Behringer - XM8500 Dynamic Cardioid Vocal Microphone

If you want to look into proper recording, you really want to go XLR not USB. There's a million reasons I could go into, but put simply, that's where you wanna look. To go XLR you need 3 things: A mic, an audio interface, and an XLR cable (also a stand if you desire, though not necessary, especially with a handheld mic) The mic is what actually converts sound into an electric signal. The audio interface amplifies this signal and converts it from analog to digital so your computer can understand it. The XLR cable merely connects these two things. Just about any audio interface and cable will be just fine. The mic is what really matters at this price point. A budget interface like the behringer umc22 and a generic XLR will set you back about 60 bucks, which gives you 90 for the mic. If you are really on a budget, the behringer xm8500, while not amazing, at only 20 bucks, is one of the best deals out there. The sm58 is the most reknown vocal mic of all time, and for good reason. At only 100 bucks, it's still an industry standard. They can be routinely gotten for about 70 bucks used. They are built like tanks, so you shouldn't worry about buying used. I've literally used one as a hammer before. Just do be careful of fakes. Only buy from trusted sources, since fakes are very common. The AKG P3 or the sE V3 are a good slightly cheaper option at 70/80 bucks. I do find the sm58 smoother sounding though. Also, off topic, but if you are looking to up your game in recording, I highly recommend a real DAW like reaper instead of audacity. Audacity is a simpleaudio editor and a recorder, not a real professional tool.

Don't buy usb, you can get started with XLR. You can get a behringer umc22, behringer xm8500, XLR cable and stand for less than 100 euro You can always upgrade later since you already have everything else to use an XLR mic

do you have a computer ? get a UM2 for $44 and an xm8500 for like $30 it's well worth it

As another xm8500 user, i have no reason to upgrade. I frickin love that mic.

The Behringer XM8500 should always been in the conversation for affordable dynamic mics. For my voice I like it better than the Shure SM58. Your mileage may vary but you may want to test them side by side.

The Behringer gets you quite good value for money, and if you check on YouTube there are several comparisons between them and their shire counterparts. With that being said, I always end up using a condenser mic for vocals. But the vocals I record are more on the clean end. Of all the records i have made I've tried doing vocals with dynamic mics several times, but never got anything that I was happy enough with to leave on as main vocal track.

When you buy a USB mic you're pretty much committing to single-mic use. Even if the P2 works I'd not recommend it if it means buying another Blue Yeti (I'm not personally a fan of that mic, but it's really a matter of opinion). I can say though that two Blue Yetis together in an untreated room is a recipe for bad audio. I'd say keep using it for solo stuff, but get a 2 mic XLR setup for podcasting. Usually the cheapest decent recommended XLR mic is the Behringer XM8500, but I've recently been made aware of the Behringer BA-85A which is a similar price but I think sounds a lot better. Two of those with a Scarlett 2i2 (the 4th gen includes Loopback which allows you to capture your computer's audio, useful for playing music & SFX off a soundboard and bringing in remote guests) and you're golden. Better still is the Focusrite Vocaster 2 so you each have independent headphone outputs. If you think you'll need more than two mic inputs then the Zoom Podtrak P4 or, for a big step up in budget, the RodeCaster Pro 2 (or 1) are your best options.

For $300 you can get *way more* than just a "decent" mic. For that kind of budget, I'd just get a full proper audio setup. I was in a similar spot a few years ago, I had gotten fed up with the crappy quality and short lifespan of gaming headset/mic combos, so I wanted to get some proper headphones and a mic. I found [this youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@Podcastage) which I felt did pretty good reviews of mics, feeling pretty fair/objective and giving lots of examples of how the mic sounds in a variety of situations. Ultimately I decided on a Behringer XM8500, which is a cheaper alternative to the famous Shure SM58, and it's served me quite well. Everyone I talk to has no complaints whatsoever about my audio quality, and recordings sound clean and clear. That being said, this was years ago, so it's quite possible there are better budget mics (and more expensive mics) that have come out more recently, so I'd do some research. That being said, with a $300 budget you could easily get: - Focusrite Scarlett Solo (or similar) audio interface/DAC - $100 - 6-10 foot XLR microphone cable - ~$15-25 - Microphone Stand (for vibration isolation, but could also be a desk clamp/on-desk) - $30-50 And that still leaves over $100 for the mic itself. Which is actually quite a bit when you're talking about XLR mics, for example the mic I have is [$14](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XM8500--behringer-xm8500-handheld-dynamic-vocal-microphone), and there are tons of other great and solid mics under $100. You could also throw in a pop filter for next to nothing, or even a vibration damping mount (though that's probably only important if you pick an on-desk or clamped mic stand). The added benefit is you get a high quality audio interface so even studio-quality high end headphones/monitors that require phantom power to work properly will work fine, and if you ever want to switch mics you can still use the same interface, XLR cable, mic stand, etc. You can even plug in a guitar or other instruments if you're into making/recording music. Or you could just spend $100 and get a desktop Blue Yeti which will be *fine*, so long as you don't mind having it sitting on your desk near you. Then you can spend the extra $200 on cocaine and hookers or whatever else you enjoy.

As mentioned, XM8500s and 58s are the obvious choices. The sE V7 is a popular, more modern competitor to the 58 at the same price point; some prefer how it sounds and it has the advantage of being supercardiod like the more expensive Beta 58a. Also I've been impressed with the sound of the Maono HD300. As a bonus they give you the option to use as USB mics (if you just need to quickly record something with a single mic). I like that the shock mount and pop screen are included, and I just think they look kinda cool. Ridiculously cheap for what you get and how it sounds, though I don't usually recommend brands that don't play in the pro world.

Agreed, I have a couple of those, the 8500S model I think and they are really good

Be aware if using more than one mic you'll need to use the XLR outputs into a USB audio interface with as many mic preamps as you need. You'll also benefit greatly from buying a boom mount that will allow the mic to be close to your mouth. This helps reject background noise, room reflections and and fellow guests voices just because they'll all be very low relative to yours if you're up close (a fist away is ideal). Boom stands that clamp onto tables are cheap on eBay, and often come with effective circular pop filters. While a bit flimsy, they're strong enough for relatively light mics like the ones mentioned. If definitely 2 or more are needed because of co-hosts or guests, consider the Behringer XM8500 into an interface.

XM8500. It's a clone of the SM58 at a tenth of the price. So when someone drops, steals or you lose it, you aren't out a chunk of cash

Dude I've used everything from a shity temo mic to a solid $500 large diaphragm condenser in a twitch chat. Volt interface with the "vintage" button on and a cheap vocal mic (sm58, xm8500, ect) will do just fine. Save your money for games. Or invest in a nice ass head set. Or use the money for the interface, get a basic mic, then get some decent head phones for gaming.

I would recommend a beginner audio interface + XLR cable + basic microphone. Something like a Behringer UMC or Focusrite Scarlet or similar. Then I've had solid results with very affordable large diaphragm condensor mics on Amazon. Also I recommend a Behringer XM8500 as a SM57 killer. They're like $20 and sound great. The XM8500 into a Focusrite is a great affordable setup that you can age into as you gain experience and learn the craft.

Almost every three-figure microphone I've used made me wonder why anyone spends four or five figures, especially considering there are so many of them. Mostly 4040, 4020, 4050, 5050, whatever naming scheme Audio Technica is using, as well as virtually every Lewitt or sE I've come across. I was also very surprised to find out that people used to spend 60-70€ per mic for a PA setup when the Behringer XM8500 was 20€. Go 58 or don't bother at all.

The Behringer XM8500, for reference. I have several of them. No, they're not quite as nice out of the box as an SM57 or 58. But I recently saw them.on Amazon for about £18. Serious value for money. With a teeny bit of EQ tweaking....)

It depends on a few things. If you want a true workhorse you'll want to buy an analogue microphone. (One with an XLR output), this would require analogue to digital conversion. So would also need to purchase an audio interface to handle that for you. My recommendation for you would be to buy a used mic and then a cheaper budget interface. There are two main types of microphones to look at. 1) condenser 2) dynamic Condensers are great at micro-level detail. They are hyper sensitive and require some level of audio isolation to work properly. These are the best choice over all. Condensers to look for within your budget: Audio Technica AT2020 or 2035, AKG P120, Lewitt LCT140. Dynamics are self powered and are generally a lot less of a "hot" signal microphone type. The diaphragm within the mic only picks up sound when air (your exhaled voice) hits it. This makes dynamics a great choice for noisier environments. They also tend to have a more "colored" tone to them. Often having an extra emphasis on the low end. Most radio and TV talk shows use dynamics as an example. I'd recommend these more to beginners as they are easier to use in more situations than condensers more professional focused attributes. Dynamic within your budget: Shure SM57/58, Behringer XM8500 As far as audio interfaces go, any Focusrite interface goes for very cheap used and are pretty cheap new. The Focusrite Vocaster is their cheapest offering and might be the best suited for you. Behringer and M-Audio also have similar offerings but I've heard too many mixed things about them to truly recommend them. Just stick with Focusrite and you should be fine. Hope this crash course was helpful. If you have any questions just ask me. (:

>You can't go wrong with a Shure SM58. Trust me on this. Besides of course paying premium for a brand. If you absolutely want SM58 (and you don't, generally speaking), then at least get one of the behringer copies that sounds identical for a quarter of the price. And I'm convinced that most people who recommend SM58 do not record vocals in any serious capacity. Even in its own price range, you could get something better such as D5 assuming you want a cardioid. But also, not recommending a super cardioid from the get-go is an amateur mistake.

Get a cheap used Behringer UM2 or better interface. These are very popular inexpensive interfaces and great for starting out. You're going to want to have 2 separate channels in case you have anyone else that wants to simultaneously record with you. Get XLR cords. For most part USB mics are junk. Next, ask yourself are you in a super quiet environment or medium to loud environment where you are going to record? Quiet then go for condenser mic like AT2020. Easy to find used in great shape from people that wanted to podcast but didn't commit. On the other hand if you're on a medium to loud environment, a dynamic mic is better suited for this purpose. Shure 58 or SE v7 are great mics, but you can definitely find cheap dynamic mics like Behringer XM8500 that will get you started. I'd really recommend shopping used on Facebook marketplace for the interface. The Condensers I mentioned are over budget new, again easily found on marketplace. These beginner xm8500 retails for $19. Everything I mentioned are XLR style mics. I really think that if you're really invested in creating content you should start off with the gear that will perform the best over first couple years. Nothing wrong with Rode usb mic, but most people would send you the route im talking beyond very little usage

Wouldn't recommend either of the suggested microphones above (was referring to Harklein-2nd's comment), the Blue Yeti or the HyperX solocast. Solocast doesn't have its own software for post processing and the Blue Yeti is outdated, with outdated cables and a heavy shell which is abnormal for the type of microphone it is (condenser microphone). Which is why you should get a dynamic (neither of the above) since they're designed to reduce noise for untreated environments. "[What's the best mic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-6z93SqEO0)" from Podcastage's video covers this. Lastly, you don't need to pay a lot of money for good audio and can do well with a XM8500/SL84C (both Behringer) and an audio interface for very little money, and then when your brother wants an upgrade you can look into helping them with the rest of the budget. If you use interfaces (a requirement for XLR microphones), then most come with software to help with noise reduction, which is significantly better than NVIDIA Broadcast (to clarify, NVIDIA Broadcast is not as good as people think it is). For instance, I personally use POD Farm 2.5 which I have been using for years, and big streamers such as TeosGame & Smii7y have been using this software for their post-processing for years also. If you want to splurge, there are many good options out there, such as: * Samson Q2U * Fifine AM8 * FDUCE SL40X Whilst there will be more expensive options I wouldn't spend more until you or your brother is more informed on the subject. Too many people overpay for audio equipment which is why I haven't suggested anything higher.

The samson q2u would fit the bill. Also could be used as an xlr mic down the road. Also if you do want, you could get a great xlr setup for the price of the q2u This would consist of the behringer xm8500 mic and a focusrite vocaster interface plus cables. That way you are set up flexible in case GAS hits. And it will hit

Get an XM8500, throw a pop filter on (the type that wraps around the grill, and watch this video: [https://youtu.be/ctgZB4S-jz0?si=JaJYV5mh0JPES\_7a](https://youtu.be/ctgZB4S-jz0?si=JaJYV5mh0JPES_7a) (eq settings around the 7 minute mark) Do that and you've got something close to an SM7B for under $30 (or under $40 or $80 if you don't already have the pop filter and cable) Keep in mind that a real SM7B is around $400. Be sure to use a preamp. These dynamic mics tend to be really quiet on their own. This free one seems decent: [https://plugins4free.com/plugin/2883/](https://plugins4free.com/plugin/2883/)

Another vote for NOT getting the Blue Yeti. If you want more than 1 mic you'll have major headaches with USB (except in very specific circumstances which are probably not for newbies). Plus in every mic shootout I've ever heard including a Blue Yeti, something else around the same price sounds better. And I see people sounding even worse than they could by talking into the wrong part of Blue Yetis all the time because of their silly design. I'd suggest AudioTechnica AT2100X, Behringer XM8500, Maono HD300t, Shure SM58 or my current personal fave SM57 with the real Shure lockable foam pop filter which makes it look way cooler (IMO). I would make sure whatever XLR interface you get has Loopback - which lets you easily route sounds from your computer such as a remote guest or music/SFX on a soundboard to your DAW. Without this you will experience many frustrations. While I'd love to recommend the inexpensive Behringer 202HD, it doesn't have a mix balance control which allows you to adjust the balance of sound coming from your DAW and your import source (voice); also I've been unable to confirm whether it has built in Loopback despite one Google hit saying it does. The 4 preamp version definitely does not.

Being a rock bottom XM8500 user myself, I'm constantly eyeing the 100 Euro class. Don't like the sound from the Rode Podcaster I've heard in some reviews, and currently have the SE DCM3/DCM6 on top of my list. The handheld form factor with the cable poking far out the back of the mic is what annoys me most about my current setup.

Those are budget USB mics. Microphones in that price range don't have the best reputation for durability. I'm a proponent of getting a separate interface and XLR microphone. Good cheap mics include the Behringer XM8500 and the Zoom ZDM-1. Decent budget interfaces include the Behringer UMC22 or the M Audio M-Track Solo. (If you really need to cheap out, try the Teyun Q12 on Amazon or any generic version of this on Ali Express.) I have used all of these and they're ok. Going with an XLR mic & interface gives you options to upgrade components later on. If you have several mics, you can easily and quickly swap them out for different purposes. Also, if one part breaks, you don't start from scratch. (If any part of a USB mic breaks, you have to replace the whole thing.) It's similar to building a desktop pc versus buying a laptop. You have lots of flexibility.

Not those. They have no transformer, not sure how they're wired. Get the xm8500, the e609 knockoff and beta91 are excellent. The beta87 is meh and I use them in place of a small diaphragm condenser since it has its own wind screen

God dont get the sm7b, yes it is nice, but it is agressively overkill for streaming especially for the price. The podcaster has crap lowend and doesnt sound that good for the price. the mv7 and procaster are fine but still expensive. I have been happily using an xm8500 for 25 bucks without any issue and sounding pretty damn good. If you want better, go for a shure sm57 for 100 bucks for a bullet proof quality mic that has decades of proven use

For recording/editing, I really like Reaper. There is a 60-day full trial and it's only $60 and it'll run on Linux, MacOS, Windows, a potato... whatever. There is a steep learning curve but it has a very powerful scripting engine with an active community which you might like since you are a Linux fan. If you are only recording 4 people, this is a brand new update of a very popular mixer/interface/recorder. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P4NEXT--zoom-podtrak-p4next-audio-interface I'm usually not a huge fan of built-in tone controls and noise reduction but I have no personal experience with this device and I've spent a small fortune on software for that kind of work, so it may work out perfectly for you. The mic I was actually thinking of is even cheaper than that. Usually ~$20. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XM8500--behringer-xm8500-handheld-dynamic-vocal-microphone Looks like it's out of stock a lot of places. :( They have an SL 84 & 85 series that might work for you also. Behringer is known for copying more popular brands of mics & synths and selling them for a greatly reduced price. The one you linked is a condenser mic which will be more detailed on the higher end but also more susceptible to table bumps and stuff like that. They have a little bit of self-noise also, which is totally normal but something I like to remove. You can get shock mounts for any mic you buy, if that becomes an issue. If you need more than 4 inputs, this is as cheap as they get: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UMC1820--behringer-u-phoria-umc1820-usb-audio-interface It is not standalone like the Podtrak though. This is standalone: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/L8--zoom-livetrak-l-8-8-channel-digital-mixer-recorder Sometimes I like to buy stuff on Reverb.com. I find if I favorite something from an independent reseller, they will send me a discount right away if I buy from them. I also buy stuff from Sweetwater, B&H and Chuck Levins. I tend to avoid Amazon because sometimes they buy stuff on the grey market and the manufacturers won't always honor their warranty.