Condenser USB mic wanted

[rreddin]

I need to get a replacement mic for my computer. After researching the subject I have concluded that I will need a USB condenser mic. Very highly recommended is the Samson Go Mic USB clip on condenser microphone. This item is readily available on Amazon, but they will not ship to Thailand, and also eBay - but the shipping, import duty, VAT and insurance doubles the price. The manufacturer could only put me in contact with a musical instrument and equipment store in Bangkok that does not carry this type of item. Does any one know of anywhere in Thaialnd that I can buy a microphone of this type? It need not be the Samson Go Mic.

[IMHO]

USB mic's are available at all of the IT malls.. from about 80 Baht

[rreddin]

USB mic's are available at all of the IT malls.. from about 80 Baht

Yes, I know they are. They are crap quality dynamic microphones. I am specifically looking for a USB condenser mic because they give much higher recording quality. The entry level price for this type of microphone is $50. The selling price for a Samson Go Mic USB clip on condenser microphone is $53 in the USA, but when shipping costs to Thailand, insurance, import duty and VAT are added, the price is over $100.

Surely, there is somehere inThailand that sells this type and quality of microphone? Or is Thailand really that far behind?

[IMHO]

Not much call for this type of product - people here will either use a low-end desk mic, or will use a high-end professional mic with a USB Audio Interface if their serious about SQ... I've never seen any activity in the mid-end in this space.

Try contacting Mahajak co ltd (distributors for Shure and AKG) - might be a little higher end than what you want though..

Note, $53 is a cheap microphone, not a good one

Edited February 13, 2014 by IMHO

[diwata]

Is this the one you are looking?

http://avlthailand.com/product/detail-196057.html

I have one of this.

[rreddin]

Not much call for this type of product - people here will either use a low-end desk mic, or will use a high-end professional mic with a USB Audio Interface if their serious about SQ... I've never seen any activity in the mid-end in this space.

Try contacting Mahajak co ltd (distributors for Shure and AKG) - might be a little higher end than what you want though..

Note, $53 is a cheap microphone, not a good one

Thanks for the input. I will check them out. I know $53 is at the bottom end of the scale, but the one I mentioned came out top in several reviews for the purpose I wanted it for. Better in fact that some mics costing more than twice as much. It is a stepping stone before getting into studio quality kit.

[rreddin]

Is this the one you are looking?

http://avlthailand.com/product/detail-196057.html

I have one of this.

Thanks for the link. That is the type of mic I am looking for. I am new to podcasting, so I am going budget to start with, hence the choice of the Samson go Mic. Pro Plugin have a range of suitable mics and accessories on their website, including the one you use.

[IMHO]

Is this the one you are looking?

http://avlthailand.com/product/detail-196057.html

I have one of this.

Thanks for the link. That is the type of mic I am looking for. I am new to podcasting, so I am going budget to start with, hence the choice of the Samson go Mic. Pro Plugin have a range of suitable mics and accessories on their website, including the one you use.

If you're willing to up your budget to something like that in the link, the Shure PG27-USB can be had for around 7K Baht, and the PG42-USB for another 2K.

Once you get into that price range, you have more options though.. you could use a basic PG58 mic (~1,600 Baht) with an audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (~5,000 Baht), which would be a decent start now, and would give you a lot more (and cheaper) options if/when it's time to upgrade the mic....

Side note: Pro Plugin are for most things the most expensive pro-audio vendor in TH

[rreddin]

Is this the one you are looking?

http://avlthailand.com/product/detail-196057.html

I have one of this.

Thanks for the link. That is the type of mic I am looking for. I am new to podcasting, so I am going budget to start with, hence the choice of the Samson go Mic. Pro Plugin have a range of suitable mics and accessories on their website, including the one you use.

If you're willing to up your budget to something like that in the link, the Shure PG27-USB can be had for around 7K Baht, and the PG42-USB for another 2K.

Once you get into that price range, you have more options though.. you could use a basic PG58 mic (~1,600 Baht) with an audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (~5,000 Baht), which would be a decent start now, and would give you a lot more (and cheaper) options if/when it's time to upgrade the mic....

Side note: Pro Plugin are for most things the most expensive pro-audio vendor in TH

Thanks for the advice. It is appreciated. Point taken about Pro Plugin - at a shade over $100, they are charging the same price for the Samson Go Mic as it would have cost me to import one from the US. Do you know of another store that sells this type of kit so I can compare prices?

Intersting that you mention the Focusright Scarlet, as

[IMHO]

Try this vendor: http://funnymic.lnwshop.com/category/1/usb-%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%99

This one also carries the Samson, and some higher end options:

http://millionheadaudio.tarad.com/product_907862.907865_th

The issue (for me) with USB mics, is you're buying 2 things in 1 (a mic and an audio interface) so the only upgrade path is to start all over.. and if you get seriously into your home studio, you *will* be wanting to upgrade Something like the Scarlett 2i2 is hard to beat for SQ and fitness for purpose, and would allow you to upgrade all the way up to a $20K Telefunken mic if you wanted, and if your new gig can pay those kinds of bills in the future

Seems like you didn't finish your last sentence BTW

Also BTW, if you want a recommendation for cheap-but-good studio monitors (which you'll want/need once you start getting into post), have a look at the JBL LSR305's.. these things have ridiculously good sound for 11K Baht/pair (from Ebay).

Edited February 14, 2014 by IMHO

[IMHO]

Note sure why the mods moved this to computers from the Audio/Visual and Hi-Fi forums,, we're talking about pro-audio recording studio stuff here

Oh well, so long as the "moved" link remain under the AV forums, I guess I'll be able to find it.. No reason for me to visit this board, Apple is the best, forget the rest

[rreddin]

Try this vendor: http://funnymic.lnwshop.com/category/1/usb-%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%99

This one also carries the Samson, and some higher end options:

http://millionheadaudio.tarad.com/product_907862.907865_th

The issue (for me) with USB mics, is you're buying 2 things in 1 (a mic and an audio interface) so the only upgrade path is to start all over.. and if you get seriously into your home studio, you *will* be wanting to upgrade Something like the Scarlett 2i2 is hard to beat for SQ and fitness for purpose, and would allow you to upgrade all the way up to a $20K Telefunken mic if you wanted, and if your new gig can pay those kinds of bills in the future

Seems like you didn't finish your last sentence BTW

Also BTW, if you want a recommendation for cheap-but-good studio monitors (which you'll want/need once you start getting into post), have a look at the JBL LSR305's.. these things have ridiculously good sound for 11K Baht/pair (from Ebay).

I value your input, IMHO, as well as the links.

I am new to podcasting, but I am also experimenting with Google hangouts as well as making some simple videos for You Tube. I have ruled out the Rode Podcaster mic because, excellent as it is for podcasting, it is not designed for the other uses I intend to put it to. That means a condenser mic. So, my choice is really dependent on whether I will want an upgrade route or whether i will stick with the USB mic I buy - my benchmark for that is the Blue Yeti - and that sets the budget.

Quite right, i did not finish the last sentence in my last post because I accidentally hit the add reply button. I was saying I had considered the Focusrite Scarlett Studio, albeit that is a biit more than I wanted to spend as an initial investment in what is an experiment.

[RichCor]

also, try searching for "USB mic" and "USB microphone" here on ThaiVisa. A couple of past threads have mentioned high-quality podcasting mics here in Thailand in the past 4 years.

[rreddin]

also, try searching for "USB mic" and "USB microphone" here on ThaiVisa. A couple of past threads have mentioned high-quality podcasting mics here in Thailand in the past 4 years.

Thanks. I did find a thread, which was helpful.

For the record, after reviewing all the advice I have been given, I have decided not to go the route of a USB mic for two reasons. First, The soundcard on my computer is built into the mainboard. It is not adequate for high quality audio, and there are no expansion slots on the mainboard!That makes it pointless getting something of the quality of the Blue Yeti Pro.

Secondly, it is an upgrade cul-de-sac.

Instead, I am purchasing the Focusrite Scarlett Studio USB, which comes with a reasonable quality condenser mic and has USB interface with the computer, but uses standard XLR microphone connections.It will start me off and I can upgrade to a better quality mic as and when I need or want to without making the rest of the sytem redundant.

[astral]

I moved the topic as I feel you will get better coverage here.

[rreddin]

Well folks I have gone round in circles. The kit of my choice is permanently out of stock at Pro Plugin as is my second choice kit. Plan B was to revert to the idea of a USB condenser mic, albeit that is an upgrade cul-de-sac, but if the price was reasonable I was willing to write it off at a later date. All of my choices of microphone are permanently out of stock. Hint, Pro Plugin are only carrying microphones made by Blue and they are not compatible with Ubuntu (yes, I use both operating systems). So much for Plan B.

Amazon will not deliver here and the delivery charges from eBay sellers are more than the kit itself. Is there another supplier of this type of pro audio equipment in Thailand?

As always, your help is appreciated.

Edited March 14, 2014 by astral
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[rreddin]

I am sorted courtessy of Millionheadaudio. The lady I spoke to by telephone spoke good English and could not have been more helpful. They had my first choice of kit, accepted payment by PayPal and despatched the goods the same day.

Edited March 14, 2014 by astral
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