What usb mic should i buy

So, read on if you want to improve the way you sound online. With stereo and bidirectional modes, this is one of the best USB microphones on the market for recording one-on-one interviews or group conversations. With 5v of power from its USB connection, the Blue Yeti has several essential controls built into the mic, including a gain dial, live-headphone monitoring with volume control, and a pattern switch.

The major downside of the Blue Yeti is that everything is being recorded through a single mic rather than a multihead design. Read our full review: Blue Yeti. Meant for more of a mobile recording solution than a fixed setup, the NT-USB Mini has more limited onboard controls than larger mics. But what it lacks in controls it makes up for in terms of focusing on sound recording.

It also benefits from a heavily-weighted mic stand so it can withstand audible shocks if you accidentally bump the desk or table. A year after launch, Rode introduced free software Rode Connect that seamlessly connects up to four NT-USB Minis to a single computer, providing a simple way to balance levels, mix, record and apply utilitarian effects to multiple speakers in the same room.

The requirements of a music recording studio will be different to someone who simply wants to level-up their FaceTime or Zoom setup, for example.

There are plenty of options to choose from though, for all budgets and ability levels. Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World Total Guitar and Dawsons Music.

Chris loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar gear and synths, to microphones and music production hardware. MusicRadar The No. Included in this guide: 1.

Rode Podcaster. Type: Condenser. Pickup pattern: Cardioid. Features: Internal pop filter, Low-cut filter. Accessories: Mic stand mount, USB cable. Reasons to avoid - No tripod. Shure MV7. Type: Dynamic. Accessories: Mic stand adapter. Reasons to avoid - Lightning cable not included.

Blue Microphones Yeti. Pickup pattern: Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional and stereo. Features: Gain control, mute button. Reasons to avoid - Not the most portable. Features: Monitor level control, Mixer.

Accessories: Pop shield, tripod base, carry case. Reasons to avoid - Tripod is a bit flimsy. Reasons to avoid - Sound quality not as good as others on the list. The Blue Yeti X is a condenser microphone and it allows you to choose between cardioid, bi-directional, stereo, and omnidirectional recording patterns.

It sports a gain knob with LED lights that indicate if you are peaking or close to peaking. The back of the microphone has a knob for selecting your recording pattern.

CE recording software for adding real-time vocal effects, but this software is not available on MacOS. Inside the mic is a four-capsule condenser array, with each condenser angled differently to record omnidirectional sound.

This is great if you want to capture room ambiance, but the ability to switch presets to something more focused—say cardioid mode—is just as valuable. This dynamic microphone has a single cardioid recording pattern, and supports the simultaneous use of the XLR and USB outputs. The ability to use both outputs at once grants a lot of flexibility: you can record a high bit-depth audio file for post-production, and a lower-resolution audio file for reference.

The MV7 is a plug-and-play affair: it includes everything you need to start recording, though you may want to get a mic stand or boom arm to keep it steady. There are seven different recording modes to choose from—three of which are presets available in auto mode from the Shure Plus MOTIV app, and four of which can be selected from the manual recording mode.

To hear all of the audio samples, and see all of the frequency response charts, head over to our full review. The Shure MV7 microphone is a stellar performer, and can handle nearly any situation thrown at it. This USB hybrid certainly deserves a spot on your desk. The best USB microphones are portable—after all the whole point of them is not to need any additional equipment.

This tiny microphone is built to work just about everywhere, just plug it into a laptop or computer and point at the sound you want to record. The Samson Go Mic allows you to switch between an omnidirectional and cardioid pickup pattern, making it versatile for recording while sitting at a laptop or for recording a full room meeting. The Samson Go Mic record bit audio at The Movo UM has a sturdy build that is bound to stay balanced on your desk. It comes with a removable wind screen that does a good job of reducing plosives, fricatives, and sibilance.

The bottom of the mic also houses a 3. Its heart-shaped pattern means sounds directly in front of it get recorded while off-axis noises are effectively stifled. This affordable SB microphone features a large, front-facing condenser mic element easily registers vocals, while the cardioid pattern attenuates ambient noise. The touch-sensitive mute button at the top of the microphone is a good example of this. Often, mute buttons and switches make a loud click when recording.

This doesn't. The Quantcast S hits the sweet spot of price, sound, and features if you're looking to add something to your live stream. The biggest difference between the Quadcast S and last year's Quadcast is that it offers dynamic RGB lighting, so it looks like you're speaking into a lava lamp. Read our full HyperX Quadcast S review. Elgato's debut microphone is aimed at streamers looking to add quality audio to their streams with the minimum of fuss.

The Wave 3 is a feature-packed 96kHz microphone that sounds incredible, is easy to use, and is compatible with most desk boom arms. The digital audio mixer supports up to 8 channels of audio and can output to OBS and Xsplit, giving you more control over your stream's audio without needing to be a sound engineer.

The capacitive mute button is a nice touch with Clipguard tech that automatically adjusts your levels from ever hitting red. The single cardioid polar pattern ultimately limits the Wave 3's versatility, but if you're looking for an easy-to-use microphone for your next stream, this is a decent option. Read our full Elgato Wave 3 review. Best webcams : be seen while you get your stream on Best capture cards : lessen the load with a dedicated card.

The Razer Seiren Mini is one of those obnoxiously adorable pieces of hardware I instantly want to put on my desk. Its stylish pill-shaped design and color variety give the Mini the personality lacking in some of our other choices on this list.

And it sounds great, to boot. What the Mini lacks in features, it makes up in price and sound. Some people won't get over the fact that there's no mute button, and the proprietary micro-USB is a bit of a pain. Even so, the Seiren Mini makes for an excellent starter mic for budding podcasters and streamers. Read our full Razer Seiren Mini review. EPOS' stunning streaming microphone, the B20, is definitely going for a stylish Silicon Valley exec look rather than a Twitch streamer.

From the gunmetal finish to the sleek cylinder design, the EPOS B20 finds a way to turn heads without being flashy. In case you're wondering if the B20 sounds just as good as it looks.

You'll be happy to know that the sound is right out of the box. This feature-packed condenser mic gives any mic you plug into it access to the EPOS suite of EQ settings and surround sound. The only downside is that the mic stand isn't shockproof, so that the vibrations might get picked up during recording.

A polar pattern determines how much and from which direction an audio signal will be picked up by a microphone. For gaming, you'll mostly want a pattern that picks up sound directly in front of the microphone you and not much else from anywhere else the environment.

Cardioid: Records in front of the microphone. Perfect for voice-over, vocals, and streaming. Bidirectional: Captures audio in front of and behind the mic.

Ideal for one-on-one interviews.