Icicle XLR-to-USB in-line interface from Blue Microphones
Blue Microphones has announced the "Icicle", a simple XLR-to-USB interface that sits inline between your PC and your traditional microphone. It works with dynamic or condenser mics equally well, has 48V phantom power, analog gain, and CD-quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) fidelitiy.
Easy peasy — and while a bit pricey, I'd rather have this than a dedicated USB microphone, especially since older XLR mics of high quality are widely available used. It's going to be sixty bucks and launch before Christmas.
Icicle adds USB compatibility to any XLR microphone [MusicRadar.com via Engadget]
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Neat, but I'm going to have to see it in use before determining whether that's just an awkward form factor or the most awkward form factor.
I do like it, though. And the price doesn't seem bad to use a nice microphone easily.
For comparison, a simple XLR-to-1/4" balanced/unbalanced transformer runs about $15 in single-unit quantities. (And has much the same form factor, but you aren't expected to try to plug it into the side of a laptop... I'd recommend you use a USB extension cord to avoid mechanical stress on your USB ports.
Of course you could use one of those plus a 1/4" to mini-phone adapter cord and go into your PC's existing soundcard inputs. That wouldn't give you phantom power, but it would let you use either dynamic mikes or electrets which can take a battery. I suspect the dedicated unit, which presumably doesn't have the impedence-matching issue, can offer slightly better sound quality... and *might* be able to support multiple XLR ins, if your drivers will handle 'em.
On the other hand, go take a look at price of some of the low-end mixers with a USB output. Eight channels and the option of using 'em to do a live mix (or a monitor mix) for only a few times the cost of this single-channel input. So for me, this one's interesting mostly as something one can throw in the toolkit to handle unexpected interconnection needs.
Did they really only equip it with a 16 bit converter? An old high quality mic wants an old high quality pre-amp.
No, I think this is best used with a crappy or just cheap mic for things like webcam porn audio. I suggest the Shure SM-58.
I might have to check this out as a gift for my wife for Christmas. She's addicted to Myspace Karaoke, so she'd love something that'd let her use a better mic. I suppose though if that's her only use, it might be cheaper to pick up a pro quality USB mic than a pro quality XLR mic + USB converter.
Anyone here real familiar with recording semi-pro quality audio using a laptop? She doesn't need studio quality, but PC mics just don't cut it.
I am not sure that USB can deliver a true +48V pf phantom power, but unless you are using some super-high end mic, it should not be a problem if you are only getting 15-30V out of the device...
@Samf - I'm a big fan of the PreSonus Audiobox (or Firebox if you want FireWire).
I have a hunch that the preamp on this little guy sucks hard.
@3: What's wrong with the SM-58? For the price, they're absolutely unbeatable. If you've got a bit more to spend, I'm told that Shure's Beta 58A is a bit better.
All that being said, I'd go with a PreSonus product over this. Good preamps really can make a big difference. Not to say that this Icicle thing is necessarily bad, though I certainly wouldn't buy one without testing it first.
#5: Phantom power for an electret mike doesn't usually require a lot of current; you're just keeping the element charged. A DC-to-DC converter (power oscillator, transformer, regulator) could probably deliver enough 48V for most mikes; the trick would be keeping its transients isolated from the signal chain. But, as you also point out, many will also run happily on lower voltages.
#6: Preamp and A-to-D quality is, of course, the question...
#7: Seconded. There's a reason the SM57/58 (or their beta equivalents, which are somewhat different pickup patterns in addition to their other differences), are the industry workhorses. They aren't the best mikes out there -- but they aren't priced like the best either. They sound quite reasonable, and they're extremely robust (important when you don't trust your talent or stage crew not to drop or knock over the mike). And just as importantly, experienced performers have learned how these behave and how to make them do what's needed (where the proximity effect kicks in significantly, for example). Not what I'd pick for a serious studio, but entirely acceptable for live reinforcement.
Tools for tasks.
$50: http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Blue-Icicle-XLR-to-USB-Mic-Converter?sku=330275
Similar thing, but $80: http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-Mic-Mate-XLR-to-USB-Mic-Interface-WPhantom-Power?sku=270707
Both of these just do 16bit, and I bet their pre-amps suck (as someone already mentioned). I would spend a little more and get something like this: http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB?sku=243007
24 bit / 44.1 or 48khz recording, 2 xlr inputs with phantom power, and it's a complete audio interface, meaning it will run your speakers, too.
Computer audio recording can get confusing, fast. With just a little bit of knowledge, however, your recordings, even simple podcasts, will sound like professional productions, instead of someone talking in their bedroom.
I swear by Blue Microphones. Several of my friends own the Snowball USB Mic, I own an 8-Ball for home recordings - I'm certain this would be a great decision for anyone who owns a couple standard XLR mics and is semi-competent with audio software.
I bought a Soundtech Lightsnake XLR to USB cable a couple of days ago for $60 Australian, which I thought was pretty reasonable. Pretty much the same specs as the Icicle. Haven't tried it yet though.