condenser mic + preamp

[pcm81]

I am looking to buy a good condenser mic for home studio voice recording.

I will be recording on homebuilt pc. I have sound blaster XFi Titatium for inputs/outputs.

I am looking to spend up to $500.

Assume that i know 0 about preams and audio interfaces. What should i buy?

I want a decent mic with a decent preamp (i am assuming i need a preamp since sound card does not have the 3 pin connector or 48v power...). Are USB interfaces that often get packaged with the mic better than my sound card?

I am looking at "Rode NT1-A Cardioid Condenser Microphone" on amazon, but i dont know if i need to get it with "Presonus Audiobox USB preamp" or if there is a different preamp/mic i should consider given my already existing soundblaster hardware.

I don't want to but a usb interface rather than just analog preamp if the guts of usb interface will be lower quality/functionality than my existing hardware (soundblaster)

What yall think?
Thanks in advance

 

[Chapbass]

The presonus definitely is decent. You could even go with the studio package from sweetwater (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxStu/).

As far as microphones, I personally really enjoy the studio projects C1 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C1Mic or on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Studio-Projec...1384799501&sr=8-1&keywords=studio+projects+c1).

If you went with those two, you're under your budget and you get two microphones to experiment with, plus Studio One, which is pretty damn nice recording software.

 

[Chapbass]

This is for voice ONLY? or do you have any instruments at all? Multiple voices? singing or talking?

 

[pcm81]

This is for voice ONLY? or do you have any instruments at all? Multiple voices? singing or talking?

Singing, baritone.

Edit:
i hate buying stuff that i end up replacing later. For now i will be using it for singing only, but in the future it may get used for some musical instruments, piano etc. Nothing too crazy.

I cant afford neuman 87, but i want something that is good enogh that i would not want a better setup...

 

[crashtestdummy]

My wife uses this guy for demo recordings and the like. We don't have a soundproofed setup or anything. She more or less just plugs it in and runs with it. It's good enough that she doesn't have to rent studio time for solo recordings. I don't know if it's up to your spec or not (I'm no expert), but she certainly loves it.

There's also an analog XLR connector version if you prefer.

 

[Chapbass]

Singing, baritone.

Edit:
i hate buying stuff that i end up replacing later. For now i will be using it for singing only, but in the future it may get used for some musical instruments, piano etc. Nothing too crazy.

I cant afford neuman 87, but i want something that is good enogh that i would not want a better setup...

I would look into the setup that I linked you. If 2 channel simultaneous recording is good enough for you (you could record one guitar + vocals, for example, or keyboards as a stereo instrument, or two vocals), then I would grab the Presonus. The pack + the C1 I figured would be good because if you want to mic 2 things, you'd have two mics, which would give you some additional flexibility in recording. The SP C1 is considered one of the absolute best values under $300 and can hang with microphones much more expensive than it. I personally have one and absolutely love it. Presonus preamps are pretty solid as well (I have the studiolive 16.4.2 mixer), I think it would be an excellent setup for you.