Best USB Microphone for Desktop/Laptops | Buyer’s Guide

USB Microphones are getting more popular than other XLR Microphones because they’re really easy to use and cheaper. But, most professionals don’t consider USB mics as a replacement for XLR mics. Because they think USB Microphones are not at that stage yet.

But, now in the market, there are a lot of competitive USB Microphones. You’re here it means you’re searching for the Best USB Microphone. So, we’ve compiled a list of the best USB Microphones for desktop/laptops.

This is an Ultimate List of 10 Affordable & Best USB Microphones of 2022. All of these mics can also be used as professional Studios, Vocals, Stage performances, and microphones.

XLR mic is being used in Professional Studios and to record Musical instruments. But, sooner or later USB mics will take their place. Because they provide awesome audio quality at a very low price are simple to use.

USB Microphones are specially designed to support Computer & laptop users. Because you can’t attach XLR mics directly to your PC or Laptop. USB mic means it is compatible with a USB cable. So, you can plug it into your machine directly.

Top Pick: 10 Best USB Microphones

Now, you have our Top product list. Let’s jump to the Best USB Microphones & explore them one by one to see their features, specs, pros, and cons.

1. Samson Meteor Mic – Compact Budget Microphone

Here is the Samson Meteor Mic which is a compact & budget mic from Samson. This is entirely covered with metal. Samson provides three variants of this mic Chrome, Titanium, Titanium Red

Samson Meteor is really useful for traveling because of its small size. It brings a superb metal construction. That’s why we’ve included this mic in our list. You get sound controls and a Mute button, right at the front of the mic.

It has a screw hole, so you’ll be able to mount it easily. It comes with a Cardioid pickup pattern. Samson Meteor does have Headphone Input, so you can get playback in real time.

One good thing about this mic is, you can fold its legs and it will become like a tube. So, you can carry it in your pocket while traveling or outdoors. If you’re just starting out & want a good reliable USB microphone. You don’t need to spend more on Blue Yeti or any other expansive microphone. This is a nice price value for you.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Cardioid
Capsule	1-inch (25 mm) condenser capsule
Frequency Response	20Hz – 20KHz
Sample Rate	44.1 kHz 48 kHz
Operating System Support	Windows, macOS/OS X
Bit Rate	16 Bit

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2. Razer Seiren X – Best Portable Microphone

Razer Seiren X is a minimalist portable USB microphone. But, It has an all-plastic body and metal grill. You get Headphone volume control at the front of the microphone Mute button. Below this microphone, you get two ports to connect it with your machine and the second one is for headphones, which means you can get real-time playback.

In the specifications. It has a super-cardioid polar pattern. It comes with a desktop stand. Razer Seiren X also has a few limitations, but it is the best USB microphone for this budget.

This mic is perfectly suitable for gaming, Live Chats, etc… This microphone has Noise reduction capability. Overall If you’re searching for a basic YouTube video, podcast, or gaming mic, this can also be a handsome product for you.

Specifications:

Capsules	Ø25mm condenser capsules
Sensitivity	17.8mV/Pa (at 1kHz)
Bit Rate	16-Bit
Sample Rate	min 44.1kHz / max 48kHz
Polar Pattern	Super-Cardioid
Frequency Response	20Hz – 20KHz

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3. Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+ – Best Gaming USB Mic

Here is our very special product from Audio-Technica. This is truly an amazing USB microphone provided by a trusted brand. It has an all-metal construction with a Desktop microphone stand.

At the front of this mic, you get headphone volume controls. You can also attach your headphones directly to it for real-time playback.

This Audio-Technica AT2020 provides Windows and Mac compatibility. AT2020 USB comes with a Cardioid Polar Pattern. You can adjust microphone gain in your computer sound preferences.

Overall it has a nice frequency response and you’ll get really nice sounds on acoustic guitar or any other musical instrument. So, it is a reliable option for vocal recording as well.

I would recommend this mic to those who are struggling to find the best USB microphone for studio recording, podcasting, or streaming. But, it might not be a versatile option for singers, those who use the microphone in hand. Ultimately it is one of the best PC mics.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Cardioid
DYNAMIC RANGE (typical)	124 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
Frequency Response	20-20,000 Hz
Output Connector	Integral 3-pin XLRM-type
Impedance	100 ohms
OPEN CIRCUIT SENSITIVITY	–37 dB (14.1 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa

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READ:) Best Microphone for Voice Over

4. Blue Snowball USB Mic – Top Notch Desktop microphone

Now Blue is a well-known microphone brand in its industry. Here we’re covering a very popular Blue Snowball USB microphone. It is really popular for YouTube videos, Skype, and Podcasting. Actually, it comes in two variants.

1. Snowball
2. Snowball iCE

Blue Snowball: This microphone has two mic capsules. That allows this mic to switch to the Polar patterns. This means You can capture audio just from the front of the mic OR You can pick the sound from all around the microphone. It can be helpful for meetings or conferences recordings.

Blue Snowball iCE: This iCE variant hasn’t two mic capsules. That means you can’t switch to the polar patterns. You will have to record in front of the microphone. It is recommended for Podcasters or gamers.

This was the basic difference between these two versions. There are no price differences if you’re interested you can go with any one of them. At the back of this mic, you’ll see a button to switch to the polar pattern. Overall if you’re a beginner & just starting out, this is a great price value for you & the best USB microphone for desktop.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Cardioid
Frequency Response	40 –18 kHz
Sample/word Rate	44.1 kHz/16 bit

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5. Rode NT-USB – Premium Quality USB Microphone 

If we’re talking about the best microphones. We can’t miss RODE Microphones.

Rode brings a very decent microphone from its USB variants. Here is the Rode NT-USB which is a bit higher budget microphone. But, It comes with really nice functionalities and a decent design.

It is a broader category mic, which means you can use it for any purpose whether it is Vocals, Podcasting, Home Studio recordings, etc…

One good thing about this mic is. It is compatible with your PC, MAC as well as iPad. RODE provides POP Shield and 2 years warranty for NT-USB.

Rode NT-USB is entirely covered with metal and contains reliable weight to it. You’ll see two Dials at the side of this mic to control volumes + Headphone jack. You get a frequency range of 20Hz – 20KHz. You can control gains in sound preferences in your PC. The stand of this mic is plastic constructed. It might be picking some noise.

So, try to keep it on a flat surface. But, if you’re using a big stand rather than a small stand, it is fine. In my opinion, this mic comes with awesome built quality.

I would recommend this mic, If you’re gonna use it for Gaming, Voice over, Desktop, or Studio Recordings. It is a bit sensitive to pick instruments with loud sounds. So, it is not recommended for instrument recordings. Apart from this, It is supremely amazing. That’s why you might’ve seen this microphone in most of the YouTuber’s studios.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Cardioid
Capsule	0.50″
Frequency Response	20Hz – 20kHz
Resolution	16 Bit
Powered option	USB
Maximum SPL	110dBSPL

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6. Shure MV5 – Best Travelling Portable Mic

Shure MV5 is a very lightweight & Lightning Enabled microphone. If you’re looking for a Smart design mic that shouldn’t cover much space on your desk, then this Shure MC5 would be a pleasant option for you.

It comes with a plastic body. It is compatible with almost all your devices. You can connect it with a PC, MAC, or even your iPhone or Tablet, etc…

Due to its minimal design and size, it is easier to carry out than Blue Yeti or other bigger size mic.

It is recommended for those who are searching for a good traveling microphone or to use the mic with smartphones. You can expect great sound quality almost at the level of Snowball or any other top-level microphone.

At the back of this mic, you get a headphone port and USB port to connect it with your computer or ios device. And you’ll see a mode button to navigate to the different modes + Mute Button. The headphone volume controller is on the front of the mic. You can navigate to Flat, Speech, and Instrument mode. That will be helpful to pick a relevant tone.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Unidirectional (Cardioid)
Bit Depth	16-bit/24-bit
Frequency Response	20-20,000 Hz
Sampling Rate	44.1/48 kHz
Sensitivity	-40 dBFS/Pa at 1 kHz [1][2}
Adjustable Gain Range	0 to +36 dB

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7. Blue Snowflake – Best budget microphone for Live Chats

No doubt Blue is a MEGA brand in the microphones world. Their product is getting more & more popular, especially Snowball, and Blue Yeti which is our next product.

This is also a pretty decent USB model by Blue called Blue Snowflake. Snowflake is really cheap but the quality microphone comes with a 2 years warranty. It has an all-metal grille and bottom stand, but the back is all plastic.

When we talk about its price, In my opinion, it provides exceptional audio quality at this price range. One notable thing is, Snowflake is a very small & compact mic. You can even fit it in your pocket. This mic is compatible with your PC & MAC.

The frequency response of Blue Snowflake is 35Hz – 20KHz. It also has a Cardioid Polar pattern. And recording resolution is 44.1KHz & 16 bit. Actually, I would love to recommend this mic for YouTubers. Because of its size, and box-type body, I wouldn’t suggest it for gaming because when you’ll keep it on your desk, it might be picking some noise from your keyboard.

But, it is a nice product for Youtube, Skype chats, meetings, or Podcasting etc…

Don’t compare this mic with another expansive or top-level mic. Snowflake is budget but the best basic microphone for desktop recordings & it is a good price value. If you’re just upgrading from an Internal mic this would be a better choice in a budget.

Specifications:

Pickup Pattern	Unidirectional (Cardioid)
Recording Resolution	16-bit, 44.1kHz
Frequency Response	35Hz-20kHz
Accessories	Built-in Adjustable Stand
Headphone Port	No

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8. Blue Yeti – All in One USB Microphone

In the USB microphones world, Blue has created a nice reputation. When we talk about the best USB microphone, how can we miss Blue Yeti? Yeti is the most popular mic in its category.

However, RODE is a popular company for its amazing shotgun microphones. Same as Blue is for its best quality USB microphones.

Yeti is a very premium quality desktop mic that gives phenomenal performance for Studio or Desktop recordings. But, because of its great functionalities and features, most people use this as a multipurpose mic. Ex: Vocals or Instruments recordings.

Spec: It is an entirely metal-constructed mic. At the bottom of the mic, you get a USB, Headphone plug & stand mount. Yes, you can take off the mic from its small stand and use it separately. You can use a big stand to record vocals etc…

At the front of Blue Yeti, you’ll see two dials. This big one is for a headphone volume controller, and the top one is a Mute button. The back of this microphone is really interesting where you can control the gain of your audio and navigate to the polar patterns. You’ll get four polar patterns in Blue Yeti which will help you record in any situation. This has a frequency response from 20Hz – 20KHz but is dependent on the polar pattern you’re using.

Overall it has a lot of features and settings for different situations. So, you can use it for any purpose whether you’re using it for gaming, YouTube, Studio, Vocals, etc… If your budget is a bit higher than our previous products. I would definitely recommend this mic.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, Stereo
Bit Depth	16-bit
Frequency Response	20Hz — 20kHz
Sampling Rate	48 kHz
Capsules	3 Blue-proprietary 14mm condenser capsule
Max SPL	120dB (THD: 0.5% 1kHz)

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9. Samson G-Track Pro – Best Podcasting Mic

Before we’ve talked about microphones from SAMSON. Here is another very good version of the G-Track series from SAMSON. G-Track Pro is a bit expensive mic but you can consider it in comparison to Blue Yeti. It is an amazing quality microphone.

The design of this mic is a little bit similar to Yeti. It also has multiple polar patterns + an all-metal body and grill. The design is pretty decent compared to Blue Yeti. It doesn’t mean Yeti’s design is bad, but G-Track Pro is a bit smaller than most of the Yeti’s customers were asking about.

At the top front of this mic, you’ll see polar pattern buttons. And it also has Mute, Headphones, Instrument, and volume controllers at the front of the mic. On the back of G-Track Pro, you’ll see a headphone jack and Instrument input. It provides three polar patterns.

• Cardioid
• Bidirectional
• Omnidirectional

The frequency response in this mic is from 50Hz – 20KHz. It also works great in electric and acoustic guitar. It is a bit slower in noise rejection. Apart from that, It is a good microphone for Vocals, Podcasting & Instrument. In G-Track Pro & Yeti you can choose either.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Cardioid (unidirectional), bidirectional, omnidirectional
Capsule	Dual back electret condenser
Frequency Response	50Hz — 20kHz
Sensitivity	+6dB FS/PA (all polar patterns)
Max. SPL	120dB SPL
Bit Depth	16 or 24-bit
Sample Rate	Up to 96kHz

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10. Samson Go Mic Portable – Basic Starter USB Microphone

This is a really small size mic from SAMSON. The fact that this compact mic provides three polar patterns. Actually, it is a very basic portable microphone on a low budget & recommended for those who are upgrading from internal computer mics.

This can give you a better quality rather than using any cheap handsfree recorders. It is not at the top-level professional podcast mic, but it is a good starter.

Obviously, if your budget is high and you want your audio quality to the next level, this is not for you. You can go with other Blue Snowballs, Snowflake or Yeti. But, this is for beginners/Newbies.

Having said that it gives really impressive audio quality at this price. It is easy to carry, that’s why most people really like this mic. Its frequency response is from 80Hz – 18KHz. And a sampling rate of 44.1KHz.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Cardioid and Omnidirectional
Recording Resolution	16-bit/44.1kHz
Frequency Response	20Hz — 18kHz
Max. SPL	121 dB

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These were our recommendations on Best USB Microphones. Now, it’s your turn, these all are fantastic USB mics. You’ve to choose according to your budget.

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