Usb Mics And Pre-amps And A Budget, usb mics and pre-amps Options

[Mr. Jason E. Lec...]

can anyone tell me if usb condensor mics record with good quality? i've heard only a small bit about usb mics with mixed reviews, but one thing that worries me is noise. is that a big problem with usb mics and if so is that easily remedied with software? this is for recording vocals.

i was wondering if it's better to maybe use a regular condensor mic and a usb audio interface. if that's the case do i need some sort of pre-amp or something with phantom power? what would you suggest?

anyone who responds to this, please keep in mind that i have a small budget and only a G4 1.07 GHz iBook with 512MB ram running Ableton Live 5. i obviously won't be able to do as well as a pro studio, but i want to be able to make a strong sounding demo. ANY tips would be fabulous!

[lepetitmartien]

The SEelectronics USB2200a is USB or XLR, SE makes good mics, but how does it compare to others we still don't know.

I've always been bothered by the trend of USB mics, they spare you of the joys of preamps, it can help in some situation, but for serious stuff or versatility it's a big no-no.

Now, for guys podcasting it's fine! as for starting up. But a good entry level mic will always sound better trough a decent pre than the same with its built-in lower-cost internal pre in USB.