How To Use The Shure SM35 Mic With A Computer

These are the video scripts for YouTube playlist "How To Use The Shure SM35 Mic With A Computer".



Video:  Shure SM35 Mic The Best Microphone For Recording

Welcome to Tom's Tech Notes.
show vid and playlist below.
This video shows why I consider the Shure SM35 mic to be the best mic for recording and editing videos and shows how to connect the SM35 to a computer. 
show at bottom Other videos in this playlist show how to set your recording level using the free Audacity audio program, using PowerDirector video editor to replace DSLR audio with SM35 audio, , and how to attach the mic to your computer desk. There are links to open the playlist at the end of the video, in the video description, and on the webpage shown below https://www.tomstechnotes.com/makevideos.
PLAYLIST INTRO
The Shure SM 35 mic was designed for musicians, but is IDEAL for narrating or editing home videos with a desktop or laptop computer. After using several mics over the years, the SM35 is by far, my mic of choice.
Here are some mics I've used previously:
Hold up the Logitech h540
Gaming headsets. These are headphones, with an attached mic. I've tried several Logitech models. This is the Logitech H540. It costs $30, is well made and is convenient to use; but the mic sound is harsh. Also, the mic output level is too low for videos, and you must amplify it before use. I use the H540 headphones for monitoring when I edit videos, but I don't recommend most headphone mics when audio quality is important.
insert blue yeti clip here
As mentioned earlier, the Shure SM 35 mic is my mic of choice.
I use the wired version, but it is also available as a wireless mic. The SM35 wired mic with the RPM626 preamp costs $149. The wireless version with transmitter and receiver is $450. To use either version with a computer, you also need the X2U XLR to USB adapter, which costs $99.
The mic is worn on your head; it is close to your mouth which minimizes background sound in your recordings. (move head )
It keeps a constant distance from your mouth when you move your head, which keeps the volume constant. 
The SM35 is lightweight and confortable, suitable for long recording or editing sessions.
The mic is small and doesn't block your view while you narrate or edit videos on your computer. (move hands) Also, it doesn't block your face when you are facing the camera.
The sound quality is excellent, and the output level is fine for recording and editing videos. It records all sounds faithfully, including speech and music. Because it's strap is behind your head, you can wear headphones with the mic while editing videos.(demonstrate)
The SM35's audio quality is similar to that from larger  studio mics, such as the Blue Yeti, but the SM35 is far more convenient to use, for the reasons just given.
To use the mic with a computer, connect the mic to the preamp, connect the preamp to the X2U adapter with an XLR mic cable, and connect the X2U adapter to the computer with a USB cable. The preamp will plug directly into the X2U, but on my mic, a poor ground connection caused noise. Get at least a 30' XLR cable so you can move around the scene while recording. 
Show picture. To use the mic with your desktop, coil up the XLR cable and strap it with velcro. I clip the preamp to a 1/2" pipe mounted on the side of the computer niche. If you ONLY use the mic with your desktop and never move around while recording, you could use a 1-1/2' or 3' XLR cable. 
Show vid at bottom Video "How To Attach The Shure SM35 Mic To Your Computer Desk" shows how to attach the mic so you can quickly remove it from your desk to use it elsewhere. I use the mic with a desktop in my house, and with a laptop in my garage studio, where I am now. 
To use the mic portably, connect it to a laptop computer. Lift laptop on table and turn around. For a Windows laptop, record with Windows Voice Recorder. Clip the preamp to the back of your clothes. If you carry the laptop, put the preamp, X2U, and XLR cable in a shoulder bag;  Then, disable the laptop cover sleep option, so you can record with the closed laptop in the bag.
To use the wireless SM35 mic, connect the mic to the transmitter on your back or under your clothes. Then connect the wireless receiver to the computer with the X2U adapter.
The next video in this playlist, "How To Set Your Recording Level", shows how to set the mic preamp gain and the windows recording level, using the free Audacity Audio Program.
Here is a sample clip before and after replacing the DSLR video with the SM35 audio. Note that the audio quality is MUCH BETTER with the SM35 audio.
This video has shown why I recommend the SM35 mic for recording with home computers, and how to connect it to your computer. 
For more information on recording and editing videos, see the videos in playlists "How To Make Videos", How To Record Video Tutorials", "How To Record YouTube Videos", and "Basic Editing With PowerDirector 18". 
The best way to view all the videos is from links on the webpage below.
 Show at bottom https://www.tomstechnotes.com/makevideos
end screen.

Links for this video:

YouTube Playlist: How To Use The Shure SM35 Mic With A Computer. 
Download the free Audacity Audio Program.
Cyberlink PowerDirector.

For more information about making videos, see webpage:  makevideos