I'd like some advice please!

[narrow lynx]

Hi! I want to properly record my singing sessions on my laptop, so I’m thinking of buying a new mic. I’d like it to be lightweight, easy to carry and store, and quick to set up while offering good sound quality. It shouldn’t be too expensive, and it should be compatible with my laptop. Could you recommend a suitable mic? Also, what’s the best way to record my singing sessions with high quality? Do I need to download any specific software, or would my laptop’s built-in storage be sufficient? Please do let me know your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you!

[glad kiln]

I can answer all of those questions for you

First. If you want a portable option. I'd recommend the AT2020USB microphone. It is the USB version of the very popular AT2020 XLR microphone. And offers great sound quality for the price. Though you won't get sound quality comparable to what you would get using XLR.

The best way to record depends on why you're recording in the first place. If you're recording because you want to listen back to your own voice to spot mistakes and improve. Any method of recording should be sufficient. If you are planning on recording vocals to actually use in songs, and therefore doing post processing (adding effects to increase sound quality and clarity). You should be recording into a digital audio workstation software.

Post processing might be the single most powerful way to increase sound quality. But this depends on how far you're willing to go.

[narrow lynx]

Alright! I'll consider those options. Thank you so much! 😄

[glad kiln]

Glad you found it helpful!

[viral dagger]

i kinda have the same question but i cant find any mics that has usb-c

i mean i guess i could use an adapter for my laptop to plug in the mic, but i just find that a bit inconvenient

so yeah i was just wondering if theres any, if ever so that i can escape the adapter problem

[tropic vessel]

You can just use a usb a to usb c adapter. Still more convenient than a dedicated audio interface and dealing with xlr mics if you really don’t want to go that route

[viral dagger]

i guess i cant escape the adapter

HAHAHAHAHA

[tropic vessel]

I would like to add to this that if the recording is for songs, fixing it in post is the wrong mindset to have. By far performance, recording technique, acoustics, then gear are the most important for getting high quality sound

[tropic vessel]

I mean it’s still way easier than having actual mics that use XLR, you don’t want to see all the cables I got on my home setup

[viral dagger]

LMAO makes sense

[tropic vessel]

And I don’t have anything on the level you’d find in a pro studio hardware wise imho

Like with the racks of gear and analog recording consoles

[tropic vessel]

I mean me personally I don’t use USB mics because latency is an issue

Also the preamps/ conversion just ain’t good vs dedicated gear

[glad kiln]

Good thing to note yeah! Having a good sounding vocal take with the proper acoustics is by far the most important thing. Though I never mentioned post processing as a way to "fix" a recording. Only as a way to improve an already good sounding vocal take