Cheap Audio Interfaces

[baseballboy828]

I am still in school and frequently find myself having to do video projects. I have a camera, tripod, and some decent lighting, I only need iMovie for editing, and have iDVD. However, I haven't got the audio piece down. Until now, I have been recording using the camera's built in microphone ( I know, you video and audiophiles are cringing). I don't need pro quality audio, so I decided to buy the Behringer mic kit from B&H. I'm sure the quality isn't great, but I don't need that. I just need clear, loud vocals. I haven't ordered the mics yet by the way. So, here's what I;m getting to. I need to run the audio into my powerbook. I'd like to have it in GarageBand as seperate tracks. I went looking around for USB audio interfaces, but came up emptyhanded in terms of ones that fit my needs. Here's what I need in an interface:

3 XLR Inputs
USB Output (Separate Tracks, Compatible with GarageBand)

I need nothing else. I just need to get the XLR inputs into my computer. The microphones cost $30 total, and I'd like to spend a maximum of $100 on the whole project. I know, I probably can't do it for this little money. But if it is possible, point me to the audio interface. I would appreciate any help a lot! I realize that this could all be a lot easier if I plunked down $500 on all of this, but that's too high a budget for right now. By the way, if it would be cheaper to buy some cheap, 1/8" Mic's, I'll do that to. I haven't purchased anything yet, so if anyone can provide a different type of solution for the same budget, I'd do that.

[MarkFleser]

I think the Alesis MultiMix 8USB Mixer would probably be your best bet in that price range.

[baseballboy828]

Thanks, Mark, thats a great find. I would have preferred a little cheaper, but that's great. However, I have a different thought now. I found some cheap Audio-Technica mics at Best-Buy, that rather than XLR are 1/4" plugs (and come with 1/8 adapters). Is there a cheapeer option using 2 or 3 quarter inch mics?

[MarkFleser]

What exactly do you want to do with the mics and why do you need three at once?

Once I get a better idea of what you're doing I can make better recommendations based on your needs.

Keep in mind the cheaper the mics, the cheaper the sound.

[baseballboy828]

I don't need great sound, just loud, clear sound. I need two or three microphones because I when I am shooting, I'd like to have the mic's nice and close for good sound and want to have either: one on the left of about a 10 foot area and one on the right, or one on the left, one middle, and one right. Now that I think about it, I alread have one line mic so if it seemed that the price for XLR's couldn't get below $100, I could buy two more lines and a cheap line mixer. I have found many line mixers with four inputs for around $20-$40, however I'd be willing to spend up to around $60 for a USB Mixer like that, which would give garageband separate tracks.

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Overall, just to summarize what I need to make it easier for people:

2 or 3 Mic's
Something to mix them down into one cable (could be USB to my iMac)

I would like to have an mixer with three or more XLR inputs, but I figure that is much more expensive than line. I am willing to spend around $100 for everything, including the mics.

[korinwoodo]

First, those mics will sound like ****, regardless of what your doing.
Secondly, a dynamic microphone is better suited to one holding it right in front of their face, or on a musical instrument/amp, etc. If you want "boundary" mics, you need to look at some carioid condensors. More expensive, but if you want to hear anything...

[baseballboy828]

How do these look. I've decided on these mic's rather than the behringer's. They're much better.

[MarkFleser]

You're not going to want to go with drum mics. Although they won't distort, they also don't have high volume levels so they're not going to pick up voice very well, they're suited to very high volume situations i.e. drums.

I would go with these. They're only 20 bucks a piece and they have gotten very good reviews.

Having good mics are far more important than having a good audio interface, if the sound at the source sucks, no matter how good your interface is...it's still going to sound bad. You could get an iMic, a $20 radio shack mixer and a few good mics and have better sound than cheap mics and a $500 interface.

[baseballboy828]

The link I provided definitely wasn't for drum mics. I hate when stores give screwy session links. I guess I'll go with Mark;s latest suggestion. iMic plus cheap mixer plus 2 or 3 mics.

[korinwoodo]

Originally Posted by MarkFleser

You're not going to want to go with drum mics. Although they won't distort, they also don't have high volume levels so they're not going to pick up voice very well, they're suited to very high volume situations i.e. drums.

I would go with these. They're only 20 bucks a piece and they have gotten very good reviews.

Having good mics are far more important than having a good audio interface, if the sound at the source sucks, no matter how good your interface is...it's still going to sound bad. You could get an iMic, a $20 radio shack mixer and a few good mics and have better sound than cheap mics and a $500 interface.

+1
I still would never personally buy 20 dolla mics, still better than some other crap thats out there. If your just using em for video crap it should be ok. Personally if I wasnt needing to segregate the channels (ie boundary mics), I would rather get a *sorta* good $60 dollar mic vs 3 $20 dollar ones.