The Best USB Microphone. We tried to test a Samson Stage X1U wireless microphone but encountered difficulties on both the Windows desktop and Mac laptop. USB Lavalier Lapel Microphone,Fifine Clip-on Cardioid Condenser Computer mic Plug and Play USB Microphone with Sound Card for PC and Mac.(K053) by FIFINE TECHNOLOGY $15.99 $ 15 99 Prime.
Image Microphone Summary Check Price If you need a feature-laden USB mic that can handle anything from voice podcasts to instruments, it's hard to recommend anything other than the Blue Yeti. Not the cheapest on our list, but a bargain considering the quality you get.
The Best Bang for Your Buck award goes to the Blue Snowball. Solid sound and build quality, but we'd say best suited for voice recordings.
We highly recommend the stand-out Brushed Aluminum finish! Budget-priced USB mic, a #1 Best Seller on Amazon, and we found it to be the most recommended USB microphone for beginners. The option of USB or XLR is a great feature. If Audio-Technica is more your bag than Blue Microphones, then opt for this one over the Yeti. Perhaps slightly less versatile than the Yeti, it makes up for it in polish and sound quality. Fantastic condenser USB mic offered at an equally fantastic low price.
Like the Audio-Technica ATR-2100-USB, it's best suited for casual voice recording, podcasting, etc. Buying the right USB Microphone isn’t easy, as is the case with most purchases for your computer setup or studio where you have dozens of options available to you. Lucky for you, we did a massive amount of research, tested some models, and put together this guide to help you choose the right USB mic for your needs. Why a USB Microphone? Applications and Uses If you’re reading this guide, chances are you already know why you’re going with a USB mic, as opposed to an XLR microphone. If not, let’s talk about it for a bit.
It’s important that you know what the benefits and drawbacks are of choosing this type of microphone. If we had to sum it up in one sentence, a USB mics are a great choice for their simplicity and ease-of-use. The world of and pro audio can be quite complicated.
Getting into recording using microphones has a steep learning curve that could make a beginner’s head spin. Non-USB microphones typically have an XLR connection, and need to be plugged into an audio interface. Audio interfaces deserve their own buyer’s guide. And you’re in luck!
Check out our. Audio interfaces contain mic preamps, which power and amplify the mic. So you have dozens of choices for interfaces, hundreds of choices for microphones. You can see how it gets complicated quickly.
Enter the USB mic. USB mics 1) have a built-in preamp, and 2) connect to your computer via USB in easy plug-and-play fashion, eliminating the need for an interface. Reasons to get a USB microphone:. Your mic’ing needs are not complex - podcasting, voice acting, recording, recording voice-overs over a mix/podcast, getting started with singing and acoustic guitar recording, or you’re generally just looking for simplicity and ease of use. You don’t have or want an audio interface. Budget is important.
You want something that just gets the job done, so you can get on with your creative work. Reasons to not get a USB microphone:. Recording quality 8 out of 10 won’t cut it, you need 10 out of 10. You already have a good audio interface or mic preamp. You have a good amount of money to spend.
You have ample time to research dozens of interfaces and dynamic microphones. Final words of advice before we get to the recommendations: A USB mic is very convenient, albeit a little less flexible. Some will say for the same reason, USB mics have reduced sound quality compared to dynamic mics. You simply can’t have the best of all worlds.
Unless you’re willing to break the bank (we’re assuming you don’t want to). In the end, there’s probably no such thing as the best microphone. You need to choose the best mic for your specific recording needs and price range. If a USB mic sounds like the right choice for you, Top 5 USB Microphones It’s important that you know how we selected the best USB microphones. First, we looked at what other communities of audiophiles on the internet are recommending. If we want this to be the best guide, we need a good idea of what’s being talked about elsewhere. After making a list of the 20 or so models that everyone was mentioning, we looked at various communities such as ours, and on reddit like, and to see what USB mics were being recommended based on various use cases and budgets.
We got a chance to look at more specific recommendations, such as people asking for the best USB microphone for singing and rapping, best USB microphone under $100, and even best USB microphone under $50. Finally, we made a short list of five, and got our hands on those five so we could test them out in the office and make sure we’re recommending USB mics we would actually use ourselves! We restricted ourselves to a budget range of $40 to about $170. One USB mic we mention is actually $250, but it’s the only outlier. Blue Microphones Yeti Best suited for: singing, podcasting, Let’s Plays, online tutorials, live performance, home studio recording - vocals, home studio recording - guitar, voiceover use The overall most recommended USB microphone is the Blue Microphones Yeti. With nearly ten product offerings for USB mics alone, Blue Microphones is solidifying its place as the king of USB desktop mics.
And none in the lineup are more impressive than the Yeti. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better USB mic, especially at this price point. The Yeti is a winner on several fronts - sound quality, versatility, build quality, and of course the very budget-friendly price point. Sound quality: For a USB mic, the Blue Yeti is praised for how good it sounds. Now, remember, we’re not comparing this to a!
But compared to its competition, it’s powerful and clear. One reddit user remarked, 'I've done some recording videos with a friend who has a Yeti Blue, and he sounds like he's in the room next to me.' Versatility: The Blue Microphones Yeti is amazingly versatile. The built-in gain control is a particularly important feature. Imagine you’re recording various sources - different speakers with differing voice volumes, or a loud instrument that’s causing distortion or feedback- you can simply adjust this mic’s sensitivity with the gain control.
Another standout feature is the included 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. You’ll see the description of the Blue Yeti talk about “Zero-latency monitoring”. What exactly does that mean? Well, imagine if you were singing into the mic and had headphones on to listen to yourself. If there was latency, you would hear your voice with a slight delay after you spoke into the mic. As you can imagine, that would be extremely annoying.
Luckily, this mic lets you listen to whatever you're recording in real-time, without any delay from latency. The four polar patterns are also a feature we love about this mic. From reddit.also has a few polarity options, including the ability to record two stereo signals simultaneously on both sides of the microphone. (Good for getting two performers in a 'live' setting) Build quality: Not much to say here, but to us the build quality feels great. Here’s a redditor’s viewpoint on it: The stand is pretty good as is the build quality (it's heavy and solid).
I would recommend a pop filter since it's a condenser mic and very sensitive Aesthetically, you’re in luck - the Yeti is offered in Silver, Platinum, Black/Silver, and the very cool looking. Overall, for its features, its solid sound quality, and accolades it gets, the Blue Microphones Yeti is astoundingly inexpensive, and our top recommendation., as you might be able to get this already inexpensive microphone for even less!. Power Required: 5V 150mA. Sample Rate: 48 kHz. Bit Rate: 16 bit.
Polar Patterns: Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, Stereo. Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz. Dimensions (in stand): 4.7 x 4.9 x 11.6 inches. System Requirements: Windows XP or higher, Mac OS X 10.4.11 or higher,.reported to work on various Linux distributions such as Ubuntu and Debian.
Blue Microphones Snowball Best suited for: podcasting, Let’s Plays, online tutorials, voiceover use If the Blue Yeti is our overall choice, the 'Best Bang for your Buck' award goes to the Blue Microphones Snowball USB Mic. Some user comments across different subreddits sum it up quite nicely: I wouldn't call it 'professional' sounding but for the price it's very good. Best bang for your buck in that price range Excellent cheap mic. The Blue Snowball also has the distinction of being one of the most recognized mics, due to its retro/modern appearance (it comes in several colors - we got the and it looks gorgeous). The Snowball might be better suited for podcasting, gaming (Let's Plays, etc.), rather than hardcore use for recording instruments and vocals. But fear not - some of the users that reviewed it right here on Equipboard have said they regularly record guitar and vocals with it. That said, if all your budget allows is something in the $60USD range, you would be hard pressed to do better than this little gem.
Here’s why: In terms of features, it has a switch for 3 settings: cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad, and omni. Some users have complained of issues when recording sounds that are particularly soft or loud. For instance, one user mentioned to get the most defined sound when speaking into the mic, being within 12 inches is necessary (i.e. Definition suffers from far away). Another user noted that when recording loud vocals or instruments, the “cardioid with -10dB pad” setting is the only one of the 3 that won’t result in peaking/distortion. Your milage may vary, but the point is you’ll have to experiment with the ideal settings and recording distance depending on your intended use. When you do dial in the right settings, the sound of the Blue Snowball has been described as crisp and clear.
The build quality is also excellent; Blue Microphones seem to know what they are doing in this department. This USB mic comes with a mini tripod, but note you won’t be able to mount it on a traditional microphone stand. Transducer Type: Condenser, Pressure Gradient w/USB Digital Output. Polar Patterns: Omnidirectional or Cardioid. Frequency Response: Position 1-3: 40-18kHz. Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz/16 bit.
Weight: 460g. Dimensions: 325mm (circumference) Audio-Technica ATR-2100-USB Best suited for: podcasting, Let’s Plays, online tutorials, voiceover use Not content to let Blue Microphones steal the show, Audio Technica brings to your desk some very strong USB microphone contenders for your hard earned cash. Actually, the Audio Technica ATR-2100-USB Mic takes the least cash from you of any on our list. While definitely at a budget price, the ATR-2100-USB is on this list for a reason. It is actually the most recommended USB microphone for beginners in the. It also happens to be the #1 Best Seller Microphone on Amazon in the Vocal Dynamic Microphones category.
Don’t believe us? See it for yourself! The Audio Technica ATR-2100-USB is almost too good for the price. First of all, it has both a USB and XLR output, meaning you can have the plug-and-play convenience of a USB mic, and the versatility of an XLR mic. It has a volume control for monitoring and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Something’s gotta give, right? Does it sound terrible? The answer is no.
It sounds pretty great. There is one caveat: If you look at the specs, you’ll notice the frequency response starts out at 50Hz. This means the bottom end rolls off pretty rapidly around that point. The thing about this USB mic is that it comes highly recommended for voice work, particularly podcasting. To all the musicians out there wanting to record instruments, you might want to look elsewhere.
It’s not that this microphone can’t handle that, but there are likely better tools for the job, like the pricier. One redditor from the /r/podcasts community had this helpful remark.also have an XLR port that allows them to be brought forward if you ever upgrade to a mixer or audio interface These are dynamic microphones which means they are quieter but reject room and off axis noise in non sound controlled rooms better. We didn’t see much written about the build quality, other than the mini stand feels a little cheap. We can attest to this as well, however the ATR-2100-USB feels pretty well built overall.
It definitely does not feel as cheap as its unreal price tag!
Lavalier microphones are also called lapel mics. They are small and clip to your shirt, collar or tie. The great thing about lavalier mics is that they allow you to record hands-free. Once you have it positioned correctly, you won’t even have to think about the microphone. You can just focus on the content you are producing.
Because they are small and unobtrusive, they are great for video as well and are commonly used with DSLR cameras and iPhones. Lavalier mics are commonly used by sports anchors, news reporters, conference presenters, churches and more. They make a great option for podcasting on the go or creating YouTube videos as well. (all different styles) Lav mics come in both wired and wireless options, both having their pros and cons.
We’ll start by highlighting the best lavalier microphones for a variety of budgets in the wired configuration. Contents. Best Wired Lavalier Microphones Rode smartLav+ The is one of the best lavalier mics for a smartphone. You can use it with a DSLR or audio recorder, but you may need a.
The smartLav+ has great sound and build quality, which is rare for devices of this size. It is an omnidirectional condenser mic, meaning it picks up sound from all angles. It’s built with a windscreen to reduce wind noise and plosives. The cable is Kevlar-reinforced and the clip is strong so you don’t have to worry about it falling off. Rode created their own iPhone app for this mic called the Rode Rec (sorry Android users, but it still works with any recording app). It comes with some standard EQ settings and the ability to export to SoundCloud and DropBox.
If you plan to Snapchat regularly or do Facebook Live’s or Periscopes, get this mic. For people doing interviews, they just came out with the that comes with two smartLav+’s and a Lightning adapter. Shure MVL Likely the most direct competitor to the SmartLav+ above, the is an omnidirectional condenser lav mic with a 3.5mm TRRS connection for smartphones or tablets.
Just like the SmartLav+, you’ll need a to use this with DSLRs or digital recorders. You’ll notice many of the poor reviews are because people weren’t aware of the differences between 3.5mm inputs.
No batteries are required, the cord is about 52″ long, it has a great dynamic range, and a low self-noise level. It’s really a great option for a fair price. The frequency response ranges from 45 Hz to 20kHz and the package includes a windscreen, clip, and carrying pouch. Audio-Technica ATR3350iS The is another lav mic that is marketed as “for smartphones” but it will work with a DSLR or audio recorder as well. It comes with an adapter to plug into the headphone jack of smartphones. The cable is nearly 20-feet long and this a big step up from the built-in phone mic for only $30 or so.
The battery lasts about a month with heavy use and it comes with a windscreen. I’ve used this outdoors near a river and it barely picked up the background water sound. This is a great choice if you want a longer cable. Giant Squid Audio Lab Crazy name, I know. The gets great reviews and has great sound quality for a sub-$50 mic. It clip is metal and strong so it will stay in place. It comes with a windscreen, although it doesn’t always stay in place.
This mic uses a standard 3.5 mm microphone jack, so it’s not recommended for smartphones, but works great with, DSLRs and digital recorders. Sony ECM-44 The is a step up when compared to the previous wired lavalier mics. It uses an XLR connector, which means you’ll need a, or another device (like a Zoom recorder) with an XLR input.
These can easily be used both on stage or with a. It comes with 2 metal clips: one clip for a single mic and one clip for dual lav mics. The wire is thick and sturdy and it has the option to use battery power. The sound quality is accurate and feels natural – although you should consider this a cross between the above “entry-level” mics and more professional models (below).
Rode Lavalier The is a high-quality lapel mic that will give you broadcast quality audio. It uses Rode’s proprietary MiCon connector system that allows you to change how you plug it in (XLR and 3.5mm stereo are common choices) as well as the option to get a. You will need to get a connector when you purchase the microphone as it doesn’t come with one. It does come with a water-resistant storage case, pop filter, windshield, clip, and has a 4-foot cable. I actually recommend you look at our top choice in the wireless section as their comes with this mic, making it a killer deal. Audio-Technica AT899 Subminiature Our next wired lavalier mic recommendation is the.
It uses phantom and battery power, has a low profile and has amazing sound quality (don’t be fooled by its small size). This mic, as well as the next few, are a big step up in terms of sound quality – and price. The microphone is 5 mm in diameter and is easily hidden. It comes with full complement of accessories:.
clothing clip. viper clip. magnet clip and lanyard (black models only). windscreens. element covers. interchangeable single and double mic holders This mic also uses an XLR connector and comes with a 9.8-foot cable. It is built exceptionally well – as are the accessories.
Sony ECM77B The is another professional-level lav mic. It is an industry standard and has been around a long time. Many people use them in TV studios and for interviews. Check out our.
The sound quality is excellent – full and natural without buzz or hissing. It also has excellent frequency response ranging from 40Hz – 20kHz. It is powered via phantom power or a AA battery. The ECM77B is extremely durable and meant to be taken on the road and will withstand a beating. If you’re doing an interview show and you want something small to travel with, this is a great choice. Sennheiser MKE2-PC If you want to step up another notch, the is your mic.
It has a wide 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency response, the microphone is only 4 mm wide and is water-resistant. The sound quality is amazing and it does an excellent job of reducing background noise. This is a great lav mic for both indoor and outdoor use – in nearly any temperature – and the stainless cable is made to last.
This mic doesn’t come with a clip, so you’ll definitely need to get the for $40, but it comes with a nice padded carrying case for both the MKE2 and the accessories: Best Wireless Lavalier Microphones For DSLR Cameras Now we’re going to look at wireless lavalier systems designed specifically for DSLR video cameras, but most of these are flexible enough for many different uses. Rode RodeLink Filmmaker Kit The is easily my favorite wireless lav mic for DSLRs. It is easy to use and set up and will sound great at 300 feet away or more, depending on line of sight and other wireless signals being used nearby.
As you can see, it comes with a transmitter, receiver, and a lavalier microphone. The microphone itself usually sells for over $200, so this entire kit being only about $400 is amazing! It uses a 2.4GHz digital signal, has one-button pairing, is built solid, and looks great! Sennheiser AVX – MKE2 Lavalier Pro Set Microphone sound familiar?
I recommended the MKE2 above in the wired section, but this is a wireless set designed for film. I’ve also recommended the AVX wireless system as one of the for DSLRs. Combine all that together and you have the. It uses the 1.9GHz range so it doesn’t need a license and the transmitter plugs into an XLR port.
They also have for a couple hundred dollars less. Saramonic Dual Wireless Lavalier Microphone Bundle The comes with 2 transmitters, 2 receivers with lavalier mics, and an audio mixer for DSLR cameras. As you can see, the antennas are fairly long, so you will need to make sure they can be hidden and kept out of your shot. It’s not the highest quality equipment, but it works well and is a great value.
Best Wireless Lavalier Microphones For Live Performances I’ve recommended several, so I’m going to try to recommend wireless lavalier microphones that would complement the suggestions there. They will use the currently, as of 2018, allowed frequencies and match the frequency ranges I’ve suggested before so you can easily build out a live wireless system. Sennheiser XSW 2-ME2-A I recommended the handheld version in another post. The is the wireless lapel version that would fit right in.
You can mix and match up to 12 of these (they also have headset, instrument, and a handheld condenser option) and it has automatic frequency management and sync, along with being rack mountable. Shure GLXD14/93 I’m a big fan of Shure wireless systems, and the is a digital 2.4GHz system with a range of up to about 200 feet. The WL93 microphone is an omnidirectional condenser lavalier and has a windscreen. The bodypack uses an intelligent lithium-ion battery that can be used for up to 16 hours at a time. There is also a that uses the WL185 cardioid lav mic which is great to reduce ambient noise. Sennheiser EW 512 G3-A The also uses the MKE 2 lapel condenser microphone. There is an auto-lock function so you can’t accidentally change the settings, a battery indicator on both the receiver and transmitter, and automatic frequency scanning.
There is also an Ethernet port for connection to Sennheiser’s Wireless Systems Manager software. Many people also swear by the which is compatible with this receiver.
Best Bluetooth Lavalier Microphones Bluetooth audio is more compressed than other wireless formats, but for vlogging and less pro-level recording, these wireless Bluetooth lav mics will work great. Sony ECM-AW4 The is a Bluetooth lavalier mic kit that offers clear audio for use with anything with a 3.5mm mic input, including digital recorders and DSLRs. It has a built-in microphone, but you can also plug in any 3.5mm TRS microphone (like the Giant Squid above, for instance) if you want to use a better mic. If you plug in an external mic, handling noise will be greatly reduced as well.
It also comes with 2 earpieces for monitoring, TRS cable, pouch, and strap. The will work with any device that can connect and record with Bluetooth. Pretty much every smartphone has Bluetooth, so this is a great option to have a wireless lav mic for your iPhone or Android. On an iPhone, you may need to use a 3rd party video recording app that lets you use the Bluetooth connection as the input device.
Wireless Lavalier Mics For Smartphones Comica CVM-WS50 I recently found this awesome combo that includes a tripod, transmitter with clamp, receiver, and lavalier mic. They also have a model for about $30 more that includes a handheld Bluetooth remote.
Samson Go Mic Mobile Lavalier System Samson also has great kit if you need a wireless lavalier mic for your iPhone or Android. The includes all the cables you need to connect to either a smartphone or DSLR.
It uses the 2.4GHz digital spectrum, works up to 100 feet, and has an optional handheld mic you can get too.