Microphone recommendations for audio in / vocoder?

Freak MiniFreak
,
#1

So I have the Minifreak and then the vocoder update landed. I am still a newbie to music gear and would love to connect some microphone to the Minifreak and do vocoder stuff with it.

But: I don’t know which one to use or buy, can someone please make a recommendation or tell about his/her/… experience with one?

So far I tried my Audio Technica ATR2100-USB with a XLR<->3,5mm adapter, but sound is extremely faint.

#2

HI @Nicolai and welcome to The Sound Explorers Forum!

The mic you have there is what’s known as a ‘dynamic’ mic.
Dynamic mics generally have a fairly low output signal, so you might want to try something with a slightly ‘hotter’ signal, or use an ‘in line preamp’ such as something like a ‘Cloud Lifter’ to increase the gain.

The vocoder i use myself has its own ‘phantom power’, so i’m able to use a Large Diaphragm Condenser mic with that, as dynamic mics are a little on the low side level wise.

This reminds me actually, i still need to update my MF 🫨

HTH!

#3

Hi @matjones,

I see. Someone suggested a Shure SM 57, I will try that.

Hopefully I will get around adding another preamp to my setup - although a good suggestion - but I would like to keep the number of devices at a minimum. They are already multiplying, all those different cables and so many of them … I feel thrown back into pre-USB times :wink:

#4

HI @Nicolai

If possible, try one before you buy, as they’re also a dynamic mic and don’t have a particularly hot output.

HAHA! Welcome to the club mate, once the cables start taking over you’re on a VERY slippery slope :wink::wink:

#5

Hello there you can use a mere SM 58, an XLR to jack cable, and then… adjust the input gain