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What would you recommend as a decent microphone for podcasts? I have a relatively decent soundcard (Audigy Platinum) but a relatively rubbish old Creative Labs microphone. When I connect this to the Mic 2 socket and record talking I get a slight buzz.
I don't have much experience with microphones, but I'm using this one:
http://www.quasarelectronics.com/skytro ... ophone.htm
and I'm getting pretty good results. If I place it outside my window I can clearly understand what people 30 meters away are saying to each other, with little noise. And as a bonus, it's stereo

. Frequency range is a bit limited (upto 100 Hz - 12 kHz), but for voice that suffices (and of course, it's not a hard limit as in digital equipment, so higher and lower frequencies are still present, only softer.).
I bought it in 2004 for 30 euro.
I should add to this that you CANNOT connect this microphone directly to a PC, you need a pre amplifier. And that GREATLY affects the sound quality and noise level you'll get. After testing everything I could find in my house, I'm now using a Philips cassette deck from 1985 as pre amplifier.