what to look for in a usb microphone
The all-time USB microphones in 2022
The best USB microphones combine tiptop-quality recording with a simplicity that makes them easy to fix up and use, fifty-fifty if you've never handled a defended mic earlier. While some can be even better with boosted software, usually all you need to exercise is plug and play — or plug and record, as it were.
In other words, anyone can give themselves a dramatic boost to how they sound in remote meetings and social chats, granting even better clarity than the best headsets and headphones for working from abode. Only which should you buy? Our list of the all-time USB microphones we've tested tin answer that.
And let's not forget other audio hardware essentials we've tested to get your domicile studio started, including the all-time podcasting microphones, best headphones, best laptops, all-time webcams and best computer speakers.
What are the best USB microphones?
Our choice as the overall best USB mic is the Blue Yeti. Despite being over a decade old, no other mic in the Yeti'south course has fully bested its combination of affordability, ease of use, build quality and particular-rich recording adequacy.
Another great option is the JLab Talk, a slightly cheaper USB microphone that nonetheless stands upward on sound quality. It's also got a range of directional recording patterns, which can be useful if you want to tape multiple speakers with a unmarried depression-cost mic.
We're also fond of the Blue Yeti 10, which is basically a souped-up design of the Blue Yeti with a similar overall pattern and loftier standards of recording quality. It's more expensive of course, merely offers greater flexibility and is a fine USB microphone.
The best USB microphones you tin buy
The Blue Yeti is one of audio tech'south timeless classics: a USB microphone that'due south good at just about everything, and bad at pretty much goose egg. Other than a relatively inflexible stand up there's everything a home recorder could want here, from excellent recording quality to a sturdy (but not too bulky) design.
If y'all like you lot can just plug in and first using it in cardioid manner, but the Yeti's versatile mix of recording patterns as well makes it feasible for recording a grouping. Bidirectional way records both in front end of and behind the mic, for case, while the omnidirectional mode records in a full 360-degree radius.
Read our full Blue Yeti review .
Despite JLab's relative lack of experience with dedicated mics, information technology's put out a stellar USB microphone in the Talk. This affordable, tripod-mounted number has the same prepare of recording patterns as the Blueish Yeti, and is roughly a lucifer for it on the clarity and warmth of its recordings.
Some may detect the JLab Talk even amend, as its tripod base is more adjustable than the Yeti's fixed stand. We likewise like how the proceeds and headphone book controls employ a large light-up ring to point current levels, then it's easy to tell at a glance what your electric current settings are. Lesser mics don't always make these details articulate.
Read our full JLab Talk review .
Blue has nonetheless another top-notch USB microphone in the Yeti X. As the proper name suggests, it'south basically a souped-up Blue Yeti, with a like overall design and high standards of recording quality. That goes for a range of supported directional patterns, also.
Information technology does cost more than, in exchange for a scattering of blueprint improvements: the gain switch is positioned on the front end, for easier access, and a band of LEDs can keep you informed on how loud you are in existent time; a handy alternative to using headphones for monitoring. Nosotros'd still say the standard Blueish Yeti is the better bargain, especially for coincidental users, but the Blueish Yeti X is a fine USB mic.
Read our full Bluish Yeti 10 review .
Non unlike the JLab Talk, the Movo UM700 aims to put category-leading audio quality into a somewhat more affordable package, without sacrificing build quality or utility. In fact, information technology was originally pitched to us as a "Blue Yeti killer."
The Yeti is clearly still breathing, but the UM700 tin put up a decent fight. It'due south sturdy and, every bit per usual with the best USB mics, works easily as soon as you plug it in. Its recording capabilities held up well in testing also, fifty-fifty if some periodic proceeds adjustments were necessary. Happily, you tin do this with the onboard controls, without the need for separate software.
Read our full Movo UM700 review .
Aye, another one. Whereas the Blue Yeti X is a more refined accept on the microphone at the meridian of this listing, the Yeti Nano is an attempt to make it simpler, cheaper and more than portable. All without dropping into the outright upkeep territory already occupied by the Snowball Water ice.
The result is a microphone that sounds well-baked and takes up less space on your desk, while maintaining the elegant ease of apply that Blue mics are loved for. The Yeti Nano does drop bidirectional and stereo recording modes, so it's non equally versatile every bit the similarly-priced JLab Talk, but since y'all only need cardioid for directional recording, this remains a good selection for calls or the odd spot of gaming.
Read our full Bluish Yeti Nano review .
The Wave: 3 is ane of the pricier cardioid-only models we've tested, just it's one of the best USB microphones for a reason. Information technology sounds great, has like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use controls and fifty-fifty looks rather handsome, what with its slim sideways profile and steel grille. Information technology's also cheaper than the EPOS B20, another streaming-focused mic.
Its existent forcefulness, though, lies in its bonus features for streaming. It'southward designed to closely integrate with Elgato's Stream Deck, a 16-push keypad that can command all way of functions while you're in a heart of a stream. This tin include the Wave: 3, so you can accommodate your mic input properties with only a few elementary button presses. Non-streamers tin can look elsewhere, only this is one of the best specialized USB mics we've seen.
Read our full Elgato Wave: 3 review .
We're fans of the standard HyperX QuadCast, and the QuadCast S model ups its game by adding customizable RGB lighting around the grille. Gamers and streamers in particular might appreciate this extra touch of flashiness — afterward all, who says a USB device can't look interesting?
Clean, clear recording quality besides ensures that the QuadCast S isn't just a shiny bauble, and the built-in daze mount and pop filter assist out too. If you're willing to spend a little more for some hardware extras, the QuadCast S has yous covered. A full set of cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional and stereo modes are on manus too, though once more this doesn't overcomplicate things if you just desire to pop in the USB cable and go.
Read our full HyperX QuadCast S review .
How to choose the best USB microphone for you
Toll
All of the best USB microphones take broadly like grade factors and, of course, connectivity. Equally such the get-go thing you may wish to consider is price: practise you try to stick with a cheap $50 model, or spend over $100 for a more than fully-featured model?
In truth, $100-150 is all the same relatively depression by dedicated microphone standards, and you can get several rich-sounding mics in this cost range alone. It'due south fine to store cheaper, though, if you only want a USB microphone for but occasional use.
Sound quality
None of the mics on this list sound bad, or else they wouldn't be hither. But it's natural to desire want the highest recording quality that your budget allows for, which is probably why the Blue Yeti remains and then popular. Integrated popular filters can help silence distracting popping sounds when yous're speaking close to the grille, just these aren't essential for loftier sound quality. Information technology's more of import to brand sure you have the microphone angled correctly while you're using it.
Recording patterns
If you're only going to be recording yourself, any mic that uses a cardioid recording blueprint is fine; this just means the mic simply records the surface area in forepart of it, i.east. a unmarried user.
If you lot want to dabble in making podcasts or annihilation else that requires recording multiple speakers at once, bidirectional and omnidirectional capabilities are a must. Some USB microphones besides have a stereo way, which isn't much meliorate than cardioid for private speech, but can exist good for recording music. Panel discussions also lend themselves well to stereo recording, as you lot'll go an thought of where each speaker was positioned when you listen dorsum.
How we test the all-time USB microphones
To test USB microphones, we'll record ourselves speaking into them and play back those recordings to hear how they sound with different settings. Fortunately, most models keep these simple, but tweaking the controls that are available and re-recording also lets us judge both how user-friendly these mics are and how like shooting fish in a barrel it is to notice the ideal gain, volume and positioning for them.
Naturally we'll repeat the process if a USB mic supports different recording patterns. Nosotros can test bidirectional and omnidirectional modes merely past speaking into the microphone from different angles, simply sometimes nosotros tin put them through the ultimate examination with a alive podcast recording. Alternatively, nosotros'll utilise a mic for voice and video calls, and ask other members of the phone call how we sound.
We rate all our microphone reviews on a 5-point organization (one = worst, 5 = best). Products that excel in one or more than detail fields and that's rated 4 stars or to a higher place may also receive an Editor'due south Choice award.
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-usb-microphones
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