XM8500 Dynamic Cardioid Vocal Microphone

Despite the simplicity of the idea and concept, the audio considerations are significant. Recording 5 people around a table with quality balanced levels, that don’t interfere with one another, requires, at the very least, good noise rejection. There are ZERO simple and tidy software options, and the cheater hardware options (eg one big mic in the middle) come with significant obstacles. If I were you, I would dig deep for a used Podtrack p8 and 5 xm8500 microphones. $450 seems like a lot, but the amount of headache you avoid with this setup cannot be underestimated.

Yep. Can recommend. The Behringer XM8500 that is. Edit: you do need XLR input for it, just so you know.

I record most of my stuff on cheap dynamic microphones like the Behringer XM8500 or SL75C. I have some condensers too but if there is a little bit of background noise these condensers pick that up too while the dynamic ones are more forgiving (and a lot cheaper in this case too). These days you don't need an expensive microphone to get good results. I had the luxury of trying a few mics before I bought them so I knew what I was getting. If you absolutely want the cheapest option I guess going for usb is the way to go but I think it's not the right decision if you plan on expanding later. With an audio interface you can get cheaper microphones and swap later or plug in other instruments or use it for both your MPC and computer.

The XM8500 is insane for the price. I even modded mine to look like an SM7B using [this guide.](https://darksideofthemic.co.uk/post/649454811868217344/blog-turning-the-the-xm8500-into-a-mini-sm7b/amp) There are videos on YouTube comparing it to much more expensive mics too. Check it out !

The SM7B isn't even a good choice (too noisy/low signal, needs a nice preamp to sound good), it's just a "famous" mic for some reason. Cyan has one and she switched to the much cheaper Behringer XM8500 for streaming, the same mic I've always used. We actually prefer their sound! At the end of the day, the main thing that matters with mics is the type/pickup pattern and how noisy they are with your audio interface. To adjust the sound to make *you* sound good, you should use processing like EQ and compression. It's kind of pointless to pick a mic just by its "sound", because that's something you can change for free with EQ.

I need to play with more mics, but from what I've heard, the PodMic is pretty solid. Looks like u/DannyBrownCaptivate has some good input. You might also consider the Behringer XM8500. They're not as pretty as the PodMic or Shure MV7, but they get the job done and are dirt cheap at $20. I used those with a roundtable style show for years. You just need to make sure you're on them with a pop filter to avoid bleed and plosives.

If you want to look into proper recording, you really want to go XLR not USB. There's a million reasons I could go into, but put simply, that's where you wanna look. To go XLR you need 3 things: A mic, an audio interface, and an XLR cable (also a stand if you desire, though not necessary, especially with a handheld mic) The mic is what actually converts sound into an electric signal. The audio interface amplifies this signal and converts it from analog to digital so your computer can understand it. The XLR cable merely connects these two things. Just about any audio interface and cable will be just fine. The mic is what really matters at this price point. A budget interface like the behringer umc22 and a generic XLR will set you back about 60 bucks, which gives you 90 for the mic. If you are really on a budget, the behringer xm8500, while not amazing, at only 20 bucks, is one of the best deals out there. The sm58 is the most reknown vocal mic of all time, and for good reason. At only 100 bucks, it's still an industry standard. They can be routinely gotten for about 70 bucks used. They are built like tanks, so you shouldn't worry about buying used. I've literally used one as a hammer before. Just do be careful of fakes. Only buy from trusted sources, since fakes are very common. The AKG P3 or the sE V3 are a good slightly cheaper option at 70/80 bucks. I do find the sm58 smoother sounding though. Also, off topic, but if you are looking to up your game in recording, I highly recommend a real DAW like reaper instead of audacity. Audacity is a simpleaudio editor and a recorder, not a real professional tool.