USB and XLR condenser microphonesWhen selecting and classifying models, three factors were taken into account to the greatest extent:a) behavior in the podcast - although in the end EQ and compression are used anyway, which smoothes the sound of rebellious, cheaper condenser microphones, the too loud top of the cheap microphone still prevents the achievement of a good end result.The possibly flat characteristic of the frequency diagram is useful here.b) background noise / soft squeals, self-noise - disturbs the podcast, because it is better not to use an especially aggressive noise gate, because it may have a negative effect on the recording - with the background noise, it may not be very audible, or only in fragments - but it's always a handicap.The humming noise-causing microphone is also disastrously emphasized when using an aggressive compressor, so sometimes when mixing vocals for a piece of music, we will be severely restricted for this reason.c) behavior in the mix - singing and rap (partly resulting from the above).Does the vocal in a properly adjusted mix (not only raw) stick together well, does it sound clear, does the vocal get lost in the background compared to the competition at its price, how it deals with singing and high-volume sound sources.It is also about the standard susceptibility to general processing to match in the mix.Of course, using specialized plugs, we can even pull a cheap microphone to a comparably more expensive sound, such as even the TLM102 "cloning" its sound, but such appropriate plugs usually cost money, and not everyone must be familiar with their selection.Considering the above, a judicious choice of a microphone is one of the first criteria for a good mix, of course, subject to reasonable acoustic adaptation.In the absence of it, especially when recording vocals for music, it is better to lean towards a dynamic microphone instead of a condenser one, because the latter will behave mercilessly towards any possible echo in the room.And here the situation is changing and it is possible to use acoustic covers / filters for condenser microphones, as well as self-made products such as acoustic foams stuck to a binder, padded in a box, or a hand-cut hole in a foam cube.YouTube has tons of ways and tests to do this.All this already allows for a relative recording of vocals at an acceptable level, even in an acoustically unadjusted room (of course, echo cut plugs exist, but they have a negative effect on the sound of the vocals and lower the potential of the entire mix).Ultimately, the acoustic shield may turn out to be a better sounding solution than the use of a dynamic microphone with a narrower frequency response (especially in the lower price range, where the problem is the opposite - with overly exposed high tones, where it may be necessary, for example, to use an appropriate tool such as a deeser to eliminate sibilants, or the mentioned EQ and compression).Melon Audio Foam - can be loose when the microphone is placed upside down no name - https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOHVTKA Iconic Mars Alctron PF-8 - a successful and popular Kaotica clone for about PLN 200 Auray ISO Eyeball 2 - for recordings without music (also) there can be heaven and earth, even in a relatively adapted room, but in the mix with music, unfortunately, it cuts too much treble (on the example of Aston Spirit) approx. PLN 400 Kaotica Eyeball - similar looking and behaving like PF- 8 for a much higher priceWe start with a list of USB condenser microphones with a jack - for non-delayed listeningAokeo USB Microphone - a distinction maybe not much for the sound, because it gives way to K669, but the monitoring function in headphones at a low priceTecelks USB Microphone - 100Hz-18kHz, 16/48, headphone output, gain, headphone volume, echoes, mute, tripodMaono AU-902 - 18Hz-22kHz, 16/48, headphone output, someone went so far as to say that it is better than NC1, but it has a lot of noiseBlow Tripod - 20Hz-20kHz, headphone outputSamson Meteor - 20Hz-20kHz, 16bit / 48kHz, it's still not enough for some more professional voiceovers.High noise levels, it is worth lowering the gain and increasing the output volume on the voicemeeter or Equalizer APO, or during processing to avoid this problem.1 "capsule, but the microphone is extremely small, and designed with a built-in swing-leg tripod as a desktop low. Headphone jack, no gain knob (system only), headphone volume control. For example the more expensive Samson C01u Pro with a jack too. deletes it.Trust Signa Studio HD - (unavailable) 20Hz-20kHz, 24/48, headphone jack - flat, but not quite expressiveThronmax MDrill Dome Jet (20-20kHz, 16/48), One Pro, One Pro Jet Black (- || -, 24/96) - I don't like how these models sound, but they have a nice look and 24 bitFiFine K681 - 50Hz-15kHz, headphone jack, unidirectional characteristic (lower sensitivity on different sides than cardioid)FiFine K683A - 50Hz-17kHz, 25/192.16mm capsule, headphone jack, the K669 has a cleaner, fuller, brighter sound, with more bottom end, and is even cheaper than the NW7000, but the K683A has monitoringFiFine K670 - 50Hz-15kHzMaono AU-PM422 - 30Hz-16kHz, 24bit / 96kHz, overall more successful in sound quality.Bad quality with music played on the built-in card, and to make matters worse, the card itself could cause problems in the system).Polish reviewSudotack ST-900 - 30Hz-16kHz, 24/192, headphone jack, no noise like the ST-800, with louder vocal parts you have to move away from the microphone as in the E205.FiFine K678 - 40Hz-20kHz, jack socket, more expensive, better than T669, brighter than Blue Yeti, better than Rode NT-USB.FiFine K690 - 40Hz-20kHz, 48/16, jack socket, three characteristicsBehringer BigFoot - 20Hz-20kHz, three 14 mm drivers and characteristics, I do not like how it sounds, (too) clearly defined bottom, too rough in the higher registersNovox NC-1 Class - 30Hz-20kHz, 16/48, a varied version of the extremely popular NC1 model, but with a headphone jack.The same converter as in the original, which was extremely popular due to the price and the sound it provided.Novox NC X - a varied version of the legendary NC1 model also with a jack socket.With four characteristics - the same driver as the original is also available in the Black, Silver and Class versions, which additionally has a headphone output.However, if you don't need many characteristics, it is better to have one better microphone for the same price but with one characteristic, cardioid.M-Audio Producer USB - (also known as Avid Vocal Studio) (only used from PLN 90-230) - 16/48, 16mm electret diaphragm, headphone jack (probably 100Hz-15kHz - contradictory information, but only the pro version had 30Hz -20kHz) was often recommended in our backyard, it has ASIO drivers “a bit too much medium tones, but the equalizer is included in the program and no problem”.It can sound great after processing (sample inside also without processing) The manufacturer says that you cannot use two on one computerReloop sPOD PRO USB - 50Hz-18kHz, jack output and input, unfortunately humSamson C01u Pro - 20Hz-20kHz, 19mm, electret capsule, headphone output, no noise, good sound, I recommend to add to it against the sPOD backgroundRode NT-USB - 20Hz-20kHz, 16/48, volume control not only of headphones, but also of computer sounds in relation to the microphone soundRode NT-USB Mini - 20Hz-20kHz, 24/48, many people like it, but the competition in the PLN 400 range is now so big that it is clearly possible to find something better.On the plus side, compatibility with Rode Connect, which is not available on the model aboveBlue Yeti Nano - I do not like it in terms of sound, too impoverished version of YetiAudio-Technica ATR2500 USB - 30Hz-15kHz, 16/48Audio-Technica AT2020 USB + - 20Hz-20kHz, 16/48, although we have a lot of XLR stimulants, and for the price difference, you can buy an interface, and it will sound better, but below you will find some better XLR proposals than AT2020 (for example Neat Worker Bee I / II).The AT2020 is a well-liked, but (too) bright microphone against the background of better sounding competition, although often more expensive (not always).HyperX Quadcast - 20Hz-20kHz, 16/48, jack out, four characteristics.Some voices can sound very good on this.But in general, I still do not see any justification for this price, unless the popularity and brand, but in fact there are people who really like its sound or backlight, PLN 420-560, used from PLN 350 (there is an even more expensive version of the S with better backlight) .Blue Yeti - 20Hz-20kHz, 16/48, jack socket.Stimulants from PLN 450, new ones from PLN 475 (Amazon) to PLN 730.Although it sounds fine, for some the AT2020 does not beat, unless the USB version is (cheaper), but has less metallic treble, so it will sound more correct on some voices.In addition, it has three pollar patterns.It is very popular, and at its price you can try to find something better (even adding the interface occasionally to an XLR), but it is safe and not too bad sounding.Non-detachable tripod, you can buy a proprietary Yeti Radius basket, low noise level.It's also not that it is not suitable for bass voices, just to indicate that it was post-processed, because even Max Payne's voice used it on the anniversary movie Remedy and James McCafrey sounded right.Samson Q2U, ATR2100-USB, ATR2100x, Maono AU-HD300T, Samson Q9U, Shure MV7Of course, you can use the Voicemeeter and ASIO4ALL software and the appropriate latency setting to partially circumvent the limitation of the lack of jack and monitoring, but the delay will be so, and so noticeable that you will never return to this solution if you once listen to what you sound on. device with zero latency - just latency monitoring is a distraction.Regarding the more durable sets with arms, the Maono AU-PM422 / SPC Gear SM900 / Novox NC-1 can be distinguished with the first one in terms of sound quality, although with a card that can cause problems (info: Michał Bugajski), but if the budget allows , I do not see much sense limiting myself to the indicated models, especially since below you will find many more of them (including with arms), so a separate list:Tonor T20 - better than the part of the arms attached to cheap microphones, length 70 cm (also available in the Tonor TC20 XLR kit, including pop-filter and windscreen with cable) Tonor T30 - long, equal to many more expensive arms, but not as popular Rode PSA1 Mozos SB36 Mk II - fixed most of the problems of the previous version, worth recommending, no additional markings of the new version on the box.Before it goes everywhere, the Mk II is available on the manufacturer's website Mozos SB37 - lifting capacity up to a kilogram, so even the King Bee will catch it, but the arm can reflect light microphones in one of the positions, besides, the successful Mozos SB38 - a refreshed version of the SB37, without the disadvantages of its predecessor and it is metal, and silent when moving the Rode PSA1 - "unbreakable" (you can have a cheaper copy by buying a Mozos desk clamp, which is practically the same: https://mozos.pl/sklep/mozos-zacisk- desk-to-microphone-tripod / Elgato Low Profile - depending on the needs, it can be a good choice from PSA1, although the latter is more popular and more tested in combat in terms of durability Rode PSA1 + - new On-Stage MBS5000 - pre-installed cable included XLR On-Stage MBS7500 On-Stage MSA8020 Clamp-On Boom Arm Manfrotto 154B Microphone Support - it was supposed to handle the heavy King Bee well (I can't find another microphone stand from Manfrotto)."The entire bar mounts onto a stand or bracket with 16 mm pin and measures 65cm in length".Renkforce AD20 - discarded, not suitable for long-term use, the plate bends very easily (Potato) Mozos SB36 MKI - levers calmly, e.g. Neat Worker Bee up to 500G, but it is generally not too long-lasting constructionFor detailed arm tests, I recommend visiting the Michał Bugajski channel.___________Below is a list / index of most condenser microphones on the market with parameters, comparisons and ratings.With USB, where not otherwise stated, the microphone records a maximum of 16 bit / 48kHz.Where maximum sampling and frequency are given, you know it's USB if not stated.Potato budget.Sounds similar too.Although still better than a compact humming little electret on a stick for PLN 10 from a hypermarket plugged directly into an integrated sound card.For a price much above PLN 50, anything from this range of the list does not make much sense to recommend.As long as any of this.Unless you really don't have the option to add a little more to something tier 1 lower down.You can always find a bargain at a similar price for something higher.It's more about the sonic classification.The range of the cheapest of the cheapestNW-7000 (USB)> NW-800> NW-700> BM-700