Best USB Microphone for Your Home Recording
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Price
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Usability
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Design
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Warrenty
Blue Yeti USB Microphone - Best in All Specs
We have tested several top brands and taken user comments for choosing our winner. In all specs Blue Yeti USB Microphone is the best in price, design, quality and usability. If you want a hassle free plug and play microphone that works in almost every environment, then Yeti from blue technology is the right device you are looking for. The price is a bit higher than other mics in the market, but it’s not a deal breaker. Your are getting a good microphone in good price.
Pros
- Yeti can record crystal clear sound at any direction.
- Sits perfectly on y our desk.
- Records directly on computer.
Cons
- It’s heavy and not portable.
USB Microphones were not a common thing for regular people. Most PC and laptop users have their own headset with a microphone attached to it, they do not need an extra microphone. Although in recent days, the popularity of extra microphone has increased among everyone.
Those who intend to grab, record and deliver good quality sounds are in need of a good quality USB microphone. Podcasters, amateur musicians, Vloggers, sound engineers all of these professionals need USB microphone. Are you in any of these professions? Then our list of best USB microphones might help you.
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Blue Yeti USB Mic for Recording & Streaming on PC and Mac | Brand: Blue Color: Blackout Connector Type: USB 2.0 Connections: USB Power Source: Corded Electric | Check Price |
 | Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic for Recording and Streaming on PC and Mac | Brand: Blue Color: Black Connector Type: USB 2.0 Connections: USB Power Source: Corded Electric | Check Price |
 | Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone for Recording and Streaming on Computers (SAGOMIC) | Brand:Samson Technologies Color: Silver Connector Type: USB Power Source: Corded Electric Dimension: 6.00 x 1.00 x 5.00 inches | Check Price |
 | Blue Snowflake USB Microphone | Brand: Blue Color: Silver Connector Type: USB Connections: Wired Power Source: Corded Electric | Check Price |
 | Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone | Brand: Shure Color: Silver/Grey Connector Type: USB Power Source: Corded Electric | Check Price |
The level of professionalism defines the price of people ’s microphone. In our research we have found pro-musicians, radio jockeys and some professional bloggers also use expensive microphone setup in their workplace.
Some of these can cost more than $4000. Depends on the level of satisfaction a person want to get. We know that expensive microphones are the best ones to grab all kind of sounds around you and analyze in the perfect channel for later editing.
Price Defines the Microphone Quality
It’s true that the more you spend the better microphone you will get. So, depending on your budget you need to choose from several options. There are plenty of options for everyone, not to worry.
The main question is what you intend to do with your microphone?
Most people do not need an expensive piece. There are several cheap options under $100 that can do most of your work. To get a better level of recording you can go for the mid-market rang started from $150 to $400.
On our post, we have included some cheap USB microphones. Our key points in this research were price, quality of the recording, design of the microphone and ease of use.
Our 5 of the Best USB Microphone
We have chosen 5 microphones to highlight in our list. These microphones are very easy to use and are in a good price range for everyone. There is no number one when you are looking for a microphone to buy because what works for a person might not work for you.
Some people have a nice and sweet voice and some have very bad recording experience with the same kind of microphone.
What we understood is it also depends on the practice of using a microphone. Trained professional like news readers, podcasters, singers and radio jockeys can record well with almost all the microphones. But, if you are not used to taking via a microphone, at first attempt you can’t record well.
No big deal, practice makes a person perfect.
01. Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone
Samson Technologies have a long record of bringing quality microphones in the market. They have a variety of microphone selection for you and most of these are good if you are buying for the first time.
The most attractive thing of Samson microphones is their price and design. The one we have selected for our list is Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone.
It’s cheaper than the 80% portable microphone in the market. Not only the price, but we also loved the design concept of the mic too. The mic has a clip base for easily adjusting on your laptop or you can just put it on your desk.
The seamless integration makes the installation super easy. You do not need any extra software or driver for this. Just plug and play.
As for usability and grabbing sound, Samson Go Mic has both cardioid and omnidirectional pattern. Switchable anytime depending on your environment and need.
The recorded sound quality is very good for a mic under $100. Also, you can take it with you anywhere you go. Lightweight (4.8 Ounces) and plug and play anywhere.
Pros:
- It’s Portable
- You can clip it on Laptop easily.
- Compatible with the voice recognition software.
Cons:
- Not much we have found.
As a less pricey device, this works well in every environment. If you are a singer or youtube video maker, let’s try this first and move to a better one. The sound quality and the ease of use will surely amaze you.
02. Blue Snowball iCE Condenser Microphone
Blue Snowball iCE is a classic looking microphone. It stands on a three leg stand. Plug and play, no drivers needed. Good sound capturing power at your home or office.
This particular microphone comes in two color variation black and white. We tested with the black iCE version.
We tried with Skype, YouTube video recording and guitar chords. After 5 mins of recording each time, we are happy with the output.
The snowball has two microphones for grabbing sound, one in the front and one in the back. This is good when we want to grab the sound of an entire room. But, it also grabs the background noise, which can be a disturbing thing in cases of song recording.
In a closed environment where there is no noise, this works like a charm, but in an open area, this is not as useful as it should be.
People who love to record a podcast, YouTube videos can definitely use this in their home or office setup. Although it has portability and not heavy, we do not recommend it using in the outdoor environment.
Pros:
- Plug and play with Mac or PC.
- Nicely balanced, compact and lightweight.
Cons:
- Picks up background noise. This can be a problem if you record music and your surroundings have noise. Although very good response in the closed environment.
We all know that our laptops or mac has a built-in mic, but they are not up to the mark. With the addition of Blue Snowball iCE Condenser Microphone, you can enjoy the amazing sound recording experience.
Our skype and YouTube video recording with the mic was simply fantastic.Crystal clear sound from both ends makes it a really good deal.
03. Blue Yeti USB Microphone
Blue Yeti comes from the same company “Blue” as the snowball microphone. It is by far the best option in the mid-price range. Tested by our reviewron team and they confirmed this is a fantastic piece of tech in this price.
General Specs:
- Includes 3 condenser capsules, It can record almost any direction at anyplace.
- Available recording Patterns: cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional & stereo.
- Gain control, mute button, zero-latency headphone output.
- Compatible with Windows and Mac operating system.
When you want to plug and play a microphone that will give you crystal clear voice whether for recording or live broadcasting, then Yeti by Blue should be your choice.
The design is pretty impressive for the mic. It looks good, feels good in the hand, a solid piece of art. The balance, when it sits on the desk is also better than other mics.
You can record a clear tone in any situation with this. Blue Yeti has the tri-capsule technology to record precise and accurate voice.
Also, the four pattern settings mode is perfect for anyone recording audio for podcast, music, interview or live broadcasting.
The zero latency headphone jack, which is definitely a feature every microphone needs. You can hear your voice instantly without delay and correct yourself if necessary.
When you use the laptop or PC’s headphone jack, there is always a delay because of the processing time. This can be irritating if you are adding vocal tracks in videos. With Yeti by Blue, you are saved from the delay.
Comparing to other microphones in the market, Blue Yeti might be a little more costly. But, when you think of the quality and ease of use, this is the best choice a person can make. Also, we believe anyone going from amateur to pro might want to pay $30 to $40 more for a better experience.
Pros:
- Records crystal clear sound at any situation.
- 4 sound pattern settings to easily suit your recording need.
- Pretty simple plug and play device.
- Well balanced on your desk.
- Records directly to your computer.
Cons:
- It’s pretty heavy, so not portable like other ones.
- Switching to modes dial need a bit extra effort.
If you want to spend a decent amount of money and get a good product for your next recording, then Blue Yeti is perfect. In every indoor scenario, this works great.
Best USB Microphones in Budget
Aside from the top three selection, we have selected a few more options for you. These are also tested by our team and you can get a good grasp of sound with all these devices.
04. Blue Snowflake
We are coming back to Blue Microphones again. Our next selection is the Snowflake by Blue. Snowflake is a pretty smart microphone from Blue. It looks like a mobile stand you might have seen one of those.
The intelligent yet simple design helps to mount it on a laptop or just sit on your desk. Pretty lightweight and you can carry it easily in your laptop bag.
The square-like casing holds the USB cable. So, you do not need to worry about losing it. You can put the microphone even in your coat pocket.
You can also check another great compact option like this, Samson Meteorite USB Condenser Microphone. This is also a small and cheaper option than the Blue Snowflake.
Like other Blue techs, this microphone also grabs good quality sounds in the room environment. In indoor you will not get any noise of the background, but when recording outside or near an open window it can record some static or the sound of the breeze.
Our team experienced no big problem with recording sound, but the mounting clamp is a little bit clumsy. On a thicker laptop, this is a good clip, but on thinner one, the mounting is not as firm as it should be.
Also, there is a problem with the length of the USB cable. It’s a normal cable and it’s short. When you are adjusting it on your laptop sometimes it’s annoying to get a hold on your port. You can’t move it to both sides. Anyway, you can always buy a cheap longer cable as the alternative, but that won’t fit in your casing box.
Pros:
- Plug and Play microphone.
- Good for Gaming, YouTube Videos, podcasting etc.
- A cheap alternative of other portable mics.
Cons:
- The Quality of recording depends on the recording software.
- Noise cancellation is not at it’s best. But, works well in the room environment.
We hope that you are not going to record sounds or videos on the road or busy places. Otherwise, this is a good to have portable microphone.
05. Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone
If Yeti by Blue is our first choice then Shure MV5 is our second choice. Yeti is a perfect fit for your home setup, but it lacks the portability, this is the only downside of Yeti.
On the other hand, Shure MV5 is smaller than the Yeti, compact and can be easily taken anywhere. The head ball can be easily unscrewed from the base and plug into iPad, iPhone or any android device. No need for additional software.
This is also a plug and play device. When recording a song or talking in your friends drawing room, just put it on the table in front of you. Either use your iPod or Android device to get the recording. The small and lightweight design makes it possible to snuggle the mic in your pocket.
Pros:
- Records good quality sounds for podcasting, video recording or amateur singing.
- Portable and classic outlook.
- Plug and Play device. Installation can’t be easier.
Cons:
- Not all android devices are supported. Only devices that support USB Audio Class 2.0 and Micro-B OTG (On-The-Go) connectivity.
Shure MV5 can be your regular companion if you travel a lot. We have already discussed another potable mic at the very beginning Samson Go Mic. Both of these pieces are perfect for the persons who travels and records a lot.
So, here comes our ending of selections for the best microphone for your desktop or laptop. You are the one who needs to decide which path you want to go. Do you need a cheap one or a better one?
Even when searching on Aliexpress for cheap products we have found that a well-rated product will cost you around $30. At that price, you can get cheap ones from Amazon too, plus you have to consider the warranty of an electronic device.
