The biggest differentiator between USB mics themselves is how they use digital signal processing (DSP). USB mics also often have headphone jacks, which is another anomaly compared with the analog studio mic world. Each USB mic is essentially its own analog-to-digital converter (DAC), and often with its own gain knob built in (in the analog studio world, that gain knob is often on a different piece of gear entirely, usually referred to as a Mic Pre). 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. The audio is processed and digitized through the microphone itself instead of at the other end of the cable. The signal from the mic should be more or less pure, with EQ, dynamic compression, and reverb added later in production.ĭigital mics that use USB cables are a totally different beast. In a typical recording studio scenario, a microphone is an analog piece of gear that sends a signal to a console or computer through an XLR cable (often through a mixer that can handle multiple microphones at once).
To start, you should know how most professional microphones function. But before we get to that, let's talk a bit about microphones in general. Here you'll find the best mics we've tested, along with a guide to their various uses. We've tested a number of USB microphones to determine which ones work best for different scenarios, not to mention different budgets. So no, not all USB mics are the same, which can make buying the right one for your needs a little tricky. What works for livestreaming 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. If you're in the market for a USB microphone, you probably have a specific use in mind for it. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test everything we review (Opens in a new window).)
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