Condenser Microphones

Okay, in order to get a microphone signal into your computer you need 2 things:

1. A preamp to bring the signal up to a high enough level so that it can be manipulated by your software.

2. A converter to change the analog signal to digital information your computer can understand. Check out this article for some basic info about this conversion.

An audio interface has both of these things. Most mixers only have the preamp(s). Additionally, most of the functions of a mixer (EQ, panning, signal routing) can be done by your sequencer. There are some advantages to having a hardware mixer, but it isn't really a necessity for a low-cost setup. So I'm recommending (along with others) that you get an audio interface instead of the mixer. Here are some examples. Like I said, I don't know any of the very low end models well enough to recommend one, but I'm sure there are a few here that will meet your needs. Make sure whatever interface you choose has XLR inputs.

To put it another way ... if you got the Behringer board and your condenser mic... you will be able to plug the mic into the board and get levels... but that is where the signal ends ... there is no way to get that signal into the computer ... well i guess technically you could jerry-rig some cables and run from the board into the microphone input of your computer... but seriously ... that isn't the way to do it. As jdredge and I have already pointed out get an interface not a mixer. You are on a Logic board here so I'm guessing you are gonna use logic ... so you are going to mixing using the logic mixer anyway.

I suggested an provided a link for the Mackie satellite, sort of the little sister of what I currently use and would highly recommend considering the price it is on sale for ... jdredge has provided links to other affordable interfaces. I have used m-audio firewire stuff in the past... it works pretty good ..but imho the mackie blows it away for sound quality.

Just to try to cover all angles i will address your last question ...
You could buy a mixer and an interface but you don't need to ... by definition think of the interface as the box that allows you to get the sounds you make into your computer. There are high end stand alone A/D D/A converters out there that do nothing else and require pre-amps on the front end ... but you are nowhere near that stage yet and all the interfaces being suggested have the preamps built in... think of them as little mini mixers that will actually allow you to get the sound into the computer and power your condenser mic. Once you get the sound in the signal will show up in Logic where you can EQ and tweak to taste....

Hope that helps...

litesnsirens wrote:
well i guess technically you could jerry-rig some cables and run from the board into the microphone input of your computer...

But at that point, you'd probably be better off getting a USB mic which will still deliver better A/D conversion than the input on your Mac.

Unfortunately, it looks like that one doesn't have phantom power, which is required to run a condenser mic.

http://www.lexiconpro.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=7

If you are willing to spend a little more, check these two out:

M-Audio MobilePre

and

Presonus Audiobox

You should also check out their full specs on their manufacturers' websites, along with some better pics.

Both these interfaces have phantom power and 2 channels of audio, and are USB powered. The M-Audio has a little more gain on its preamps, which will be helpful if you're recording especially quiet instruments. On the other hand, I've heard a lot of people complain about how M-Audio interfaces have problems integrating with the Mac.

Of course, if you go up the price ladder a little more, you start to have better options. But I think, for your purposes, something in the $100-$150 range will be all right.

The MXL will not work with the Lexicon interface. You need to have phantom power to run any condenser mic. The Lexicon doesn't have it, the Presonus does.

Brandon there are two ways to connect a mixer to your Mac (if you go that route).

1) Run the outputs from the "Main" stereo jacks from the mixer into the 1/8" Audio Input plug on your Mac. I am assuming your laptop has an audio input jack...if not go to option 2.
2) Buy a "soundcard" with seperate A/D converters like the iMic (<http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Technology-1102-IMIC2-iMic/dp/B0017HGO8M/ref=pd bbs_sr1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1226288658&sr=8-1>) and run your mixer "Main" stereo jacks into the iMic which plugs into your computer via a USB port.

I would try option 1 first and if that is "good enough" no further $$$ required. If the sound is not to your liking (or you don't have an audio input jack) then you can always spring $40 for the iMic. Before I got my "pro rig" I used the iMic. It really has a nice 16 bit (CD quality) A/D converter in it. Before I got my current rig I recorded from the Behringer into the iMic which plugs into USB port on your computer. I got really good sound this way.

Nope, phantom power can come from bus powered interfaces.

Seems that the companies flooding the market with cheap crap are also producing some pretty unintelligent users...hate those darn side effects!

Brandon,
A really long time? No, it's actually quicker and easier if you have a good mic...you don't have to tweak it and position it as much to get it to sound good. It's already great. A good microphone needs very little EQ to sound natural. I'm sure you'll be spending plenty of time with the parametric equalizer in Logic that you won't really know how to use. Good thing it comes with preset channel strips. As far as my music goes, I work for clients. I'm sure they'd love for you to hear there recordings. I'm not on some stupid shoot-for-the-stars rock star ego trip, trying to make it big with my Musicians Friend gear. I work hard to buy quality gear. Have fun though. Hope you get famous. Talk to me about your gear when you actually have the money to spend on something decent...we'll see how your attitude changes.

Brandon, the Audiobox unit can provide phantom +48 off of the USB interface. So no worries there. The only possible negative here is the same one you might face with the mixer...whimpy pre's that sound "weak". It is somewhat Mic dependent as some Mics put out hotter signals than others. I read some of the reviews and some folks liked the sound from the Audiobox "as is" while others decided to add a dedicated pre.

Again, whether you buy the Presonus or the mixer, you can always add on a dedicated preamp (I linked to an example of an ART product in a previous post on this thread) to give the Mic more "oomphf". Time to jump in and start rockin! You'll be fine either way.

I've spent a decent amount of time this morning trying to repeal what I've said in this thread. It was mostly unnecessarily abrasive. I apologize. I believe in quality gear, but it's your prerogative to buy what ever you please. Ignore the personal remarks I made. Good luck with your music.