Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $311.00
Sale Price: $249.00
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- USB Plug and Play connectivity allows the convenience of digital recording, anywhere your computer can go
- Integrated pre-amp with Microphone Gain Control allows control of input signal strength
- Zero Latency Monitoring for real-time playback and multi-tracking without disorientation
- Monitor Mix Control for blending microphone and playback audio
- 1/8" Headphone jack for monitoring
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I'll start by saying that I am biased and forgiving of Shure products. My previous experience with the PG58 was amazing, thus purchasing this model--which produces a more professional sound than simply using a mini-plug adapted microphone--was a no-brainer for me.
I began this journey seeking a USB microphone to use for my home recordings. I did not want to purchase an external board, nor did I want to regress to using the aforementioned mini-jack input. The best sound--least noise--that I could get, given my stipulations, was a microphone with a USB interface. In all honesty, I went looking for a Shure microphone with a USB interface. The models that appeared were the PG27USB (which I've recently heard as better for all around recording) and the PG42USB (which is "enhanced" for vocal recording). Since I have no need to record any instrument other than a human voice, the PG42USB was perfect. I happened to catch the microphone for a better deal here on Amazon, but even if I hadn't found the deal, I would've bought this at full-price.
Now, with all of that bias, you might think that I am going to exclaim that my experience was magnificent and that I am overwhelmingly impressed with the characteristics of the microphone...but that's not the case.
Stepping up to this level of microphone has been an interesting ride. When you go "Professional" you have to make sure that your environment complements the equipment.
I used this microphone in-hand for three months and was able to get great recordings. The interpretation of sound is wonderful, really. Voices sound crisp and controlled. Many times, I had to step back and wonder how such great sound came from sitting on my futon and holding the microphone...
...and then I bought a Musician's Gear Die-Cast Mic Stand, Black, a Nady MPF-6 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone Pop Filter, and Auralex Studiofoam Designer Kit, Charcoal Gray...
Looking back at my first recordings, it's amazing to me that I was able to even do that. At this point, with these additional accessories (necessities, really) there is little to distinguish the recordings I make and those made in professional studios.
The only other experience I have with USB microphones is with a M-Audio Producer USB microphone. Compared to the Shure, the M-Audio sounded muddy and not exactly clear. The reality that Shure only does microphones and headphones should stand as an affirmation of their specialties. A company like Audio-Technica, who makes standard, good equipment, can't hold a candle in this field. Well, yes, they can--just being dramatic, I guess.
You're reading this to get an idea on whether or not you should purchase this microphone.
Something I will complain about is the potentiometers on the microphone (Volume and Mic Gain). They, in a word, suck. In addition, the headphone amp on the microphone seems a bit noisy, but that noise doesn't seem to transfer to the recording, so I'll presume it's just the headphone amp. In addition, I have yet to successfully install drivers for Windows 7, thus I use XP to record. XP is great since my computer is built for Windows 7, so it screams with performance (I dual-boot with 7 and XP)... And that's always a good thing once you start getting real-time effects involved.
Is it worth $200?
That's a good question. I don't believe that this mic is worth $200+ however, the convenience features (low freq roll-off, realtime monitoring, mic pre-amp, built in pop filter--questionable, yes) do provide for a much easier time recording. If you do invest in this microphone, be sure to invest in the accessories mentioned above... As I said in another review, why put regular gas in a premium car? Pay the little extra, and your recordings will be the better for it.
I hope that helps!!
Update:
I have to retract my former statements about the potentiometers (gain, mix). Maybe they had to break in, but the problems I had with them earlier no longer exists.
Looking at what's available out there, and considering the Shure brand, this is a microphone worth getting. Sure, you could get a less expensive one, but the microphone is the first and last word on the quality of your recordings. Might as well invest in a great one...and this is, truly, a great one.
Update:
After building a new machine, with recording and midi in mind, I found myself stuck with Windows 7. Thus, I could no longer use Windows XP as a shield in the incompatibilities that I found with Windows 7. Being a computer person, it was a welcomed challenge (resolving the seeming inherent delay--or improper handshake--between the Shure PG42 and Windows 7).
After doing quite a bit of research, I mistakenly fixed my delay issue after I installed ASIO4All to assist in ReWiring between Reason and Samplitude. When recording came around, I was left to use the ASIO4All driver...figured, what the heck.
Lo and Behold, the delay that was present in previous recordings...along with the poor way that Windows 7 natively handles USB connected microphones...all went away. I would actually profess that my vocals sound even better in Windows 7 using the aforementioned driver.
With that said, yes, this microphone is a go. The PG27 may be just as good, don't get me wrong, but I've learned quite a bit from "assuming"...so the PG42USB truly an amazing, cost effective way to produce quality recordings on a budget.
So, going back to my previous assertions...Yes, the PG42 is definitely worth $200...
Hope all of this helps...
Any questions, feel free to comment...I'm continually subscribed to this Customer Review section...
Buy Shure PG42-USB Vocal Microphone Now
Although there are newly-emerging microphones with greater digital bandwidth, this microphone sounds so good for my voice it's nearly ridiculous. There is no other USB microphone in the 16-bit/44.1kHz range that has a sound presence to match. This thing sounds much better than anything Blue makes (including the Yeti models), better than most things MXL makes (the 009 might have bested this one for more $$$), better than the Rode Podcaster, and better than anything Samson or Audio-Technica makes.
So I don't have a good radio voice, but I have to record trainings for work and this microphone has increased my perceived legitimacy at work by a huge margin. It has lots of on-mic tweaks. The gain, seperate from the monitor mix, seperate from the very powerful headphone amp volume. It has a fantastic overdrive indicator light, a -15dB pad switch, and a high-pass switch with bass roll-off. You can't match or beat these features for anywhere close to this price AND it makes me sound like I have golden tonsils.
It truly is a vocal microphone because anything else I've recorded with it while becoming familiar didn't sound as good.
FYI: You NEED a pop filter so you don't harm the condenser capsule. Pop filters make you look the part too, so just get one. You also need to know that depending on which audio driver stack you use in Windows can necessitate that you drive the recording input volume down to about 7 so it wouldn't overdrive. I switched over to ASIO4ALL and that took care of that problem.
BTW, I have some nice AKG headphones that require a lot of power from a headphone port and this microphone's monitor port drives them almost too loud at about 50%. It's amazing. Also, there's an onboard DAC so the monitor port has become my new favorite way to listen to music because there is absolutely NO self-noise from this microphone that I can pick up on. Think about it. I've got a DAC and headphone amp and awesome vocal mic all in one package (and it sounds really, really good).
So if you want the cleanest sounding digital vocal microphone package for anything under $800 (and without too many pieces to port around easily), get this mic. Also the flight case that this thing comes in is awesome!
Read Best Reviews of Shure PG42-USB Vocal Microphone Here
First of all let me say this...IT COMES WITH A SHOCK MOUNT!! That is something the description does not say. So I ordered a shock mount separate from this only to wind up with TWO.
Next, The mic comes in a neat, well cushioned carrying case, so everything is nicely snug and secure. In the case are the mic, the usb cable and of course, the never mentioned Shock-Mount. And it is a GREAT shock-mount.
I needed a good mic for voiceover work on documentaries and animated shorts, and would rather pay for a good mic that will last me a good while as opposed to buying several cheap ones because I do not consider myself a "professional" Studio person.
Now jumping in to the actual sound quality of this mic...Let me start off by saying, I am not a professional sound engineer by any means...but even I know good sound quality when I hear it and all I can say is...WOW...Wonderful sound. It makes my recordings sound SO MUCH MORE professional. The tone is warm and clear. Everything you expect from a broadcast quality studio mic.
The greatest feature for me is it's usb plug-and play ability. Mics like this are usually connected via XLR and require a pre-amp. Not this...Just plug it in and GO!. Now, with my laptop, I have a portable studio!
Features include a volume wheel, monitor wheel, and Mic gain wheel...a headphone jack with which to monitor the sound as it is being recorded, a -15dB pad switch, and a bass roll-off / high-pass switch and an indicator light that turns red when audio begins to clip. So it has quite a few VERY useful and important features.
The best part of all this? The price was right! I hang around a lot of Studio folk and hear them chattering about how much money they drop on good microphones. I would expect to pay around $400+ for a mic of this caliber and quality. At well under $200 this is a STEAL!
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Definitely worth the price. I wanted a high quality USB microphone to rap. I did a TON of research to find the best USB microphone, take my word this is it. The sound is so clear and it picks up everything, its ridiculous. I am also very impressed with the shock mount it came with, its really high quality. I am not a professional however, I use it with garageband and its plug and play.
One thing to note it says there is a built in pop filter and I am pretty sure their right, I feel like my pop filter does nothing for it. Just an FYI you don't really need a pop filter for this mic.
So clear much better than a laptop mic for shure ;)
BAAAAAAAAAM easy to use and high quality need a pop stopper though
