USB Microphone Recommendation?

I'm interested in recording vocals directly into my MPC One+. Does anyone have a recommendation for a USB microphone that (1) works with MPC, (2) sounds great, and (3) is highly directional, rather than omni-directional?

Get the Blue Yeti

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... e-blackout

The Blue Yeti Pro, if you can find one, has both USB and XLR connections.

Bear in mind that if you plug a USB mic into any MPC, and then activate it, the rest of the audio system will be disabled; so you won't be able to monitor anything. If you can find a mic with a headphone output, that should do the trick.

Why don’t you just get a preamp and an XLR mic? Or an audio interface with preamps?

Granted the MPC One will probably end up becoming one of the least expensive pieces of gear you own but it’s mass produced so the resale on it ain’t great anyway.

If you’re serious about recording then you’d be a lot better off with a solid dynamic microphone and decent preamp (preamp choice is especially evident in the overall sound with preamps due to impedence matching).

Condenser mics are more common for rap vocals because they provide more clarity and depth but also pick up more room noise, so if your room sounds like shit which most rooms do then you probably will struggle to get a good sound out of it.

IMO vocal chains are where outboard gear matters most but I don’t know your budget / goals

jamos wrote:Bear in mind that if you plug a USB mic into any MPC, and then activate it, the rest of the audio system will be disabled; so you won't be able to monitor anything. If you can find a mic with a headphone output, that should do the trick.

Good advice for the reason stated, also the headphone out can be used as essentially a built-in preamp.
It should also have a physical volume control for the headphones.
I got a Blue "ice ball" usb mic without a headphone out, It did not work with MPC live at all.
Also tried a cheap Onn dual-pattern usb mic that I got on clearance at Wal-mart, and it works great. Though its probably not what you're looking for - It picks up a lot of room ambiance and the sound quality is not up to some peoples standards. But I like it, and it feels well built.

jamos wrote:Bear in mind that if you plug a USB mic into any MPC, and then activate it, the rest of the audio system will be disabled; so you won't be able to monitor anything. If you can find a mic with a headphone output, that should do the trick.

This is a good point.

Smokeychuck wrote:Why don’t you just get a preamp and an XLR mic? Or an audio interface with preamps?

I do have an SM-57, which is supposedly an instrument mic, but I think my voice sounds pretty good through it. A preamp will probably be the right buy in my case, and a little desktop stand for the mic.

Thanks, all!

I'm also looking for a good usb mic that works with the MPC Live. Are there others who are using USB mics that wouldn't mind sharing what they're using?

https://tulamics.com/
Has headphone jack, works well, sounds good, has noise reduction, pre amp, and is standalone as well (battery). Is a Soyuz (high end co.) product. Good price for what you get. They market these for MPC’s

Latest firmware
https://tulamics.com/pages/firmware