USB Mic for sketchpad ideas

[TED209]

Hi,

 

just seeking advice from anyone who uses a USB mic. I have a focusrite saffire and a tube mic for "proper" recording but am looking for an ultraportable "in the laptop bag" solution so I can mess around, capture ideas and practice with a bit of reverb on when I'm away from home or can't be bothered to get the "big" mic out.

 

I was thinking of getting a Samson Go USB Mic but have read about latency issues with these and ideally what I need is to listen through headphones and monitor the incoming signal through Logic, with effects, and NOT direct from a "zero latency" output, which would be dry.

 

I've tried the internal mic on my (mid 2012) MBP and I get no noticeable latency here (although the quality is a bit rough to say the least, not designed for instruments of course)...so perhaps I might be ok with USB mic. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of a low-latency setup with a USB mic?

 

thanks in advance.

[camillo jr]

For a bit more money, the Blue Yeti ($149) sounds great. Blue now has a "pro" version too, don't know what the difference is except a 100 bucks more.

[Eriksimon]

24 bits.

[TED209]

Will check out the yeti, any ideas on latency? Using logic at 128 sample buffers and been tracking 1 mic no issues and bass guitar live through a focusrite, basic plugins that is, platinumverb etc.

 

Gotta go, wife is having contractions.

[TED209]

Problem solved, was about to chuck out an old Sony DAT recorder, portable job, which chews tapes. However, realised it has a pre amp on it and a line out so can go straight to mbp line input from a sony stereo mic, with no money spent!

 

Moral of the story: never chuck anything out!