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iMac 27″ (late 2009) – 2.8GHz Core i7 CPU with 16GB of memory.A bit too much for those who just want to pep up their Zoom calls, but a tempting mic if you have higher ambitions.I’m running a variety of hardware, all which contributes to my music making in some way: There’s direct headphone monitoring, onboard volume controls and switches for instantly selecting the recording pattern. The G-Track Pro caters for electric guitars too, as you can plug a standard 1/4in cable directly into the mic via its port and use it as an audio interface. Cardioid will focus on your voice and ignore surrounding audio, while omnidirectional will allow you to capture interviews, plus you can also record yourself playing guitars, pianos or other instruments while singing. The mic has three different polar patterns, which means you can change the area where it will capture sounds, much like the Blue Yeti. But, to those who are looking for a mic that has plenty of features and sonic options, then the G-Track Pro should be high on your list. This is a bit of a chunky beast, so if you want a mic to throw in your bag and take around with you, one of the earlier entries are probably more suitable. There, again, are two main options: dynamic and condenser. Should I buy a dynamic or condenser microphone?Īside from the connection choice, there’s also the type of microphone you can buy.
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It retails for around £100/$120 and at the time of writing could be found for While we won’t be covering audio interfaces in this particular roundup, an excellent choice is anything from the Focusrite Scarlett range, with the Scarlett Solo perfect for those just starting out with audio recording. For those wanting to record music or multiple people in a podcast the flexibility and more professional options that come with the XLR/audio interface setup will be preferential. If you just want a simple setup that gives good results, then a USB microphone will probably suffice as it will most likely be a cheaper and more portable solution.
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You might think that this makes the USB option the best, and for many people this will be the case, but audiophiles usually take the view that the XLR/audio interface route gives superior audio quality thanks to the pre-amps in the interface that can add a little warmth and sparkle to the finished recordings.
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