LCT 440 PURE

Not necessarily expensive, but well made, good signal to noise, good frequency response. I've got 2 different Lewitt mics, one with multi pattern, both under $399 with I bought them. Models LCT 440-Pure & LCT 441-Flex.

The thing about condenser mics are just not true. You just need to put it at the right place in your room and treat your room a bit (you don't even need to make it 100% soundproof you could go with just a few wood-wool panels in one corner and point the back of the mic towards the free space in your room - where most people would also have furniture that can work as sound absorbing material). It's actually way more important to put your mic at the right place and treat your room rather than what mic you got. Also, a cardioid condenser mic isn't supposed to pick up sound waves from behind the mic, so if you're experiencing this issue you're either placing your mic wrong or got a REALLY shitty room - or both.

Nope. Most people will have lots of furniture in their rooms that can act as sound absorbing material, providing a decent amount of reduction from reflection and absorb the sound waves. You don't need to even put up any kind of panels if you know how to place your mic and mix your vocals. Also consider that lots of professional vocalists produce great songs in hotel rooms with little to zero equipment - Russ, Tinashe and many others are examples.

USB mics aren't really meant for quality vocal production, but Rode NT-USB+ could be one of the better USB options. However, I would rather recommend either: Lewitt LCT 440 pure or Rode NT1 with a Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface or something similar (the 3rd gen would do just fine). Also consider that he might need a mic stand and XLR cable Make sure to NOT point the mic directly towards walls but rather towards free space or a lot of heavy furniture - especially in a untreated room. Don't buy sound panels cause they are shit and will only reduce reflections NOT absorb sounds - i.e. when you want to make your room more sound proof, you want dense materials like wood or cement-bonded wood wool (way better than those plastic panels you're talking about, and those wood wool panels are actually affordable)

None of those are bad options, but the Lewitt LCT 440 is an incredible mic that's still in that budget. Even the 240 is still great. They're just a bit smoother than what you listed and their nice and small. 440 comes with a nice shockmount and two pop filter options, too.

A condenser mic can work. I sometimes use a Lewitt LCT 440 Pure and it sounds great, even in an untreated room. A dynamic mic is not an absolute necessity. The right polar pattern and proper gain staging are more important.

For any professional voice work it is recommended to invest in a suitable condenser mic (something you will only have to do once if done properly). A couple of great budget options that are staples in the industry are the AKG C214 and Lewitt LCT 440 and more on the expensive side Neumann TLM 102, AKG C414 or Lewitt Pure Tube. For an audio interface I would recommend a Audient iD14 MK II or Audient EVO 4. The EVO is quite affordable, works out of the box on Linux and can help makes things a bit easier with the autogain function.

*XLR* via Tascam CAXLR2dC could be an option instead of MixPre 3-II? Microphone not mounted on camera is my recommendation. LCT 440 sounds pretty good for podcast or recording music instruments. Røde NTG4? Wind protection has been more impactful than better microphone outdoors for me. Get a good blimp.

For mics I use a Sennheiser e835 (vocals) or Shure sm57 (vox and instrumental) I have a e935 but I don't think it records as well as the 835 but it kicks ass for live use... I go a into a focusrite Scarlett. I had a AT4040 but I dropped i also have a Lewitt 440 but that thing is a temperamental bitch and needs to be in a well isolated and treated room. Avoid USB mics. You may as well continue using your iphone