Whether you’re looking to start a podcast, record your own music or simply want to be better heard during video calls, the best USB microphones can help take your audio to the next level.
While most of us have access to microphones built into laptops, webcams or headsets, the recording quality they provide isn’t always up to par. They can often sound thin or treble-heavy, be prone to picking up distracting background noise from your computer’s fan, mouse or keyboard and may be positioned too far away to capture your voice clearly. Wireless Lavalier Microphone
Dedicated USB microphones are designed to fix these problems. They’re larger, more sensitive, better tuned for vocals and can be positioned for optimal recording quality. They’re also easy to set up – simply plug the cable into any available USB port – and capable of capturing professional-quality audio for live streams, podcasts, video calls and music demos.
While you’ll find a wide range of USB microphones on the market today, you don’t necessarily have to splash out to pick up a quality unit. Below you find our brief USB microphone buying guide, to get you up to speed on the key features to look out for, followed by our roundup of the best USB microphones you can buy.
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The vast majority of USB microphones fit into one of two categories: condenser or dynamic mics.
Both types of microphone use a diaphragm to pick up sound pressure waves but they differ in how they translate those waves into an electronic signal: condenser microphones feature a pair of electrically charged plates, while dynamic microphones contain a wire coil.
Dynamic mics are great for recording loud sounds – think live guitars, drums and piano – while condenser mics excel at picking up finer details, making them ideal for recording voices. Most USB microphones use a condenser design.
A microphone’s recording, or polar pattern, describes the area around the microphone that’s most sensitive to sound. For vocals or speech, you’ll generally want to look out for a microphone with a cardioid pattern. Cardioid pattern microphones are most sensitive to sounds in front of them and less sensitive to sounds behind them, allowing them to focus on the speaker while minimising distracting background sounds.
Most podcasting and streaming microphones feature a cardioid pattern but you can also find mics with bi-directional patterns, which are great for recording interviews, as well as omnidirectional microphones, which capture sound from all directions. Some microphones even offer switchable patterns, allowing you to change the recording angle depending on your recording needs.
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When weighing up different microphones it can be worth checking out a given mic’s sample rate and frequency response. USB microphones convert analogue audio into a digital signal by sampling the sound many times per second at a specific bit rate or resolution. 24-bit/96kHz – a 24-bit sample captured 96,000 times per second – is the gold standard for audio recording and is in line with today’s high-resolution audio formats. Most USB microphones, however, tend to top out at around 16-bit/48kHz, which is still perfectly adequate and equal to CD quality.
As for frequency response, this describes the range of frequencies the mic can capture, from, say, 30Hz at the bass end to 18kHz at the treble. Most mics offer a decent range, and it’s unlikely you’ll be recording really deep sub-bass on a USB mic.
In any case, it’s worth taking the specs with a pinch of salt. While they have an impact on the sound, microphones are well known for having more important qualities that you can’t tie down to a number.
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Some form of pop filter or pop shield is well worth having, as this can help prevent distracting plosive sounds when fast, percussive syllables hit the microphone, particularly Ps and Bs.
Some kind of adjustable stand is also a plus, while serious streamers or podcasters may want to look out for a shock mount to avoid picking up any external vibrations. Compatibility with studio or boom arms is also handy, as this allows you to get the microphone off of your desk and closer to your face.
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Price when reviewed: £50 | Check price at Amazon
The Blue Snowball has become the classic entry-level mic for streamers and podcasters. It’s cheap for a high-quality condenser mic and cheerful, with a compact design and a bundled tripod stand that enables it to work at a wide range of angles. If you’d rather have it off your desktop, it’ll fit a range of stands and shock mounts.
The clever thing about the Snowball is that it’s better and more versatile than you might expect, flicking between omnidirectional modes for general recording and a cardioid mode for vocals and podcasts. The sound quality, meanwhile, is great for the money; it picks up tons of detail without any background hum. If you’re just starting out with streams or podcasts, this is the mic to buy.
Key specs – Type: Desktop condenser; Sample rate: 44.1kHz/16-bit; Frequency response: 40Hz to 18kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid and omnidirectional; Stand: mini tripod; Connections: mini-USB; Weight: 460g
Price when reviewed: £59 | Check price at Amazon
There’s a lot to like about Samson’s USB mic, starting with the way it looks. The all-metal construction and chrome finish give the Meteor a classic 1950s style, and it feels every bit as solid as it looks. The design is practical, too, with the three legs of the built-in tripod stand folding flush against the mic for travel. At the back there’s a mini-USB socket to connect the mic to your computer, plus a headphone out for monitoring the audio. At the front, a tiny volume control for the headphones surrounds a handy mute button.
Audio wise, the Meteor is very sensitive, so you’ll need to ratchet down the gain in your streaming or recording app to get the best results. It’s also pretty directional, with no choice of polar patterns, and at its best up close with the mouth right in front. Get the positioning right, though, and the sound is impressively clear and detailed, with a great tone and good control of pop. The meteor has its limitations but it’s great for streams, podcasts and simple demos, and the ideal cheap mic to throw in a bag and lug around.
Key specs – Type: Portable condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/16-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid; Stand: Integral tripod; Connections: mini-USB, headphone; Weight: 658g
Price when reviewed: £119 | Check price at Amazon
For ten years the Yeti series has set the standard for podcast-friendly USB mics, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it does the same for another decade. This compact mic incorporates three specially-tuned condenser capsules, along with Digital Signal Processing (DSP) that can switch between four different modes, including Cardioid, Stereo, Bidirectional and Omni. You also get a gain control and a headphone socket for monitoring, along with a handy mute button. The sturdy desktop stand keeps it all in place, but it’s not hard to find a third-party studio arm stand if you’d prefer one.
As for the audio, the Yeti captures rich, natural and very detailed sound, though you have to be careful about ambient noise, particularly outside of the Cardioid mode. If you’re streaming or podcasting, you’re not going to find much that sounds this good without spending a lot more money.
Key specs – Type: Desktop condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/16-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid; bi-directional, omnidirectional; Stand: desktop; Connections: mini USB, headphone; Weight: 550g
Price when reviewed: £90 | Check price at Amazon
Best known for its camera tripods and accessories, Joby’s debut USB microphone firmly establishes the brand in the audio space. For comfortably under £100 it comes with a solid desktop stand, a pop shield and even has a pair of accessory mounting points for attaching your smartphone, a light or a small camera.
The Wavo Pod captures clear, detailed audio with plenty of clarity and minimal noise, comparing favourably against other mics in, and even above its price bracket. It offers both cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns for solo and group recordings and has a 3.5mm headphone jack for latency-free monitoring. Voice recordings don’t have quite the same warmth as those captured on higher-end mics but it’s certainly nothing that can’t be fixed with some minor EQ tweaks.
Overall, for under £100, the Joby Wavo Pod is a solid budget buy for anyone looking to get into podcasting or streaming.
Key specs – Type: Portable condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/24-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Stand: Integral tripod; Connections: USB-C, headphone; Weight: 1kg
Price when reviewed: £177 | Check price at Amazon
If you’re starting out in the podcasting world, or just looking to upgrade your current model, the Sennheiser Profile USB Streaming Set is definitely worth a look. It’s ready to go out of the box and incredibly easy to set up. Simply set the boom arm into position, connect the 1.2m USB-C cable, and you’re good to go. In true plug-and-play style, your device will recognise the Profile automatically, allowing you to start recording almost instantly.
From the get-go, we were immediately impressed by the audio quality. The cardioid condenser delivers a warm and natural sound, without the need to play around with the EQ. Since the Profile is a condenser mic, it has a wider frequency response and, as a result, is somewhat sensitive. However, after setting the gain (which took a matter of seconds) and positioning the mic appropriately, the results were that of a professional standard.
Equipped with everything you need to record a high-quality podcast, the Profile Streaming Set proves itself to be excellent value for money and a superb all-in-one selection.
Key specs – Type: Pre-polarized condenser; Sample rate: 44.1, 48kHz/16, 24-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid; Stand: Table stand/boom arm; Connections: USB-C, headphone; Weight: 410g (Mic, 350g; Stand, 60g)
Price when reviewed: £119 | Check price at Amazon
Capturing warm, clear and detailed audio, the HyperX QuadCast S can take the quality of your online streaming to the next level. The mic offers four different recording patterns: cardioid, bi-directional, omnidirectional and stereo, and packs onboard gain adjustment, a latency-free headphone output and a neat tap-to-mute function.
The QuadCast S features a slick all-black look, hole-punch grill and built-in popfilter. In typical gaming style, the mic offers an attractive glowing RGB backlight that can be customised to taste using HyperX’s NGENUITY Windows app. To top everything off it comes with a sturdy stand with a shock mount to cut down on erroneous desk vibrations.
With superb audio, an attractive design and solid build, the HyperX QuadCast S will make an excellent addition to just about any streaming setup.
Key specs – Type: Desktop condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/16-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid, bi-directional, omnidirectional, stereo; Stand: mini tripod; Connections: USB Type-C, headphone; Weight: 254g (710Kg with stand)
Price when reviewed: £114 | Check price at Amazon
When it comes to versatility, the AKG Lyra knocks it out of the park. The multi-faceted, retro-looking mic is simple to set up and incredibly easy to use. Living up to its plug-and-play nature, simply connect the USB-C cable to your device and it will be recognised automatically, allowing you to jump straight into recording high-quality audio.
The Lyra is a condenser, so it’s pretty sensitive. However, it means the results are warmer and more detailed, helping to make fine-tuning easier post-production. A key feature of the Lyra is its four capture modes: Front, Front & Back, Tight Stereo and Wide Stereo. This allows for a variety of recording purposes and positions, including single (front), duo (front & back), instrumental (tight stereo) and ensemble (wide stereo), providing clean and accurate sound across the board.
So if you’re a podcaster, streamer or musician, the AKG Lyra delivers top-notch audio, no matter your needs.
Key specs – Type: 4 proprietary, permanently polarised back plate, condenser; Sample rate: 24-bit/192kHz; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid, Super Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional; Stand: Desktop stand; Connections: USB-C, headphone; Weight: 454g
Price when reviewed: £113 | Check price at Amazon
It doesn’t have much in the way of looks or fancy features, but the AT2020 USB+ feels like a serious audio tool. It’s surprisingly heavy and comes with a solid two-part tripod stand, plus USB and Lightning cables, all supplied inside a leather case. You have to be a bit careful with the stand or the mic falls over, but it does a great job of keeping it pointing towards whoever’s speaking, and you can easily fit the AT2020 to a studio arm stand using the built-in 5/8in thread or 3/8in adaptor.
You have to live without built-in monitoring, but the mic has a level control at the front. More importantly, the sound quality is hugely impressive, capturing professional quality speech for streams or podcasts and working well with guitars and other instruments as long as the mic is fairly close. While not as versatile as the mics with switchable polar patterns, this is a mic that knows its job and can handle it really well.
Key specs – Type: Desktop condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/16-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid; Stand: Mini tripod; Connections: micro-USB, headphone; Weight: 386g
Price when reviewed: £239 | Check price at Amazon
If you’ve just started out in podcasting and realised your first microphone isn’t cutting the mustard, you’ll probably want to take a close look at the Shure MV7. Modelled on the legendary Shure SM7B, the MV7 is a professional-level microphone and it comes with both USB and XLR connectors so you can hook it up to whatever interface you need to. It also has a 3.5mm headphone socket for monitoring and you can even record via USB and XLR at the same time.
Everything about this microphone is well-made. Its metal barrel is heavy and feels durable. It has a touch-sensitive recording level and headphone adjustment control and it comes supplied with a foam pop screen for keeping plosives under control, too. The only thing we don’t like is that there’s no stand in the box and you have to buy the micro-USB to Lightning cable separately.
Nor does the MV7 offer multiple polar patterns like the Yeti X; it’s designed solely to record your voice and nothing else. However, it’s brilliant at that, picking up far less background room echo than the Yeti X and delivering clean, full-bodied recordings you’d struggle to achieve with most other USB mics. You do have to sit close to it to get the very best quality, though.
Combined with the Motiv software, available on iOS, Android, PC and Mac (it doesn’t work with USB-C equipped iPad Pro tablets, though), the MV7 is also a doddle to set up and use, with an auto-level mode to take the hassle out of setup for novices and a manual mode that offers up just enough control to make getting the perfect setup quick and easy.
All in all, the Shure MV7 is the best USB podcasting microphone you can buy. It may not be the most flexible but, for outright sound quality, it has the competition soundly beaten.
Key specs – Type: dynamic recording cartridge; Sample rate: 48kHz/24-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid; Stand: None; Connections: micro-USB, XLR, 3.5mm headphone; Weight: 1.21kg (microphone and bracket)
Price when reviewed: £100 | Check price at Amazon
Where most of the mics on this list are condenser models, the Podcaster uses a dynamic capsule. The results are obvious: a really good, crisp and detailed sound that does a great job of minimising background noise. It’s brilliant for podcasts, particularly when you’re working from a home or office, rather than a studio, but also for game streaming if you’d like to keep the noise of mechanical keyboards and mouse buttons out of your feed.
It’s a big microphone, but well-designed, with a headphone jack for monitoring, a built-in pop filter and an internal shock mount, though be aware that it comes without any form of desktop stand. If you find other mics can’t get you the professional sound you’re looking for, try this one. As the name suggests, it’s an exceptional mic for podcasts, streams and really anything involving voice.
Key specs – Type: Dynamic; Sample rate: 48kHz/18-bit; Frequency response: 40Hz to 14kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid; Stand: none; Connections: USB Type-B; Weight: 655g
You can now get the RODE Podcaster for a BRILLIANT £85. Usually retailing at £100, it sees a handy reduction of £15 in a pre-Black Friday sale. But be sure to act quickly, as deals like this don’t hang around.
Price when reviewed: £145 | Check price at Amazon
The Yeti X is Blue Design’s flagship podcasting mic and it boasts a number of significant upgrades over and above its illustrious predecessor. It has an overhauled four-capsule condenser microphone array inside instead of the three of the old model and a host of extra features.
That microphone array contributes to warmer, richer recordings, and lets you select from four different pickup patterns – cardioid, stereo, 360-degree recording and bi-directional for across the table podcast chats. There’s a new multifunctional, clickable gain knob on the front that lets you not only adjust microphone levels but, also, at a long press adjust headphone volume and, with another, the blend between computer audio and microphone heard through the headphones.
The button also has live microphone-metering built-in via a ring of bright LEDs that surround it so you can get instant feedback as to whether you need to adjust the levels up or down. And there’s a host of useful extra features delivered via Logitech’s G Hub gaming software, including the ability to select from a huge array of different microphone profiles and adjust voice EQ settings for the perfect sound.
Perhaps the Yeti X’s killer feature, however, is the ability to apply advanced effects live to the microphone input, without the need to route the signal through professional audio editing software. These effects include a noise gate, a high-pass filter, a de-esser, compressor, noise reducer and a limiter, and there’s a surprising amount of fine-tuning you can carry out within each effect. There’s even the ability to tweak the colour of the microphone’s LEDs to suit your mood.
The Yeti X is the ultimate microphone for streamers and podcasters: it sounds great, it’s easy to use and comes packed with features. It might cost a bit more but it’s well worth the extra spend.
Key specs – Type: Desktop condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/24-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid, bi-directional, omnidirectional; Stand: Desktop; Connections: micro-USB, 3.5mm headphone; Weight: 1.28kg (microphone and stand), 519g (microphone only)
Price when reviewed: £190 | Check price at Amazon
Most USB mics are designed for use with laptops or PCs, but Shure’s little wonder has your smartphone or tablet in its sights. In fact, the holder that attaches to the bundled Manfrotto Pixi mini tripod will hold your smartphone while holding the mic securely on top. This gives you a useful grip for smartphone video while the mic captures quality sound.
Both USB Type C and Lightning cables are included, to work with a wide variety of phones. Shure’s Motiv app, meanwhile, can handle all recording duties while configuring the mic for your perfect sound. You can also select between a range of bidirectional, stereo and cardioid polar patterns.
The MV88+ is designed to work at a longer range than your average USB condenser, though it still works for streams and podcasts if you’re after an ultraportable mic. The sound is very crisp and clear, with the bundled foam windshield helping to minimise wind noise, and there’s still room for a built-in headphone output, though no volume or gain control. Serious about smartphone video? This is the mic to own.
Key specs – Type: Portable condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/24-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid, bi-directional, stereo; Stand: Phone grip and mini tripod; Connections: micro-USB; Weight: 810g
Price when reviewed: £179 | Check price at Amazon
The MV51 looks and feels like a serious bit of kit. Weighing nearly 600g, it’s a surprisingly big, chunky microphone with some stunning retro looks. It’s strength, though, is its versatility. A kickstand at the rear keeps it upright for portable use but unscrew the rubber foot at its end and you’ll find a thread to fit to a microphone stand. Meanwhile, the touch controls on the front allow you to switch between five different DPS modes, optimised for singers, acoustic instruments, speech or loud sounds (ideal for rock gigs), plus one that’s just flat. There’s a headphone output for built-in monitoring, and you can adjust the volume and the gain from the panel at the front. What’s more, Shure throws in USB and Lightning cables and the mic works with the firm’s Motiv mobile recording app.
None of this would matter if the sound wasn’t up to scratch, but it’s fantastic. If anything it’s a little too sensitive to ambient noise once you move outside the speech mode, so think about placing it on a studio arm mount and moving it away from your desk. It’s one of the best mics around for clarity and detail, and it’s also great for recording acoustic instruments or broadcast-quality speech. The downside is that it’s so expensive, but as a brilliant, do-it-all microphone it’s hard to beat.
Key specs – Type: Desktop condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/24-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid, Stand: integral kickstand; Connections: micro-USB; Weight: 575g
Price when reviewed: £85 | Check price at Amazon
With its compact design and great voice capture, the Shure MV5C has enough grunt to endure long business meetings and work conferences, whether you’re at home or in the office. Its lightweight construction is a boon to portability, but may also be to its detriment as, in our testing, we found it was easy to knock over by mistake.
Powering the microphone is a standard USB to micro-USB cable. The one that’s provided with the unit is a mere 1m long, but as these are such common cables, it’s highly likely that you own some longer ones to extend the microphone’s reach without straining yourself or trailing USB extenders all over your desk unnecessarily.
There’s a series of bespoke lights on the mic that show the vital information, including whether you’re muted or if there’s headphones plugged in. These are good to know, but the lights themselves, as well as the volume control wheel, we found were a little on the small side.
The most important question, however, is how the microphone itself sounds, and we’re happy to say that the Shure MV5C doesn’t disappoint. It impressed us in our testing with its ‘speech enhancement’ mode that reduced irritating sibilant hissing whilst providing clear, crisp sound, making this mic ideal for home use and even podcasting.
At the same time, this is one expensive microphone. With so many different options on the market under £100 that provide a solid experience, we can’t wholeheartedly recommend that you rush out and buy one immediately, but if you’re looking to be heard at your next board meeting, then you could do a lot worse.
Read our full Shure MV5C review
Key specs – Type: Desktop condenser; Sample rate: 48kHz/24-bit; Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz; Recording pattern: Cardioid; Stand: adjustable; Connections: micro-USB; Weight: 160g
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