Ulf

Sorry for digressing, but is there such a thing as an XLR -> mini-jack converter, supplying phantom power as well - preferably in a simple and small box?

I've got a couple of good on-camera mics, but non has is own phantom power battery; I'd like to be able to use one of them for two purposes:

- those sparse VOs that I do myself
- as the additional analog audio input for my nanoFlash.

Any idea?

Piotr

PS. I do NOT mean devices like Beachtek, but something small and lightweight, perhaps with just one A-size battery...

Blue Microphones Icicle has a fully balanced XLR input with 48V phantom.

A very good deal for thirtyseven bucks.

I've been using the NT1 predecessor of the NT1A for many years. Very good microphone, but I prefer using a Countryman E6i "headset mike" for voice overs, the sound quality is nothing short of stunning (it is used in top opera productions even). That is a $500 MSRP microphone, but it is possible to buy it from an authorized dealer for less than $300, and there may be a much less expensive alternative:

MM-PSM Pro Series Earset Microphone - AS GOOD AS THE COUNTRYMAN E6i OR YOUR MONEY BACK

That mic is $99.95 with free worldwide shipping. I haven't tested it, but I suspect it is very good.

It is easier to do voice overs with a mic that stays in exactly the same position even if you move your head, and it doesn't pick up much room reflection at all, so you don't need a VO box (which I used to use, wanna buy mine? :O).

Forgive my dumb question, but - apart from providing the phantom power - is USB preferable over the PC soundcard minijack input?

The minijack input on your PC usually goes to a $0.19 audio chip, whereas even the $37 USB adapter will have a much better preamp and A/D converter.

The computer's minijack input inevitably picks up all kinds of emissions from surrounding digital components inside the computer case, whereas the USB supposedly digitizes the audio frequency voltage far from the computer case (and outside of its shielded envelope), so should be immune from almost all external radiations.

However, my first experience with a USB microphone wasn't totally positive. It was a Labtec AK5370 that I traveled with to West Virginia for recording a VO by an expert for a technical video that I was producing. Unfortunately, I realized just the night before that the USB mic was degraded by a bit of 60-cycle AC hum. But I reasoned that perhaps by positioning the base of the mic on top of the laptop's power brick, I might be able to cancel the hum. I indeed found a sweet spot on the power brick and taped the mic to it - problem solved.

Incidentally, that same mic when used with my desktop showed no AC hum at all, so I'm guessing that the hum didn't come from the mic itself, but somehow the supposedly clean DC power supplied by the USB connection must have had some ripple. I lucked out by being able to find a workaround, but don't count on it.

Bottom line: USB can be noisy - at least for AC hum - but almost always it will be cleaner otherwise than the terrible audio minijacks on the computer itself.

A premium USB 2 cable will make all the difference. If you bring your hand near the cable and and hum increases, you haven't got a good one. Generally, the thicker the better, but that isn't always a good indication.

Thanks guys - didn't realize all that.

This forum can be so informative, even during Christmas :)

Labtec makes some of the cheapest gear on the planet. I would be very surprised if they used a balanced connection to the micpre, and without that (especially with a cheap cable), you'll be fiddling to reduce the hum.

actually, I've used the labtec on at least 3 desktops with never a hum problem, even though on each one I had to use 15'-long extension USB cable (not the same cable - I use to workstations and used 2 different USB cables) to the computers in my computer closet from the mic. In contrast, the Labtec was plugged directly into the USB port on the laptop, and - despite the direct connection - that's the only time I had a hum problem.

Was the location of the mic when plugged into the desktops far from other electronic gear? Not at all. I only use the Labtec to provide audio for Camtasia screen captures, and the mic always is surrounded by monitors, VCRs (plugged in but not turned on), external USB hard drives and their power bricks (usually turned on), KVM switch and its power supply, two printers, etc. That's why I think the problem was with the 5vdc from the laptop itself. On that occasion, we were recording in a motel room on a desk that had hardly any other electronics in the room.

Actually I picked a NT1-A up yesterday together with an M-Audio Fasttrack that can do 48V, so I am going to test it with my laptop later today. I'm gonna build a cheap foam screen to put infront of the mic to get rid of some of the bounces.

I'll post a picture of the setup later when I'm finished.

Thanks for all input.

/Ulf

The Audio-Technica AT-2020 is a really nice sounding VO mic for it's price ($99). They make a USB version for $120 that is worth looking into. I normally use my AT-4033 for VO but I also have an AT-2020 and it always amazes me how good it sounds.

~jr

Looks also nice, JR, here in Denmark it's a bid cheaper than the Røde. I have a Røde podcatser, but for some reason I cannot get the gain up very high. I have the software gainer from røde installed and everything seems ok, just the gain is a bid low from startout.

I will only use that one on the travel now that I have the NTA-1 at home.

/Ulf

Coursedesign,

I got very interested in the MM-PSM Pro Earset Microphone you provided the to. From the ordering form I understand that it can come wired to my wireless system of choice (Senny Evo G2 in my case), but just wanted to ask:

- is there a way of connecting it to my computer's USB via the Icicle device you also gave us the link to?

What do they mean by "wiring it to a wireless system" really - I can imagine it would come with a mini jack, fitting to my G2 transmitter's socket, right? So, by using a mini jack to XLR adapter, will I be able to connect it to the Icicle converter? I guess it needs the phantom power, too?

Thanks in advance for your help, and Happy New Year to everyone!

Piotr

I'm not Course but I think I can answer your question.

Pretty well all of the good headset mics can be had with connectors to fit any of the good wireless transmitters. In the case of the cheaper Senny units they are TRS 3.5mm plugs, the better Senny gear uses Lemo connectors and the Shure units use some form for mini XLR.
The minipin plug that Senny use on the transmitters caries power to and signal from the mic, nothing like what's on a camera, typically its around 9V power and it's not phantom. Senny I'm pretty certain do make an adaptor for their high end lapel and headset mics that'll convert that mic connection to XLR with 48V phantom power. I'd need to check if that's available as a standalone unit or not though.

For a single port XLR to USB converter which is really a mic preamp and A/D converter in a small package the original MicPort Pro from Centrance remains the best of the bunch. The Shure one is also pretty good according to the reviews although looking at it I'm not too keen on the controls compared to the MicPort that I've been using.

One el cheap unit I cannot recommend is the Blue Snowflake, man does that thing sound horrid. Probably not a fair comparison given the price difference between it and a NT1A and a half decent mic pre and A/D converter but yikes. I'm no audio snob but the VOs my client had recorded with it sound like a telephone conversation. The same voice through my rig sounds like, well, him. Perhaps more interestingly (I know the old audio guys will be thinking "Duh, Bob") his voice now cuts through the mix, at the same level he sound louder, less tiring on the ears and easier to understand.

Bob.

Thanks Bob.

As you may have guessed I'd like to kill two birds with one stone; while having a (probably not bad) earset mike for my Senny, I'd also like to use for VOs.

Sound quality aside for a while, and assuming I can get the Icicle converter pretty cheaply here, if I just bit the bullet and order that headset - is there or is there not a way to use them together?

Of course, apart from the rather complicated method of using the headset with my Senny transmitter, and connecting the receiver to the PC :)

Thanks

Piotr

PS. I'm still waiting for the 2010, while you're already in the next year; funny isn't it? All the Best, Dear Bob!

"Sound quality aside for a while, and assuming I can get the Icicle converter pretty cheaply here, if I just bit the bullet and order that headset - is there or is there not a way to use them together?"

Yes, the Sennheiser MAZ900P adaptor is probably what you need:

http://www.trewaudio.com/store/product.php?productid=908&cat=0&page=3

Sennheiser make a lot of things which are impossible to find on their websites. That unit is fairly expensive but it is the real deal right down to using the correct 3.5mm socket with the threaded collar.

Bob.

Thanks Bob!

Not cheap indeed :(

:)

I use a Zoom H2. It has too many functions, but when connected to USB and mounted to a mini tripod, it becomes a Windows recording device. I use it with SF.

It has a headphone jack for monitoring. This is not what you're looking for, but others might find it interesting because it's so versatile as a studio/field recorder.

Guerrilla film makers use this kind of stuff. A Flip, the Zoom, and a big wooly jacket turns you into an investigative reporter ;)

Bob is right, the MicPort rocks, alas at a price.

As you thought, the MM mic can be had with a Senn Evo G2 connector at no extra charge, or with a full size XLR for $79 extra. The latter could of course be plugged into an Icicle, MicPort, etc.

Happy New Year To All (incl. Bob who celebrated way before us :O).

Bjorn

Made a small soundbooth to place on the table:

http://www.webbroadcast.dk/SB.JPG

Amazing how sound sounds different inside and outside :-)

Look forward to try it out.

/Ulf