Current best microphone USB or not?

[Kerry F]

Okay, I need some recommendations.  I have used primarily the $150 little Martel Electronics mic that Stenograph also sells for years.  What other comparable mics are there for under $200 other than the USB mics.  I'm not crazy about the USB mic sound quality, even the ones sole by

Sound Professionals, unless there's something new.  I'd just rather not rely on a USB port to be working properly.  Rather plug a mic into the mic jack on the computer.

 

Thansk

[Melinda]

I have the top-of-the-line Sound Professionals USB mic.  It is good, but my Tascam digital recorder is much better.  I plug the digital recorder into my laptop mic jack with a $10 patch cord from SP (SP-SPSC-7).  What I love about this setup is I have an automatic backup audio file on my digital recorder along with my sync'd audio on my laptop.  Works GREAT!

[Debbie]

I have a $50.00 usb mic from Sound Professionals.  To that I plug in a Labtec-like mic.  It reaches about 10 feet to wherever I need to put it.  Have been very happy with it

[Alice Clark]

I piggyback off my USB mic when I'm in court sometimes.  I use my exhibit stickers to to "tape" the Labtec mike down in front of the judge.  Just be sure you click it in solidly or you will have no audio at all.

[Kerry F]

Paul,

You should call Martel.............they will make good on it.  Tell them you've had two bad mics.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I totally agree with you.  I want to send out an email blast to all 6700 users, "Martel sucks!!  Don't waste your money on their products!!!"

[Janiece Young]

Kerry, did Martel help you when you had that problem?  I missed it if you posted.

Thanks,

Janiece

[Kerry F]

They told me they to send it in and they'd check it out and if it was bad, replace it.  But it was actually another issue with my computer..........I think.  I did get some static a couple times that I've never had before though.

I'm keeping an eye on it.

Thanks for asking.

[Alice Clark]

I remember someone telling me that Martel did an inexpensive repair on their old Martel mic that had stopped working and was recording static.  I went looking for my Martel mic so I could send it in, but I guess I had already thrown it away so I have never tried that myself.  That's been quite a few years so I don't know if they still do that.

[Alice Clark]

No, at that time it was like $25 or something.  I would hesitate at $65, too, just in case it didn't work when you got it back.  So I guess I'm making do with my SP USB mic which works pretty well, but it's not sensational or anything.

[Martha R]

I have used the Martel for years.   They only last a couple years before the wire starts to fray.  Then I just buy a new one.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I just had the realization of the difference between USB and old plug.  Thanks so much for all these posts.  They have been a ton of info.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Janet told me about this amazing USB microphone she got on eBay, so I went and bought one.  I loved it so much that I bought a second one for backup.  Here is the link.  You won't be disappointed.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CM-1000USB-PC-Conference-Microphone-with-Da...