Info/advice on microphones

[Mad Duc]

I want to start podcasting.  I want to have 3-4 people sitting around a table BS'ing about motostuff.  What's the best way to do this? I'm looking at these two microphones right now:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-USB-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B001AS6OYC/ref=pd_cp_MI_1
http://www.amazon.com/Samson-CO1U-USB-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B000AP1RE8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260554184&sr=8-1

I don't know if they are right for the job. I want really good sound quality. They both seem well rated but I don't know if they are good for plopping in a middle of a table and having it pick up all the people sitting around it. I want to keep it $100 or so.

Any advice or product suggestions?  I'm open to any thing, USB mic's, XLR, whatever. I just want it to sound good.

[Monster Dave]

At my office, I have a polycom data phone that works amazingly well. The one thing that it does that everyone raves about is that it allows multiple people to speak on both ends at the same time without cutting off another speaker from the same or other end.

There's a conference using it now, but when it's done if you want the model info for it, I'll be happy to post it up.




edit- it's a Polcom Voice Station 300.

Like all technology, cost varies from company to company, but the lowest that I found was just under $200

[Mad Duc]

yeah, I was thinking about a polycom type device, not sure how it would work. Thanks in advance for grabbing the model number for me, I'll have to investigate it.

[Monster Dave]

Seriously, everyone raves about how great it is to use. 

[JEFF_H]

when i've seen video of podcasts being made...they were using headset mics
might be something to consider...

[Venom51]

I use the Snowball made my Blue and like the quality I get. Just my 2 cents.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10298470&sourceid=1500000000000003260420&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=10298470

[triangleforge]

The Snowball looks like a cool unit!! One thing you'll want to look for in any microphone is an omnidirectional mode (the Snowball above lists "switchable mic patterns" so it might cover that base).

Since you're going to have several folks around a table, you don't want one that's exclusively unidirectional or cardioid (heart-shaped), since it'll exclude one or more voices, or just pick them up bouncing off the opposite wall.

Wiki info on microphone patterns:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone#Microphone_polar_patterns