xlr vs. usb mics?

dblacketer · #1 08-29-2010, 09:57 PM

Is there a quality difference? or latency? I know i'll need preamp for and xlr input, i'm just curious if there are any obvious advantages of one over the other.

ljguitar · #2 08-29-2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dblacketer

Is there a quality difference? or latency? I know i'll need preamp for and xlr input, i'm just curious if there are any obvious advantages of one over the other.

Hi db…

High Quality mics don't come with usb interface
USB mics can do only one thing
Latency is not a mic issue but computer/interface issue

The advantages of XLR mics are:

Quality
Features (polar patterns)
Flexibility

Herb Hunter · #3 08-30-2010, 05:34 AM

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Herb Hunter · #4 08-30-2010, 05:40 AM

Instead of a USB mic, you might want to consider this little, inexpensive USB adaptor which can be used with any microphone. Because of its size, using it with a microphone is almost like using a USB mic. It has a headphone jack to help minimize the latency issue.

http://www.mxlmics.com/products/USB/...cMate_Pro.html

Cue Zephyr · #5 08-30-2010, 05:41 AM

+1 to the above 2 posts.
And if you want to upgrade from the XLR=>USB plug, you can always get a pre-amp. You can't pick your pre-amp with a USB microphone. At the moment I have an interface with a built-in pre-amp, but later on I probably want a quality pre-amp going into a quality more-than-two-channel interface.

GibbyPrague · #6 08-30-2010, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herb Hunter

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Actually this is something that i would need as i have a USB mike (Snowball) but would need to an XLR connection to plug into a GXT or External Audio device that im considering.

Ty Ford · #7 08-31-2010, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dblacketer

Is there a quality difference? or latency? I know i'll need preamp for and xlr input, i'm just curious if there are any obvious advantages of one over the other.

Well, with MicPort Pro, any mic level source is USB, even a U 87 Neumann

Having said that, I did try my Schoeps on the Mic Port Pro when it was here for review. The results were not as good as with my more expensive preamps and A/D, but without A/B comparison, most people probably wouldn't notice much difference.

Regards,

Ty Ford