Microphone boost?

[lame_youtuber]

Hi.

I made a few videos on youtube and the audio quality is kinda bad. I thought my voice sucks, but I tried recording my voice on my iPad and it sounds way better. I can't record using my iPad, tough. It does pick up keyboard sound. I would like to get an audio quality similar to the mic on the iPad.

I have a $25 headset (Genius HS G500V) and I'm using an integrated sound card.
I have to turn mic boost to +30 db and the audio quality is pretty bad. I'm guessing that it's because the sound doesn't have enough power. I saw an youtube video where the mike quality is better then the quality that I'm getting. I tried messing with the noise reduction setting and stuff. It doesn't change anything.

A dedicated sound card costs $50 and I don't think it's worth it. I'd rather pay $50 for a new USB headset.
The thing is that in the reviews for some headsets I see people talking about having to turn on mic boost in the settings. I even saw someone saying that on a $200 headset. Isn't the mic boost making the sound quality worse?

I can't buy a blue snowball/yeti where I'm living. The only mics available are those $5 mics and some random $10 - $30 mics that have no reviews.
In a video that I can't post a link to the mic quality on some expensive headsets sucks. I don't want to pay $50 for a headset with a bad mic.

Should I spend $50 for an audio card and get a $5 mic (or use the mic from the headset I already own) or should I buy a $50 headset? Another option would be getting a cheap $20 audio card and a $5 mic or trying to use the mic from the headset that I already own.

Let me know what you think.

 

[RedFox]

A dedicated sound card doesn't sound like a fix, headsets don't always have the greatest quality, but it should be use able, regardless of your sound card, I do suggest when you get the chance invest into a decent USB Mic from companies like Samson, Blue or Audio Technica.

Also it's worth making sure that if the headset has it's own mic control that this is set up correctly.

Also using Windows' Mic Boost control isn't all that great.

 

[maddog448]

HOw are you not able to buy a blue mic??? This is the 21st century my friend, you can order anything off the internet! Dont get a cheep mic just go on amazon and get a blue mic

 

[lame_youtuber]

HOw are you not able to buy a blue mic??? This is the 21st century my friend, you can order anything off the internet! Dont get a cheep mic just go on amazon and get a blue mic

Amazon does not ship stuff to my country.

 

[nur]

There are also two software alternatives:
1. You can use Audacity to reduce ambient noise from an existing recorded file. This tool is free.
2. You can use SoliCall Pro to reduce ambient noise while recording. This tool is shareware but you can reinstall it after the evaluation period expires and restart a new evaluation period.