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RØDE NT-USB Mini Versatile Studio-quality Condenser USB Microphone with Free Software for Podcasting, Streaming, Gaming, Music Production, Vocal and Instrument Recording

£59.995£119.99Clearance
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If you are still hearing an echo when you activate the zero-latency monitoring mode on the NT-USB Mini, you should mute your microphone channel output in your recording software. 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. USB mics are good. They are just more convenient than traditional mics because they have an audio interface already built-in, so you wouldn’t need to invest in a separate stand-alone interface. Choosing the best USB mic for you isn’t hard, but there are a few things that you need to consider, and you might need to read up on technical terms before you dive in, if you’re not familiar with mics in general.

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.

Record high-quality audio with the best USB microphones

USB microphones are renowned for their user-friendliness. In contrast to traditional microphones that require a connection to a mixer or audio interface, USB microphones simply require an available port on your computer, laptop or smart device. These devices handle everything internally, acting as both the microphone and audio interface, often allowing direct monitoring through headphone connections. This simplicity has contributed to their widespread popularity. Alternatively, some microphones offer bi-directional or omnidirectional patterns, suitable for capturing audio from multiple angles, making them perfect for scenarios like round-table discussions.

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. 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 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. In-built digital signal processing: noise gate, compressor, APHEX® Aural Exciter™ and Big Bottom™ (accessed via RØDE Connect)Class-compliant USB output that works seamlessly with computers or tablets, no drivers or software needed – just plug in and hit record. If you are using a device that has a USB-C input, instead use the SC17 USB-C to USB-C cable. This will also work with the iPad Pro, which features a USB-C input. Bear in mind, however, that these mics do have their limitations. They won’t be as versatile as traditional XLR mics, however, so you can’t really build a whole studio around a USB mic. How we test USB mics 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.

On-Device Controls: Just because a mic comes with software doesn't mean having on-device controls is useless. Being able to adjust your volume (or gain as it's technically called) or mute yourself all together with a dial or button is extremely useful in a pinch. So if you’re a podcaster, streamer or musician, the AKG Lyra delivers top-notch audio, no matter your needs. Our testing process for USB microphones is a little different to our usual microphone testing process. USB mics play a very different role compared to most other recording microphones in the fact that they're more often designed to record a human voice than any type of instrument. They're also obviously designed to plug directly into a computer, so the amount (and type) of signal processing is also different to that of a regular mic.

The best USB microphones to buy in 2023

Being geared more toward the professional musician set, the Shure MV5 might be more microphone than the average remote worker or YouTuber might be looking for. But, if you’re looking for something more substantial, it doesn’t hurt to take a cue from the pros. How to choose the best USB microphone 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. 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. 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. Another big draw to either of these mics is Elgato Wave Link. This is Elgato's audio-mixing software specifically created with streamers and the Wave microphones in mind (although it also works with non-Elgato microphones). You can use it to balance the audio of up to nine sources, whether that's the Wave 1 or Wave 3, your game volume, or other programs like Discord. There's also the "Clipguard" setting in Wave Link, which automatically balances your audio to avoid peaking. Because of all this and its simple design, Wave Link is extremely useful to streamers looking to improve their overall audio setup. Wave Link is also where you can tweak the settings on the Wave 1 and 3, such as the gain and sampling rate.

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. While testing USB mics, for the aforementioned reasons, we've found it's best to focus on voice recording quality, then, often comparing these often cheaper microphones with similarly spec'd studio vocal microphones or standards in the podcasting arena.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. The NT-USB Mini utilises a class-compliant USB-C connector, which means it will work with any PC or Mac that supports class-compliant audio. Some Android devices also support this standard.

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