I guess the first question is - why are you getting a mixer? If it's just to connect an XLR mic to the computer, go check out Sure X2U. Secondly, don't buy that mic - it's cheap garbage. If you want a quality mic that will last at a decent price point go get an AT2020. There is also a USB version that will remove the need for a mixer.
I would recommend either gain filter or pick up a hardware gainer (idk what it's called, lol. Sorry). Here are a few recommendations:
Those allow you to control your mic volume.
The best solution would to get a good XLR mic and use some sort of usb interface that is plug in play without drivers like the product Shure has.
http://www.amazon.com/Shure-X2U-XLR-to-USB-Signal-Adapter/dp/B001PPXFAG
Not sure if this would work on consoles but it is plug and play on pcs with no additional drivers needed.
That looks pretty much like what I need. Would this also work if I was plugging a guitar in directly? I don't have an electric/acoustic right now, but I do have an electric and am planning on getting a nice electric/acoustic eventually.
And is there much benefit to using this over something like this or this?
You can use one of these to connect pretty much any xlr mic to ps4, but the sound quality will be quite crappy anyway (if you use the voice of the mic in the game) and it’s pretty expensive solution https://www.amazon.com/Shure-Integrated-Zero-Latency-Monitoring-Microphones/dp/B001PPXFAG
There is a way to use ’karaoke system’ for great zero latency sound and just take the pitch from mic to score in game though. But it’s rather expensive and somewhat complex solution.
What you need is a balanced audio input, which will automatically deal with the equal-but-opposite phased signals and give you a mono signal
That makes sense. I am using my Line-In input on my sound card, which I believe is a 1/4" unbalanced stereo input. Unfortunately using a different input may not be an option.
Are you splitting it into stereo for input as two unbalanced signals? That's defeating the whole purpose of a balanced signal.
Not intentionally. My sound card is misinterpreting the balanced audio signal as a stereo signal. My goal is to just feed it a mono signal so it can't screw up, rather than find a software solution.
I basically need this but with XLR/TRS/TS output instead of USB output.