Best Mic setup for around $500. Home studio recording Rap Vocals?
Update:
I have my heart set on the Shure SM7B but I know that you need about plus 65 clean gain to use that microphone well. I don't think I have the money for the SM7B, A solid interface (looking at the mackie blackjack) and a cloudlifter (for that extra 25 clean db gain)
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Answers & Comments
If you want a close-in dynamic mike (as the SM7B is) just get an SM58; they are $100.
If you want a decent studio mike at a reasonable price, look at an MXL V87; they are about $200 for a large diaphragm true condenser and get excellent reviews.
As others say, acoustics are everything; unless you have studio-type silent surroundings, you do not want a high-gain system - you want a stage mike as close to your mouth as possible to give the best possible vocal-to-background ratio.
An extra preamp is a real bad idea in most circumstances.
That Mackie interface does not have particularly good specifications - it only goes up to 48KHz sample rate; many go to 96 or 192KHz at 24 bit.
A focusrite Scarlett 2i4 gives you better sample rates at near enough the same noise levels.
(Note - the Mackie says it comes with Tracktion 3; Tracktion 5 is now totally free with 7 being the latest release).
https://www.tracktion.com/products/t5-daw
I've used Tracktion from T4 through T7 with my setup; I have an FW-1884 interface on that, again as good/better specs than that Mackie but 8 channel plus a [mackie compatible] control surface..
See below:
My suggestion. Great mics are important. BUT the most important factor are the acoustics. For vocals you want no reverb - you can always juice up the track later.
Even many of the $100 type chinese side address condensers work fine in a personal entry level studio.
Acoustics !
Update - go listen to this mic shootout...
http://transom.org/2005/transom-studio-mic-shootou...