Best Budget Microphone for YouTube / Online Streaming, Vocal Recording, Podcast
The BM 800 is an affordable investment for content creators, musicians and vloggers alike.
It is easy to set up and can be connected to your smartphone whether you're using an Android or iPhone / iOS, or computer / laptop.
Affordable
With a price tag of around $6.00 / Php 300.00 for the microphone alone, it gets the job done.
There are a lot of independent stores selling this microphone. They're even sold under different brand names.
So, do your homework in researching the reputation of the store or brand to avoid wasting money.
For a little over $6.00 / Php 300.00, you'll receive an XLR to 3.5mm cable, plastic shock mount that will keep the mic secured and a foam ball.
Throwing in some extra cash will also get you a boom mic arm, double mesh pop filter and USB sound card for $11.00 / Php 550.00.
The boom mic arm will be very useful if you'll be recording or streaming from your desk.
The BM 800 works even without phantom power but honestly speaking, it makes a lot of noise and hiss but it can be easily fixed by getting a V8 sound card which could be bought separately or in a bundle for Php $20.00 / Php 990.00.
The V8 Sound Card is an affordable upgrade to achieve a really decent set up for starters.
Not only does it make your audio sound cleaner, you can also take multiple audio sources such as a second microphone, playback music from a smartphone.
You can also play effects, control volume levels and adjust other attributes.
You'll be shocked at what the BM 800 can do when connected to an audio interface like the Scarlett Focusrite.
We were scared to try connect it to an audio interface with phantom power because we weren't sure if it can handle the voltage but we tried it anyway because the loss will be minimal.
If you want to hear how the BM 800 improved with each set up, watch the video where we tried BM 800 from its most basic set, with a USB Sound Card, V8 Sound Car, audio interface and some EQing.
Design
The BM 800 is sold in different colors but gold and black is the most common.
The capsule is unbelievably gold but you can easily put that foam ball on.
The whole housing is metal with a simple "BM 800" label which btw is the front and sensitive side of the microphone so make sure that the label is facing you.
Easy To Set Up
Since the BM 800 is supplied with an XLR to 3.5 mm cable makes it very easy to set up. Connecting it to a smartphone or laptop / computer will power it up.
Connecting the BM 800 to a V8 sound card might require some learning curve but it's still plug and play.
As we have mentioned earlier, it can be connected to an audio interface but of course, you will need an XLR to XLR cable.
Things We Like About The BM800
As low budget indie artists and content creators, the BM 800 gives us room to save for our next best equipment or additional equipment.
It's a straightforward and simple product that you can use for singing, streaming.
It seems like it has no problems being powered by a wide range of voltage. So, even if you don't have a laptop / computer, has no audio interface or without phantom power, this condenser microphone can work with a smartphone.
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