Interviews and singing duets are two benefits of this. Polar patterns are vital as they help to control what gets heard and what doesn’t. Check what accessories come with your microphone as well. PROSClear, crisp signal with adjustable gain and subtle DSP.Includes high-pass filter button.Zero-latency headphone monitoring. Digital mics that use USB cables are a totally different beast. The device is in working order. High Performance Multi Pattern USB Mic Four selectable polar patterns Choose between four polar patterns (stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, bidirectional) to optimize your broadcast setup and keep the focus on the sounds you want to be heard. What works for live streaming games might be a musical disaster, and the pristine signal you get from a top-flight mic aimed at musicians might provide far more fidelity (and far less convenience) than you need for a podcast. For such a small, inexpensive mic, the Blue Snowball pulls … This is because, on the whole, USB mics are made less for pro-level setups and more for typical computer-based setups that lack an audio interface to field multiple inputs. $199.00. If your goal is to get the highest quality recording possible, with a USB mic you also need to take into account sample rate and bitrate. ONLINE ONLY. The Apogee HypeMiC includes analog compression in its signal chain to very impressive results. Among USB mics, it's mostly (but not always) condenser mics, and mostly (but not always) cardioid patterns. Any editing you do at the computer is being done to a signal that has already been digitally processed, with the maximum sampling and bitrate dictated by the microphone. A quick word about a major limitation in the USB microphone world: You can typically only record one mic at a time. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders of £20 or more. But USB mics can still provide solid, high-fidelity signals—it's just assumed that you don't need to run multiple mics at once. Capture professional-quality audio on your PC or Mac with the Samson Meteor Mic USB Microphone. CONSLack of DSP presets not for those seeking EQ/compression baked into signal.No pop filter or adapter for standard mic stand. He specializes in reviewing audio products, and is obsessed with headphones, speakers, and recording gear. All you need is to plug the USB cable into the USB socket of a computer and to follow some simple system operation to start recording. All mics are going to be able to do 44.1kHz/16bit, but if fidelity is a top priority, you may want to consider mics with higher sampling rates like 48kHz or even 96kHz, and 24-bit capabilities. Thus, most gaming mics aren't going to be shy about employing DSP to reduce distortion and clipping. After that, you take into account the mic's specific characteristics that make it bright or dark. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. Basically, most USB mics already have their mic pre's built in, and they also have built-in analog-to-digital conversion. Combining three capsules and four different pattern settings, Yeti is the ultimate tool for creating amazing recordings, directly to your computer. CONSAudible hiss at mid-to-high gain levels.DSP not for those seeking a pure signal. Finally, most gaming mics are going to offer their own headphone jack, hopefully low- or zero-latency, so you don't hear a distracting slapback delay while talking. To start, you should know how most professional microphones function. If you are recording an experienced speaker who has excellent mic technique, you might want to go for a USB mic that has no DSP baked in. (The second USB-C mic I’ll review next will be the RØDE VideoMic NTG shotgun, which I just received from Australia. For some users, a mic that ships with its own stand and windscreen or pop filter will be the more reasonable choice. Or, it may be necessary to hear all speakers around a table in a business conferenc… I believe the AKG Lyra is the first digital microphone I have ever tested so far which includes the very modern USB-C port. Ended: 17 Nov, 2020 14:33:18 GMT. Now that we've got that all out of the way, let's break down the three most typical uses for a USB mic, and discuss the various options, characteristics, and needs in each realm. Finally, most USB mics are plug-and-play ready. Some mics have polar patterns that only hear sound from the front and rear but not the sides. For sale: Blue Yeti Red and Black(Stain Red) microphone + mini USB cable. The audio is processed and digitized through the microphone itself instead of at the other end of the cable. The Elgato Wave: 3 is a solid USB microphone with a user-friendly design that's better suited for podcasters and streamers than musicians. LYRA is a professional multi-pattern USB condenser microphone that delivers pristine studio quality recordings. Cloudflare Ray ID: 60060f6d1c46e1ee 24-bit/192kHz USB Condenser Microphone with 4 Polar Patterns, 4-capsule Mic Array, Headphone Output, and Detachable Base Stand. Blue Yeti Multi-Pattern USB Microphone The Blue Yeti is the most advanced and versatile multi-pattern USB microphone available anywhere. CONSMost phone/tablet cases will need to be removed in order for mic to connect.Considerable latency on monitoring. Samson C03U Multi-Pattern USB Studio Condenser Microphone Based on the extremely popular C03 studio condenser microphone, the C03U delivers pristine audio quality with enhanced capabilities, most notably multiple pickup patterns. PCMag is obsessed with culture and tech, offering smart, spirited coverage of the products and innovations that shape our connected lives and the digital trends that keep us talking. That's where we come in. The Apogee MiC Plus delivers excellent clarity and ease of use, whether on a laptop or an iOS mobile device. Features • USB digital recording condenser microphone. In the pro studio world, those processes are often handled by standalone gear. Combining three capsules and four different pattern settings, Yeti is the ultimate tool for creating amazing recordings, directly to your computer. We could talk in circles here, but a USB mic for music recording should probably only have minimal DSP, if any. This item will be sent through the Global Shipping Programme and includes international tracking. CONSEasy to knock over.Voice mode is a bit heavy on DSP. Contributing Editor Tim Gideon has been writing for PCMag since 2006. Some engineers will record with a little EQ or compression as part of the signal chain, but that offers less flexibility down the road, as those effects are now baked into the recording. Razer Seiren Elite Studio-Grade Multi-Pattern USB Digital Microphone and Headphone Amplifier. PROSRecords audio that syncs up with video taken on phones and tablets.Wireless, small, and easy to operate. But musicians recording vocals with a pure signal are then likely to mix the recorded vocals in a multi-track scenario, applying EQ, dynamic compression, and perhaps reverb. Shop the Blue Snowball. While there are some models that employ DSP, like the Beyerdynamic Fox, the DSP in these scenarios is really subtle compared with a typical gaming mic's DSP. No additional import charges on delivery. The goal with any mic is almost always going to be about clarity, but for podcasts, we need to take into account the vocalist. We've tested a few that ship with cables to connect directly to the Lightning port on iOS devices, for instance. This can be particularly useful for location recordings—say, if your podcast calls for you to get the sound of a softball game in a park or the sound of glasses clinking and dinners chatting at a restaurant. The biggest differentiator between USB mics themselves is how they use digital signal processing (DSP). The affordable Rode NT-USB Mini microphone doesn't boast the biggest feature set, but it delivers a clear, crisp, DSP-free signal in an easy-to-use design. Blue Microphones Yeti - USB Microphone for Recording and streaming on PC and Mac, 3 Condenser capsules, 4 Pick-Up Patterns, Headphone Output and Volume Control, Black (Blackout) 4.6 out of 5 stars 7,555. The Yeti is one of the most advanced and versatile multi-pattern USB microphones available anywhere. The device is in decent condition. PROSExcellent dynamic mic for vocalsUSB (digital) and XLR (analog) connectionsShure Motiv app provides real-time EQ and basic controls while recording, PROSSolid, clean audio signalLow-latency monitoringEasy-to-operate onboard level controlsBuilt-in standFree software for blending various audio sources when streaming, CONSNo switchable mic patternsNo pop filter included. Clarity should be a given, so we focus on characteristics. The signal from the mic should be more or less pure, with EQ, dynamic compression, and reverb added later in production. PROSExcellent mic signal with strong clarity and the ability to add in analog compression.Good tripod stand and mic stand mount.Pop filter and carrying case included. There's also the omnidirectional route if you're trying to capture the sound of a room. front of the microphone. Accessories included with the Thronmax Mdrill One multi-pattern USB mic are an angled 3-meter long braided USB-C to USB-A cable, quick start guide, stickers and 1-year limited warranty card, which can be extended free or charge to a total of 2 years when registering the Mdrill One online. Based on the extremely popular C03 mic, the C03U delivers pristine audio quality with enhanced capabilities, including a high quality A/D converter and USB output. Newest HyperX - QuadCast USB Multi-Pattern Electret Condenser Microphone | 2020 Edition | For PS4, PC and Mac | Pop Filter | Anti-Vibration Shock Mount | | Red - Black | With KWALICABLE Bundle 4.2 out of 5 stars 23. Blue Yeti, Professional Multi-Pattern Microphone Silver Edition, USB: Condition: Used. Yeti is the most advanced and versatile multi-pattern USB microphone available anywhere. The Shure MV88 is a useful, compact microphone for recording via iOS devices on the go, whether in stereo or mono, with or without DSP. Luckily, many of the mics we include here ship with one or the other. Here you'll find the best mics we've tested, along with a guide to their various uses. A Royer R-121 ribbon mic, for instance, is a figure-eight pattern ribbon mic favored by engineers going for a richer, smoother sound (along with perhaps picking up some of the room), compared with a Shure SM7, the Michael Jackson-famed vocal mic also popular in broadcasting because of its crisp clarity. So USB mics are essentially combining the roles of mics with some of the necessary associated gear in a pro studio setting, and simplifying the signal chain for you. Some gaming mics will also have switches built in to work with specific consoles. Rated 4.5/5 16 reviews Write your review Item ID: LyraUSB $ 149.00. If you're in the market for a USB microphone, you probably have a specific use in mind for it. PROSQuality mic signal capable of rich lows and crisp highs.Multi-pattern, including adjustable stereo images and mono cardioid modes.DSP can be adjusted or disabled completely.Easy-to-operate recording app. £119.00. • Professional Multi-Pattern USB Mic for Recording & Streaming The World's #1 USB Microphone Create unparalleled recordings with your computer using Blue's best-selling family of Yeti USB microphones. While cardioid (single-direction) is the standard pattern, maybe you want to capture more than one voice with an omnidirectional or figure-eight pattern. The hybrid Shure MV7 microphone delivers strong vocal quality and the versatility of dual USB/XLR connectivity. Some mics avoid DSP completely and offer you the purest high-bitrate signal they can. PROSExcellent audio quality.Two capsules provide cardioid or omnidirectional polar patterns.Headphone jack with low-latency monitoring. In stock on October 30, 2020. In stock on December 21, 2020. There are a few marks(see pictures). Blue Snowball. Thanks to our proprietary tri-capsule technology, Yeti condenser microphones produce pristine, studio-quality recordings with legendary ease. The Blue Yeti X microphone is a worthy update to the lineup, with four mic patterns to meet a variety of recording needs. Perhaps most surprisingly, Avid Pro Tools, which is more or less the industry standard for music recording software, requires a somewhat tedious workaround to enable the use of most USB mics. With USB mics, the concept isn't—or at least shouldn't be—wildly different. With all new total Blackout finish, Blackout Yeti adds style and energy to your recording or broadcasting setup. Spending more doesn't necessarily mean you get a better product, but there does seem to be a fairly sensible scale of quality associated with price. USB-C interface and included cable. If, on the other hand, the podcast routinely calls for interviewees who have little or no mic technique, you may wish to use a mic that has some protective DSP like in the aforementioned gaming mics, so that outbursts of laughter or sudden rises in level are not immediately turned into a distorted mess. Another consideration is how many people will be speaking simultaneously. With music, the goal is typically to get the purest recording "to tape" (even if your "tape" is GarageBand) and then any processing that needs to happen will happen when mixing. Condition is Used. Following the success of the C01U, Samson presents the C03U Multi-Pattern USB Studio Condenser Microphone. Thus, the concept of a "pure" signal is a bit misleading—what you're really usually after is a clean signal, which should be a given with pro mics. Depending on what and where you plan to record, you might need your own mic stand, pop filter, or perhaps even a shock mount. Learn more - opens in a new window or tab. If the primary feature you desire is rock-bottom pricing… Then you’ll definitely … Best For DSP-Free Recording in a Compact Design, PROSCrisp, clear, DSP-free mic signalZero-latency monitoring mode. Gamers, more likely than not, need some of these things to be baked in from the outset, or at least to have some form of DSP that knows when to limit spikes in levels—say if you shout or laugh during a recording. Gamers who want to record or live stream their gameplay would appear to need the same things musicians who want to record clear vocals need. It might be worth considering a mic that has a figure-eight pattern if there's a one-on-one interview happening—placing the mic in the middle of the two speakers in this scenario (provided they are not far away from each other) can yield a natural-sounding recording. Blue Microphones 988-000205 Yeti Nano Professional Condenser USB Microphone with Multiple Pickup Patterns & No-Latency Monitoring for Recording and Streaming … Combining three capsules and four different pattern settings, the Yeti is an ultimate tool for creating amazing recordings, directly to your computer. PROSAffordable.Delivers crisp audio in a cardioid recording pattern.No DSP means pure signal.Plug-and-play ready. CONSExpensive.Smash mode is a bit over the top. Sometimes, you may want to hear the person speak along with a little background ambiance for atmosphere. Operate the microphone via complicated driver better handle on that versatile multi-pattern USB studio condenser microphone provides... The microphone via complicated driver to knock over.Voice mode is a bit on. Another consideration is how they use digital signal processing ( DSP ) hear... Trying to capture the sound source so that there are zero distractions polar patterns.Headphone jack with low-latency.... 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