Rehearsal situation recording......which USB mic.....or use my macbook's built in mic

[g4string]

I was looking at getting a portable field recorder for band rehearsal...........but I just found out I can record "live" takes using my Macbook (ya, I know......I am slow). I am not tracking anything.......just hitting the record button. All I need to do is record live band rehearsals. I am contemplating just using the mac's built in mic. But, maybe there is a far superior USB mic that offers plug-n-play(record) versatility in addition to surpassed audio quality that my macbook's mic does not offer. My budget is ~ $100 +/- a few $. Thanks for your advice.

GC has this guy for $70 http://www.guitarcenter.com/Blue-Snowflake-USB-Microphone-271267-i1391037.gc

or this guy for $100 http://www.guitarcenter.com/Blue-Snowball-USB-Microphone-103647319-i1127343.gc

and this guy for $130 http://www.guitarcenter.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-USB-Condenser-Microphone-104992326-i1391208.gc

 

[seamonkey]

Doesn't the Mac just have a external Mic input?

Built in mics in PC's are usually set for voice pickup. They don't pick up bass, like hard drive rumble. But give it a try. Mac's might be better.

I don't know about those USB mics, but you can get a decent real mic for close to the same price and use it for other things also. Or even a zoom H2 at $150 It's a great mic or stand alone recorder. It can be used as an audio interface also.

 

[g4string]

Doesn't the Mac just have a external Mic input?

Built in mics in PC's are usually set for voice pickup. They don't pick up bass, like hard drive rumble. But give it a try. Mac's might be better.

I don't know about those USB mics, but you can get a decent real mic for close to the same price and use it for other things also. Or even a zoom H2 at $150 It's a great mic or stand alone recorder. It can be used as an audio interface also.

Yeah, you are right.......there is an 1/8" input for an external mic!!!! I told you I'm slow The only problem with a "real" mic is stepping down from XLR to 1/8". I was looking at the Zoom H2. But if I use my Macbook, whatever I record is already on my computer........all I need to do after I record is export the file to iTunes. From there, I can upload to the net, burn to disc, or fwd to email. Using the H2 adds the extra step of uploading.

 

[jefkritz]

i would highly recommend the h2. it takes good recordings and is easy. it may have an extra step for this application, but it more than makes up for this by having way more uses. it lets you record without bringing a computer.

 

[markkoelsch]

Check out the Blue Microphones Snowball. It is a USB condenser mic. I have not used it myself, but know a couple of guys who have and they like it. It should be plug and play on a Mac, and you should be able to find it for around $100.

 

[g4string]

i would highly recommend the h2. it takes good recordings and is easy. it may have an extra step for this application, but it more than makes up for this by having way more uses. it lets you record without bringing a computer.

True, good point..............decisions, decisions

 

[seamonkey]

This might help swing you towards an H2
http://www.radio.uqam.ca/ambisonic/zoom2five.html

 

[lindseyp]

I have the snowball. Once, I picked up people walking by outside the apartment, with the windows closed; it's pretty sensitive. I like it for everything. I use a MacBook Pro.

 

[selfblessed]

Its not worth using the mic in the iMac. I have had really really good luck using an SM57 strategically placed in the room for my band(power trio...working on vox).

Good luck.