When I decided I wanted to record my own singing and guitar on PC, picking the right gear turned out to be surprisingly tricky. Sure, I could have gone with a simple USB mic — but for better flexibility, higher potential quality, and future expandability, I realized that an audio interface plus an XLR mic setup would be more satisfying.
In December 2025, I ended up going with a minimal yet effective configuration: a FIFINE XLR condenser mic + ZOOM AMS-22 + a NIMASO XLR cable. Below is why I made that choice and how I judged that it fits my needs.
🎯 Chosen Setup (What I Actually Bought)
- FIFINE XLR condenser microphone (cardioid)
- ZOOM AMS-22 (compact audio interface)
- NIMASO XLR cable (1 unit)
Just enough gear to cover the essentials — no unnecessary extras, nothing overkill.
💡 Why I Decided on This Setup (as of December 2025)
● It fits perfectly for casual PC-based singing + guitar recording
I wasn’t aiming for professional-studio quality, but simply recording something nicer than laptop built-in mic. AMS-22 is compact and easy to handle, and with built-in phantom power, it supports the XLR condenser mic well — so I could set up a recording environment quickly and easily.
● FIFINE’s XLR mic strikes the right balance of cost and performance
There are many inexpensive XLR mics in the 5000–7000 yen range, and I found the FIFINE (K669C-series) especially appealing: reviews were solid, and for singing + guitar use it offers sufficient sensitivity and directional control. Unlike a USB mic, it won’t become obsolete if I later upgrade the interface.
● A stable cable matters — which is why I went with NIMASO
Good sound isn’t just about mic or interface; even the cable can affect stability. The NIMASO cable felt sturdy and reliable — a small investment relative to the rest, but worth it to avoid connection issues or noise.
✅ What I Wanted It For — And How This Setup Answers That
My goal wasn’t “hi-fi / studio-level recording.” Rather, I wanted a setup that lets me:
- Quickly record singing + guitar on PC
- Keep it simple without a big setup or complicated wiring
- Have better audio quality than built-in mics — but without overspending
The combination of AMS-22’s compactness and ease of use, the cost-performance of the FIFINE mic, and a reliable cable created a “just right” setup for that. Especially AMS-22 being USB-C made setup easy with recording software — ideal as a first set.
🔎 Summary: Who This Setup Is Good For
If you want to:
- Record singing + guitar on PC casually
- Prefer XLR-based flexibility over simple USB mics
- Avoid overspending but still aim for decent audio quality
Then this AMS-22 + XLR condenser mic setup is a great entry-level choice. It’s simple, practical, and delivers more than enough audio quality for hobby recordings or early-stage content creation.