Do I absolutely need an interface (music production) for a condenser microphone?

After using Garage Band for years, I want to start building a small home studio (step by step). For a start and as little money as possible I want to buy a MIDI keyboard and condenser microphone.

You also need an interface for the mic, but now I've heard that there are mics with USB connections. Is it possible that I connect the keyboard and the mic directly to my laptop? Will my program be able to read that? Or do I have to buy an interface? If so, I would be happy about recommendations for cheap interfaces, I'm really more interested in spending little money to see if all of this is good for me.

You can always top up!

USB just forget very quickly! Regulations etc. Very questionable.

You could also take phantom power. But then you still have the built-in, mostly not so great sound chip.

Cheap: Behriger UMC22 for 39 euro (slight residual noise)

OK. Steinberg your 22 129 euro https://www.thomann.de/...22_mk2.htm

Condenser microphone: Samson C05. A stage condenser. Got it myself. Although I have very expensive microphones here, I like to work with them

Even better the Rode M2 condenser stage microphone

You should refrain from large-diaphragm microphones. They carry too much garbage with them on your recordings

Condenser microphones need a supply voltage to function. A distinction is made between 'real condenser microphones' and 'electronic condenser microphones'. In the latter case, the microphone capsule itself does not need any voltage to function, since the eponymous electro material does not have to be additionally polarized. However, electric microphones also require a voltage to operate the impedance converter (usually a field effect transistor [FET]). With 'real condenser microphones', phantom power (+48 volts) is common. This voltage is not output by the sound solutions common on PCs. This is one of the reasons why an interface is often used in conjunction with a condenser microphone. An FET in an electronic microphone usually does not even require a tenth of this voltage. This voltage is usually output from PCs and smartphones.

USB microphones have a small, simple, sound card installed in the microphone housing. The whole thing is powered via USB. Indeed, most USB microphones are electronic microphones. USB microphones can be connected directly to the computer. An interface is not necessary or not useful.

The question is, what do you expect from a USB condenser microphone? Many of these microphones can't be properly leveled; which limits their practical value very much. Many have the artificial highs common for cheap electronic microphones and in connection with quite simple transducers often results in an unsightly 'digital' sound due to aliasing effects.

Especially since condenser microphones, depending on how your "studio" looks like and what you have in mind, may not always be the best choice.

Yes there are also (condenser) microphones that run directly via USB. For a "normal analog" microphone with XLR connection you would need a USB audio interface, which depending on the microphone type provides you with phantom power.

Using the MIDI and audio interfaces in parallel should actually work. How would you otherwise want to do it with a separate audio interface?

Thank you very much for the expert advice! That helped me alot.

Thank you, I can definitely do something with it.